KNEE ARTHRITIS - Total Knee Replacement :

Problems after Total knee replacement - - Posted by c21joanne (c21joanne), 20 August 2004

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum.  This past November I had total knee replacement on my left knee.  2 months after surgery, it had swelled and was extremely painful.  My OS at the time put me on antibiotics and took a blood test.  It all came back that I had no infection.

2 yrs ago, I had my right knee done by a different OS and I went back to him to take care of my left knee also...but in May, my left total knee that was done in November acted up real bad.  I had swelling, extreme pain, extreme weakness and could not walk on it...I went to emergency.  I was given pain meds...and celebrex.

I went to my OS, the one who did my right knee.  He thought I had an infection, but all tests, scans came back neg.

Yesterday, when I went to him, he was reading over my results from the tests.  He stated, that all of these tests are never 100% correct.  I sat there with my mouth open...

After reviewing the tests, he said, "Well, I sure had you scared, didn't I"?   Then he added, "well, it looks like you had no infection".  This OS has confused me so much that I am now going for a second opinion.

He told me to come back in a month and not to do any excersies, nor walk far.  Not to stress the knee....so I asked him, what do you think it is?  He said, he didn't know, and that maybe a piece of bone had been under my knee cap and maybe it will heal.  Keep in mind, the last visit to him my implant was loose and still is loose.

Has anyone ever experienced this..?


Posted by Nettan (Nettan), 21 August 2004

Hey !!

Welcome here !! Sorry you are in so much trouble after your TKR. My advice to you is to post your question under total knee replacement there are a lot of people good at these issues. I wish i could help you out but i'm not good on this. Hope everything's work out well. let me know how it goes.

Hugs nettan  
Posted by c21joanne (c21joanne), 21 August 2004

Thank you! I will post it under total knee...
Posted by jimak56 (jimak56), 5 January 2005

Had a TR on August 12, 2003.  I still have bad swelling and terrible pain.  The OS has sent me for 2 second opinions. I take a lot of pain medicine because I am an electrician and have to work. It is very hard to walk more than a couple of blocks and sleeping at night is a real nightmare.  I am planning on having a ct scan but not until february.  
Posted by Jan_L. (Jan_L.), 16 January 2005

Hello jimak56,

You are not alone!!  There are several of us here with problems following a TKR.  How is your ROM (range of motion)?  Any problems bending your knee?   Have the doctors checked your sed rate and CRP (C-Reactive Protien),  to check for infection?    Have you had a CT scan?  The implant could be loose, which could cause pain and swelling also.

Several of us, with problems following our TKR,   have been exchanging info under the section:  
"Soft Tissue healing Problems"  
sub-topic: TKR/arthrofibrosis,  
it might be helpful if you took a look at that section.

After I had problems with my TKR, I switched doctors.  I am now seeing a doctor who only deals with joint replacements, he doesn't deal with any other type of knee problems.  I would suggest you do the same.  A specialist  in joint replacements is more apt to have dealt with the problem you are having and will know how to correct it.

Good luck, I hope this was helpful.

Jan

This old Forum was so valuable that we have kept it as an archive. It is just for reference. If you want to ask questions or offer advice, there is also a current Bulletin Board which you can access from our home page.