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18 months after partial knee replacement

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Shell.t
Shell.t

Hi I'm 51 I had arthroscopy two and a half years ago and a partial knee replacement 18 months ago all was great I have full bend in my knee can walk for miles walk upstairs without pain and have been Zumba and kettlesize classes since January up until now  my knee is painful fairly tender it feels tight hurts to walk and painfully going up stairs has anyone else suddenly had problems this far down the line when things seemed to going do well xx thank you in advance for any replies 

Michelle x 

4 likes, 85 replies

85 Replies

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  • randy35993
    randy35993 Shell.t

    Posted

    Hi everyone , I am new to this site , anyway I had PTK Sept 2016 17 months ago and my knew was doing not bad up & down with pain then it was fine. I am 60 in good shape and work out light weights and recumbent bike , anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes on bike.Now I am always sore and knee is swollen and feels weak.I think it might be the bike , let me know please. Thanks Randy

  • Somny17
    Somny17 Shell.t

    Posted

    I felt no pain when walking after two weeks of surgery following a partial knee replacement . I walked down to the lake and then back up the small hill to get back home. After that my knee didn’t feel the same. I performed squats like my home health person told me . I felt a searing pain in my knee after that . Nearly 5 weeks later I feel pain and severe tightness every step I take . My doctor says it’s normal because all the muscles, tendons , and ligaments are rubbing against bone which was traumatically scraped when bone was chiseled away during surgery . I don’t think I should be feeling this much pain and have so much swelling thus far along . What do you think?
    • tricia1954
      tricia1954 Somny17

      Posted

      Hi Somny. Pain at 7 weeks after PKR. Is totally normal. I had a medial PKR right leg last June 2017 and a second left leg PKR 3 weeks ago March 2018. So maybe know a little about it, well in my case anyway and of course everyone indeed every knee is different.

      After my first knee i didn't come off Tramadol until 8 weeks (I tried unsuccessfully a few times but was in too much pain) after that I took paracetamol or ibuprofen not regularly, but certainly most days especially after exertion until October so 4 months. This time I seem to be in much more pain but have a better ROM. At three weeks I am still using 2 crutches (maybe because the first leg isn't quite strong enough to hold me yet). 

      At 7 weeks you will still be needing to ice and elevate so everything you are saying is fine. Your leg was effectively broken above and below the knee to attach the new piece. It is still healing and will be for about a year. Inside it is bruised so will hurt. Try just the gentle exercises and no more than half a mile to a mile walking. Any more in one go will cause stress in the early days. You cannot push it to try to get better faster, it just doesn't work like that. 

      Gently, baby steps, frustrating we all know but you will get there.

      Hope this helps. Good luck.

    • Somny17
      Somny17 tricia1954

      Posted

      Thank you very much for your comments! I had shoulder surgery last April 2017, knee orthoscopy during the fall and pkr since orthoscopy didn’t fix the situation. So after nearly a year of surgeries and recovery it has just been difficult at 67 years of age to heal quickly . It gets very discouraging at times .I feel encouraged now.
  • Somny17
    Somny17 Shell.t

    Posted

    My leg hurts under my knee, above and below it . I am 7 weeks along after pkr.
  • neil_76432
    neil_76432 Shell.t

    Posted

    Hi Michelle,

    I’m 51 too and have had a pkr 8 weeks ago, not long I know but I was doing so well until 2 days ago when I only did slightly more than normal during my day and wow! The pain I have, knife like pains now and then in my knee and tight muscles above, below and behind the knee....is this normal? Really grumpy as I thought I was doing well.

    Neil 

    • tricia1954
      tricia1954 neil_76432

      Posted

      Hi Neil

      I am almost 6 weeks after my second partial knee. First one ten months ago. So you would think I know what I'm doing. Afraid not 😊. Just like you I did a little too much on one day ( didn't know it at the time) and the pain and swelling made  me feel like I was back at week 2/3!

      you really can't hurry the recovery. I have definitely tried both times. Even at ten months too much standing or exercise or squats tells me all about it.

