If it has been months since you had your knee replacement surgery, and you are still in pain, you’re likely wondering if it will ever go away or making a last-ditch effort to completely address your problem.
Don’t despair—turn to one our knee replacement specialists here at the Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches, in Boynton Beach.
Read further to learn about what we can do to effectively reverse your problem.
Comprehensive Knee Examination
There are various potential reasons for persistent knee pain after arthroplasty, a few of which are listed below:
- Aseptic implant loosening- Persistent start-up pain (pain that occurs when you arise in the morning or get up after prolonged sitting), often accompanied by knee swelling, instability, and change in alignment
- Infection- Pain that occurs early after surgery or that is accompanied by redness, fever, and swelling
- Soft-tissue impingement- Pain that occurs with reduced mobility
- Periprosthetic fracture- Pain accompanied by swelling, deformity, and inability to bear weight on your knee
We will thoroughly review your symptoms, do a physical exam, and order some tests to pinpoint the cause of your knee pain.
o Medical Imaging (e.g., X-rays, stress radiographs, and MRI) – to detect knee instability or infection, inflammation, and other soft-tissue problems
o Lab Tests – to detect elevations of markers of inflammation, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) tests, which can signify an infection or inflammatory problems
Your doctor may also order a synovial fluid analysis to help look for signs of infection or abnormal crystallization around your knee.
Interventions
Based on the results of their evaluation, your surgeon will recommend the most suitable treatment for the specific cause of your knee pain.
If your doctor determines that your condition doesn’t warrant urgent intervention, they will likely explore conservative approaches, such as pain medications, manipulation under anesthesia (MUA), and intensive physical therapy, and see if your symptoms respond to them. Otherwise, your doctor may recommend surgical intervention.
- Knee arthroscopy- Your doctor may recommend this option if your knee pain is caused by soft-tissue impingement
- Debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR)- This is for treating prosthetic joint infection (PJI).
- Revision knee replacement- This is if your knee pain is due to implant loosening, instability, persistent stiffness, or fracture.
Knee Replacement Pain Treatment in Boynton Beach, FL
At Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches, your comfort, satisfaction, and overall well-being are of utmost importance to us, and thus, our orthopedic surgeons at our dedicated knee replacement department—Personalized Painful Knee Replacement Institute—constantly strive to meet or even exceed your expectations. We will do all necessary measures to minimize your risk of complications after your procedure. If a complication ever occurs, we will work closely with you to promptly address the problem, so your prosthetic knee can effectively serve its purpose—to get you moving, feeling, and living well again!
To schedule a consultation with one of our knee replacement surgeons, call our staff today at (561) 903-7448, or fill out this secure, convenient form.
