I had Total Knee Replacement 5 weeks ago and I am still suffering severe pain especially at night.

[TKP at age 42]

My surgeon is managing my pain I have been on numerous pain medicinces including Fentynal patch, Diludid, Percocet, Norco, and now Oxycotin. I am in my 5th week of recovery and most of my pain is at night when I go to bed. It is a severe aching and throbing that starts at the knee and proceeds all the way down to my lower calf and shin. I am currently taking 3 10 mg tablets of Oxycotin but still experiencing pain.I also ice my knee down in the evening. I took 4 weeks of physical therapy and my doctor is now having me do 4 more weeks and has me using my walker again. I am 42 yrs. old and doing normal activities, short walks, physical therapy exercises I am instructed to do at home and using the stairs. I rest when I feel like I have done to much. No matter how much or how little I do each day by evening I am in such severe pain it hinders my sleep all through the night. My doctor has mentioned a possible infection but I don't see any redness and my swelling appears normal. My question is this type of pain normal? Shouldn't I be receiving some relief from the pain medication? I am following all of my doctor's directions and my therapists. Is this normal at 5 weeks post op? When should I start expecting some relief?

[kathyjayne]

I had a knee replacement in 2009. It was a long and painful rehab.  I took pain pills as soon as I could to manage the pain. I also bought an Ice Machine before surgery and what a life saver that is!!! It looks like a playmate cooler and you put water and ice in it.  It has tunes that the icy water runs through and a wrap especially for the knee. You plug and get very cold water running around the knee!!! Heaven.  My knee was horrible at night too I had to keep propping my knee trying to place pillows in the right places and then plug in the ice machine. It took awhile but comfort came!  It seemed to get better and then bad again. Such an up and down process. Hang in there you are not that far out.  ALSO everyone has a different threshold for pain and maybe yours is lower. Take care.

[jasperruby]

So good to read others recovery issues. I have now stopped feeling sorry for myself as I realise how lucky I am.
I am 4 weeks post op bilateral tkr. both at once, no choice, could not do one then the other.
Walked out of hospital with 1 stick after 5 days, no sticks after 6 days.
Still pain but most is from excersing and on oxycodon and paracetamol.
I have 120 ROM in both knees and can fully straighten both. Sleep is impossible for more than 2 hours as one knee or the other demands attention.
Keep battling on and thanks for making me feel lucky and having a great surgeon.
Ian

[Tuckamore]

Hello Infirmary,

Welcome. Sorry iIt took me a bit to see your comment tacked onto this 8 year old thread. Please next time begin a new question or comment. It will allow you more visibility and you should obtain more responses.

If you haven't already please consult your PCP. It's possible that your fall did damage to the hardware used in the knee replacement procedures.

It's more likely that your fall injured the surrounding/supporting muscles and/or ligaments and soft tissues associated with the structure of your knees. But don't guess, have an x-ray, CT or MRI if warranted of your knees. Your PCP will make the determination as to what if any test you may require.

I wish you well and hope you will keep us up-dated. I'll look forward to hearing from you again soon.

Best Wishes,
~Tuck

[Infirmary]

I had two replacements one 5 yrs ago and one on the other knee 7 yrs ago.  They have been wonderful.  My problem is I went walking one day and tripped and feel on the asphalt  hurting both my knees.  It has been about a month and they are still bothering me.  It is not a pain but feels like I have two heavy objects in them.  Does anyone know if I should go and have them rayed or maybe I just bruised them.  I would think if they would be fractured I would suffer a Lot of pain

[willdo1023]

Hi my name is Manuel I am 52 and just did a TKR on 1Apr 15. That takes me out 6 weeks today. I still have pain but controlled with Percocet. I have the CPM machine have my leg all night at 60 to 70 degree all night running. During the day I take it up to 90 degree. I go to physical therapy 3 times a week and we are having trouble bending to 75 degrees with alot of dying pain. I use a pully system at home to bend my knee and try even squats and a roller to hang my leg over and let gravity take it. Went to doctor and he was not happy it was not at 90 yet. He is giving me 3 more weeks or he is doing a manipulation of the knee. I am very worried need some help from anyone am I on track or behind. Is the doctor just pushing me to get the best I can or its not working. Any advise please

[Redaurora]

I'm also suffering with intermittent pain from TKR my FIRST ONE DONE ON 1/27/2015 I just had my second TKR done on 3/17/2015. I was suffering for years with failed back surgery. Finally after more then 10 years of that horrific pain. Some or part of my leg pains were due to having no cartridge in either of my knees and as soon as I could after back repairs to have my knees done. I did find a great doctor to do the back repairs on 8/19/2014. They found out while doing tests to this back repair surgery that both my knees were bone on bone with grooves worn into the lower leg bones and right leg was so bad it was beginning to outwards.

Needless to say I was in pretty bad shape and finally had hope of becoming pain free eventually. I have been on strong pain medications for a long time just to able to live. So the health care workers had a really hard time with controling my pain after these TKR operations.

Each knee operation seemed different. The first time I woke up with a catheter. A Complete waterproof bandage was covering the 16 inch incision. Was in PT the first day went home after 3 days did my PT work with home health aid. The pain was so much worse than I ever experienced in my life. After2 weeks about 80% of it was under control. Not to bad I thought. So I scheduled the second TKR so after 6 weeks I was in the hospital again. This time I woke up with no cathete. I now had a nerve block with a black bag with Novocain in it. It was going to help me handle the pain better.

Well it didn't do that at all. Now 5 weeks out since my second TKR operation I am still suffering with nerve pain not only were the block was put in but up and down the entire incision.  Even the hair stubble is so sensitive I get up and shave my legs just to make it stop. It only last a short time. I am itching like crazy. It feels like I have thick skin on both of my lower legs it feels like it's growing. I've used everything on it cremes oils. Nothing helps. I have scratched some place raw. Flexing my ankles seems to becoming a problem to.

Pain and sleep problems are just like the rest of you all are having. Except I have a strong urge to stretch out my legs while I'm in bed laying down. It helps somewhat but again the pain returns. Funny how different each knee is responding to healing. Any ideas pass them on, Please. This knee pain has taken my mind off my lower back issues. They are probably connected just can't tell the difference at this point.