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Pain in knees

Posted , 9 users are following.

elaine90714
elaine90714

Hi All

I have 6 wk and 13 wk tkr and my knees ache almost all th time. After sitting, in morning, laying in bed. I do my exercizes, ice. Maybe this is a normal progression. How long does the frequent aching last?

0 likes, 20 replies

20 Replies

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  • tom809
    tom809 elaine90714

    Posted

    It's discouraging to hear that you have aching at 13 weeks. I have it at 5 weeks and hope it goes away sooner than that but maybe I am too optimistic
  • jannette1
    jannette1 elaine90714

    Posted

    Hi Elaine I am coming up to 9 weeks now after left tkr surgery and I am still taking lots of medications, icing ,resting, doing exercises and I still ache, and cannot sleep. I am trying to walk with one crutch now, but everything I do seems to make my knee ache more. The physio discharged me last Wednesday, but told me to make an appointment with my surgeon at his clinic to have an x Ray to see if my knee is slightly out at all. My knee gave way at 5 weeks and I had to go to a and e as I couldn't put any weight on it, I was told I had probably torn scar tissue deep down and it would right itself in time. I had an infection and was put on antibiotics, and when I finished course I did feel a lot better. I didn't realise how long the recovery was and I have to get my right knee done once I get over this one. After reading the forums it seems that most people go through the same problems but eventually turn a corner and find it's been worth it. Hopefully we will feel better soon. Best wishes Jannette
    • elaine90714
      elaine90714 jannette1

      Posted

      Thanks Jannette

      I was hoping that the achey pain was normal. In saw the Doc last week and xrays looked great. Of course, I forgot to tell him about the achey pain. Ohhh, sometimes I think I lost brain cells with the surgeries.

      Good luck with your current tkr and the one down the road.

      Thanks again

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 elaine90714

    Posted

    Are you talking about just an aching feeling or are you talking actual pain. Also a 53rd you still taking pain meds on a.schedule? Aching can last for months but pain just subsides with time. You need to just have patience and continue the excercises. But you can help by taking meds on a regular basis, increase your fluid intake to avoid dehydration, if all the scabbing is gone use Vit. E oil and massage it into the entire area with as much pressure as you can handle. It not only heals the scar but also absorbs into the deep tissue and softens and heals. Rest.......you've been through a tremendously traumatic situation and your body needs time to recover. Most try to do too much too soon and have big set backs. The body and brain will tell you when you can move faster and on to the next phase. Be kind to yourself and let the world run on by for the moment
  • jannette1
    jannette1 elaine90714

    Posted

    Hi Elaine I think the post off the last guy is good advice. . I am still taking my medications every four hours too. I still ice and try to raise my legs higher than heart to help with swelling. I think you have been very brave having both knees done so close together, I think the surgeon is going to have to catch me first before I get my next one done lol. Best wishes Jannette
    • elaine90714
      elaine90714 jannette1

      Posted

      Jannette

      That's funny- catch me, if you can- kind of situation. I will tell you what a doc told my friend about having the 2nd tkr. He said the best time to have it is when your operated knee can support your weight. When you get out of a chair now you have your unoperated knee supporting you to get up. If both knees are weakend from ops, it's difficult and painful to maneuver. I wish I had known this. I think i would have waited till 3 months out

  • jannette1
    jannette1 elaine90714

    Posted

    Well at least you have had the operation part all done and dusted Just think this time next year you will have two good legs and it will all be in the past and you will be enjoying life pain free. I'm sure after going through all this it will be worth it in the end.
  • deborah90838
    deborah90838 elaine90714

    Posted

    Are you on any anti-inflammatories? Prescription ones such as Celebrex or non-prescription ones such as ibuprofen?  I don't have as much aching when I'm on them and need much fewer narcotic pain pills. 
    • elaine90714
      elaine90714 deborah90838

      Posted

      Docs always suggest tylenol/ acetometaphin. I think ibuprofen works better, too. I will call pharmacist and see why i can't change. They are all otc
    • deborah90838
      deborah90838 elaine90714

      Posted

      Tylenol won't help you with the inflammation. The only concern is if you're already on something else that would interfere with the anti-inflammatory. 

