Pain after joint surgery
Had surgery and still in pain, or recovery is not going the way you expected? An independent review can help work out why.
What you have probably been told
You have had knee or hip surgery, whether replacement, arthroscopy or another procedure, and weeks or months later something still is not right: pain that has not settled, stiffness, swelling, or a sense that the joint is not working the way you expected. You may have been told this is normal and to give it more time, referred back into a physiotherapy programme, or you may not yet have had a clear explanation of why the pain is still there.
What a second opinion looks at
Professor Lee reviews your original imaging, the operation notes from your surgery, and any follow-up scans or letters, then examines the joint and compares it with how it is meant to look and function after that procedure. He is checking whether this is a recognised part of recovery that simply needs more time, a specific and treatable problem such as stiffness, infection, a mechanical issue with an implant, or unrelated pain being generated elsewhere, for example the back or hip when the knee was operated on.
The realistic range of outcomes
Some patients are reassured that what they are feeling is within the normal, if slow, range for their procedure, with a clearer timeline of what to expect next. Others are found to have a specific, identifiable cause that can be addressed, whether through targeted rehabilitation, an injection, or in some cases further surgery. Occasionally the pain is found to be coming from somewhere other than the operated joint entirely. A second opinion here is about understanding what is actually happening, which is useful whatever the answer turns out to be.
Focused on what can help now
The purpose of this appointment is to understand what is happening now and what, if anything, can help. Recovery after joint surgery varies for many reasons, including how an individual heals. If a treatable cause is found, the focus is on your options from here.
Questions worth asking
- Is what I am feeling within the normal range for this operation at this stage?
- Is there a specific, identifiable cause for my pain?
- Could this pain be coming from somewhere other than the joint that was operated on?
- What would need to happen for this to improve, and on what kind of timescale?
- Is there anything in my original surgery or recovery that is relevant here?
What to bring
Bring your pre-operative and post-operative imaging (on disc or via a secure link), your operation notes, discharge summary, and any physiotherapy or follow-up letters. A note of exactly what you feel, when, and what makes it better or worse is genuinely useful. See preparing for your appointment for a full checklist.