Comments on: Patellar Clunk Syndrome: Complication Following Knee Replacement Surgery

By: Cliff

Cliff — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:58:59 +0000

Rick, thanks for input. I also had real pain the first month but my Dr gave me Oxy right off the bat. I stopped taking it the second month because pain was ok without it. Am doing PT for the second time because when I complained about the clicking he had to do something so he sent me to PT again, lol..
So far you are saying what everyone is saying…give it time so, since I have no choice, I will give it time. I too am big and overweight but I try not to let that slow me down, lol.
Again thanks for input and good luck to both of us.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:08:13 +0000

Cliff, I had TKR left May 2011 and right Aug 2011. Clunking (not clicking) was a big problem. It would come and go, but at times I would clunk loudly several times with every step. Not really painful but very disconcerting and would wake me at night. Surgeon said (a) give it a year and (b) it’s a tradeoff during surgery – tighter reduces clunking but also reduces range of motion. Looser increases clunking but also increases range. I was bone on bone for 2 years and had severe bow legged and other deformities that limited his options. I jave 145 degrees plus flexion and maybe 10 degrees short of full extension (but I probably always had that limitation). I am age 57 5′10″ 300# heavily muscled (and way overweight) and had a brown belt in karate (inactive for 10 years) . I did all the exercises diligently, not just the stretches but walking, treadmill, elliptical, rtecumbent, bosu, rebounder (jogging in place). Pain, swelling, and clunking. I argued for, and got, Oxy IR for the pain and used 0 to 3 every day. After Christmas I snowbirded to FL and have been bicycling every day and just got a Total Gym XLS. Also remodeling and caring for 2.4 acres outside. Within days everything tightened up and I am now 99% pain free, swelling minimal, walking is no longer unpleasant, I think the reasons for the improvement (a) simply time to recover (b) bicycling as hard as I could (c) many squat variations on the Total Gym (which they used in PT). I also take LOTS of supplements including Wobenzyme from Douglas Labs (really helped swelling) and Alcis lotion (also helped swelling). Plus the usual ice packs and elevation (an hour a day with knee above the heart). That’s my story which may or may not reassure you, your mileage may vary.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:27:56 +0000

had a TKR on my right knee 11/10/11 and so far everything is going OK except for one thing…the knee clicked like a castanet right from the first step in the hospital and still does, only it seems to be getting worse. The Dr just shines it off with “oh the knee has to settle” but after three months it does not seem to be settleing. The question is am I going to be stuck with this clicking knee for the rest of my life. Will it, in fact, stop clicking in the future. If not, is there a procedure to correct this problem. I hope so ’cause it is driving me nuts.
Any comments would be appreciated.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:24:07 +0000

I had a TKR on my right knee 11/10/11 and so far everything is going OK except for one thing…the knee clicked like a castanet right from the first step in the hospital and still does, only it seems to be getting worse. The Dr just shines it off with “oh the knee has to settle” but after three months it does not seem to be settleing. The question is am I going to be stuck with this clicking knee for the rest of my life. Will it, in fact, stop clicking in the future. If not, is there a procedure to correct this problem. I hope so ’cause it is driving me nuts.
Any comments would be appreciated.

By: Take my knee. Please. « Life in the Boomer Lane

Take my knee. Please. « Life in the Boomer Lane — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:03:19 +0000

[...] streaming by, all eyeing her suitcase, with thoughts of stealing her underwear. And then to get Clunk. Which is an actual disorder after knee replacement that results in one’s knee sounding like [...]

By: Tim Damer

Tim Damer — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:08:02 +0000

Well Brian, you are almost a mirror image with your experiences (including UK and left knee)!!
I had TKR in August 2010 following collapse of partial replacement done in 2003. First 3 months seemed OK then very painful ‘catching’
problem developed. My consultant referred me all over the place for second opinions and I have now ended up with a revision specialist at University Hospital North Durham called Steve Scott.

Mr Scott has offered patella resurfacing (why not done originally?) but explains that it will only have a 50-50 chance of success and that every new surgery brings diminishing returns. Well I think we both know that (!) but my inclination is to go for the resurfacing as cannot continue with present levels of pain.

