Partial knee replacement failure

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I am 10 weeks post surgery for bilateral partial knee replacements. For the first 8 weeks I made excellent progress and was delighted to be pain free with a very good range of movement. However, about 1 weekago my right knee began to swell a little and felt a bit sore. Over the last couple of days it has deteriorated considerably with severe clunking every step I take and feeling unstable. I am now finding stairs difficult and not even walking confidently.

Has anyone else had similar symptoms or have any idea what the issue could be?

Thank you 

2

I had a left PKR in January.  Was always worried about every little thing.  Had a bit of popping at one point and asked my PT about it as I was worried it was something serious.  Turned out to be some tendon movement - has now resolved.  When I asked him about the prosthesis loosening, the word he used about how it would feel was unstable...

3

I’m very much hoping it’s something that will be easily resolved - hoping to see my physio tomorrow. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 

4

Hopefully you have talked with your PT folks and all is ok.  I had a TKR in January and I find when I overdo it and or am tired it seems like my knee is heavier and that it does "clunk" when I walk.   My PT folks said that it was because the muscles are not strong enough yet for all that I am trying to do.  I forget that I can't just jump back to my normal routine yet.  If you look up Chico Marx's name he has some good advice on exercising to do and a good graphic on what life is like as you are recovering from knee replacement!

5

Maybe your surgeon needs to xray your knee. I will say that my surgeon said around 6 weeks it gets worse. Nerves are waking up. If I overdo activity my knee swells and feels like a big chunk of concrete. Then it creaks when I walk.

6

I have just returned from an appointment with my surgeon and X-rays confirm that the prosthetic is still in the correct position and alignment is good which was a relief. However, following examination he is confident that I have torn the lateral meniscus (🤦🏼‍♀️) though we are not sure how! This explains the locking and instability I have been experiencing. So it is now a waiting game to see if things settle down or whether I will require an arthroscopy to sort it out. Fingers crossed it’s the former!