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?

[jenbebe]

You  must first understand that your your dr is trying to avoid reopening your knee.  However, he should probably reopen it, cleanse it and get rid of the infection.  Then, place you on the high-dose meds that he is probably giving you.  First mistake was the hospital should NEVER have placed you in a room with someone who has MRSA -- they should be in a pvt room.  The mistake was the hospitals (saving money, more than likely).  You need an advocate--most hospitals have a patient advocate number to call when a patient needs help.  You call that number, tell the advocate what happened and that you want the matter cleared up pronto--at their expense.  Be nice but firm.  You surgeon sounds good but they are always reluctant to go back in, but I think this is your best bet.  Are you on vancomiacin?  Spelling may be off but that is the strongest meds one can take for MRSA.  I wish I knew how to contact you for further info.  If you live in a small town, it may behoove you to go to a big city near you where care can sometimes be more appropriate....although I like the sound of your surgeon and your current treatment.

[Buddy1937]

I'm posting this to say I feel better about my progress after reading that others also have a lot of pain six weeks TKR post-op. My surgery was done on September 24. I was not prepared for the continuous pain I have had. I still have swelling. I can slowly climb stairs but with some discomfort. I go to PT 3x weekly and ride my stationary bike 40-80 minutes daily. My flexion is about  120 degrees. I take Lortab 7.5 3-4 times daily. I am fairly comfortable during the day but when I go to bed, I cannot find a position where the knee does not hurt. I try a pillow under and between my legs but that doesn't give me enough relief to sleep. I manage to sleep about 3 hours in bed but have to get into my recliner for most of the night. After reading input from others, I think maybe I am doing relatively well. The few people I know who have had TKR tell me the pain will go away. Best of luck to all of you who are enduring TKR rehab.

[stever1964]

I'm now 4 weeks into my TKR, I'm a (49 yer old man)
The best advise I can offer anyone who is considering this operation is BE PREPARED !
Firstly, if you can afford it go out and buy yourself a nice comfortable recliner, you ARE going to need it, being comfortable and finding some sort of sanctuary from the pain post op is key, you are also going to be sleeping in this sanctuary and using it as your safe place for quite a while.
You are also going to be given a ton of advise by a bunch of people who really don't know or understand the pain and rehab that's involved in a TKR, I have had many arguments with my homecare PT to the point where I told her to not come back, she has the old school mentality of push hard and NO pain No gain !!
DO NOT listen and buy into this,
Listen to your knee and and do what it's telling you to do, if it's telling you to relax and use elevation and ice instead of a 20 minute workout then do just that, do not push it! your knee will tell you when it's time for a little work out.
If you have a exercise bike use it.
I was terrible for the first 2 weeks post op, i was constantly tired from lack of sleep, I wasn't eating properly, I had the most horrific constipation the drugs were knocking the crap out of me and the last thing on my mind was exercising 4 times a day.
I bought the bike a week ago and I have gone from crutches to walking without any aid at all, my energy level has sky rocketed, I use the bike 4 or 5 times a day with ten minute workouts each time, I have thrown away the sheets of exercises that the PT gave me as all they did was hurt and inflame the knee, you can find good deals on exercise bikes on the internet, I live in Ontario so use Kijiji mine cost me $40.00 and it's a professional bike.
As I mentioned before be prepared for constipation!!  stock up on stool softener before your op and start taking it immediately after! YOU WILL NEED IT.
Meditation is also a great way to relieve pain, find a quiet room, go to you tube and find some nice relaxing meditation music play it nice and quiet just like white noise in the back ground, go to your sanctuary and just relax, deep breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth let your mind go and think of happy times, it may take a few times but tell people to leave you alone for 20 minutes while you're doing this, you will be amazed at the results.
I hope this helps,
I am now ready to return to work on week 5  

[karen469560]

I had my right total knee replacement 11/10/11 and my left total knee replacement 1 1/2 years prior to that.  As of today both of my knees continue to throb, shooting pains down my legs, mostly at night.  My orthopedic M.D. has done x-rays several times and sees nothing.  He claims that it "could" be tendinitis. I currently take 2-5mg. ea. immediate release Oxycodone every 4 hours.  THAT is his solution.  It does help, but not all the time.  I do go to water exercise class 2x's a week and that helps as long as I'm in the water.  Does anybody have any solutions other than a narcotic drug?  The pain is just terrible and keeps me awake most night and I hate taking so many pain pills but have no choice.  Can someone please fine a solution to this pain?

[ray654]

I had a total knee replacement 12 years ago. I was swimming at 6 weeks, playing golf at 8 weeks playing tennis at 8 months. I have taken up cycling cause im bored with the other activities. The problem is if i cycle 20 km my knee is fine but if i cycle more then 20km it feels a little stiff the next day. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Magnum]

Had my knee put in about 1.5 years ago. I've had multiple right and left hip replacements and I must say the knee replacement was by far the most painful. The time given to me by the surgeon for recover is one year.

Have you asked your doctor about the circulating ice water system?
http://www.polarsoftice.com/softiceactive.html

That helped me a lot. There are a lot of nerves and muscles surrounding the knee. When they do the surgery, they have to detach some and move others around. Therefor all the pain. The hip cavity on the other hand has much less nerves and muscles to contend with.

Had my knee put in Jan 4. The knee was finally pain free on March 27.
Hope this is a guide to the upcoming events. Take good care of the knee. It's a gift you should never abuse.

Magnum