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Lateral knee pain after TKR

Posted , 8 users are following.

tom809
tom809

From day one I have had lateral knee pain that is now still with me 14 weeks after surgery. The pain occurs and stops my flexion at 125 degrees. It makes it difficult to walk down hills or bear weight on the knee when it is in a flexed position. Thus rising out of a chair is painful or standing on the leg and going down to the next step on stairs. I have numbness on the upper lateral aspect of my leg making me think of a nerve entrapment but I have NO weakness. Bending and straighting my leg in bed causes the pain and sitting with the knee flexed for long periods causes the knee to start aching. Has anyone else experienced this situation?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • tom809
    tom809

    Posted

    It is interesting to me that no one has commented on my problem. Is it that rare??
  • Damy
    Damy tom809

    Posted

    Hi tom,

    i don't know why nobody has replied to you.

    i am at 17 weeks and my feeling is what u r experiencing is normal.

    125 flex ion is supposedly very good. I be only been able to get to about 120 w/ the pt pushing my leg. 

    I too have pain when walking the stairs. I think it just takes a long time to heal.

    the numbness is also normal: so the surgeon says. It too , can last up to a year or more. If ur concerned have URSELF checked out by ur dr.

    best regards, damy

     

    • tom809
      tom809 Damy

      Posted

      Thanks Damy. They have told me that sometimes it takes a year for all the pain to resolve. My concern is that it has remained so constant and unchanged. I have done some research on the internet and sometimes the peroneal nerve becomes entraped and causes lateral pain and blocks flexion. However I had a nerve study and it was normal. I guess I will just give it time. 
    • jo15573
      jo15573 tom809

      Posted

      I had my TKR 7 weeks ago and am experiencing the same. I also had a lateral repair where the tendons are cut and shortened to help straighten my leg to improve the success of the replacement It's frustrating as the additional swelling hampers the exercise but you just have to accept that it's a slower recovery. Positive thoughts as the pain is far more bearable than the arthritic pain before the op. Best of luck with your recovery
    • tom809
      tom809 jo15573

      Posted

      Thanks for you comments. I shouldn't complain. You required much more surgery than I did because of your lateral repair. I am hearing over and over that it often takes a year to become completely pain free
  • susan89127
    susan89127 tom809

    Posted

    Hi Tom. I have had a similar problem. I had a lateral partial knee replacement

    Jan 2015 and I have experienced the pain you are describing ever since then. I had no problem

    with bend but I have pain when sitting and standing. I still use one crutch,

    sometimes two. I am due to have another athroscopy to see what

    is going on with it, as x ray shows everything fine. This will be 3rd op

    on same knee. I am really fed up with it.

    • tom809
      tom809 susan89127

      Posted

      Have them take a close look at your peroneal nerve function to make sure you dont have subtle peroneal nerve dysfunction
  • Annibgood
    Annibgood tom809

    Posted

    Hi Tom

    Your message only appeared on my screen in the last couple of hours!

    Weird or what?

    I'm 20 weeks and much better. Bend and extension perfect.  but still get stiffness and soreness when I get up in the morning, sit for too long and getting up out of the chair takes a bit of effort (and a groan sad). Get the occasional 'log leg' but not your 'thunder and lightning' anymore. Still have numbness in knee cap, but I think that is normal. Do my PT cycling and walking every day.

    I think you are about par for the course for the stage you are at.

    Best wishes

    Ann

    The Irish One!

  • vincent_64416
    vincent_64416 tom809

    Posted

    Your symptoms some very much like mine and I had my TKR 18 months ago.

    I have been back about five times to see the surgeon and after x-rays and blood tests they find nothing wrong. My knee is getting worse the longer it goes on. I do have a second opinion appointment in Jan so we will see what happens with that. 

    • tom809
      tom809 vincent_64416

      Posted

      Vincent

      I had the same problem. Being I retired orthopedist I went on the internet and decided I had perineal nerve neuropathy which is rare but often overlooked. But a EMG ruled this out and slowly the pain went away. If it doesn't improve an EMG might need to be discussed

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