Hi,
I've had bilateral TKA 10 weeks ago, and recovery has had it's up and downs, but finally as many on this forum have mentioned as you approach 3 months it starts getting better.
I took another forum members advice (thanks Chico!) seriously and got off opioid pain meds (Oxycodone) this past week. And instead have iced-iced-iced. Getting off opioids really change my mental state for the better. I think I was teary and feeling sorry for myself on the pain meds. Remember to slowly wean yourself otherwise you get shakey.
Another member mentioned daily stationary bike. Absolutely great advice, and I'm lucky to have a stationary bike at home. I think that's why I was able to increase my ROM fairly quickly. My ROM is miraculously at 140 and 135, and extension 0.
I started riding my mountain bike around 7 weeks post-surgery on some flat trails near my house. Great for my mental state! Started off really short distances maximum 20 minutes, and now up to 60 minutes.
I still get tired easily, and have to rest or take it easy during the day. But I understand that'll take awhile to get over.
But with all this progress, I developed a loud clicking/popping sound in both knees at about 5 weeks. It's really annoying as it's truly loud. Every step and every movement bending my knees, I hear and feel this clicking. On my left knee, I have a double click, and I actually see my left side muscle above my knee cap bulge with each click. My surgeon had to correct my bowed legs, and I'm wondering if that has to do with it. He and his staff warned me before the surgery that many TKRs click. Well, my husband had a TKR 2 years ago and his knee does not click. Is it the prosthesis that was used? He used Smith and Nephew implants on me. I'm going to see my doc in 2 weeks, and would love to get input from other TKR patients on this.
Has anyone else had this experience where suddenly the clicking starts? Does it go away with more PT strengthening exercises?
I'm mighty frustrated as everything else seems good. And I don't see how one gets used to it when it's so loud and apparent, and I feel and hear each pop/click!
Ann
My brother in law had both hips replaced. One twice due to the recall. His new ones are ceramic and they squeak. Loud.
Ann, I had a bilateral nearly 2 years ago and I went through the clickity clacks too. Some say it never goes away, but mine did. To tell you the truth, I don't really remember when it went away, but it did. I remember thinking, "What the heck is going on...I thought I got over groaning knees!" They also made noises when I went from sitting to standing. I found this forum at about 3 months post op and was told it was normal, so I rejoiced in the fact that there wasn't any additional pain with the sounds. I have no idea what my prosthesises are (I had them done while working in India and the doctors there don't generally give you too much information and questions don't get you very far either).
-Mo
Thanks for the hope and optimism, Mo! I'll keep on thinking this clicking will diminish and disappear over time. After all I didn't have any loud noises the first 5 weeks - maybe cause knees were swollen? I keep on wondering if I should be strengthening certain muscles to deal with this but my PT says I'll just get used to it. Not sure how one gets used to crackling noises with every bend and step!
Squeaky hips! Never heard of that and know many with hip replacements. Maybe he and I could get together and start a concert with hip squeaks, and knee clicks, crackles and pops while we walk?
WOOHOO!!! Off the meds!!! Not easy but worth it.
Walking down the street with a group of friends. All of a sudden, one of them stops the group...
"Do you hear that clicking sound?"
"What clicking sound?"
"Geez, now it's gone. Oh well..."
The walk resumes. Same person stops the group again.
"Come on! You have to be hearing that clicking sound!"
"What clicking sound?"
"Damn...it stopped again!"
The walk continues...and again...
C'mon guys! You can make this into such a great running gag. There's almost no end to it. Your doc implanted "the setup"...all you have to do is milk it and deliver whatever punch line comes into your head!!!
Screw with your friends' minds. Be the center of attention at your next cocktail party. I just hope the clicking doesn't stop...this is worth a lifetime of laughs!!!
His first one was metal. They did other hip with ceramic. When he had metal one redone cause of recall doc said the ceramic may squeak. Guess most are metal or plastic like knees.
