Total Knee Replacement and Hyaluronic Acid Shot experiences?
- Thread starter TripleB
- Start date
I believe no ligaments or tendons are removed during TKR. Nothing like that was mentioned during or after my procedure. Check with your doc I'm curious to know. 16 month post bilateral TKR, I'd rate my knee stability around a 8 to 8.5, mostly due to age, little to do with surgery.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
You do need to get rest and be able to do your range of motion and other PT exercises so there's no reason to avoid the opiates if it can help you to do that. You also need to rest so your body can heal.
I've helped five or six people at my club with their knee operations since mines, and recovery from pain has been most closely associated with how much swelling they have. Best of luck, and hang in there.
As a side note, our club is 500 memberships
Edit: Don’t know where the rest of the post went. It was supposed to say this:
Our club is 500 memberships and about 1400 players overall. This last year, I knew of seven or eight knee replacements, and a few hips on top of that. Then there’s the shoulders. I’d guess probably 1% of all players undergo a major orthopedic intervention every year. That just sounds crazy to me.
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Stay on a regular schedule of pain meds. Once the pain gets up there it is almost impossible to get it back down. You will have time to slowly get off the pain meds but just not now. IMO. I tried the same thing but found out it was not a good idea. Make sure to ice down your knee at regular intervals. My knee still feels swollen and painful at times. Ice seems to help keep it in check, especially at the end of the day. I lay on the couch and ice my knee a few hours before bed. If not I toss and turn because of the irritation of discomfort.
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djNEiGht
Legend
Happy Monday
Tomorrow is my post-op appointment and probably get my staples removed
Any questions you might have you want me to ask the surgeon? Seen some about if ACL was removed.
Other things I'll ask is limitations that I need to submit to my employer, extension of my PT, refill on my Rx or another type of pain management, and also if I'm cleared to have a CT scan. I need to have that for my Cardiovascular issue. Aortic Dissection Type B survivor.
Tomorrow is my post-op appointment and probably get my staples removed
Any questions you might have you want me to ask the surgeon? Seen some about if ACL was removed.
Other things I'll ask is limitations that I need to submit to my employer, extension of my PT, refill on my Rx or another type of pain management, and also if I'm cleared to have a CT scan. I need to have that for my Cardiovascular issue. Aortic Dissection Type B survivor.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
There were questions about whether or not surgeries retained the ACL/MCL during knee replacement. It would be interesting to know what your surgeon did.
Ask to see why your orthopedist thinks you are still having significant pain and what can be done to manage that. As I said before, my pain and swelling were closely correlated so if you are still having swelling, you might ask to see what your orthopedic thinks recommends to help reduce it.
One thing I really treasured was a disabled perking permit. You can probably get a three month temp permit if you don’t have one.
Good luck.
I am about three months out and I am still having pain and discomfort. My surgeon says it will slowly get better. He keeps talking about a year out. I am not sure this type of pain and discomfort is that typical. So far I would say it is not worth the pain I am having. I was having less overall pain before the surgery.
Al34
New User
I’m three months on Friday, I was making progress, but the past month has been bad and I felt that I was going backwards. This weekend I was massaging my thigh and felt an improvement. My pain has been mostly to the inner side of my knee. I saw my physio yesterday and he worked behind my knee and the thigh, I definitely felt better and not in so much pain. I think a year out seems unreasonable, judging from other’s experience. My initial expectation was four months or a little more, but I agree that I was not expecting to still be in pain. Let’s see how we’re doing at four months, hang in there.
SteveI
Legend
I sat in a number of informational sessions (Zoom) from my orthos office relating to TKR. Each surgeon made it clear that there will be some amount of knee pain even after full recovery in most cases. I was not aware of this fact. The amount of pain was related to a number of factors of course. What sort of shape you are in before the TKR, age.. etc..etc. In general, most had far less pain than before TKR, per the Zoom sessions and personal experience. From my personal experience with folks I know that have had one or both knees done, it is about 70/30 for less pain and much better movement. The better shape each one was in, the better the recovery seemed to be. Not in all cases however. Hip replacements seem to have better results with less recovery time. Sadly, I am old enough and know a ton of athletes to have a pretty good sample size.
Al34
New User
I wasn’t told that there would be knee pain after full recovery, but at the same time I was in pain before the surgery, so no choice other than having the replacement in reality. If I was needing the other knee done , I’m not sure I would do it but I’ll wait and see once fully recovered.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
I remember during my earlier PT sessions that they always started with massage, starting at the ankle and massaging upward past my knee. I asked why and it was to remove as much swelling as possible before beginning the exercises. It always felt so much better after the massage when the fluid had been pushed up into my thigh.
