instability

[baconbits]

Hey gang, I post this about twice a year just to see if anyone else may have this problem. 
I have had instability since my first TKR Nov. 2004.  It has been revised twice and still buckles.  Have faught the battle of Arthrofibrosis and lost.  2 years of rehab and still no control.  Anyone else have this problem?
Cindy

[kiddthekatt]

Hi Cindy;
  So far so good on the TKR on my part. After the PKR and then the revision I was really worried if the TKR would work. I have been fighting scar tissue, but opted not to have the MUA. My Chiropractor is doing deep tissue massage and is breaking the scar tissue away slowly, and maybe I have a chance of it not returning. I had been having problems with nerve damage and have had the lumbar injection and then yesterday the pain doc called wanting to change all of that and I said NO!!!! So, I'm taking my life back completely. I'm going to get off these damn pain pills and start trying to get back on track. I hope the knee starts to get stronger Cindy, these knees have a way of working on our last sane nerve.

good luck;
Angel

[Plumb]

Every once in a blue moon.  I tend to buckle backwards just a tad until I realize whats going on than I regain control again.   Not even once a month but just at odd moments where it catches me as a surprise.  There are times when I lay on my side and swing my leg over on to a pillow and I think it wiggles a bit more than a natural knee would.  Perhaps that is the missing ACL factor. ?   Not too concerned other than I know that at times I cant expect it to act like a natural knee at all times.

At night sometimes I may have a weird muscle  twitch at my quad.  Normally after I been walking for over an hour or shopping and pushing a heavy cart.  Not sure if it's just being dehydrate or just over did it.

 
I hate to even think what it is like to have a revision that does not compare to a natural knee at all and has a mind of its own.   

Everytime I read about revisions I am reminded how lucky I have been and can only offer my well wishes to those who have a challenge on their quest for a decent quality of life

[baconbits]

Thanks for your reply Plumb
I'm happy that yours is only once in a blue moon and that you have had wonderful success with yours, as it should be.  Mine has buckled forward with every step since the original TKR 3 years ago.  I keep praying for someone who has the same experiences as I do, could come forward maybe give me some hope, but at the same time I am relieved that no one has had to deal with this.  I know it's not a rehab issue.  I worked in Physical Therapy for years and have rehabed many a total knees and have had 2 years of therapy myself on this knee.  Anyways, I won't bore you with the details, just so glad everything is good with yours.
Cindy

[Liesa]

Hi Cindy
just wanted to to say..... i had my TKR last june, it hasnt worked i have more pain now then ever before.... i saw my consultant today, he had nothing further to add about my pain he doesnt understand it at all, no reason for it that he can see, i also told him about my new dance as my daughter calls it, we can be walking in town or walking the dog in the woods and my knee slips away, do you understand me? i dont go right over just look drunk for a few mins till i gain my posture, also when i go to bend on the chair in order to put my boots on my knee slid away a few days ago, it makes me feel sick and then my knee feels sore afterwoods, i hate it, its not like i dont have enough to contend with, with pain from the arthritis flares etc (palindromic rheumatism) i need some quality sleep!!

[baconbits]

Hi Liesa,
 Sorry it took me a while to get back here, I was out of town this week.
Well kiddo, I really can sympatize with you.  Mine still buckles with every step after a TKR and 2 revisions.  Don't give up!!!!!! Please, there are other surgeons out there.  Start getting other opinions.  Right every thing down from presurgery to now.  All the symptomatic changes.  You don't have to just give in because one surgeon says this is it.  Sometimes a fresh new look at the whole thing from another surgeon can make all the difference.  You must know how far you want to take it.  It is a quality of life issue.  The TKR is done to better your quality of life.  If it hasn't worked to everyones expectations, there is a reason for it.  Someone will find it.  Please Liesa, it is your right to get as many opinions as you want.  Surgeons aren't God, they are people who sometimes make mistakes, it's human.  Too many people look to their surgeon as the "Higher Power" and they feel they are betraying their surgeon if they seek answers somewhere else.  It's your body, you know if it's right or wrong. 
Okay I'll get off my podium
I'm here, you can PM me if you want.  Let me know what's going on
hugs
Cindy

[chaos]

cindy
i don't know anything about what you are experiencing but i have read lots of your posts especially in the wonderous hen house thread and think it sucks you are having these problems.  you are the kindest sweetest most gentle person i have ever run accross and i think it is awful you have these issues.  no i am not a stalker or anything weird like that just genuinely fond of you.  i have been told i need an avon kneecap replacement and i struggling with that decision.  just thankful it is only that and not a tkr.  i hope you get to the bottom of your issues.  good luck sweet thang.
chaos

[kiddthekatt]

Hiyas;
   You know I agree that having knee replacements will help make your life better, but for some of us, it didn't work out as planned. And that's ok too, I've made peace with myself and I've accepted things as they are now. I just refuse to keep having surgery after surgery to try and make it like it should be, when after 3 knee surgeries it didn't work. I don't know if it was the OS I had chosen or the unit he used, but the only good thing I got out of my new knee is that the arthritis pain is gone. But, in it's wake it's left me with nerve damage, pain other than arthritis and scar tissue. If I had it to do over, I would just keep the arthritis pain. My quality of life sure isn't what it was before the first replacement. I am happy for those who have a success story to tell, because it tells me that it can happen, it just wasn't in the books for me.
   So, I continue my life as it is and I enjoy everyday the Lord let's me wake up to spend with my family. Good luck to you all.

