Knee replacement?

@Jointdoc The new knee is somehow loose, making locking noises when I plant the foot and a less audible noise when I step off. No one can explain whats going on with it. Any ideas?


Hard to say without seeing it - I WILL tell you that all knees can make a little "clicking" with the right movement which is "ok" as long as not painful. Two types of TKA designs - CR and PS. CR maintains the PCL and tends to click less as I think they are a little tighter design. PS knees sacrifice the PS and have a cam and post mechanism and so I think that post tends to "click" in the cam a little more. Essentially metal and plastic clicking.

Sit on the edge of a tall counter or back of truck and let your knee dangle side to side - it will knock/click.

Clicking with walking is a little different - PS knees with rotation off a bit can click. Some people get a patellar "clunk" which is painful - scar tissue that forms underneath knee cap and clunks when it glides over the box of the knee.

Not sure if this helps or not... bottom line - typically don't worry about it unless it hurts - but it can drive some folks nuts.
 
My mother had both of hers replaced last year - June, and then September. She was 73 at the time and has had no regrets. She recovered quickly from both and had led a pretty sedentary lifestyle. She gets around much better now and has no pain. What was said above is true - many wish they hadn't put it off so long, including my mom. It is also a very good point from above that was made about finding someone who does them routinely. Dr. David Pollock at Wake Forest Baptist did my mother's and he knows what he's doing. The hospital in Davie County was great.


Davie Medical Center is amazing. 99% in patient satisfaction. 99% in employee satisfaction. 0% infection rate.

Nursing staff, OR staff all hand picked to provide an "experience" to every patient. Everyone is smiling because everyone is happy to be there.

We love working and operating there, and patients have a phenomenal experience.
 
OK its been 3 1/2 weeks since the surgery. Went to War Mart today for the first time with just a cane/ pushing a cart and now my knee pops and clunks with every move I make and not just at the end of the swing. That don't seem right to me. Any insight @Jointdoc ?
 
OK its been 3 1/2 weeks since the surgery. Went to War Mart today for the first time with just a cane/ pushing a cart and now my knee pops and clunks with every move I make and not just at the end of the swing. That don't seem right to me. Any insight @Jointdoc ?

All knees are going to have a little bit of a mechanical sound - typically when you let them dangle or take weight off them and let them swing side to side - they will "click" - they are metal and plastic. Time to time patients will get a little sound here and there when walking but it should not be constant. Knees that have a little instability, or perhaps a little extra fluid may pop a little more. Typically if it doesn't hurt I don't worry too much about it... however a TKA at 3 weeks - everything hurts a bit so hard to tell. Knees that are put in "tight" click less, knees that are put in a little "loose" click more. Knees with instability or mal-rotation pop and hurt. Hope this helps.
 
I don't have any direct knowledge, thank God, of joint replacement, but my brother had hip replacement a few years ago and it has gone exceptionally well considering he is an idiot and bad patient. My brother in law works for J&J and was the Director of the division that did knee and hip replacements and told me the technology has improved dramatically in the last 5-10 years. I am always amazed at the stuff we do medically these days.
 
I don't have any direct knowledge, thank God, of joint replacement, but my brother had hip replacement a few years ago and it has gone exceptionally well considering he is an idiot and bad patient. My brother in law works for J&J and was the Director of the division that did knee and hip replacements and told me the technology has improved dramatically in the last 5-10 years. I am always amazed at the stuff we do medically these days.


Yes - hips do amazing. With little to no effort on the part of the patient. Just get up and walk. If the surgeon put it in correctly and handles the soft tissues correctly (regardless of approach - anterior/posterior/etc) - you will do well 99% of the time. Knees on the other hand take a lot of effort on the patients part. Technology has come far in hips - not as far in knees. Some of the biggest advancements in the last 5 years has been in pain management, blood conservation, etc - making it like people almost don't even have surgery. Of the 6 cases I did Tuesday, little to no narcotic pain medication was used among the 6 while in the hospital. Pretty amazing. We have come a long way in just 5 years. I don't think I have given a blood transfusion for an elective total hip or knee in 4 or 5 years. Takes a team.
 
@Jointdoc ....thank you for being so free and verbose with the info. This kind of thread makes this place rock.
I'd like to echo what @Tim said. I'm always amazed at the knowledge of members of this forum.....on any subject.
 
Yes - hips do amazing. With little to no effort on the part of the patient. Just get up and walk. If the surgeon put it in correctly and handles the soft tissues correctly (regardless of approach - anterior/posterior/etc) - you will do well 99% of the time. Knees on the other hand take a lot of effort on the patients part. Technology has come far in hips - not as far in knees. Some of the biggest advancements in the last 5 years has been in pain management, blood conservation, etc - making it like people almost don't even have surgery. Of the 6 cases I did Tuesday, little to no narcotic pain medication was used among the 6 while in the hospital. Pretty amazing. We have come a long way in just 5 years. I don't think I have given a blood transfusion for an elective total hip or knee in 4 or 5 years. Takes a team.

My wife's aunt did boths knees at once which from what I have heard is a bad idea. She is about 80! But so far it sounds like it has gone well. Pretty amazing. I'm a cynical, distrusting SOB, but the medical field has made amazing gains in my life.
 
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My wife's aunt did boths knees at once which from what .i have heard is a bad idea. She is about 80! But so far it sounds like it has gone well. Pretty amazing. I'm a cynical, distrusting SOB, but the medical field has made amazing gains in my life.
My uncle had both knees done at the same time; my dad only had one done. He said he didn't understand how my uncle could get back up after taking a shit....
 
My uncle had both knees done at the same time; my dad only had one done. He said he didn't understand how my uncle could get back up after taking a shit....


I do 1 or 2 bilateral knees per month. Patients do surprisingly well. I will NOT do them in everyone. Patients have to essentially have no active medical problems to qualify for both at a once.
 
Obstructive sleep apnea can be scary. We screen all patients for OSA before surgery. Be careful if you have OSA when you are at home and taking narcotics as it can exacerbate your symptoms at night. May be worth looking into sleep study / CPAP at night. Take care and good luck!
Got that right.
I had a sedated colonoscopy before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea.
I recall the NA shaking me awake a few times saying "breathe."
Had a sleep study the next month. Scored a 75. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
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