My purchase history showed I bought this six inch compression wrap on January 4th, seven days after my TKR. I wrapped from ankle to upper thigh and it was a lifesaver as far as reducing my pain at night when I slept. I had other problems, like intense itching that kept me up, but the wrap kept the swelling away.
Good luck!
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
So sorry to hear that. When are you experiencing the pain?
It is true that healing continues for a long time. I had a rapid recovery and thought it was as good as it was going to be at about the six month mark but even now at 11 months, things are still improving. My left knee is still warmer than my right knee, and my ortho says that as long as that was the case, there is still recovery and healing going on.
Pain in the knee area, inner thigh, behind the knee, throbbing pain at times on and and around the knee, still soreness on the front of my shin area below the knee, and aching along the leg to where going to sleep is hard to do for sometimes a couple of hours. Tossing and turning at night.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Much of that sounds like you have swelling causing your discomfort, like you said in post #355. It can’t hurt to try a compression wrap on your entire leg to see if that could relieve it. It is what I’ve advised the several people at my club to do and they have all gotten relief from it, especially the throbbing pain that prevents sleep. That’s almost the textbook definition of what swelling will do.
Oh, I see that my link in my post #362 got removed. Go to the jungle site and search for “AZEN premium 6 inch compression wrap”. It’s less than $9 for five bandages. Three will do your entire leg. Wrap from your ankle upward, after you’ve iced your knee, and tight enough to give your leg a good squeeze.
Good luck!
djNEiGht
Legend
my ACL graft was removed. The design of the implant doesn't require it
Dr said to focus more on my stretches instead of walking. I've been doing laps around the couch or dining table in addition to stretches. So need to slow down on that to help avoid swelling. Wow...i had a severe swell up last night right before bed. I did have a long day on the road with two appointments and driving. So limited elevation and icing done yesterday
I do have a parking placard. It's help a bunch.
another appointment in a month. I was told that it seems like i'm on track. I met another TKR patient near the elevator who was 3 months post. She is doing well and is even doing short hikes. I'm 3 weeks post and sometimes I feel better...and the times I feel worse...well it's still there. I do notice more strength in certain movements.
Thank you for your suggestions and advice. Something has to help.
djNEiGht
Legend
i've had some tough days where sudden onset swelling. I'm thinking it could be days I pushed myself too hard with exercises or days where I was behind the wheel and couldn't elevate and ice for 6+ hours. and I'm eagar to get off the narcotics...but need to listen to my body and take them so my body can rest.
steri strips are starting to come off. I peeled off a couple and will try to get the rest off tonight.
Range of motion last PT session was 102 flex and 8 extension. With the pain and swelling over the weekend I have limited my exercises and hope I'm not regressing.
I'm tired...trying to stay positive. I've almost fallen a couple times where I've had to put more weight on the surgical leg unexpectedly. I'm tired....
steri strips are starting to come off. I peeled off a couple and will try to get the rest off tonight.
Range of motion last PT session was 102 flex and 8 extension. With the pain and swelling over the weekend I have limited my exercises and hope I'm not regressing.
I'm tired...trying to stay positive. I've almost fallen a couple times where I've had to put more weight on the surgical leg unexpectedly. I'm tired....
Al34
New User
It’s definitely the most difficult physical thing I’ve ever done. The days when you feel like you’re making progress, followed by days of pain and swelling are driving me crazy. Yesterday was a bad day , could hardly walk and then today feeling much better. The progress is up and down all the time. TKR is up there as one of the most difficult recovery periods and I would not argue with that. Don’t put pressure on yourself, you’re doing everything you can, at some point we’ll feel good and be able to look back on the recovery. I think if I hadn’t found this blog , I would have felt that I would never get better, but we have a light at the end of the tunnel, we just don’t know when we’ll get there.
SteveI
Legend
Hang in there brother. My brother in law just went through the process. It is a tough road. Keep fighting.
djNEiGht
Legend
how long has it been since your surgery? thanks for the reply. this is a support group IMO
djNEiGht
Legend
Thank you. Hope your BIL is doing well and that any info here is helpful for him.
Al34
New User
Hi
I was at 3 months the 13th December, but not any better since 2 months….
Happi
Hall of Fame
Wish you all the best.
Talked to a friend yesterday who is a surgeon, he told me that recovery time is very individual and in many cases does not follow a straight line. The two best thing you can do, is to be in good shape before surgery and of cause don't smoke (sometimes they won't do surgery before a person has stopped smoking as recovery stats are so bad for smokers).