      Best of luck feeling better and hang in there. 

  • Annibgood
    Annibgood elaine90714

    Posted

    Hi Elaine

    I'm 11 weeks post op and still have plenty of pain. Not to much the knee itself, but the leg, in the calf, ankle and thigh especially. Also on outside of knee I get shooting pain every so often I can only assume it is nerves mending. I still take plenty of painkilers as needed and a sleeping tablet when I can steal one from my husand, or my mother, who's sleeping tablets are the best! I walk the floor most nights! Its 5,18 am her in Ireland and I'm up for the last half hour or so, waiting for painkilers to kick in so I can do my exercises and cycling. Nobody told me it would take this long. I only realised that when I found this forum, which is the best for tips and having a rant!

    I too need the other knee done and like Janette, they'll have to catch me first!!!

    We will get there though.

    Best wishes

    Ann

    Ireland

    • elaine90714
      elaine90714 Annibgood

      Posted

      Ann

      I am sorry to hear of all your pain, too. Especially when it keeps you awake. I have a fear of relying on vicadin for relief everyday. There is a campaign for bringing awareness to prescrpt drug addiction and I have taken notice. That leaves just over the counter meds like tylenol or ibuprofen which do very little. Also, I am sick and tired of the exercizes and the darn stationary bike. I'd like to go to the river and slug rats. (That's just an expression). Ahhh well, thanks for listening and talking to me. It feels great to have this board. Goodnite for me - it's 12:50 am here in Michigan and good Morning to you. Have a lovely day.

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 elaine90714

      Posted

      I think there is a huge difference in being out if pain and becoming drug addicted. I would set down with my primary .ca m are Dr and lay the situation and concern s on the line. I a I my vote everyone with my story but I'm in my 518th complete rehab on the leg, 4 of these since Jan of 2013. There are combinations of meds......some opiate based and some not. 2 weeks ago I started with the horrible pain in 95th e power leg. Friday I saw the pain management Dr (I go to a university medical center in Kansas city). He started me on gabenpenten 300 mg. What a miracle. Within hours the pain was 90% gone. Sometimes its just getting the problem on the table .Where in MI are you located. Again not knowing all your circumstances, there is always Mayos in Roochester. My wife became very I'll a few years ago and it was decided we needed a diagnostic to a pital. I took her to Mayo's and we were there 14 days. They detected an early onset of Parkinson's and Said it would become full blown in 6 months to a year and sure enough 9 months later th e diagnosis was made. Unfortunately there is nothing they can f o r I r her and she is now in advanced stages but at least they found the answer.

      Back to your situation..........in today's world there is very little reason pain cannot be handled in a humane manner without turning you into a dope addicted junkie. Medicine taken as prescribed won't do it. Its when you can't separate your aches and pains and start using them as sleeping pills and to escape that you run onto problems. I've been on pain meds for a long time. My Dr's are sympathetic thlo the fact I've had 11 surgeries on my leg . my surgeon told me a couple of weeks ago that I'm a minor miracle to be walking let alone not using a cane I r walker. My problems started in Sept of '02 when I was 65. I turned 79 a and week ago and still fighting. It gets old but with a couple of sympathetic Dr's supporting me I stay at it. Let me know how you are progressing. Imnin the next time zone to you and frequently up at night on this site. Keep fighting and looking for help.......you'll find it.looking for pain relief is like looking for love.......it's just looking in the right places. You can also send me an email if you want to ask questions in private. I have several that do It as I've been on the forum for some time and have this long history of surgeries and rehab..

  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 elaine90714

    Posted

    Do you mean you had one TKR 13 weeks ago and another one 6 weeks ago?

    I had TKR nearly 4 years ago so it is difficult trying to think back to how I was at your stage.

    Basically I think I was certainly having trouble sleeping comfortably.

    Can't rememberhowlong the actual aching went on for, sorry but I think the bottom line is that this is a big operation and it takes a time to recover.

    I was told it would be about a year before I really began to feel the benefits and I think that was about right. Sorry if this sounds a long time to you now.

    Take care and keep in touch

    Sarah

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