Hey Chico!
Funny joke! LOL.
Good to hear from you! Thanks for one of your long posts that had all the great TKR advice, and inspired me to get off the opioids as soon as possible. What a difference that made in improving my mental outlook.
The clicking could be fun, but how do I sneak up on family members? Or sneak around at all?
I'll take Mo's post on this one, and HOPE the clicking miraculously stops one day or slowly diminishes over time! (-;
Ann
Great one Chico! Maybe I can use it for Halloween.
I've had two shoulder ops, a replaced hip, four fused vertebrae, four kidney stones, carpal tunnel, two scopes on each knee............and the TKR. I'm thinking of going Old Testament and changing my name to Job. What's next? Locusts???
After a while, you can't take any of this seriously, regardless of the pain. Find the humor and keep on moving down the road. In my spare time, I've been a musician since I was 11...that's 57 years of playing drums and guitar. I'm still an active, gigging blues bassist. Ahhhh...The Blues. I've paid my dues and earned the right to play 'em. Part of what keeps me going...
Hi,
I have the exact same muscle bulge above my knee along with the BIG pop. I am also 10 weeks post-op. It is my understanding that they have to cut the quad in an up-down direction during the TKR. I have a small knot right in this area. My guess is that there is some scar tissue there that is rubbing across some other tendons or ligaments. But it is just a guess. My doctor said that, in general, it may take 3 months post-op for the tissues to recover such that things go more smoothly. If it is still happening in another 4 weeks, I am going back in to see if there is anything amiss.
Hya. I have just put question on same problem. I have single pop with each footstep and triple pop when doing stairs. It's so loud, everyone cringes when I walk with them...I also find it hard to distinguish where it's coming from. It sounds like it's between knee and hip. I was going to speak to gp.i know you have to expect strange pops but it's not random its all the time and its getting very painfull. It's a horrible popping sound realy loud...
Hi Chico, I too feel like not much left for life to throw my way in terms of orthopaedic surgery. I'm now 48 and so far have had to deal with 19 knee surgeries and 7 wrist surgeries :-( First knee op was age 13 and was a lateral menisectomy. Hot on the heels of that came a lateral menisectomy of the other knee, then 3 ligament reconstructions of my wrists an arthrodesis of my right wrist. Multiple arthroscopic, a plaecectomy, emergency surgery to treat septic arthritis, further ligament reconstruction of left wrist, removal of broken pins and then in the last two years a TKR of left knee in Oct 2015 and a TKR of right knee in Nov 2016. Two surgeries that couldn't have had more different outcomes despite being done in same hospital by the same surgeon. 1st one was brilliant. Almost pain free, full movement and painless clicking. The 2nd one has and remains a disaster. Severe constant pain despite full range of movement. Constant swelling. Loud painful clunking and clicking. Crepitus from behind the knee cap and feeling of instability despite there feeling like there is a tight elastic band around the middle of my knee. The worry is most of these problems started after about 10 weeks after surgery. I'm seeing the consultant in 2 weeks, should I be worried or not? Finally to Ann, good luck, hope you get matters sorted soon. Bless you :-)
It's a mechanical device...it can be replaced if necessary. That's the bright side. Docs have to make the call. Meanwhile...Voltaren Gel (RX in the US) is a great topical anti-inflammatory. No drugs.
Also, post your story to a new thread with the word "Revision" in the title. You may get some helpful advice from people in your situation. Lots have posted that they've had different experiences with each knee. I'll get my second one done in the next year or two. 28 operations (a lot of minor stuff like trigger finger, wrist cyst, etc.) in 17 years. Just got out of the hospital two hours ago from my latest spine surgery. Google "Globus RISE-L" and you'll see what they did. Amazing. Immediate pain relief, one night stay, zero rehab. Just dealing with some temporary post-op muscle pain.
Get that knee looked at by multiple docs...see what the consensus is... Good luck...
