I used metal pool steps and now have "bump" in knee

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hi everyone. I am at 5 months and two weeks post bi-lateral tkr's. I am in Australia now and have been plodding along slowly getting back to a life without pain and including travel, which is really great BUT my balance is not perfect and also I've developed a small bump in my right knee after I used fixed metal steps to enter a pool, on a recent 6 week holiday, in Asia. I put my total 72.3 kg weight on my right knee and I am not due to see my surgeon for my 6 month check up until September 22. I have recently returned home on September 1.

Has anyone developed any bumps under the scar line? It's not painful, it just looks weird. It could be muscle or fluid I guess. I've found my GP to be pretty hopeless when it comes to my knee and subsequent rehabilitation. I've learnt to be pro active and because my sister is soon to have a similar operation on her left knee I've advised her to use this website as a information and learning resource and to educate herself on what to expect. Any relevant input would be much appreciated.

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Try massaging Vit E oil in twice a day with your thumbs. It softens and heals quite well. I've used it on all 5 of my rehab and even though the scar is almost a foot long its pretty clean except right in the middle where its concave from so much tissue damage from the original tumors and the 11 surgeries.

  • Posted

    Listen to your body, and not physio.

    they do not have your pain, or your pain tolerance.

    i had surgery on 5th December 2015 on my knee.

    during my first joint school (physio) lesson, I was instructed badly, and pushed to hard on leg press., which led to major surgery.

    iam now recovering after TKR on 24th August 2016, and I will be listening to my body first and foremost

  • Posted

    Lyn, a friend of mine had something like this show up on her knee. She was told it was where they tied off the internal stitches. And that it may still disolve. I remeber seeing it and thinking it did look odd, but like you, she had no pain. Our bodies just do the darndest things, don't they?

    -Mo

    • Posted

      I've had internal stitches work their way to the surface weeks after surgery. The last time it happened the surgeon spent extra time getting it out. With my history of staph he didn't want to leave anything to chance. He then gave me clindamycin 300mg 3 times a day for a couple of weeks. That's not necessarily the drug of choice but the one I have to take due to allergic reaction to a certain family of drugs. I can't take anything in the sulpha group.

    • Posted

      Interesting. Yes, I had two pieces of stitches work their way out too. But this is what my friend just told me the doctor said about her bump (she's in the USA). But she didn't say that it was a stitch, just the location where it was tied off. So I'm not really sure what that means. I wasn't going to argue with her.

  • Posted

    Hi Lyn

    I would massage twice daily with Bio Oil or equivalent

    I had scar tissue too and this helped me

    Regards

    Christine

    TKR Nov 2014

  • Posted

    Thank you all very much for your replies. I massaged the area today and it appears the "bump" might be reducing in size. It is so easy to be worried and get a bit too concerned during recovery from a tkr. Thanks again folks. x

  • Posted

    An update to my original post.... I have an effusion. My MD has ordered blood tests and says it showed up on a XRay, I requested. Thanks OFG for suggesting that Xray in a response to someone on this website. I am taking Celebrex and it seems to reduce the swelling. My left knee is healing so well and is awesome. My right which was my "best" knee is not great. The TKR recovery process is sooo slow but I am being patient. At nearly 6 months post op on two knees done together, I guess that is all I can do. Thanks for input.

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