Knee pain,(continuing) after Total Knee Replacement

[Cookie60]

I had total knee replacement surgery 10 weeks ago and am still experiencing significant knee pain, consisting of stiffness and alot of pain in the knee.  The pain wakes me up at night.  I am going to Physical Therapy 3 times a week and I still do alot of therapy myself at home.  I walk, and try to go about my daily routine, but the pain is still there,, some days worse than others.  I also had a three disc fusion done in January,, 2007.  It is now classified as Failed Back Syndrome, so I have that pain also to deal with.  What do I do?  My surgeon took x-rays when I was at my 8 week check up and the x-rays showed everything looked good.  Why am I still have such significant pain?  I just dont understand.

Thanks
Cookie60


This discussion is related to On-going Pain after Knee replacement surgery.

[NewLeaf]

Total knee replacements take time to heal properly. Trust me, I have had both knees replaced and know many other with arthritis, bot osteo and rhematoid that have had knee replacement as well. Each of us heal in our own time frame but the general length of time for all to be really right again seems to be around 5 - 6 months.  At three months, which was what I was told I should be doing well, I still had a lot of PT and work to do. It truly was six months before i said dang, this is great and lets do the other one because all the hard work paid off.

Some people heal quicker than others so take the little improvements day by day, they add up. If you have RA that can slow it down too as sometimes the immune system just likes the knees despite the replacement parts.

Do the PT faithfully and doggedly and you will gain your range of motion back. Persistence does pay with replacements. Don't get discouraged. Our bodies heal and each of us are a bit different. I do have to say though, doctors shouldn't tell us it only takes a few months. If the x-rays show all is in place and in good shape it is just a matter of time. Look at it this way, is the pain worse than before or less and getting Better?

Good luck and let us know how it progresses.

[NewLeaf]

Oh, forgot to say, when you have pain in the knee since you said some days it is worse than others and you try to go about your daily routine, pain can be a sign that you have done a bit too much a little too soon. Rest the knee and evaluate what it is that may have been a bit too much so you can not push the knee too far too soon. Rest a bit when it hurts but don't forget the PT either.

[roberto307]

I first had a total knee replacement in 1988.That knee Re. was because of an accdident, but it was so good I litteraly wore it out in 5 years. I had my secound replacement on the same knee in 1994. It wasn't as good as the first, but there was no pain, it lasted untill 2008 and finally wore out and I had to have another replacement. At the same time I learned I had lumbar spinal stenosis. I believe the stenosis is causing me to have considerable pain. In my knee,my quad and my groin area. I plan to have an x- stop surgery percedure for spinal stenosis. Hopeing that will take the pain away.The pain is mostly in my knee, so you that have pain in the prosthiesis might look in to the possibility of spinal stenosis,causing that pain