Revision knee replacement / multiple knee surgeries
Some people undergo revision knee replacement – a 2nd (or more) surgery that replaces some or all of their knee replacement prosthesis. This may be done to fix a complication such as infection, loosening or fracture. Some people have a manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA) or an arthroscopy performed to investigate or manage a stiff knee and pain.
All surgery can increase pain and increase sensitisation despite the best intentions to help fix the problem.
If you’ve had further surgery, you can use this as an opportunity to start your pain rehabilitation again. But each surgery starts the recovery clock again – it takes 6 to 12 weeks for the body’s soft tissues to heal after surgery.
People who had undergone, or were waiting to undergo revision surgery were excluded from the Kneed trial, so we cannot say that the results of the Kneed trial apply to this group of people.
However, from Dr Johns’ study and experience, the principles and treatments in Kneed should work just as well if you have had more surgery.
An important note though –> sensitisation may be much higher after revision surgery. Sensitisation is discussed in Pain Knowledge Module 2.
There is potentially a higher risk of neuropathy (nerve injury) – your GP or surgeon can evaluate this for you.
Most importantly, you need to know that your knee replacement is now ok – free of infection or other complication so that you can start your recovery.
