TENDINITIS FOLLOWING TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT

[Mary63]

I have developed tendinitis over my knee, my physio thinks because I have been overdoing things. I had my TKR 11 weeks ago and I am feeling a bit pathetic as I have not got on faster. ....def feel I am not overdoing it, but do have faith in this physio.Does anyone have any advice/tips please?

I am gradually weaning off the opiates, which enabled me to be pretty mobile.

I believe tendinitis is more common with PMR or maybe with prednisolone? How can I protect myself against further problems?

PMR since November 2015 Diagnosed Jan 2016. Currently on 7mg plucking up courage to reduce to 6.5mg

[Hidden]

Hi Mary

Sorry to hear your struggling with your knee Post Operatively, firstly don't attempt any reduction of your Pred until your knee settles as you won't want the extra stress on your body.

DorsetLady will be along shortly she has had a NR as have others so she & they may be able to give you some guidance.

Hope things improve soon 🌷🌷🌷

MrsN

[Mary63 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[SheffieldJane]

Wait with your Pred taper until this resolves. It’s hard enough at these levels. X

[suzy1959]

Hi Mary, I am 10 weeks post op with a partial knee replacement. I'm not sure about how different the total replacement is, but I have , luckily been off the opiates for a while now, just using a co-codamol occasionally when I get a bit more pain. Still using paracetamol at least once a day. I am not doing the specific exercises every day any more ( rightly or wrongly) but have started Tai Chi and swimming. Still can't walk far as the other knee needs a total replacement which I hope to have in October. I decided not to try to reduce pred until I felt completely free of any post-op. issues.

I am a bit puzzled at your tendonitis- what are your symptoms? As my osteopath pointed out, of course the knee joint is only held together by tendons and ligaments, so they are an essential part of our recovery and with the complications of PMR, they are probably weaker than for most.

I am finding my thigh muscles and groin are a bit painful and seem weaker than before and I am hoping this is just due to the op and the body having to adjust to the new knee, and not the arthritis in that hip getting worse.

I'm afraid I don't have an answer but would definitely advice caution with any taper of pred and care in terms of overdoing it which is so easy to do!

[Mary63]

Thanks to all. I am not going to think of tapering until things settle a bit more, and definitely not until after my son’s wedding on 8th June.

I believe a total knee replacement is harder to get through than partial. My husband was back playing golf 6 weeks after a partial.

My tendinitis symptoms are new pain, swelling, heat, all since I stopped ibuprofen, which I think worked so well I felt little pain and then aggravated the tendon. Physio is convinced that is what it is, but it makes recovery more difficult. The reason I posed the question on this forum was because I seem to remember there is a PMR cause for weakened tendons?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Mary63]

Hi,

Have to say my total knee replacement didn't cause any problems - sorry - apart from the usual post op pains. But I wasn’t on Pred, nor had GCA maybe that was the difference. Plus I was back to Pilates after 4 weeks, but then I do heal very well.

All you can do really is stick at your current dose, and do what exercises your body will let you, no point pushing things or feeling guilty because you can’t do what others are. Things will improve, but for some people it takes longer than others.

[Mary63 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks DL.

[suzy1959]

Snap again! My son is getting married on 28th June !!

[Mary63 in reply to suzy1959]

Exciting!