Comments on: Joint Stiffness: Complications Following Knee Replacement Surgery

By: patty hale

patty hale — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:21:56 +0000

I had mine on Aug 24,11 and Im still waiting for that bewitching month where there is no stiffness, pain, etc..I really think the prog. has to do with the stiffness going into the sugery. I have only 95 flexion and physical therapy cut me off when the tore my thigh muscle trying to get more. I also get tired of people telling me I didn’t rehab enough because I’m still paying that bill. The only good thing is I can walk further then ever before knowing my knee has a good deal of stability. Good Luck and walk walk walk and ride ride ride>

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:44:25 +0000

Jack, from your post I think you and I have a good bit in common. I had meniscus removed from both of my knees in the mid sixties. Had bi-lateral TKR about six years ago, have had a manipulation done twice, the second time my doctor also removed scar tissue from my problem knee. My ROM is barely 90 degrees in my bad knee but great in my good knee. I am thinking of going to a new doctor and see what he thinks about replacing the replacement.. I walk stiff legged and it is easy to trip and fall. I have always been very active and continue to exercise regularly. I have been extremely disappointed with my results. If it is scar tissue causing the ROM problem how come my good knee isn’t affected?

By: Roger

Roger — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:46:25 +0000

I had my TKR in Dec. 2010 I have been through hell since. I have had every procedure one can have since then. The latest was a specialist that did a bone scan, drew fluid and told me everything looks normal. My knee is usually always sore, I have about 110 ROM at best. Still hurts going down stairs. Some days are better than others. The biggest complaint is the BAND feeling that is always around my knee. It feels as though the muscles just will not relax. I have seen others here that have the same complaint, but no where have I seen anyone that can tell me how to get rid of it. What is really sad is that we are the %5 of people who have problems, everyone else is up and about in a month or two and can’t wait to get the other one done.

By: Jack Janosik

Jack Janosik — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:34:38 +0000

I had a tkr at the Cleveland Clinic about six years ago. I am a jock and, yet, I found rehab extremely tuff to improve rom. Three months after replacement the same doc performed a “manip.” He bent the knee to about 130 rom; before the manipulation, it was a little less than 85. Each day I lost rom although I continued rehab. For years now, I have had to live with about 88 degrees of rom — not even enough to ride a bike normally. It may be very important to add, that I had my meniscus removed in 1970 and afterwards had about 110 degrees of rom — enough to continue being a jock, including running the Boston Marathon. In the end, the docs, and they are the Clinic’s best, told me I would just have to live with it. Additional surgery would be risky. Help!

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:58:24 +0000

I had a uni compartmental Knee replacement on 9/28/2012. I have full range (approx. 130) and am still having swelling and tightness on the muscles just above the knee. I am wondering how common is this and besides intermittent icing and damp heat, what can I do to re-hab the tear drop area of my quadriceps above the knee? I am walking and able to go up and down stairs but not without pain on the stairs. I periodically ride a bike and take short walks while being on my feet mostly all day at work. I injured my knee surfing ( torn meniscus) at age 20 which ultimately led me to my partial knee replacement. I am anxious to get back to being able to surf, anyone experience the same and have advice on my time line to recovery. I had a total hip on the same side as my knee 13 mos. prior to my knee surgery which is feeling outstanding. I am feeling a bit frustrated and impatient, thanks for any advice or encouragement.

By: Bill Cohen

Bill Cohen — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:58:47 +0000

P.S. If there was any treatment I missed or overlooked, please let me know.

By: Bill Cohen

Bill Cohen — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:56:01 +0000

Had TKR 12/6. Followed protocol of 4 days in hospital, 5 days in rehab, and PT 3 times a week. OS saw me after week 6 and I had 95 degrees ROM. He was unhappy and on 1/20 I had a manipulation where he got 140 full range. The next day my PT got it to 110 degrees with me screaming. Had horrific pain for three days after. Continued to bust my butt at PT and just started going into water therapy. Now I’m barely back to 95 degrees and seeing the OS on weds. 2/1. Wondering what he will say. I will suggest everything I gleaned from your comments about massage, Thai massage, instrument -assisted soft tissue mobilization, etc. Anything before a second manip.

By: Debra

Debra — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:33:52 +0000

I had Bilateral knee replacement in April 2010, I still have a some trouble going down steps, left knee still feels like there is band around it, but I don’t really have pain, just wondering how it is for someone else that has had a replacement for almost that long

By: Charlene

Charlene — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:07:50 +0000

My right knee was injured when I was just 9. Over the years, I had a total of 11 surgeries on it as well as many, many injections. I finally got to where I was in extreme pain constantly especially when walking. This also caused my left knee to begin having problems also. After several years of talking with my ortho doc, I determined to have the left knee replaced as I knew what to expect of my right knee.. If all went well, I’d get the right one done.

My first surgery was on 8/3/11. I spent five days in the hospital, was walking the very next day with a walker. I came home with the walker and after 3 days, put it in the corner and didn’t use it again. I had home health therapy for 3 weeks, then went to outpatient therapy for 6 weeks. After 4 weeks, I could move my knee to 105 degrees, when I left it moved to 118 degrees. What pain I had was treated with percoset.

I had my right knee replaced on 11/9/11. Same treatment with home health and am now 2 weeks from being released from outpatient therapy. I am able to ride a bike for the first time since my twenties, walk up and down stairs with no indication of the old way I walked, and am currently at 106 degrees of movement in the right one.

Both are doing great and I am so happy that my quality of life is coming back after over 40 years of pain.

My recommendation to anyone thinking of this is to have honest talks with your doctor. Ask if you can talk to prior patients and if you can, go to an outpatient therapy clinic and talk to the therapists and other patients.

Good luck to all who are comtemplating this surgery.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:05:13 +0000

I had my right TKR on June 27,2011 I am now almost 7 months out. still have swelling in my knee , I was told to expect it up to a year. Am doing most things ok still have some trouble going down stairs, and I live in a tri level house so some days it’s not easy. The one thing that bothers me if I stand in one spot for to long my knee gets stiff, I do stand all day working in a pre K class I keep me going all day. I still ride my excerise bike 6-7 days a week about 20-30 mins at a time , Helps keep it moving. Most of the pain is gone, Everyone has said time will help it improve and it has, So if your new just keep doing what they tell you to. Make sure you keep it moving as much as you can.