Total Knee Replacement and CLL Connected?

[Naisy]

Hi Everyone. I was diagnosed w/CLL in July 2021. I'm on Calquence. I had knee replacement in March 2023 and am still reeling from pain, scar tissue buildup and very limited range of motion, even after having a subsequent knee manipulation. I am now having to brace w/Dynasplints for approx 3hrs./day and doing PT.

Has anyone had the same experience?

I'm wondering if my pain and slow healing could be tied to CLL? (Bone marrow tied to bone healing issues perhaps?)

[Sunfishjoy]

hi Nasiy. I can’t speak to possible CLL ramifications after TKR. But I did have a knee replacement in 2016 and honestly it took me a full year to feel healed. By six months I could walk a few miles without pain, and upstairs easily but walking down stairs took a year. So my advice would be to be patient and keep up your PT and exercising as much as you can. The bigger the bend the better the long term results will be. There’s a web site called BONESMART where people from all over the world post about their knee surgeries and offer advice. Perhaps you can check it out as well. It gets better so have faith.

[Naisy in reply to Sunfishjoy]

Thanks so much Sunfish Joy. I appreciate your words of encouragement. I'll also check into Bonesmart.

[CanadaNancyT]

Hi Naisy:I had a TKR pre covid. it took well over a year to recover and I did my PT faithfully every day. I still have many days when it is painful and I did not get full motion. It's still early.fays for you. Be patient and continue your PT.

Best of luck.

Nancy

[Naisy in reply to CanadaNancyT]

Thanks for this. At this point I'm no longer going for full range of motion. Just want the pain and (now) swelling to subside.

[Big_Dee]

Hello Naisy

Good question. My wife had knee surgery 4 weeks ago, but I am the one with CLL. 🧐Blessings.

[CycleWonder]

I had two total knee replacements before I was diagnosed. It took quite awhile to recover. Walking everyday and PT (including doing the exercises at home) were very important to recover. The first time I tried to ride a stationary bike in the gym my husband had to lift me off because it hurt me so much. It was three months before I could ride a bike outside. In contrast, the hip was easy. I was back on a bike in 6 weeks.

I would personally avoid using braces as you recover. It is better to take a lot of short walks several times a day. Each day it should get a little less painful.

But as Jammin_Me notes, be wary of infections.

[Naisy in reply to CycleWonder]

Thanks for your encouragement. I havevstarted walking daily. So happy that I can finally do this.

[Ellieoak]

I had both knees replaced in March and April 2019. I've done exercises daily , not just when I went to PT. Ive had CLL since 2002. I don't think that it did not have anything to do with my CLL.

[Naisy in reply to Ellieoak]

Thanks for your response. Makes me feel a lot better.

[t2aa]

I had 2 knee replacements done after diagnosis but before treatment. 2nd one did not go as well as first as I fell which caused some scar tissue and mobility problems. I had to have a manual manipulation, but after that all was well. It took a good 6 months to heal up. Then I had treatment for CLL (VR). Now I play pickleball 5 days a week and don’t have any issues with my knees at all. Patience!

[Naisy in reply to t2aa]

So glad to hear of your recovery. Still working on my patience. Thanks again.

[Naisy]

Thanks so much for this. Still working on patience with my body.

[Naisy]

So sorry to hear about your Mom. At least she got 22 yrs off of her KR. Doing better. Thx again.

[Mag8009]

Naisy - I feel you. I have a knee replacement on right knee 2016 and revision of same 2024. Orignal was hot, painful, swollen. I was 53 years old and driven. Didnt help. Had an artholysis done and it improved bend but not the painful hot swollen nature. Knee prosthesis got recalled and it was loosening so 2nd surgery. Found CLL in pre-op. This surgery has been slower recovery even though the knee is more functional. I believe the CLL is part of that slower recovery. But bad bend and swelling are not necessarily part of it. What i learned is that the “push it” advice is seriously unhelpful. Be gentle. Put those legs up as often as possible. Do muscle strengthening exercises every day and hour but do not stress out the knee. Walking is good but keep it short, stable and frequent. And keep going back to doc b/c that knee may not be right.