Post Operative knee replacement, ongoing pain, please help

[4weddings]

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.

[auntyviking]

Whoops..That was a bit angry. But budget cuts to our health system..an oxymoron in itself..has caused long waiting lists.. Was working hard earning good money, now I am treated like a second class citizen. 3-4 years of post operative pain can make you go a little crazy..went through depression..the meds piled on the kgs fast, which did not help with the pain in my legs..After waiting until I was old enough to have surgery??? about 7 years, I thought my problems were over when my name came up for my knee replacements..Now I am socially isolated due to the fact that I cannot sleep..and after an hour or so on my feet, my knees swell so much that I walk away stiff legged. Sorry if I cannot help anybody with my rant ..but I have no answers..the health system is overflowing ..and I am just a number.

[auntyviking]

I suffered from severe osteoarthritis for years..became hooked on opiates..I was 43 years old and they kept telling me they wouldn't give me knee replacements until I was 50..Our state's policy????? Now I have had 2 knees done..and now the only pain relief for me is being taken off the benefit list. As I also have epilepsy, I cannot tolerate other certain pain medications. They told me I had the knees of a 90 year old. My worst knee was operated on 5 times..sort of a holding pattern before they replaced it..I have a very low tolerance to pain and my doctor says " get over it..I have a sore back and I come to work everyday."Only 2 people in this city are allowed to prescribe these meds so I am stuck with him until I am forced off them. the government are saying " We must get these people off these habit forming drugs for their own good..but the truth is, the cost to the government. Now what?? Do they wish us to suicide when your quality of life is so low due to constant pain?? It would certainly save the bastards money!!

[tstewart1]

I am going on one year post op and am still in a lot of pain.  I had both done and it is still uncomfortable.  My right knee gives out and most days pain level is 7 or 8.  If anyone has suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. Has anyone tried acupuncture or a holistic approach.,  I would be very interested.  

[bto1960]

I had a left TKR in September 2012, I am still having a significant amount of pain where the implant goes into my tibia, and when walking a lot of pain in my knee cap. From day one my knee continues to buckle several times a day resulting in me falling a few times, quite a few times since the surgery. One thing I have noticed is that if I tap on my knee cap there is a tremendous amoount of space between my knee cap and new joint. If you tap on it it sounds like you could play "the spoons" on my knee cap. Every one I have talked to has never seen that including my PT. The PT says my kneecap is not tracking straight and the play in my kneecap is causing my knee to buckle. My OS says give it time. My left knee is shot also and needs replaced and this is causing even more stress on my left knee. Can anyone tell me about this slap or play in my kneecap. I am still walking with a cane, when I go to my OS office they question me on why I am still using the cane. I do not want to fall. Thanks and good luck to all.

[peppermintpatti7]

It's been almost 4 months since my surgery, I still feel that burning. I was told it's tissue pain. I use a transdermal cream from the surgeon, does help alittle,It does feel like it should be red, but it's not.. I also have pain in my ankle since the suirgery.  The clicking in my knee drives me crazy. Good luck

[Pete454]

I have read all the above posts relating to ongoing pain after a total knee replacement and have a slight twist regarding surgical (non) explanations as to why it may be happening.

I had my TKR in Jan 2011 and went back to work in Sep 2011.After 18 months of non stop pain I had to stop work again and had revision surgery (5 months ago in the hope of finding a problem. The surgeon said the lower half of the joint may have been a little out of line so all should be good from here on.

5 months later the problem remains with a continual knee ache that gets more and more intense if I don't get of it. Nothing prescribed makes any difference so today I went back to surgeon for followup appointment to inform him of no change situation.

His explanation now is that I am now depressed and centering all my thoughts on my knee. He told me I need to go back to work to take my mind of the pain which will subside as I learn not to think about it!

I'm still spinning from this and wondering whats the point? He seems to have forgotten I have already gone back to work once 9 months after the initial tkr but had to stop work 11 months later because the unrelenting pain was overpowering me.

Now 2.5 years later and the situation is starting to depress me suddenly the cause of all my ongoing pain is my depression!

How handy an excuse is that? Obviously hasn't stopped to wonder what may be causing the depression

Bloody doctors!