topic Re: Question for post knee replacement victims in Wellness

Question for post knee replacement victims

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 01:41:38 GMT

I will certainly be glad when my knee has completely recovered. I'm nearly 5 months post op and for the last few weeks I have been having pain behind my knee, hamstring area. I have completed formal PT, had this pain for a short period of time while going to therapy and the therapist said it was my hamstring. The pain has subsided a bit, but it occasionally causes me to have to grab the wall or something because I am afraid I might fall. I called the doctor last week and told to ice 3-4 x's per day, hold off on home PT for a week.

Again it is better and not constant but I just wondered if anyone else has had this problem during recovery. I don't recall this problem when my left knee was done.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

Kachina624 — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 01:50:01 GMT

I never had a problem like you describe.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

hckynut — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 02:20:03 GMT

@Goodie2shoes

I know the Physical Therapist measured both the degree of "bend" of the replaced knee almost every PT visit of my wife's. They also measured the degree of "extension", which is also very important.

My Ortho friend that did my wife's surgery, told me the "extension", is very important for the exact reason you have mentioned.

When the leg is bent at the knee, the hamstring muscle is "contracted", which over time can cause a muscle spasm(cramp) in the hamstring. From what he told me, he wanted me to make sure my wife worked on that part of her new knee, along with the degree of "bend". Bending beyond, say 100°, can contract a tight hamstring to the possible point of a spasm.

Might want to look into this with your surgeon and your Physical Therapist.

hckynut

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 03:15:06 GMT

@hckynut wrote:

I know the Physical Therapist measured both the degree of "bend" of the replaced knee almost every PT visit of my wife's. They also measured the degree of "extension", which is also very important.

My Ortho friend that did my wife's surgery, told me the "extension", is very important for the exact reason you have mentioned.

Might want to look into this with your surgeon and your Physical Therapist.

Thanks for the info, I no longer attend formal PT, released to home exercise. My doctor was not concerned when I called them. It's a bit better. If not gone in the next week I will contact the doctor again.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

RespectLife — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 18:49:31 GMT

I am sorry you are experiencing pain...my DH is also 5 mos. post op and he said he has not felt that area giving him trouble. He is still able to be faithful with his home PT.

Just wondering why you used the word 'victim' though.....my DH elected to have this procedure done. It was his choice to do so. He will have the other knee done in the future. For him, so far, it has been an excellent decision. The surgical pain and recovery is far easier to handle than what he endured before. I know this is not the case for everyone. I have a dear friend that has struggled 1.5 yrs. post op! However, she will be the first to tell you she was not victimized.

Best of luck!

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

chlema — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 16:34:57 GMT

I have not experienced any problems with my hamstring, thankfully. I am 9 months post-op for right knee, 5 months for left. My doctor said the best thing to do is walk walk walk. I do not see myself as a victim tho, just a thankful and happy person who is so glad she had knees done. Looking forward to Spring when I can finally enjoy gardening again. Hope your pain resolves itself soon.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

SeaMaiden — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 16:44:53 GMT

@Goodie2shoes expect the first full year after knee replacement for healing to continue... aches, pains, pulls, muscle issues. Deep tissue healing takes a long time with such invasive surgery.

It has been 7 years since my bilateral knee replacement and I still get occational pings when I over do it... or do too many deep squats. But actually I am surprised that I can do those deep knee squats! It is really amazing surgery and gave me my life back.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:01:20 GMT

@RespectLife wrote:

My goodness you really have to be careful what you say on this forum! I was simply joking when I used the term Victim !! I have now had both knees replaced and made the decision to do that because of the pain and being bone on bone. I know it's a serious surgery and I am thankfull that I had it done and I do wish all who went thru it or has to have it done the best of luck with full recovery but you have to have a sense of humor or it can cause you to be depressed since it slows your motion for a while. So if I offended anyone it was not my intention ! Allow a little humor in your life. .

