Question: I recently had knee-replacement surgery and now have intolerable pain. Is this something I'm going to have to live with the rest of my life?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Knee replacement surgery is a big deal. Not everyone has great results, but pain after surgery is usually much less than before the procedure, unless you are unlucky enough to have suffered complications.
Common complications of joint-replacement surgery include joint or bone or wound infections, rejection, and vascular disorders, including blood clots, superficial phlebitis, gangrene. and deep vein thrombophlebitis (DVT). Flares of rheumatic diseases and gout are also a possibility.
I would recommend you return to your orthopedic surgeon without delay, but also involve your primary care physician so that this situation can be managed swiftly and without delay. Post-operative pain needs to be managed aggressively so that your joint mobility is preserved and your post-op physical therapy can continue uninterrupted for the best long-term results once the serious complications mentioned above have been excluded.
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