Tomorrow starts 7 Months post TKR....now Patella is not tracking and almost fell 2 days ago

Posted , 4 users are following.

WILL IT EVER END????? Saw the surgeon at 6 months (last month) and he tells me if I do new exercises I will notice a big difference . Maybe not so much tourniqueting. Nothing major. Still afraid going downstairs. Numbness, pain. I had to go to the hospital 2 days ago to get an MRI of my non TKR Achilles tendon checked for a tear. Just what I need now. I get results tomorrow. They put me in a wheelchair as it was quite a long walk to the MRI wing. When they brought me back to the parking garage they didn't get the TKR foot rest moved all the way back and when I stood up I tripped on it falling forward. If it hadn't been for a door jamb and hand rail I would have been on the floor. I didn't hit my knee but must have jarred it. I was so shook up I couldn't find my car and walked around for 10 minutes looking for it. It has been in a tight tourniquet state since then. I haven;t exercised it till today just iced it. Lots of clicking. I am afraid I may have really messed up the tracking. I see the surgeon next week. Should I call the surgeon, wait till after I see if I have torn my Achilles tendon or wait till i see him next week? I see the PT this Wednesday. I am beside myself.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Horrible, me TKr.5 mths

    .still in discomfort

    stiffness unbearable.this is my 2nd TKR. both knees done, 2 yrs apart.1st 1 easy. This has been hard.

  • Posted

    I know how you feel. My 7 months starts on the 29 and i dont see my surgeon till July 4. I have been wearing a patella brace for 10 weeks as my knee cap had slipped to the side. I cant tell if its corrected as my knee is still swollen and i cant find the knee cap. i still cant do leg extensions or lift my leg up when laying down. Last week while walking on grass ...luckily...my knee gave way and I fell. Tried walking downstairs and the knee buckled and i almost fell. I keep searching on line for solutions. my family doctor said 20% of TkR's are not successful. I feel like this surgery has turned me into a doddering old lady from an active involved senior. I had this surgery so that i could walk with my grandchildren.

    Call your surgeon and ask what you should do. GOOD LUCK

  • Posted

    Jean,

    I went to Rite Aid yesterday and asked about using Aspercreme with

    Lidocaine for the pain. She said it might help. Didn't.

    I asked her if she could think of anything else that might help she said "Second Opinion"! I can't IMAGINE I would be able to find ANYONE who would touch me after 6 months and another surgeon operating on me.

    What does the brace do? Can you exercise in it? I would think it would get stiffer. We are really just Guinea Pigs at the mercy of our Surgeons.

    So sorry you are going thru this too.

    Eileen

    • Posted

      Eileen,

      I am lucky im not in pain. The only pain i experience is when i roll over in bed i get a sharp pain with the movement....feels like something moving in my knee. I am still very stiff when i wake the first 4 or 5 steps are difficult.

      My brace is about 2 feet long, with metal rods and straps to pull the patella over to the centre of the knee. I bought the most expensive one but in hind site i wish i had got a lighter one. i dont work out with it as i feel it would hinder the work out. it does make me feel more stable walking. I am back to using my cane for stability.

      I asked my family doctor about a 2nd opinion and she said it would have to come from my surgeon. My right knee was done 11 years ago and within 3 months i was dancing.

      JEAN

    • Posted

      jean,

      I won't be getting a brace for my knee. The MRI results came back . This is what it said: FINDINGS: Abnormal caliber size size and signal is appreciated in the Achilles tendon. Thid is compatible with intrasubstance insertional partional thickness tear superimposed upon tendinosis. Small amount of edema in the calcaneuus is aappreciated. Haglund deformity is noted. Small amount of bursal fluid and surrounding soft tissue edema is noted.

      impression:

      *Abnormal study. Intrasubstance tear at partial -thickness tear of the Achilles is appreciated superimposed upon tendinopathy. There is surrounding edemsa and osteitis as detailed above.

      I will be fitted with something that will fit in my right shoe. the thing is mt left knee TKR is stiff a lot of the time and has the tourniquet feeling and doesn't bend all the time. plus the patella doesn't track. so they will add something that will not let my right leg bend. how am i supposed to walk, go down stairs, get in and out of bed, get up and down on the toilet? Podiatrist thinks this happend from my right leg trying to protect the left leg, we will see.

      Will report back in when I get home.

  • Posted

    I am 17 months out. Saw a different doc at 7 months and he did arthoscopic surgery and cleaned out the scar tissue. Went to 4 different physical therapists, all different, and none helped. It will either get better on its own, or I'll have to go back and have another go with the second doctor..... Worse decision I ever made is having this $%*& surgery.

  • Posted

    I agree. I thought it hurt before surgery. Not near as much as it does now. I see the surgeon this coming Thursday and will see what he says. Just wondering how much damage this tourniquet twisting is doing to my knee, hip and leg.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.