      Ice and elevate and back to normal quite soon. If I can I follow a very strenuous day by a quieter one.  I'm still not sure how long it will take to get my life back which was Zumba, seven mile walks up and down hills and lots of swimming, definitely not a couch potato, but I think it is going to be the full year! Rest and exercise. And then repeat 😬 Good luck

    • neil_76432
      neil_76432 tricia1954

      Posted

      Thank you Tricia for taking the time to respond,  reading other peoples stories really does help. Currenty resting with lots of ice😊

      Thanks 

      Neil 

  • starbright1
    starbright1 Shell.t

    Posted

    Hi

    I really feel for you. I hit that point at two \three weeks. I just made sure i really rested and iced my knee. I also stretched it as when possible.

    I am now nearly five weeks in. Feeling ok. The grumpy feeling is dreadful and i suggest some nice chocolate and scented candles,!x

  • LKG216
    LKG216 Shell.t

    Posted

    Hello, I had my kneecap replacement in Oct. 2017 (7months ago) and found it to be a very hard recovery. My bend and extension are great but I have constant pain around the knee and now I am getting severe pain going up my thigh. I cannot just get up and walk right away either. I am also told that in my sleep I sporadically kick out my right leg out at least 15 times in the night. That’s the same leg I had the kneecap replacement on. I never did this prior to the surgery. Does anyone else have that issue as well? A little curious. 

    Sometimes my leg hyperextends and it is painful. I just want to be normal and have my life back!  I used to drive a school bus for a living but unfortunately it is my driving leg and I am no longer able to drive a big school bus anymore so I am stressed about finding work on top of all this pain!! 

  • LKG216
    LKG216 Shell.t

    Posted

    Hello, I had my kneecap replacement in Oct. 2017 (7months ago) and found it to be a very hard recovery. My bend and extension are great but I have constant pain around the knee and now I am getting severe pain going up my thigh. I cannot just get up and walk right away either. I am also told that in my sleep I sporadically kick out my right leg out at least 15 times in the night. That’s the same leg I had the kneecap replacement on. I never did this prior to the surgery. Does anyone else have that issue as well? A little curious. 

    Sometimes my leg hyperextends and it is painful. I just want to be normal and have my life back!  I used to drive a school bus for a living but unfortunately it is my driving leg and I am no longer able to drive a big school bus anymore so I am stressed about finding work on top of all this pain!! 

  • bradley_33200
    bradley_33200 Shell.t

    Posted

    Hi I had a partial knee replacement on my inner right knee 4 years ago and I'm having alot of tightness and pain under my knee and in the back of my leg hurts alot,went back to the surgeon 3 months ago and he did and xray told me he saw movement from the part and he told me its common but also told me if I experienced more pain to report to my insurance provider because its workmans comp because I might need a full knee replacement so I'm preparing myself catching up on bills because I know I will be out of work for about 1 year I hate to go under the knife again but the pain level is getting worse and I don't wanna miss workmans comp paying I can't afford it lol.

  • kim00220
    kim00220 Shell.t

    Edited

    Hi I had an partial knee replacement at the age of 52 now nearly 55 still having problems with it was fine at the Beginning but after eight months things weren't right (my leg was never straight before op) I was told that my leg was 100% straight after surgery.Hence the pain I was in first night just wanted to bend knee obviously ligaments were to tight.They operated on it again a year after made no difference.

    Now coming up to 3 years since first done and I'm still having problems,lm alright moving in confined spaces but walking in a straight line for more than 50m start getting pain, this is now affecting me back, and I'm walking with a limp again not good as always been an active person. I have never been able to jog since having it. Was told that a partial knee replacement would be best for me because it would be a quicker recovery time with my busy life ,don't think so.

    I would recommend is aqua aerobics and swimming about the only form of exercise I can do without getting back pain.

    Spoken to a different consultant and he seems to believe that the answer would be full knee replacement which probably should have had in the first place. But they are looking into my back pain first had MRI scan gots an appointment to see an orthopaedic surgeon end of June 2018 see what that brings up. Totally fed up with it all.

    • bradley_33200
      bradley_33200 kim00220

      Posted

      Wow sorry to hear that I'm fed up as well pain seems to be getting worse so I think I will opt for the full replacement since I'm under workmans comp and I'm also having issues trying to jog and walking long distance I think it's all a money grab with these doctors my first replacement should have been a full knee replacement not a partial but what can we do when these insurance companies think they control your life good luck fam keep me posted on your condition

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