Annfed , I had left tkr on June 14,2017. 2 and a half months later my knee is still clunking . Still going to outpatient PT . It's so dissapointing . I have stopped talking about it to family members and friends . So many PT'S have said it will go away in time but I have worked so hard with excercises but still there .my os said it's not unusual and the xrays show everything is in place . I'm getting to a point where I am about to accept it and just let it go. But my plan is to keep excercising , and lose weight and eat healthy and hope like heck it stops . I'lll keep in touch and let you know in a few months how things are . It's so frustrating . We are not alone.
My knee replacement clicks but I am now six months post op and it has lessened a lot over the last two weeks.
I am almost four months right TKR with a Journey 2 Smith and Nephew prosthesis. From about one week in I have had a clonking and thudding in each step I take. Doctor and Therapist said that I need to strengthen the muscles around the knee and allow them to heal and reset after the severe trauma during surgery. I started working and driving but after a few hours on my feet, my knee becomes swollen and painful. I have to ice and elevate a few times before bedtime. I am fearful that the clonking with each step is so loud that it shocks my femur unto my hip, leaving me with a pain in my groin. I also feel that even though the clonking is not painful, it is contributing to tissue stress around the knee which results in the swelling and pain after a few hours. I have been massaging and doing the strengthening exercises and feel that I should be getting a little better and better each day, except that I seem to be stuck or seem to be going backwards. I am praying and hoping that I will be better and better as the months go by and even if I still have the clonking, that the swelling and pain and the shocking feeling in my femur would disappear. Everyone says that it takes time and it heals slowly and I cannot wait for one year in to be her soon so I can experience what they are speaking about. I am waiting another few months and would request an MRI from my Dr. if this swelling and pain and clonking continues. If anyone with a Journey 2 knee has had this clonking and is now rid of them and if it is on,h time before it dissipate, then I would appreciate your comments and opinions. Thank you! Mary.
Mary,
I have the same Smith and Nephew Journey 2 issues and I'm 8 weeks out. Did your's get any better?
Mine seem to keep getting worse as time goes on.
Thanks!
Jonah
I finally after one year and no sound advice from my original bilateral TKR surgeon, I found out what my problem was – it is called “patella clunk syndrome.” I sought the advice of another surgeon who performed x-rays at 35° 65° and 85° and also MRI with MAPS which shows tissue growth nodule under left knee cap. Original surgeon never offered any of these diagnosistic procedures. He was just going to cut along the original incision and flip my kneecap around to clean up any scarring. Second surgeon was very methodical with the diagnostic procedures, and then performed an out patient arthroscopic procedure on my clunking left knee last Wednesday. What a miracle? My left knee finally extends and bends smoothly without the clunking and protruding of the kneecap. The clicking in both my knees when I walk is apparent and I’ve been told that is common in 50% of knee replacements. I have a Smith and Nephew Genesis prosthetics in both knees. I’m an avid cyclist so as far as building up the muscles around the knee to reduce this clicking has not worked for me.My husband has a knee replacement from 3 years ago that is quiet as can be. Go figure!
Jonah,
I am now 9 months in right TKR and I am fully aware of my clunking and popping when I am walking in a quiet place. It’s almost freaky. With every step there is a clunk with a slight uncomfortable feeling. Not really painful but I would rather not have it. My problem is now I have developed a pain in my hip and I still think that the clunking in my knee is affecting my femur into my hip. I am going to see my surgeon soon and try to figure out my hip. Some say that it stops clunking but mine never did. The only time I am unaware of it is when I am working and preoccupied. I think that after TKR a knee can never feel and be back to the 100% of the knee you had before the problems begun. But the positive thing is that you are better than before the TKR. I would be worried if your clunking comes with pain. You need to take care of it and see a doctor real soon. You are only weeks in and you need to continue the strengthing exercises. If the pain continues you need to check that. I am still looking for a way out of this clunking and I am wishing you well as the months go by. Thank you!