Al34
New User
Thanks for the post. I was in good shape before surgery, minimum 7 hours tennis per week, plus cycling and trekking and I don’t smoke. I’ve got 3 hours PT per week plus I’m using a static bike every day and walking albeit badly, still going for it as much as I can , but I’ll get there.
atatu
Legend
How did you know it was time to get the surgery ? Sounds like you were pretty active, was pain disrupting your sleep, etc. Just asking because I'm definitely bone on bone both knees, but still able to play tennis, can't decide if I should do it or not.
djNEiGht
Legend
My fitness was really bad before surgery. I had been struggling for a year and couldn't be as active. Of course, I could have found alternative ways to exercise and watch my diet....but I started stress eating.
Yesterday was horrible. I had intense pain at 0800 and then at 1300. Took about 30 minutes for the meds to kick in. I tried to stay on track with the meds so I don't dip into the pain so bad.
Yesterday was horrible. I had intense pain at 0800 and then at 1300. Took about 30 minutes for the meds to kick in. I tried to stay on track with the meds so I don't dip into the pain so bad.
Al34
New User
My knee was getting more and more painful and for a couple of years I was using a knee support a lot of the time. The pain was getting to the point where I couldn’t put up with it. I suffer from osteoarthritis as well as being bone on bone in the right knee. Even walking was becoming difficult. After the op my surgeon told me that the bone in my knee just crumbled in his hand and also bone damage to the tibia and femur had to be cut back. I think you should keep going, but I’m not a doctor, I did it because I just wanted to get my life back without pain. I’ll get there but whether tennis is possible I don’t know.
@atatu For a few years before my TKR a number of friends who had the procedure and a couple of orthopedics said, “you’ll know when you need it”. It happened to me after years of pain and problems getting progressively worse. When it hit me I was ready/needed the TKR I called the doc the next day and after that appointment scheduled the surgery. As you previously mentioned, if you’re active and the bone on bone pain doesn’t decrease your quality of life keep going without surgery as long as possible.
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You will know when it is time. Pain or mobility will be a lot more than you want to deal with. I wish I would have waited longer before my TKR surgery.
djNEiGht
Legend
yesterday I DJd our annual employee Christmas party at the country club I moonlight at coaching. I'm fortunate to have a DJ partner who did most of the heavy lifting and mixing. I prob did an hour behind the turntables before I went to the patio and found a couch to laydown and elevate the leg. It was a rough 30 minutes while the pain meds kicked in. Swelling was pretty bad.
last PT session my treatment was modified due to pain. Let's see how today's session goes. I woke up feeling okay considering how much I was on my feet yesterday.
last PT session my treatment was modified due to pain. Let's see how today's session goes. I woke up feeling okay considering how much I was on my feet yesterday.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Merry Christmas and best of wishes to you and everyone!
Yes, all of us are different. I was cleared to stop using a walker on day five, the day of my first PT appointment. From my post #112, it seems I was able to walk up the stairs leg after leg and unassisted. I do remember using a walker if I had to wake up at night to go to the bathroom, and used it to help me stand back up after sitting on the toilet for probably the next week or so. But I think I was pretty much not using the walker for balance or mobility by the two week mark.
I hate to keep harping on it but decreasing the swelling was, by far, the major factor in my recovery. Most of the posts after the one I linked above refer to swelling management as my key to resuming activity, and I started wrapping a few days after the post above as I described here in post #118.
Best of luck in your recovery, and keep at it. There will be a point when things turn around and start to improve more rapidly. Hang in there!
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
So tomorrow, 12-27-2024, is one year to the day from my knee replacement. I remember the trepidation I felt one year ago from right now, when I couldn't sleep well from wondering if I was ready for such a major surgery.
My knee is still improving. In everyday activities, I just don't have any sensations that it isn't my knee. It never wakes me up at night, never swells up, and doesn't really even clunk any more. I have 140 degrees of bending, and am now working to being able to squat down that low without pain. I'm currently able to squat down to about 115 degrees with no discomfort. Any more and I can feel it under the kneecap and in what feels like the prosthesis in my lower leg. Straightening up from squatting to 140 degrees is really uncomfortable, but I'm working to get there. I can wake up in the morning and immediately get to my feet with normal sensations and no imbalance. I'm not working to get any more range of motion. My ortho said that the limit of motion is about 145 degrees with my implant and my physical make up, so what I have is all I will have.
