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Knee replacement 4 years on

(19 Posts)
Scotty16 Wed 19-Mar-25 15:01:55

I had a total knee replacement just over 4 years ago and the results have been excellent. However, on a couple of occasions recently, if I have been standing for a while, my knee swells up and seizes. This is very painful and I can hardly walk, I can only move along with a pronounced limp and it is very painful. Has anyone else have any experience of this happening? Thank you for reading.

crazyH Wed 19-Mar-25 15:19:17

I haven’t, personally, but my sister-in-law had it done 2 years ago. She says that TKR is hit and miss. She still has pain when climbing stairs etc. On the other hand a friend she knows is like a spring chicken, post op.
It’s the luck of the draw, I guess.

Funnygran Wed 19-Mar-25 16:02:52

I had a knee replacement nearly three years ago and it’s certainly made a difference to what I can do. However like you Scotty16, I sometimes get pain in it for no particular reason. It doesn’t last long but I certainly know it’s there.

crazyH Wed 19-Mar-25 20:41:30

Scotty16 - just wanted to say, if your knee is swelling up, it means there’s inflammation. You need to see your GP

crazyH Wed 19-Mar-25 20:50:43

Btw I have no medical training, but I remember when I had a swollen knee, my GP said there was ‘inflammation’

ginny Wed 19-Mar-25 21:24:38

See your doctor. I had both knees replaced 10 years ago and have had no problems with them.

Scotty16 Wed 19-Mar-25 22:10:24

Thank you all for your replies.

cornergran Wed 19-Mar-25 22:56:37

I’m almost four years post TKR. My operated leg has always been just a little puffy around the knee, nothing noticeable to others or uncomfortable. I get the odd ache, definitely nothing that could be called pain. As others have suggested, a GP appointment sounds sensible. Best to have a check.

Cateq Thu 20-Mar-25 14:20:41

A friend of ours had his knee replaced privately, but struggled to recover. He saw an NHS consultant who said it needed further work done, and that he could do it at the private hospital but would prefer to do it on the nhs as that hospital had better facilities. He had the second op, but it’s still having problems so is going to see yet another consultant. Don’t delay see your consultant as soon as po

SparklyGrandma Thu 20-Mar-25 19:46:24

My knee ( in its natural state) sometimes locks with sharp pain, and I have to stop and wait for the knee to calm down as well as the pain?
It’s especially if I try to turn on that knee.

SiobhanSharpe Thu 20-Mar-25 21:44:20

I had to have a second TKR on my right knee as the first one failed after only three years.
The knee was never right, even from the start, and it got worse as time went on.
An MRI showed it was coming apart and had to be replaced. This was done almost exactly a year ago and the knee is now fine, great even.
However my hip, bum and lower back were badly affected by the failure of the first knee joint as I could never walk properly. I am still having treatment, spinal injections, to help with this.
The new knee is good, however.

pen50 Thu 20-Mar-25 21:53:15

Have had TKRs on both knees, 2019 and 2021. Both still a bit stiff but otherwise no complaints. I suspect the stiffness is mostly due to the odd gait I developed before the ops, and am now trying to force myself to walk with slightly bent knees.

Norah Thu 20-Mar-25 21:55:43

ginny

See your doctor. I had both knees replaced 10 years ago and have had no problems with them.

I agree, my TKR are over 6 and less that 1 year old - no problems ever. However I do all things my physio requests, I exercise several times a day and walk miles. If I were you, I'd see my doctor.

Scotty16 Fri 21-Mar-25 11:51:46

Thank you lovely g'netters. I took your advice and saw my GP this morning. He says my knee is very swollen, and has referred me for an X-ray, given me topical ibuprofen and asked me to self refer to physio. Thankfully my joint is stable. If the swelling doesn't settle in a few weeks he is going to refer me to orthopaedics.

Once the pain had settled I probably wouldn't have bothered my GP with this. I am so glad I did!

Thank you once again.

cornergran Fri 21-Mar-25 11:59:44

Sounds a good outcome scotty. Definitely worth that GP visit. Hope all goes well now.

Norah Fri 21-Mar-25 12:45:24

Scotty16

Thank you lovely g'netters. I took your advice and saw my GP this morning. He says my knee is very swollen, and has referred me for an X-ray, given me topical ibuprofen and asked me to self refer to physio. Thankfully my joint is stable. If the swelling doesn't settle in a few weeks he is going to refer me to orthopaedics.

Once the pain had settled I probably wouldn't have bothered my GP with this. I am so glad I did!

Thank you once again.

Good news!

WelwynWitch3 Thu 27-Mar-25 11:06:49

I am acting for a TKR. Already have two THR and reverse should replacement which now has an out 65% of movement. I find sometimes weather seems to affect them, like if it is cold but over all I don’t have much of a problem with replacements.

WelwynWitch3 Thu 27-Mar-25 11:07:43

Above should have said waiting, don’t know where acting came from!

silverlining48 Thu 27-Mar-25 11:33:39

Scotty just to say there is an ongoing hip and knee thread which you find under the health forum. Lots of practical help and support.
Look out for the dancing girls. 👯‍♀️ and hope things get better for you.