8/2/16. Saw mysurgeon last week because my knee constantly clicks when I walk, and even moreso when I'm lying down. But I also have some pain when my leg goes lateral while lying down. In other words, unless I use a pillow between my knees, the knee achws because it angles downward.
The surgeon said the clicking sound is the plastic knee cap hitting the joint, that it is not unusual, and that I might have it the rest of my life. Is that common for the rest of you?
Also, do you also have pain when your knee goes lateral, either when walking or lying down?
Thanks!
I'm also experiencing the clicking and just at 9 months, whether it's walking or even moving side to side when sitting down. My consultant also told me the clicking is the plastic and maybe something to learn to live with.
I'm cycling 4 times a week and still go to the gym at least once. At the gym I still work on building the muscles up followed by stretching in the pool. I' about 125 ROM and just achieved 0 outstretched. To get to this point I had to persevere with putting me knee against the side of the pool and doing 3 sets of 10 trying to increase the bend. For the 0 you will need to start increasing the outstretch without the support, the aching will start to recede in time but you'll need to push yourself. Take the painkillers before hand to help
Think about the pain before the OP to put it into perspective, mine was unbearable and at times while driving I'd need to revert to driving with my left leg. Fortunate I have a right hand drive automatic but this was when I decided there was no choice but to get the op
The clicking is a small price to pay and the ache when outstretched will disappear. Your hamstrings need stretching to stop this and the cushion will not help to rid yourself of the ache. Everybody is different but it's worked for me, give it a go
Good luck
Thanks. Sounds like you're doing a terrific job! I had planned to hop on a bike when it got warmer here, but it's a huge step for me to start exercising again. I do a lot of walking and stair climbing on a regular basis because of my multi-level house, however. the surgeon told me I had 155 ROM and 0 straightening, so I'm OK in that regard.
I don't think I described well what I meant by lateral movement. I meant moving the leg below the knee from side-to-side, not up and down.
Fifteen months and the knee still "clunks". Small price to pay for no pain.
If by "lateral" you mean zero degrees straight, then yes, I still have a bit of stiffness when I don't keep up with the exercises.
Great. Nobody warned me about it, and I did plenty of research (not as much as I should have here because I learned about this site post-surgery). By lateral movement I meant the bottom leg going from side to side rather than straight forward and straight back. If I don't sleep with a pillow between my knees, my knee hurts on the side. Do you experience that?
Hi Mark - I was reading your response to Kgunch. Can you explain how you got to 120 ROM and 0 straight. I know you said that you put your knee against the pool and did 3 sets of 10? I am 8 months post TKR and I am only about 110. I exercise everyday and go to the gym every other day. I also use a DynaSplint prescribed by a surgeon. Thanks for any info that you can provide. J-213270
I stilo get some clcking and crunching two and half years after operation, but no pain. Regarding knee going lateral, is this perhaps due to having weak quad muscles/ it used to happen to me after the op, and I had to keep a pillow down the side to keep it straight, but since strengthening the quads i no longer get that problem. No doubt a good PT would be able to advise about that . . .
Totally... Don't think the clicking/clunking will ever end. Small price to pay for zero pain...
My calf and foot will go side to side...if I tell them too...not on their own. That does not sound very stable to me. What's the doc say?
For the ROM...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/zero-degrees--517809
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-heel-slide-exercises-526213
Then you have to rebuild all the strength in your quads, glutes and core...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/post-tkr-exercising-565527
Takes a year to come all the way back..usually. None of us were EVER prepared for this...
Hi
There are different types of knee replacement joints. I think I was lucky I told my surgeon I wanted to ski.
I got what was called a
The triathlon knee version has the plastic plate screwed to the metal stake so no clicking.
I did post any one needing a TKR should tell their surgeon they want to ski, even if they don't .
Another way is ask the surgeon before any operation what is the TKR part number, you can then look it up yourself.
Good healing
Hi, I think the trick with the clunking in the knee is to consider it funny. It's definitely a funny feeling, it doesn't cause any harm and it doen't hurt. I don't care about it at all. Very small price to pay for having an artificial part in your body that improves your life.
You can be walking with your friends and someone stops. "Does anyone hear that strange clunking sound?" I say: "What clunking sound?" Then we keep walking...and they stop again. "You really don't hear that sound?" My response: "What sound?" Drives them nutz...
I love it when it clicks, it says to me "my pain is diminishing yahoo!!!" I had to wait in dreadful pain for close on 10 years to have 2TKRs, so this can give me nothing but happiness. 1st TKR was Oct 2015, 2nd TKR was 2 months ago. I'm excited about my new life, I'm thinking of all the things I want to do. I think I'll do dance classes and learn how to jog. I've got to make up for all the life I couldn't live fully for 10 years!
I did have a major problem at the end of the last TKR op. You may not want to hear about it. If anyone wants to hear about it let me know and those that don't please look away.