Really pleased that you are emerging from a long and arduous experience and best wishes for your continued recovery. I am on tim.damer@ntlworld.com
Kind regards, Tim D

By: Brian Crook

Brian Crook — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:15:25 +0000

ps Forgot to say of anyone wants to call me, please drop me aline on email – i’m in UK.

We can set up a call.

By: Brian Crook

Brian Crook — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:10:03 +0000

Hello everyone – I have commented on this before from my own experiences, but just to reiterate. Yes I did have subsequent problems with Patelar clunk after having my knee replaced but this was because teh surgeon decided not to resurface the patelar, which was done as a subsequent operation, and after much rehab and very very careful and focussed PT has now all setled down. Yes my knee makes a noise but that is just the joint moving – in fact I can make it make noise as a ‘party piece’. But I am now pain free, swelling free, and can do most things I want to do. My only issue is that after guarding my left knee for over 8 years due to 14 bouts of surgery over that time, my subconcious still tend to control that I lead with teh other knee, which has now deteriorated and will probably need some work on teh meniscus in teh next few months. Despite that kind of surgery, and the maltreatment I received following that simple operation, I now have complete confidence in my surgeon and team, and will go get it done to enhance my standard of living.

In summary it has been a long, painful and sometines depressing road, and I feel for every one of you who is struggling, but my only advise is – good surgeon, great PT, patience and stick with it.

Best wishes to all

Brian

By: Judy Campbell

Judy Campbell — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:16:40 +0000

I had both knees replaced last year, the first in July and the second in August. I had so many friends go through this surgery with 0 problems. I had such high expectations with mine believing my high tolerance of pain and total immediate recovery from brain surgery 20 years ago had to be in my recovery favor. I had blood transfusions w/both surgeries, my legs were so swollen and black and blue up and down from knee to ankles. Thought this was normal at first until seeing other patients. I did my therapy, my walks and was told by hospital staff they would remember me forever for doing better than anyone after TKR. After many months, I wonder if the Drs pay them to make these comments and they make them to all the patients. Obviously, I am very unhappy. I hate taking medication and was on pain killers for almost 2 mos after surgery and finally went to Naproxin. Remained on Naproxin until my hair started falling out then just quit taking them and am tolerating the pain which is now worse than before surgery ever was. My surgeon told me both knees had severe bone to bone damage and thought TKR was my only option. My PT was so proud of my progress but I guess just thought my pain was normal. I have seen my surgeon 5 times since surgeries. Each time, I told him about the pain and noises I was having and was told I would have those that it normally takes a year to recover (I kept thinking of all my friends who had done great and w/o medication 3 mos after their TKR). I can bend my knees well, I can walk well, I can climb stairs, not so good going down but the clunking when I bend my knees and the excruciating pain every time I get up from sitting is wearing on me. I constantly (w/my husband’s help) have to keep reassuring myself they will get better. During my 1 yr exam, my surgeon finally listened to what I had to say and became immediately concerned that they might be infected. I was scheduled for an MRI and returned the following week . Upon entering the door of the office I was in the first words he spoke were “good news, no infection”. He then commented I may have to live w/the pain or he could do the arthroscopy to remove the fragments potentially causing the clunking and pain I was telling him about. Although I don’t want to live the rest of my life w/this horrible pain, I am so scared to have anyone touch my knees again and need some good recovery results from this type of surgery. I would appreicate any comments. Thank you!

By: Sheri

Sheri — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 18:05:31 +0000

I had my total knee replacement in May this year. Now when I stand up people near me can hear the grinding noise my knee makes as I stand up. I’ve described the noise like a ratcheting. It feels like a lot of popping in my knee. It happens nearly every time I stand up, or extend my leg. One day it stopped for an entire day…the day I last saw my doctor! I have another appointment scheduled, but trying to figure things out for myself. Does this sound like the “clunking” you’re describing? It is not simply the breaking up of scar tissue, as my doctor suggested. Thanks for any insight!
Sheri