topic Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions... in Wellness

Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

Magenta — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 18:41:02 GMT

Hi everyone,

I am usually at viewpoint, so not new to the boards.

Almost 3 months ago, I had this knee replacement and I recuped extremely fast and well. However, since it has been so incredibly cold, I have continued to experience heavy pain. I saw the surgeon abt. 3 weeks ago, and he explained that everything is in great shape, but it is the cold, ice, snow, etc. that is doing this to my system. So over the past weeks, I have barely been out, although also inside the pain has been horrific. Yesterday at 50 deg. I finally saw a movie, and although stiff, enjoyed it. I do all the p.t. and walk inside my apt. building 20-30 mins. a day in the hall way, which the doctor applauded.

Sometimes I have used Arnica on the muscles, as they are so stiff (buy the cheapest at Whole Foods - 365 - cheaper and more in it - gel.) That does help, but I am curious how others deal with this. Also, my other knee is also acting up, and wouldn't be surprised if in the near future that knee needs to be done too, and dread it.

However, I give in DC city tours, i.e., 3-4 miles in 4-5 hours, so I have to be at my best.

Is there anyone who has some new tips for me. The surgeon wanted me to come back on the 12th this months, and I have no better news. BTW, my scar is nearly invisible, as the knee was put toghether with glue. Ever heard of? Right the first few weeks, I came through very well, and pain was really not bad, as the weather was very mild.

Thank you in advance.

Magenta

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

gazelle77 — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 18:52:35 GMT

HI! I had double knee replacement last June. The BEST website for asking questions and talking to knowledgeable people is BONESMART.ORG. I think if you post your question there you will get great answers! I still go there and share and talk to fellow knee replacement buddies I made through the process. I also have a recovery thread. Good luck to you and that wonderful knee of yours!

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

RedTop — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 19:12:06 GMT

I am sorry for your continued pain, and certainly hope you find the answer and/or solution. My knee replacement was 2 years ago, and I have not had any pain issues since the surgery and recovery. I just had my yearly visit with my orthopedic surgeon, and the xray shows my joint is in place and everything is well. I do know people who experienced continued pain, and it was traced to the new joint being the wrong size, and I know of one person who complained of horrible pain and they found that her new joint had cracked from a fall. Wishing you better days ahead.

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

Magenta — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 22:33:50 GMT

Oh ladies, as always you come through here on the board. Thanks so very much. The good news is that initially I had little pain, but only when the weather became so severed, did I start this horrific pain. My surgeon does 300 replacements per year, has an outstanding reputation, and if I would have a second one done, I'd return in a jiffy to him again, as I trust him that much. Luckily no, I didn't fall. Prevented everything with the help of my sister (RN) that this would not happen, so didn't go out at night, just last night for the first time. So there is hope.

Gazelle, I can't imagine what that was like, having two knees at once. My surgeon is very opposed to that, and I myself couldn't imagine undergoing that. My congratulations to you and so too what courage you had. I am indeed going to that Bonesmart.org. now. Thank you again so very much and wish you continued success.

Oh yes, I do put ice on it, and if really bad, take 2 Advils. The ice does help some.

Again, thanks mucho and

hugs,

Magenta

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

sydsgma1 — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 23:11:16 GMT

Magenta, I had a tkr two years ago and have developed rather aggravating pain,me specially in the cold. I also checked with my surgeon and for me, because I also have ra, it is not unexpected. I find arnica and a heating pad help . It is not daily or constant but can be annoying. I use a pain pill on the few and far between nights that it keeps me awake. You have made an amazing recovery.

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

Kachina624 — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:28 GMT

I had mine in May 2011. I never had a lot of pain considering the trauma poor knee went through. I can't do much walking due to a chronic back problem so my exercise was "iffy" at best. The only pain I've had is the feeling that the skin is stretched too tight, and that's just a nuisance. A friend developed scar tissue in her knee and had to have another surgery which also was not completely successful. She just had her other knee done and no problem at all.

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

sfnative — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 04:44:09 GMT

Magenta,

Re the "glue," it's possible it was "Dermabond," something akin to "skin superglue."

Since my TKA is upcoming, am not able to help you with other answers, but hope you're successful on the website/forum provided.

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

ivey — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 23:25:21 GMT

I searched this thread because I remembered it from earlier.

I have had knee pain for the past couple of weeks and thought I had torn the meniscus (because I've had orthoscopic surgery before). Well, finally my doctor sent me for an MRI yesterday--today got the results. "Severe bone on bone osteoarthritis." And he's sending me to a specialist.

Please help me with questions I can ask in order to get the information I need. What would you consider good credentials of the doctor? I don't have friends who have gone through this yet. Getting to the age where it will be a consideration. (65)

Also, how long is the recuperation period for a knee replacement? Thanks in advance.