I still have occasional and pretty significant discomfort if I sit with my knee bent at 90 degrees for more than half an hour. It is only occasional though, and other times I can sit for hours and not have problems. When it does ache, all I have to do is stand up and walk a few steps and the discomfort totally goes away. It's only been a problem in a movie theater or at some arts performance where standing isn't possible.
The nerve regeneration seems to have accelerated. There's more sensation to the outside of the incision line now. What's weird is that if I rub along my incision, I can feel the touch radiate outwards to the area of skin that is numb. This happened with my other surgical sites also, and in the past it has been a sign that normal sensation is returning.
Athletically, I'm also still improving. My primary limiter now is mental/psychological. In training, I can run and sprint freely but am still not able to fully translate that onto the court. It gradually is getting better and I think throwing myself back into competition is the way to overcome this. I have no twinges or instability with any tennis movement. My next age group tournament is at the end of February. I'm playing the 65's next year and am really aiming for that as a long term goal.
The very best of luck to those recovering from knee replacement, or unfortunately on the road heading towards a knee replacement. It's a long road and one filled with bumps along the way. But in the long run, I hope you find it has been worth it for the relief from pain and hopefully the resumption of activities that you love.
My knee is still improving. In everyday activities, I just don't have any sensations that it isn't my knee. It never wakes me up at night, never swells up, and doesn't really even clunk any more. I have 140 degrees of bending, and am now working to being able to squat down that low without pain. I'm currently able to squat down to about 115 degrees with no discomfort. Any more and I can feel it under the kneecap and in what feels like the prosthesis in my lower leg. Straightening up from squatting to 140 degrees is really uncomfortable, but I'm working to get there. I can wake up in the morning and immediately get to my feet with normal sensations and no imbalance. I'm not working to get any more range of motion. My ortho said that the limit of motion is about 145 degrees with my implant and my physical make up, so what I have is all I will have.
I still have occasional and pretty significant discomfort if I sit with my knee bent at 90 degrees for more than half an hour. It is only occasional though, and other times I can sit for hours and not have problems. When it does ache, all I have to do is stand up and walk a few steps and the discomfort totally goes away. It's only been a problem in a movie theater or at some arts performance where standing isn't possible.
The nerve regeneration seems to have accelerated. There's more sensation to the outside of the incision line now. What's weird is that if I rub along my incision, I can feel the touch radiate outwards to the area of skin that is numb. This happened with my other surgical sites also, and in the past it has been a sign that normal sensation is returning.
Athletically, I'm also still improving. My primary limiter now is mental/psychological. In training, I can run and sprint freely but am still not able to fully translate that onto the court. It gradually is getting better and I think throwing myself back into competition is the way to overcome this. I have no twinges or instability with any tennis movement. My next age group tournament is at the end of February. I'm playing the 65's next year and am really aiming for that as a long term goal.
The very best of luck to those recovering from knee replacement, or unfortunately on the road heading towards a knee replacement. It's a long road and one filled with bumps along the way. But in the long run, I hope you find it has been worth it for the relief from pain and hopefully the resumption of activities that you love.
Al34
New User
Merry
merry Christmas to all. I only used the Walker at the hospital on the first day. I hadn’t ordered one to use at home and went straight onto crutches, after 2 weeks I could get about without them and started sleeping upstairs after 3 to 4 weeks, I passed the 3 months on the 13th December and after a month with no improvement, I’m making progress with walking. I try to relax my leg when walking and the swelling has improved a lot, you’ll get there.
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Great info and updated information. It gives us a lot of useful information, insight, and hope for TKR and recovery period.
djNEiGht
Legend
Not sure if this matters...but I was reminded that I've had knee issues since '92 after being hit by a car and x4 knee scopes including an ACL replacement prior to my TKR...and to be patient and optimistic. I'm trying.
Swelling seems to be improved and I can do several steps at home with barely putting any pressure on the walker.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Swelling seems to be improved and I can do several steps at home with barely putting any pressure on the walker.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Al34
New User
You’ll get there , try not to overthink it and just take it a day at a time. I get frustrated nearly every day, but try to only see the positive moments, not easy but we will get there at some point. My PT was on holiday this week and I haven’t done any leg presses etc. Feeling much better and more relaxed, probably been doing too much….
I was cleared from the walker after 2 weeks. Mine was a little longer cause I had bi-lateral TKR's. Went on a business appointment 3 weeks after surgery, that was uncomfortable. LOL
Keep doing your PT that you can do at home as prescribed. I know you are. That and elevate and ice your knee regularly.
I had terrible back and hip pain post op., for around 5 months. Also my left piriformis was asleep for around 8 months. All that has cleared as of this last June or so.
