Continuous aching behind knees 4 weeks PO bilateral

My big issues with BOTH KNEES has been pain behind my knees. I have other pain, but the behind-the -knee pain is the worst.

I asked my surgeon about it and he said that arthritis is inflammation and the inflammation produces swelling particularly behind the knees. This swelling messes up everything...particularly the ligaments behind the knee. They get trapped in unusual spots due to the swelling. This causes PAIN.

Sometimes it doesn't even seem that there is swelling. There probably IS!

My TKR has helped with that behind-the -knee pain A LOT. I still have it on my right knee which will be replaced in October. Can't wait for that to be fixed!

Walking irritates the back of my knee. I USED TO WALK between 3 and 5 miles each day, but until BOTH of my knees are replaced, I can't do that.

Exercises that strengthen the hamstrings are VERY HELPFUL! ANY leg strengthening exercises are beneficial. Walking is too strenuous and hurts too much. Have your husband do sitting and standing hamstring stretches and also those he can do in bed lying down. These have made A LIT of difference for me.

I agree,the backs of my knee were so painful until my physio suggested hamstring stretches and within a few days i was feeling alot better,also 4 weeks post op is still very early in the recovery,i was still on my stick and in pain,also try icing the knees too..good luck

I'm 23 weeks po new knee cap and trochlea. I still experience this pain at back of knees.. My physio told me that as well as doing the exercices given by the hospital, I need to sit up very very straight on my bed with my legs straight out in front of me. So, I put a pillow up against the headboard and shuffle my bum up towards the pillow, forcing my bum as close to the pillow as I can......as if I'm sitting at 90°. Then my legs are straight out in front of me onto the mattress and I can feel the pull on my hamstrings. Physio told me to try and sit like this for five minutes or until I felt I couldn't sit any longer. I have felt the benefit from this.

I've also got two exercice bikes, one that I use whilst sitting in my dining room chair, and another full sized one. These are the only things that have managed to "loosen" my tight muscles. Good luck, it's a long process, but I think things are slowly improving for me.

Hi, I am 25 weeks post op, I still get some pain behind my knee. I have had some problems with both extension and flexion although I am getting there; the pain behind the knee could be due to problems with the extension as sometimes making improvements to the bend can have the opposite affect on straightening. Try putting an ice pack on top of the knee and a heat pack behind the knee, this was suggested by my physio and has helped me a lot. Also doing some extension stretches for the hamstring as suggested by others will hopefully ease the pain.

You ate a couple of weeks away from making another benchmark in the recovery. We are all different so is our recovery rate. You can look at my history by scrolling back several months. Having been through the complete rehad now for the 5th time on the same leg things are different every time. 1st recommendation is to evaluate the way he is walking. Even though you feel he isnt overdoing it there is a possibilty he he is. Slow down the process a little. This isnt a race and there are no rewards for finishing 1st other than sometimes major setbacks. When walking make sure he is up straight and slowly taking good long strides hitting heel, ball and toe and bending the leg on each step. This looks and feels strange but is effective. Cut back on distance for awhile thanincrease with time. Work on strengthening the quads and place more emphasis on getting the leg to 0 than than the bend to 100. Hydrate and rest. The body cannot heal properly without water. People will say they drink plenty without realizing the trauma this surgery produces requires even more hydration. Rest.......a tired body dosent heal as rapidly as one that is rested. Personally, i thought i was setting a great recovery schedlue the 1st time only to have severe setbacks at around 8 weeks because of trying to get my life back too quickly. If you have neen on this site for awile you have have seen many comment about tgeir surgeon being the best in the world, etc. Take some of that with a grain of salt. That's why its called the "practice" of medicine. My wife goes to a neurologist at a highly rated medical school and he is the leading parkinsons disease specialist in this part of the country. His practice is so. Renoneed. You can only see him a couple of times a year.....but, he is continually having to try something different trying to find relief for some of the side effects of the disease that is slowly taking her life. I have found drs are a little like attornies, looking for those cases that help sell their practice a being the best. We have drs in the family that privately attest to that. Its great to have confidence in your dr but remember we are all individuals and are as different as our fingerprints. Again...reevaluate what youvare doing as far as the excercise.....i have had home health and outpatient therapy. Home is good but cant begin to get you to the places outpatient can largely because of specialized large equipment and different pairs of eyes evaluating. I have sort of jumped around here with possible solutions but having had a13 yr history and 11 surgeries on one leg. Ive had a chace to meet a lot of people other than drs and therapists. Ive been observed an treated by egos and talents both large and small and have found it always goes back to the patient as an individual as only the most rare are the text book examples drs would like for us to be. Good luck....stay with this group......there are millions of $$ of history and advice with one common thread.....we have all been through it and in many cases, more than a couple of times.

To all who replied,

I am humbled by your quick, detailed, knowledgable replies. I am having my husband read all of your suggestions. Thank you all SO very much! A special thanks to "Oldfatguy" for taking the time to write such a generous amount of encouragement!