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

RedTop — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 00:17:45 GMT

ivey,

I suffered with osteoarthritis for 13 years before finally giving in and having the knee replacement; I pushed myself nearly 4 years after reaching the bone on bone stage, and let myself get to the point I could clearly see I would not be able to walk within another year without surgery. I let myself suffer far longer than I should have, and while parts of the recovery is indeed very painful, it was a breeze compared to the pain I had already been through. At 57, I wanted my life back, and having the surgery gave that to me. I had my surgery on the 4th of January, and returned to my office job at the end of March two years ago. My surgery was done in the hospital where I worked, and was done by a very reputable orthopedic surgeon in this town. I had no problems whatsoever, and was walking on a cane by the second week.

Prior to making the final decision to have knee replacement surgery, I did try Synvisc injections. Before then, I had tried several medications for relief, even an arthritis medication which only irritated my stomach lining, but did no more for me than ibuprofen or Aleve. The Synvisc did not work at all for me, due to the severity of my bone on bone situation. I am sure the specialist you are going to see will give you all of your available options, based on where you are right now. Please do not be fearful of the surgery to where you put off the one option that will make the most difference in your life. If surgery is mentioned, please educate yourself on what the surgery entails, then prepare yourself fully to deal with it, know what you have to do to make the surgery successful, and then just do it! Because of the deterioration of my knee joint, my left foot turned out slightly. With the surgery, my new knee keeps my foot straight, and I required all new shoes after surgery due to the way my shoes had been broken in by the bad knee. No one prepared me for this; I learned the hard way when I returned to work and tried to wear my dress shoes, which put stress on my new knee and caused pain I had not experienced since the surgery. Two years later I continue to be pain free, and am thankful for the decision I made to help myself. Wishing you the very best with whatever decision you have to make!

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

ivey — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 01:35:46 GMT

Red Top--thanks so much for the information. This bad pain came up so suddenly that I'm shocked about the bone-on-bone diagnosis. I just stepped 6 in. from my utility room into the garage and felt something like a snap or sharp pain. I immediately started icing because it felt like long ago when I tore the meniscus. Your advice is spot on--I don't want to baby a painful knee and not be able to do anything.

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

wismiss — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 04:43:07 GMT

Magenta: You are doing fabulously, considering that it has been only three months since your surgery. Are you back to work or are you still on medical leave? I had one knee replaced in November, 2012, and the other in June, 2013. One day both knees hurt so much, I couldn't believe it, as I am relatively pain free. So, I called my friend who had both knees replaced about the same time that I did and hers were also hurting. This happened at the time of our first snowfall followed by cold weather. I felt much better knowing we were both experiencing the same thing, and just gritted my teeth and in a day or so the pain was gone. I have noticed that when the weather changes from warmer to colder, my knee(s) do let me know they are still there. Nothing that keeps me in a lot of pain, just a teasing of "I'm still here."

Give your knees a year to heal. Keep moving (I also applaud you for doing your PT exercises and walking) and don't give in to the pain and let it stop you from moving. I'm wondering if knee warmers or wearing Cuddle Duds might help. Maybe keeping them warmer would hep. Do you have pain at night when sleeping? Does it wake you? You might want to ask your doctor what to do if this is happening frequently.

If your surgeon has taken after surgery x-rays from different views and everything is fine, it might just be a matter of giving the knee more time to heal. This was major surgery.

Good luck, and I hope you find an answer to your knee pain. It took about a year before I was mostly pain free. At 3 months, I was still healing and experiencing some pain. Not as much as at the beginning, but still some.

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

gazelle77 — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 05:18:49 GMT

Magenta, I had both knees replaced last June. It has been 9 months and I am just now starting to REALLY feel great. It can take well over a year for the tissue to totally heal. It is the most brutal surgery of just about any surgery on the body. Think about that! You are early in the healing process. Be patient, do not over do! That will just set you back.

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

okiebug — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 05:33:55 GMT

I have had both knees replaced, 3 months apart, 3 years ago. I had a great recovery. This winter has caused me a great deal of pain. I was out one day when it was below 15 and when I got home the skin on my right knee was white and chilled to the touch. I was literally chilled to the "bone" or "metal" in my case. It took a heating pad and several hours for my legs to warm up - this winter has been really hard.

Re: Knee Replacement ~~ Have Some Questions...

sfnative — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 23:59:36 GMT

Magenta,

It's nasty having to live in really cold weather with a TKA. However, I believe surgeons would indicate that there are differences from one person to another. I, for one, am sensitive to cold, so know that once I have the re-scheduled surgery in May, my left knee will bother me during our long winters.

For those who think they may be candidates, I'd like to just lay this out here for consideration. I was supposed to have a TKA in January, but opted out and changed surgeons, because I wanted the surgery to be performed with Navigation (no guesswork here) and also wanted Stryker's Triathlon knee, which has male and female models. Further, this Triathlon model with Tritanium has new connectivity to the host bone: no bone glue! The part of the device of interest interfaces with the bone by way of Tritanium highly porus matrix which fuses excellently with bone (without the need for glue). All of this adds up to many pluses for the patient. A multi-year study on the basic unit is complete and the results are most excellent.

******

As with another poster, my knee issue arrived on the spot, as if I had ordered a pizza: bone on bone, buckling unless I walk straight legged and pain that wakes me up at night.

My best to all who are post-TKA and to those considering this surgery.