Post PT visits ended around 90 days. Around 01/2024 I started hitting the weights, I was always a primarily a cardio person. The weights have been my fountain of youth and for me the single biggest contributor to my recovery. Although no one's asking, I would recommend all TKR patients start a strength training program at a local gym or club.
I'm still amazed that my improvement continues and I still feel like I have upside, maybe another 20% on movement and sprinting. Zero bone pain.
The main time my knees feel unnatural is when kneeling or crawling on them, still manageable though. When trying to sprint at full speed my right knee feels strange when going into the high knee position, but that's also still improving with some movement drills I do on a turf field. Other than that super happy I had the TKR's.
Everyone's TKR and recovery is different, be patient with your recovery, you'll get there.
DOS 08.22.2024.
Happi
Hall of Fame
Keep up the spirit and fight, tennis will be there again at the end of the tunnel. Wish you all the best for your recovery in 2025.
djNEiGht
Legend
Thank you. I'm back to trying to ween off the narcotics. Today was very low activity and over an hour in the CPM (constant passive movement) unit in the morning and also in the afternoon. swelling isn't as bad and I am kinda enjoying todays rest day. I'll start up again on stretches/ROM movements.
Al34
New User
Today I had my 4 month consultation with my surgeon, the flexion is good , same as the good leg and that’s me for 5 years unless complications. ACL removed as I thought, but to be fair right from the start he did tell me that the movement of my new knee would only be forward and back, no movement to the side and no pivot. The other great news was the pain could last a year. I feel pretty depressed about the whole thing, but have to accept that I’m 62 and not really going to advance, the reality has definitely hit me hard , but we carry on……
SteveI
Legend
I watched a number of presentations on TKR and I was surprised about the various outcomes. I also know quite a few folks both male and female that have had the procedure. Various ages and various fitness levels. I have seen some really strong outcomes and a few less than great ones. The one factor that seems to impact outcomes is the condition you are in before TKR. My PT (also tennis player and stringer) told me that is key to a strong recovery. Keep working hard .. best wishes on your continued recovery.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
I had my one year follow-up a couple of days ago. Basically, everything looks good and continue doing what I’m doing, with the understanding that there is some possibility my knee may wear out in 15-20 years. Next checkup is three years from now.
I’m starting to let loose with running on the court and have mostly eliminated any shuffle steps. My speed around the court has significantly increased.
I’m now off traveling until the second week in February, with no tennis at all during that time. I will only have access to a basic gym but intend to use that as much as possible.
My very best to everyone. Chat with you all in four weeks.
I’m starting to let loose with running on the court and have mostly eliminated any shuffle steps. My speed around the court has significantly increased.
I’m now off traveling until the second week in February, with no tennis at all during that time. I will only have access to a basic gym but intend to use that as much as possible.
My very best to everyone. Chat with you all in four weeks.
Al34
New User
Thanks for the message, my surgeon is happy with my progress, the flexibility is the same as the good knee which is great, next meeting if everything is going well, in five years time. He also said I should stop the physio and just do my own thing, cycling, walking and some work in the gym. He thinks that the physios can push too hard. If I’m pain free and get to the fitness level I had before between now and September I’ll be happy
Happi
Hall of Fame
I am reading the whole thread again as a good friend will have a TKR soon.
I hope you are doing well and hopefully back to tennis again.
djNEiGht
Legend
That is probably why i'm having such a tough recovery.
My 1st knee injury was 1992 getting hit by a car. I've had x4 arthroscopies including an ACL prior to my TKR. I had been having issues once in a while but could still play tennis and hike. Then August 2023, I fell down the stairs. Trying to get scheduled was a pain. Met with x3 different doctors. One was through my works "surgery plus" network. It took a while to get that set up and once I met the Dr, he ended the appointment with "i can't do your surgery because I will not make any money" I thought to myself...then WTF are you doing in this "surgery plus" network???
Other dr was ready to schedule me and then I get a call from the surgery center which he is an owner that my co-pay is 5k. I asked if he practices at any local hospitals and they told me. Then I asked to get scheduled there but "crickets".
While on assignment for work at a hospital, I ran into my ortho who did my #3&4 surgery over 15 years ago. I called up his office and got seen within a couple weeks and luckily got scheduled as a patient had rescheduled about a month later.
I didn't have any pre-op PT. I had been walking compromised for over a year. I'm frustrated with my recovery. Swelling at least has gone down a lot and I can feel part of my knee cap. My ROM is getting better but not great and sometimes I feel sharp pains during certain exercises. I do feel my quads starting to fire a little bit.
I'm just tired...but trying not to give up hope.
