Question for those who have had knee replacement

Other than some lingering swelling that is better some days than others (which my surgeon said to expect for at least 6 months), the knee that I had replaced in March has been doing well.  Just some stiffness on the days it is more swollen.

For the last week and a half, though, it has been very sore when I have to bend it a lot (e.g., going down stairs, if I bend it back when I am sitting in a chair, when I do my flexibility exercises (which my surgeon suggests we do daily for six months)).  I also still ice it every evening since not all of the swelling is gone. I cannot think of anything that I did to it (no unusual exertion, and I don't remember taking any particularly strong slam from Gus during a period of puppy over-exuberance in the past 2 weeks),

I have an appointment with the surgeon in early August to discuss replacing the other knee in November, so if it is still bothering me then, I can ask him about it.  I am just surprised a bit by it and was wondering if this is common.

Lora

Lora, I  had my total in sept, I still have episodes not as often but I usually don't remember doing anything to it, last time I did remember, I was stupid enough to do bathroom floors on my knees, OMG, they hurt for days,i think the weather, steps, lifting, you will start to see what causes the glitch, you will be a pro by the time you get  knee # 2., Denise

Thanks, Denise.  I have enough pain in the non-replaced knee that I still don't do ANYTHING on my knees, but it is reassuring that you have noticed periods of pain as well.

would rather wait to get knee #2 done, but I have already met my out of pocket max for this year, and without the  constant pain in the now-replaced knee, I am noticing the pain in the other knee much more.  (When I saw a second ortho surgeon last year before deciding to go ahead with the initial replacement, that surgeon suggested I just get them both replaced at once some the only difference in the two knees was the bone spurs in one causing additional pain... but both were bone on bone on the inside.)  Besides, I think there is an advantage to having the same surgeon do both knees, and with the future of health care being so uncertain, I would rather just do it while it costs me nothing and I can choose my surgeon and hospital, etc.

Lora

I have to wonder also it you are depending more on the new knee? I know  did favor the partial knee wheni got the total and then the partial acted up for a bit, I understand  about deductables being met , I also had the same Dr do both, he did the double Partials  the same day, then did the right total 4 years later, I think it is good for them to see their own work:)

I don't think so, but cannot be positive.  My right leg (w/non-surgical knee) has always been stronger and more dominant partially because I a, right handed but mostly because the left leg is he one that I have had DVT issues in my entire adult life and the previous meniscus tear... So even before the arthritis and bone spurs, that leg wasn't relied on as much.  I am currently working on strengthening that leg, though. 

Lora

I had a TKR on my left knee and what gives me more trouble now is the ligaments and tendons, which are not replaced at the surgery...that is just the joint replacement. It's possible that you could have a stretched or torn soft tissue damage, which can cause pain when bending...My original injury was a complicated dislocation, so there were lots of things torn in the soft tissue that, although the knee replacement helped, I still have braces on both legs to accommodate for that. There are days when I fall standing up. Ice is great. I used an extra large ace bandage and wrapped a couple packs of frozen peas or corn around my leg when I was walking...it holds the cold in place and allows more comfort while moving around.Goog luck and enjoy My next TKR is in the fall of this year....then we workreplacing the ligaments and tendons with cadaver tissues, as mine cant be repaired any more.

Good to have the same doc do both knees if possible!  More familiar with your body and can explain the difference in the differnet model of knee replacement that might be needed. The second knee has to be much more prescise to minimize risk fators, but the docs can get into all of that.

Thanks for the info.  Yeah, I would really prefer to have the same surgeon do both.  Can you tell me briefly what you mean a out the second one needing to be more precise (what risk factors?)

Lora

I had both of mine replaced at same time about 6 years ago...before gastric bypass.  There are just days that they hurt, but not like they did before replacement!  My mom had one of hers done 15 years ago and experiences pain and swelling at times too, but again not like before replacement.  It's my left one that hurts more, but I'm left handed and hence left dominant.  My gastric bypass was two years ago and knees are much, much better now.

I think you probably haven't done anything to it, but of course ice and elevation is good when possible.  I do think if you had one done at a time it would be easier to use that knee more and not even realize it

Take care and keep using the ice.

Shirley

Thanks for the info.  I wondered f this might just be something I have to live with.  The pain is NOTHING like I had before the surgery, and it doesn't hurt to walk (just to bend a lot)... It just feels very stiff when I walk.

Lora