Knee Replacement & Post-Op Pain

The first knee replacement in America took place in 1968. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, "Improvements in surgical materials and techniques since then have greatly increased its effectiveness." Pain sometimes follows post-op.

Types

• There are three types of knee replacements--total knee replacement (TKR), partial or unicompartmental knee replacement and minimally invasive knee replacement. The unicompartmental replacementis not as common. The third is new and more challenging than the standard TKR.

Considerations

• The minimally invasive replacement seems to be the best option. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, "The smaller incisions and new techniques to expose the joint may result in short-term advantages such as a quicker rehabilitation, less pain and a shorter hospitalization, according to some reports."

Local Pain Sources

• You may experience pain post-surgery due to infection in the knee joint, instability in the knee joint, your tissues being impinged by the prosthesis causing throbbing pain or an incorrect diagnosis that resulted in unnecessary surgery that now gives you pain post-op.

Peripheral Pain Sources

• There are a number of peripheral pain sources. Peripheral source pain originates from outside the knee joint, but is experienced in the region of the knee joint. Sources include hip arthritis, spinal stenosis, popped discs, neuroma, blocked arteries, bone breaks and complex regional pain syndrome.

Theories/Speculation

• Anterior knee pain after surgery may be due to Piaget's disease, according to the Internet Journal of Orthopedic Surgery. Anterior knee pain origin after replacement is unknown, but is thought to be connected to friction in the patellofemoral joint. This joint consists of the knee cap and the thigh bone.

Treatment

• See a doctor who can determine the best approach to get rid of your pain. The approach will depend on the origin of the pain.