Angel

[baconbits]

Chaos, OMG, you have made my dark, dismal day, a bit brighter.  Thank you for that.  I've heard, so far, only good things from the Patella replacements.  It comes down to where you are quality of life, just like the TKR decision.  Pain levels,, function, activities.  As with the TKR, you have to be ready for any posibility.  We always think of how great it will be to get that darn old knees fixed, but, what we really don't take into concideration when setting up the surgery is, will we be able to live with the consequenses if something goes wrong.  Make that part of your decision, write down the pros and cons on paper don't just think about it.  Then make your decision and be at peace with it.  I hope things work out for you and I would like to know what you decide.
This last revision I had, I thought I had covered all the bases before heading to the OR again.  Now I look back and think, there was one question I didn't ask the 5 surgeons who all told me this was the right thing to do, it simply was "what if this doesn't work".  We were all so convinced it would work that thought didn't cross my mind until it was too late.  Don't make any surgical decision until you have crossed all the t's and dotted all the I's then do it all again.  That way you will know for sure you can be at peace with it.  I hope I have been of some help to you and didn't confuse you all the more.
good luck
Cindy

[Janet]

My OS once said that most TKRs go well and people have good outcomes....although it takes some people (like me!) a lot longer to get to the 'good outcome' point. But if something goes wrong, it's a bad situation that is very difficult to fix. Remember, you can't go back to the way your knee was before, you can only try to go forward. So I guess that means we each need to weigh the pros and cons of the surgery before making the decision....don't take it lightly! And make sure you are with the most qualified replacement specialist you can find. They would have more experience dealing with difficult outcomes than the 'average' surgeon.

Sorry for everyone who is having such a hard time. Nobody goes into it expecting to be worse than when they started. Wish there was some magic wand to make it all better!

Janet

[Liesa]

Hi Cindy
i will wait to see the next surgeon, hes supposedly best qualified to help with painful problem knee replacements so they know they exist, am managing to do some light decorating at my home this week, just re whiting the gloss woodwork, makes it nicer to stare at when sitting here alone! bought some new furniture for sitting room and getting back into my dolls house hobby, keeping busy well trying to, helps take my mind off the pain, not always easy bt at least i can get out and about now and take an interest again my hibby, i wont let this dam knee wear me down....... well not this week anyway trying to keep cheerful!!
hope everyone is doing ok?
xxx

[baconbits]

Liesa, keep up that great attitude, you go girl
I've always found that keeping myself busy is the best way to ward off self pitty, something we all do from one time to another with chronic problems.  The main thing to remember is that it is normal and usually short lived when we have things to keep us busy.  Making little changes around the house and keeping up with hobbies are great.  Don't forget to get out and about, even if it is short trips to a store a few days a week.  Keep me updated
hugs
Cindy

[Patty0513]

Cindy,

I have always associated buckling with weak quads, but since you are/were a physical therapist, I guess you would know if it was just weak quads.  Does the knee buckle frontwards, backwards or both?  What kind of knee do you have?  High Flex?  Gender-specific?  What possible causes has your OS or PT given you?   

I have the same problem, buckling, but I am sure it is due to weak quads.  Sorry I don't have an answer or any advice for you.

I hope you can find some answers and eventually get a knee that you can enjoy life with.

Patty

[lilrosie06]

Cindy....I am having the buckling problem as well, especially when I first put weight on it. OS says its weakness. I had a problem with my quads not responding since day 1, so this doesnt surprise me at this  point.

Hang in there....

hugs....DONNA

[baconbits]

Hey there Patty and Donna, in answer to you questions, yes I've had 100 times more PT than any TKR.  18 months formal PT and a third of that 5 days a week.  Also estim for that 18 months and home estim twice a day for 4 months and also a functional estim for 4 months, that's a stim that you where when you walk and every time you step it contracts the  muscles.  So we definately have established the quads aren't going to respond.  The type of prothesis is different than any other, it's a one of a kind now.  I have a Scorpio for the tibial part and a revision femoral compontent from another company.  The knee used to buckel forward and backward but since the last revision, it no longer buckles backward.
At this point, my OS is more confused than ever.  I saw him last week and now he is thinking that it may be from damage in my back.  I have a disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis which has caused quite a bit of spinal nerve damage.  I don't think this has to do with my back though.  This started with the first TKR 3 years ago.  So we are at odds on the cause.  I do know that for 5 days after I saw him it was worse.  He did a lot of pushing and tapping the patella tendon area to try and find a reflex, which turns out is non existant in this leg.  Don't know if any of that means anything or not.  I guess after all this time, I'm stuck with it.  Either way, whether it is this knee or my back, neither one is going for any more surgery, so I will have to learn to deal with it.  My biggest problem now is the other knee is really bad and no one will replace it after all the problems with this TKR.  I guess I shouldn't complain about having to use this cane anymore.  I could soon be heading for a wheelchair if I don't pamper this other knee.
Anyways thanks for your help
Cindy