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39 Year Old, Had A Total Knee Replacement. Having Extreme Pain, Unable To Straighten Knees, Skin Looks Purple. CT Normal. Why The Pain ?

Posted on Wed, 4 Jul 2012

Question: i am a 39 year old who had a total knee replacement (right knee) 2 years ago. I have been in extreme pain all this time and still use a cane when walking. I am having extreme difficulty getting the knee striaght. When I try to straighten I get a sharp throbbing pain on the left side of my knee just below the knee cap. I also can only bend the knee to 80 degrees. There are times when the pain travels down my XXXXXXX and wraps around my ankle. I have also noticed that when I walk, my right foot points outward and i walk on my toes (foot won't lie flat). Finally, the skin around my knee and quad looks purplish and blotchy and at times the leg feels cold.I just recently had a CT scan which showed nothing is wrong with the knee. Why am I still inagony?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (34 minutes later)

Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

Persistent pain 2 years after total knee replacement can be due to neuropathic pain, XXXXXXX scarring (arthrofibrosis), loosening of the prosthesis, patellofemoral instability, postoperative stiffness, etc. A direct clinical examination and investigations like MRI and arthroscopy are needed to identify the exact cause.

The treatment usually involves pain killers under guidance of a pain therapist, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, etc. You can consult your surgeon for careful examination and evaluation to narrow down the possibilities.

I hope this answers your query. In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.

Wish you good health and speedy recovery.

Regards
Dr. Praveen Tayal.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad