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Post Operative knee replacement, ongoing pain, please help
My husband who is 70 had a total knee replacement 6 weeks ago and the pain seems to be intensifying rather than diminishing. He had a childhood injury to this knee, then another operation 13 years ago but is crying with the pain most of the time and has gone from ordinary pain killers to needing morphine. He has physiotherapy 3 times per week, also hydrotherapy and acupuncture, they all say he is making some progress but very slowly and keep telling him exercising will relieve the pain.
He can walk around the house for short periods without either crutches or a stick so has some function but the pain seems unrelenting and is affecting his life quite seriously (and mine).
He says the pain now is worse than prior to the operation and I am wondering if this is normal. It is so painful he cannot do the exercises as he should and the knee is very swollen and tight.
He has seen the general practitioner who is managing the pain but I am wondering if this is how it should be or if something is going off track and we should be seeing the surgeon for a follow-up. Thank you if anybody can help me.
He can walk around the house for short periods without either crutches or a stick so has some function but the pain seems unrelenting and is affecting his life quite seriously (and mine).
He says the pain now is worse than prior to the operation and I am wondering if this is normal. It is so painful he cannot do the exercises as he should and the knee is very swollen and tight.
He has seen the general practitioner who is managing the pain but I am wondering if this is how it should be or if something is going off track and we should be seeing the surgeon for a follow-up. Thank you if anybody can help me.
im 8 wks and i find that also not to bad but annoying at times must be maybe nerves are healing or something lol not sure...
Exactly 4 weeks. now after TKR on right knee.
Wound has healed really well - surgeon did a great job.
Now walking unaided indoors. Still use 2 crutches outdoors for security (due to uneven surfaces, steps ad generally for protection from knocks!)
Doing physio exercises (at least 6 different bending/stretching) x 25 times each x 3 times per day. (Only able to do 2 sets for past few days as muscles aching in thigh/groin and calf - probably a good sign the leg is being well stretched!)
Bend is really good - almost as good now as my good leg. Thankful for this.
Sometimes feel a little 'clunk' when doing some exercises
Swelling now reduced but still bad under the knee area. VERY tight, stiff and heavy first thing in the morning and after rest.
I am getting out quite a bit but after walking a short distance (e.g. say 400 yds) constantly, I feel the pain starting. I have been advised that when this happens to STOP and rest as, to continue pushing through the pain, will cause damage.
My worst time? NIGHT TIME! Due to bad reaction to most painkillers (sickness and hallucinations) I have to survive on Paracetamol - restricted to 8 per day. As I really need these every 4 hrs during the night I have to restrict them through the day so I ice up a few times per day - and rest for at least an hour on top of the bed with my leg elevated.
I have a 'frame' which goes under the bedclothes, so that my toes are free - this is a good device.
I get discouraged when I read of people having the pain for up to a year after the surgery! I am doing as I was told - rigidly following instructions, but it is hard not to get 'down' at times when progress is slow.
Seeing my consultant surgeon for review in 2 weeks time. Hope he can throw more light on the matter.
All the best to EVERYONE who is suffering and well done to all the bilateral surgery people, you are heros!
I live in Northern Ireland
Wound has healed really well - surgeon did a great job.
Now walking unaided indoors. Still use 2 crutches outdoors for security (due to uneven surfaces, steps ad generally for protection from knocks!)
Doing physio exercises (at least 6 different bending/stretching) x 25 times each x 3 times per day. (Only able to do 2 sets for past few days as muscles aching in thigh/groin and calf - probably a good sign the leg is being well stretched!)
Bend is really good - almost as good now as my good leg. Thankful for this.
Sometimes feel a little 'clunk' when doing some exercises
Swelling now reduced but still bad under the knee area. VERY tight, stiff and heavy first thing in the morning and after rest.
I am getting out quite a bit but after walking a short distance (e.g. say 400 yds) constantly, I feel the pain starting. I have been advised that when this happens to STOP and rest as, to continue pushing through the pain, will cause damage.
My worst time? NIGHT TIME! Due to bad reaction to most painkillers (sickness and hallucinations) I have to survive on Paracetamol - restricted to 8 per day. As I really need these every 4 hrs during the night I have to restrict them through the day so I ice up a few times per day - and rest for at least an hour on top of the bed with my leg elevated.
I have a 'frame' which goes under the bedclothes, so that my toes are free - this is a good device.
I get discouraged when I read of people having the pain for up to a year after the surgery! I am doing as I was told - rigidly following instructions, but it is hard not to get 'down' at times when progress is slow.
Seeing my consultant surgeon for review in 2 weeks time. Hope he can throw more light on the matter.
All the best to EVERYONE who is suffering and well done to all the bilateral surgery people, you are heros!
I live in Northern Ireland
Hi i have both knees replaced at one time in 2006 and doing fine until now my right one is hurting really bad just when i try to sit or bend it really hurtsbad what can i do
I understand that this thread is over a year old, but I just went through a TKR after and here is my story:
(It is long, so please read and be patient, thank you.)
In Feb 2012, I wound up in the ER because my R-Knee was swollen to the point that I could not really bend it without a lot of pain. After the ER Doctor aspirated 160cc of fluid, (clear) he told me, ‘if it is not better in two weeks see this doctor.’
Well, I did not wait two weeks because the fluid came back within 24 hours. So I made an appointment to see this doctor ASAP.
After the MRI on Friday, I saw my doctor on Monday and had to have a meniscus repair that Friday. The meniscus was more seriously damaged than the MRI had shown.
He told me after the repair that I was looking at a Partial Knee Replacement in 5+ years.
By March, he had then aspirated the knee 6x’s and suggested that we take another look at the R-Knee, orthoscopic wise. We had to schedule the Partial Knee (MAKOplasty) because the knee broke down much quicker than the 5+ years that he thought.
So we went through the PKR – MAKOplasty.
We wound up draining the knee, now from blood build up, rather than the clear fluid. I was in constant pain with the SHIN BONE non-stop after this replacement. Sometimes to the point of tears and I do not give into tears that easily. It has to HURT!
After losing over a unit and a half of blood from the knee being aspirated 3x’s in 12 hours, we found out the inner layer of my knee was simply oozing blood and he had to ‘seal it’ as best he could.
Then at the end of August, the knee was still swelling and blood was still being drained from it, it was time to ‘go back in’. My bones, tendons, cartilage and such were ‘died black’ because of the constant presence of blood and it caused the whole knee to basically break down. We also found I was allergic to the metal from the PKR. Thus in Sept, we had to take out the PKR and do a TKR.
It is now the END of October and I have had NON-STOP pain since February and the SHIN AREA is the main focal point of the pain. I am being told, “Don’t worry, it will pass.” When I asked, “When? Give me, even an ETA?” I was well told no answer. This shin pain is one of the most painful experiences I’ve had to deal with.
I have two granddaughters living with us full time and I need my life back.
They need me to be there for them. I’m more a ‘dad’ to them, than a Grandfather (Papa).
For the medical staff here on this forum, I (we) understand you cannot have all the answers. That each person is different and the cause/effect of Knee Replacement can be as different as well.
But we need support and HONEST answers, and if you do not know. Then tell us, but don’t leave us ‘there’. Help by researching and giving us some ideas, thoughts and such. Heck, even if it means going ‘back in’ to see.
We just want as much as possible to have our lives back if at all possible. But telling us, “No infection, you’ll be fine.” IS NOT AN ANSWER.
The interesting thing now is, I have a friend on the East Coast that is a doctor. He had to have a PKR and started to experience the SHIN PAIN. Funny/sad that it takes a doctor to go through this, before we non-doctor’s get any attention. He was surprised at the SHIN PAIN and is going to make sure he gets/finds an answer.
Can doctor’s please trust us when we go, “this is not feeling right”? We are not all looking for Pain Drugs, believe it or not. We just want our lives back, as much as is possible. But giving us a ‘cold’ non-answer is not helping us.
Again, if you don’t know the answer, fine – TELL US. But don’t leave it there. PRACTICE MEDICINE and help us find the answer(s). Please??
(It is long, so please read and be patient, thank you.)
In Feb 2012, I wound up in the ER because my R-Knee was swollen to the point that I could not really bend it without a lot of pain. After the ER Doctor aspirated 160cc of fluid, (clear) he told me, ‘if it is not better in two weeks see this doctor.’
Well, I did not wait two weeks because the fluid came back within 24 hours. So I made an appointment to see this doctor ASAP.
After the MRI on Friday, I saw my doctor on Monday and had to have a meniscus repair that Friday. The meniscus was more seriously damaged than the MRI had shown.
He told me after the repair that I was looking at a Partial Knee Replacement in 5+ years.
By March, he had then aspirated the knee 6x’s and suggested that we take another look at the R-Knee, orthoscopic wise. We had to schedule the Partial Knee (MAKOplasty) because the knee broke down much quicker than the 5+ years that he thought.
So we went through the PKR – MAKOplasty.
We wound up draining the knee, now from blood build up, rather than the clear fluid. I was in constant pain with the SHIN BONE non-stop after this replacement. Sometimes to the point of tears and I do not give into tears that easily. It has to HURT!
After losing over a unit and a half of blood from the knee being aspirated 3x’s in 12 hours, we found out the inner layer of my knee was simply oozing blood and he had to ‘seal it’ as best he could.
Then at the end of August, the knee was still swelling and blood was still being drained from it, it was time to ‘go back in’. My bones, tendons, cartilage and such were ‘died black’ because of the constant presence of blood and it caused the whole knee to basically break down. We also found I was allergic to the metal from the PKR. Thus in Sept, we had to take out the PKR and do a TKR.
It is now the END of October and I have had NON-STOP pain since February and the SHIN AREA is the main focal point of the pain. I am being told, “Don’t worry, it will pass.” When I asked, “When? Give me, even an ETA?” I was well told no answer. This shin pain is one of the most painful experiences I’ve had to deal with.
I have two granddaughters living with us full time and I need my life back.
They need me to be there for them. I’m more a ‘dad’ to them, than a Grandfather (Papa).
For the medical staff here on this forum, I (we) understand you cannot have all the answers. That each person is different and the cause/effect of Knee Replacement can be as different as well.
But we need support and HONEST answers, and if you do not know. Then tell us, but don’t leave us ‘there’. Help by researching and giving us some ideas, thoughts and such. Heck, even if it means going ‘back in’ to see.
We just want as much as possible to have our lives back if at all possible. But telling us, “No infection, you’ll be fine.” IS NOT AN ANSWER.
The interesting thing now is, I have a friend on the East Coast that is a doctor. He had to have a PKR and started to experience the SHIN PAIN. Funny/sad that it takes a doctor to go through this, before we non-doctor’s get any attention. He was surprised at the SHIN PAIN and is going to make sure he gets/finds an answer.
Can doctor’s please trust us when we go, “this is not feeling right”? We are not all looking for Pain Drugs, believe it or not. We just want our lives back, as much as is possible. But giving us a ‘cold’ non-answer is not helping us.
Again, if you don’t know the answer, fine – TELL US. But don’t leave it there. PRACTICE MEDICINE and help us find the answer(s). Please??
lactic acid build up discovered my ph was very acidic. 3 months out unable to sleep more than 2 hours at a time ankle calf thigh or knee would wake me in pain would have to get up exercise then ice then return to bed finally checked my ph and started drinking green protein drink pain tightness and cramping are much less intense i have hope again
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