Hello: my 81 year old mother had total knee replacement surgery on october 27, 2003. She had some initial improvement, but 5 months later still feels considerable pain. About once every week or 10 days, her knee swells and becomes so painful she cannot walk on it. In february she had some bloody fluid aspirated from the knee. No infection was found. She continues to exercise in terms of biking, swimming, and walking. Xrays show a well situated implant. She received a 2nd opinion that said "the only thing that can account for continued episodic pain with certain positions is potentially soft tissue pathology." her surgeon wants to operate to see what is happening. Would not a knee arthroscopy make more sense? Does anyone have any insights as to why her healing has been so difficult? She is an insomniac and I wondered whether she reinjured her knee thrashing around at night.