MRI on a partial knee replacement

[Tom 86]

I've been going to this reconstruction orthopedic surgeon for a year. As I have severe pain in my right knee where they put in the partial knee replacement back in 03 or 18 years ago. When it was put in they said it would only last about 7 maybe 10 years. Well, he's been putting a shot in that knee every 3 months. As Insurance will only pay for one shot every three months. Use to work, then it got down to 2 months, & finally one month. After the last time, I came into the house & I have 3 steps to get in. I twisted that knee.

So he sent me to Physical Therapy. The fellow there done everything he could to help with the pain, he said I think you have a torn ligament or something in that knee. So Friday when I was in to get my shot in the knee I ask the surgeon if I could get an MRI as the P.T.s says I might have a torn ligament or something in there?

He said NO you can't get an MRI as you have metal in there. so I came home & researched on the web & both Mayo clinic & John Hopkins hospital says yes you can as after a person has a knee replacement & they start getting pain we have to do an MRI to find the loose part in the knee that's causing the pain.

My question is has anyone here ever had an MRI after a partial or full knee replacement?

 

[Paco Dennis]

I had a knee surgery, and they screwed up my pain medication so I had wait about 45 minutes with no pain relief...it was torture. I am sure that won't happen if you need surgery. My friend just had hand surgery. It was out patient, and I had to do many things she couldn't. You'll need help for awhile. She stayed away from the perscription narcotics, but some people are ok with them. Personally I get terribly constipated using them. You are courageous to plan on getting the surgery. I was scheduled for a colonoscopy and I chickened out just because the prep is so trying for me. Anyway....good luck on all fronts.

 

[Tom 86]

Thanks, Paco. I got to see my P.C. Dr. on Tues. He says I'm taking too much Tylenol. 3,900 mg a day or six of the 650 mg high dose Tylenol. He said I should be at 2,000 mg a day at my age or kill my liver & kidneys.

So he's talking about starting me on a low dose of " tramadol" Not sure what that will do for my pain. I've looked it up on the web & WebMD has many side effects that I don't want. So we will have an excellent sit-down discussion.

My P.C. Dr. will take all the time needed to explant & talk with you. Very few Dr's will do this; they are in & out in 5 minutes. I've sat & we talked for an hr. a few times. One thing when I leave, I have all my questions answered on why this & not that.

 

[Warrigal]

My thinking is that your partial knee replacement should be replaced with a total one.

My husband had partial knee replacements in both knees and eventually they both failed. He ended up having both replaced but not at the same time. His surgeon gave him a discount because he said he had earned "frequent flyer points".

 

[oldman]

I had a knee surgery, and they screwed up my pain medication so I had wait about 45 minutes with no pain relief...it was torture. I am sure that won't happen if you need surgery. My friend just had hand surgery. It was out patient, and I had to do many things she couldn't. You'll need help for awhile. She stayed away from the perscription narcotics, but some people are ok with them. Personally I get terribly constipated using them. You are courageous to plan on getting the surgery. I was scheduled for a colonoscopy and I chickened out just because the prep is so trying for me. Anyway....good luck on all fronts.

Stay away from narcotics, unless you have cancer or some other very serious and painful ailment. You think it will be OK to take them for a few weeks, but that can be all it takes for a person to become addicted.