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3 months after tkr pain when walking

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margaret02114
margaret02114

I am 77 yrs old had total knee replacement on my left knee due to arthritis, I had initial swelling due to bleed into the knee, which has lessened but I now have severe pain when straightening and bending or walking. The pain is on the lateral side of the knee and is accompanied by clunking. It feel like there is some kind of a joint there this is rubbing (probably mechanics) My GP says it could be some tissue lodged and may take sometime to clear give it another nine months. I really feel there is something wrong and I'm considering asking for an MRI. Please has anyone else had this kind of problem. I really don't know  what to do.

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  • jean1974
    jean1974 margaret02114

    Posted

    I'm 43 years old. I just had both my knees replaced on Feb 12th. The right knee is right on track, but the left one has been giving me problems since I woke up from surgery. It looked like I had a huge balloon on top of my left knee for about 3-4 days after surgery. It hurts so much more then the right knee. After the staples were taken out, we realized that I have a divit on the top of my knee. Apparently my surgeon pulled the inner stitch too tight, which is making bending very difficult. I still can't bend my left need to 90°. Has anyone else had this problem?

  • maureen70446
    maureen70446 margaret02114

    Posted

    Dear Margaret, I had my TKR 12 weeks ago, I am fortunate that my Sister and her Husband are both medical and I phone them regularly for information, also my Consultant is always prepared to talk if I need it.  The important thing as my sister has said that it is very early days and it is necessary to keep up the pain regime, you may reduce it slightly but before any exercise it is extremely important to take some 30 minutes before doing anything strenuous.  I have odd days when it is very bad, but usually my own fault from trying to do too much.  I am 73 and very active.  Yes there is clunking of the new joint, but this is only more noticeable now that the swelling is going down and I take this as a good sign,  I now have pain on the lateral side when in bed, but this is eased by a soft pillow under the knee and down to the ankle.  Give it a try. My consultant has said that for the first year there will be some pain and good days and bad days depending on degree of activity.
    • margaret02114
      margaret02114 maureen70446

      Posted

      Thank you Maureen, I do sleep with a pillow for some relief, as you suggested, I’m just frustrated that after 14 months I still have pain, and can’t walk too far, which is annoying. I do go to an exercise group once a week and see my pt weekly, he would like me to attend his Pilates class, but that seems to aggregate the knee joint. I have had some dry needling which does alleviate the pain some. I’m hoping the next 6 months will see some more healing. thanks for your advice, and good luck with your recovery.
  • gillytonk
    gillytonk margaret02114

    Posted

    I had a full replacement on my right knee on the 13 April. I unfortunately had a suture that didn’t dissolve and i 

    got an infection in it. I had to be readmitted to hospital for another general anesthetic to have the wound opened up again and have it flushed out. Is it ‘normal’ to have the knee joint swell in the evening and become quite painful. I am having to icepack in the evenings, and can’t seem to walk far without limping. Is this normal?

     

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX gillytonk

      Posted

      Infection or not, yes...the knee will feel swollen in the evening early on in your recovery.  It will also swell if you push the knee too far on any given day.  That's why it's a good idea to get a pedometer (fit bit, etc.) to track your steps and increase gradually to avoid "balloon knee".  I iced my knee every night, all night during the first month or so.  Also, after the incision heals, Voltaren Gel (RX in the US, generic diclofenc elsewhere) is a great topical anti-inflammatory and pain reliever.

    • gillytonk
      gillytonk CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thank you Chico Marx for your advice, I will buy the Voltaren Gel soonest.i am encouraged to hear also that you are regularly ice packing, as it really helps me in the evenings, and I wake in the night a couple of hours in, to replace it.  I treated myself to a Leg Raiser, made by Harley which enables me to be pain free if I sleep on my back. Hope you continue to improve, and I will try to be more patient and ruserect my old Fitbit to monitor how much I do in a day. Have a tendency to get involved trying to garden forgetting time etc and then wonder why my knee feels so bruised in the evening.  Thank you again for your advice. Regards..
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX gillytonk

      Posted

      The pain when you are kneeling is and will be mostly residual nerve pain.  Worse when you kneel on a hard surface.  Veterans of the op will recommend using a 3"-4"foam pad or old pillow indoors and padded tactical knee pads outside.  At 2+ years post op, I can tell you that the sensation has lessened but has definitely not gone away...and I don't really expect it to because it's about severed nerves.  I doubt it will ever be 100% but that's a small price to pay.

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