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

chrystaltree — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:14:28 GMT

I think we are patients, not victims. I never had that problem and I don't recall any of the other people I know who had TKR talking about that. Actually, by 5 months out, most people are fully recovered and back to their regular lives. However, people do recover differently. You say you talked with the doctor, I would suggest that you go in and speak directly to your surgeon. Let him examine that leg, tell him exactly where the pain is, how it feels etc. It could be something that isn't related to the TKR. I'd do as the doctor said, ice and wait and if you still have. It's time to go back in and see that doctor.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

sfnative — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:48:08 GMT

@Goodie2shoes

It's not always a hamstring tendon issue of that of a ligament. The most commonly surgically injured nerve during a knee joint replacement is the peroneal nerve, which is in the posterior position and can cause marked pain. It can also cause numbness in certain areas of the foot and especially the large toe.

If you haven't had this discussion with your surgeon yet, it's time to do so.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

RespectLife — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 20:11:51 GMT

@Goodie2shoes

I don't think any of us that responded to your word choice were offended just confused!

I didn't catch your humor though and thought you chose that word to represent your situation!

I'm glad you were joking. Sometimes the written word is harder to get the intent than verbal! Hearing it said gives addtional insight with voice tone etc.

Hope your pain goes away very soon!

e: Question for post knee replacement victims

hckynut — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 20:19:10 GMT

@sfnative

Hi Rebecca, glad to see your input on this thread. As you've said, there are many nerves that can be triggered by most any kind of invasive surgery, including all joints and the spine. My invasive experiences with this are primarily from my 2 back surgeries, and that dang Sciatic Nerve.

Hope you have found something that helps ease your pain with your so many issues. I haven't seen much of you on any of the topics that interest me on this Wellness Forum lately.

When you have time and/or feel up to it, let me know how you are doing. Keeping in it a terminology, I as a lay person, can understand. Think of you often.

I am still doing great, both physically and mentally. Ice skating, injury free for now anyways, 3 times a week, 2 hour sessions. My wife is "getting there", now 4 months post her Right TKR. Can't get her to become more like me in that respect, but hey, I'm usually the odd ball out. =^..^=

JOhn(hckynut)

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

Sammycat1 — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 22:00:49 GMT

@Goodie2shoes wrote:
I will certainly be glad when my knee has completely recovered. I'm nearly 5 months post op and for the last few weeks I have been having pain behind my knee, hamstring area. I have completed formal PT, had this pain for a short period of time while going to therapy and the therapist said it was my hamstring. The pain has subsided a bit, but it occasionally causes me to have to grab the wall or something because I am afraid I might fall. I called the doctor last week and told to ice 3-4 x's per day, hold off on home PT for a week.
Again it is better and not constant but I just wondered if anyone else has had this problem during recovery. I don't recall this problem when my left knee was done.

I have had this problem, pre- and post-surgery. I've got a couple of knee implants myself, and one thing I've learned is: no knee is like any other, including the ones in your own body. No knee heals the same as another.

Given that, I'd ask your surgeon about the following:

1) In your case, could weakness in other joints be taxing the hamstring or other soft tissues in and around the knee (in me, this was a partial yes--an ankle in the same leg with traumatic arthritis).

2) In your case, could the knee have been so bad that soft tissue is having trouble with the "re-set" button, as it were, in healing (soft tissue taking the longest to heal)?

3) In your case, could this be a back issue? (for me, partially referred pain from the S1 joint in the spine. I'd had some serious back issues the year prior to surgery. When I seemed to have been rehabbed from them, the knee pain that ultimately resulted in replacement started. The two were partly linked).

One more thing to consider: orthopedic surgeons watching this are primarily concerned with the joint first, and the soft tissue, a very distant second. Sometimes a joint is not set just right, and it creates soft-tissue problems in the hamstrings, and elsewhere in and around the capsule There are orthopedic surgeons who specialize in this problem alone.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

Tessa Mendoza — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 01:05:44 GMT

OP obviously used the word "victim" in jest. It boggles my mind anyone would find that objectionable.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

GenXmuse — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 03:12:13 GMT

It didn't even make a blip on my offensive meter. I took it the way you meant it.

Re: Question for post knee replacement victims

RedTop — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 04:18:34 GMT

With my first TKR, my PT was very gung-ho and agressive. I was willing to try everything, and progressed quickly, and achieved great measurements.

However, I was a little puzzled with the weight workout, and the need to push such heavy weight with my legs. I could do 140 lbs without a problem, but questioned why I needed to.

When I saw my ortho to get cleared to return to work, I had pain similar to what you describe, which was from pushing that weight. My Dr gave me another week off with instructions to rest the leg.