Knee Replacement

Rowlf · 30-12-2016, 17:18

A friend of mine had a full knee replacement last March and did extremely well afterwards. No pain in the knee at all since BUT now has lower back ache and pain in the thigh in the on the same side as the replacement. Does anyone know anybody who has had a full replacement and had this back/thigh pain later.

boxermum · 31-12-2016, 03:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowlf

A friend of mine had a full knee replacement last March and did extremely well afterwards. No pain in the knee at all since BUT now has lower back ache and pain in the thigh in the on the same side as the replacement. Does anyone know anybody who has had a full replacement and had this back/thigh pain later.

Yes Rowlf,this is a bit lame ( no pun intended ) a friend of mine had knee replacement,everything fine after.Then this year she developed the exact problem you describe.Her doctor said the pain was caused by her 'leaning' on her walking stick too heavily for support!!,and gave her one of those walking frames with wheels.I have no further info but will ask next time I see her.

taddy · 31-12-2016, 10:47

I have had two total knee replacements, my left leg was fitted with one at Rochdale Infirmary about 16 year's ago and my right leg had one fitted at North Manchester infirmary 5 years ago. Both still going strong. Many thanks to Mr Ali and Miss Clare Cullen respectively.

Rowlf · 31-12-2016, 11:20

Thanks for the info Taddy. It seems very strange that this problem crops up sometime after a successful replacement and that it seems common.

Margaret Pilkington · 31-12-2016, 11:42

I think it may be down to the fact that when you have had knee pain for many years you walk differently....your body alignment is different. you walk in a way that minimises the pain.
Once you have had a knee replacement you may still walk in the way you did before you had the op.
My next door neighbours son has had a knee replacement recently but he still walks like he did when he had the pain and the limited movement with his old knee.
I mentioned this to him and he said that I was not the first person to tell him this.
He is consciously trying now to normalise his gait.

I cannot explain why it would only manifest itself after such a period of time though.

This theory of mine is just that,a theory...not based on anything I have experienced in my past working life.

Rowlf · 31-12-2016, 11:55

I suppose a painful knee will make you walk differently and it becomes a habit almost so when the knee no longer hurts it is hard to change your gait. My friend is not too bad walking about during the day but has terrible pain at night in bed. Strangely sleeping on the affected side seems better than on the good side and getting out of bed in the morning is excruciating walking but it seems to go better after a period of moving about.

Barrie Yates · 31-12-2016, 15:10

I had both knees replaced in a 2 month period at Bury. The first one I was kept in overnight but the second one I was home the same day - that was almost 4 years ago. I was off my crutches within a week and have had no pain or discomfort in any way but certainly realised that I should have had them replaced 15 - 20 years before. No problems at all, no back or hip pain at all. I think any side effects could be the physical state before the operations and sticking with the physiotherapy exercise, even gradually increasing the exercises. Can't remember the name of the specialist , he is based at Oldham but covers Bury as well, if anyone needs his name I can dig it out.

Rowlf · 31-12-2016, 17:02

Dont think yours were done like my friends. Most around our area are done in Burnley general and entail a 3 night stay with district nurses coming for at least a week. Clips out in 7 to 10 days and pysio for several weeks. That is ofcourse for a full replacement. There are other procedures which do not take as long. The main man at Burnley seems to be Mr Sarin who did my friends. Nice man and a first class surgeon.

Barrie Yates · 31-12-2016, 17:49

The District Nurses came a couple of times and then to take out the clips - it was a complete replacement on both knees. Drs Dixon and Manuel both called as the DN had problems getting a blood sample so they came and did that. i steered clear of Blackburn as both times I was in there I got infections - once within 12 hours of keyhole surgery and one of the night nurses couldn't find me an extra blanket even though I had very high temperature - I did receive a letter of apology, but what good are words after the event.

taddy · 31-12-2016, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

I had both knees replaced in a 2 month period at Bury. The first one I was kept in overnight but the second one I was home the same day - that was almost 4 years ago. I was off my crutches within a week and have had no pain or discomfort in any way but certainly realised that I should have had them replaced 15 - 20 years before. No problems at all, no back or hip pain at all. I think any side effects could be the physical state before the operations and sticking with the physiotherapy exercise, even gradually increasing the exercises. Can't remember the name of the specialist , he is based at Oldham but covers Bury as well, if anyone needs his name I can dig it out.

I never like to accuse anyone of, (bending the truth) but no one I have ever met has ever, repeat,ever! had a total knee replacement and been back home the same day and I have known a good few.
I was told by my consultant after having my second total knee replacement and being allowed to go home four days later, (three and a half days to be precise), that it was the quickest that she could remember.

Any one that has had a total knee replacement has to show that they can bend their leg to at least 90 degrees and walk up and down a flight of stairs before they are allowed to go home.

But then again maybe Barrie Yates is an alias of Clark Kent !

Barrie Yates · 01-01-2017, 15:30

Perhaps I was more determined and fitter than you were. If you wish to call me a liar then do it openly without weasel wording it.

Margaret Pilkington · 01-01-2017, 15:53

In the first line of Taddys post he says that he doesn't like to accuse anyone of bending the truth....so in effect he is saying that he isn't calling you a liar Barrie, but that in his experience, he has not known anyone who had their surgery and got home as quickly as you did.
Because he doesn't know of any does not mean that there are none...and in fact he knows of one now..you.

Rowlf · 01-01-2017, 18:31

I would be interested to hear what length your wound was Barrie. The two people I know who have had replacements had wounds right down the middle of the knee starting 3 or 4 inches above and extending 5 or 6 inches below.

taddy · 02-01-2017, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowlf

i would be interested to hear what length your wound was barrie. The two people i know who have had replacements had wounds right down the middle of the knee starting 3 or 4 inches above and extending 5 or 6 inches below.

correct !

Barrie Yates · 02-01-2017, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowlf

I would be interested to hear what length your wound was Barrie. The two people I know who have had replacements had wounds right down the middle of the knee starting 3 or 4 inches above and extending 5 or 6 inches below.

Approx 8 inches overall when standing so somewhat more when the knee is at 90 deg or so. I think there were 14 clips in each knee but would have to check back through the documentation to confirm that. 28 days of self injection of anti blood clotting medication.
I do keep all medical documentation, just a pain to dig back through it all just to prove what know-all idiots some people can be.
Checked by the physio that I could do all the required exercises - quite simple really, and also checked by the surgeon before I was released.
First one was operated on around 1000 hrs, released 1100 hrs the following day. Second one the operation was around 0900 hrs and released at 1930 hrs same day - timings may well be a little inaccurate as some of my grey cells sometimes go on walkabout