Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi folks. It's been interesting reading this forum - thanks for all the contributions.
There has been some mention of my specific problem some months ago on here but rather than resurrect that I thought it may be useful to start a new specific thread.
Im 56 yo male. 16 days post-op of left TKR. Operation went well. Had epidural and when that wore off pain was off the chart and after about 5 hours waiting eventually got some oxycodone which helped.
I had significant swelling and bruising BELOW my knee - on my shin, calf and foot - much more than the average displayed on a search on Google images for TKR.
I was discharged after 3 days as once pain under control I was managing to exercise and got 90 degrees and leg raises and as knee itself wasnt cause of any undue pain they were happy to let me go.
Swelling remained at discharge. I was told to take self injected Fragmin as precaution for DVT which made the swelling even worse...and the pain with it significant. I went back for a scan to see if there were any indications of a clot but that was inconclusive as the leg was so swollen the scan wouldnt go deep enough so DVT doctor increased dosage of DVT drug to treatment level (as opposed to precautionary dose)
Wow...that made my leg swell even more...and pain increased again.
Oxycodone didnt touch it. So after second dose I made decision to stop taking it....and slowly the swelling came down over following days....and I actually managed to get 2 hours sleep. (Have since had another scan which was negative for clots - so yes, I know not following orders to take Fragmin is definitely not advised - but it was my decision)
It left me with some reduced swelling on my lower leg but that is now very hard and VERY tender to touch and constantly uncomfortable. The skin on my shin resembles sunburn....like the worst case I ever had.
The original post which prompted mine suggested their GP prescribed Neurontin...and following a phone call with my GP he agreed to let me try it....and it came in form of gabapentin. It certainly worked and took the pain away from the sunburn....or rather reduced it to bearable levels.
I cant get in to see my GP until Friday. Whilst the gabapentin is dealing with the pain nothing is being done to treat the condition.
Has anybody else had this? Did you find a cure?
Im supposing the excessive swelling has done some damage to circulation or nerves and that it will sort itself out, hopefully, eventually, but its really stopping me doing any advanced exercises I wanted to do. I can walk half a mile with sticks....yay it's sooo good to get out in fresh air but wanted to work more on flexing my knee sooner rather than later..
0 likes, 17 replies
delia56360 doug47821
Posted
Take care and wish you better
terri59470 doug47821
Posted
I haven't experienced the sunburn feeling you described, but something else came to mind - you said you phoned your GP and they prescribed Gabapentin - has he/she seen your leg since surgery? It's just that the hard, burning, redness you described sounds to me like a typical description of the early stages of Cellulitis. Obviously I could be way off, but you're seeing your GP on Friday, so hopefully they'll be able to sort you out.
Keep up the good work; I've had considerable swelling this time around so can really understand how frustrated you are at not being able to do the more advanced exercises.
Take care and let us know how you get on xx
patsyrose doug47821
Posted
Yes, you are going through a bad time.
Did the doctor not suggest changing the anti-coagulant medication in case you were allergic to it? I've taken Rivoroxaban after all of my surgeries.
When I came out after my second TKR, my leg became very swollen the next day and I went back into hospital...as a precaution. However, my consultant just said that I needed to keep it elevated. It did calm down eventually.
Has the doctor considered anything else? You mention nerves and circulation...could it be phlebitis (my Dad has had that on both lower legs for almost a year now)?
Hope you get the answers (and relief) that you need.
Patsy
doug47821
Posted
So when swlling did become worse I simply stopped it.
There was no face to face appointments available at GP but they did have a phone appointment I apologised for being another "internet medic" (which he chuckled at) and after listening to my plea for neurontin he agreed to try it.
Im looking forward to friday face to face and will report back then.
Thanks again
sueisobel doug47821
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sueisobel doug47821
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doug47821
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sueisobel doug47821
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When you are sitting down keep you leg raised. At night keep your leg raised, if you can't use a pillow, put something under the mattress. The more you aggravate the healing process the longer it will take to settle down
doug47821 sueisobel
Posted
On return I go back to bed where leg is raised with a suitcase under mattress.
But anyway...back to the problem...see main thread
Oldfatguy1 doug47821
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doug47821
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There's a small but significant update. I get prickly heat a lot when in the sun. I never tan...just burn - so always do my best to stay covered or in shade. Tiger balm is usually very good for me to treat the prickly heat I get.
I thought I'd try some as the symptoms are very much like sunburn. I popped up to Boots to buy some and applied it and within minutes the pain and soreness has abated much more than the gabapentin. Now I dont know if this is co-incidence and the condition is beginning to settle down....or the Tiger Balm has had the desired effect. I just thought I'd mention it here for any others who experience similar symptoms.
Gabapentin now in the bin - it worked a little bit, and deffo helped, but I wasnt keen on the long list of possible side effects (none of which I experienced thankfully)
Oldfatguy1 doug47821
Posted
Oldfatguy1
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doug47821 Oldfatguy1
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sueisobel doug47821
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You then go on about walking,(hobbling, crutch, walking stick) for a distance, all very admirable, but... You are then saying because of what you found out, you are telling your own doctor what meds you need. As Oldfatguy1 says, everyone is different, so even recommended meds will/may not work on you. Trawling through the internet will also give you different answers; this leads you to be confused and frustrated as comments will always be contradictory. If you really are not happy, treat your symptoms individually, for the pain, yes you need meds either go back to your doctor or see your consultant (or pain management consultant if pos, they really are the best). If your consultant cannot help get a second opinion, The heat in your leg is telling you there is something wrong, if it does not settle down after RICE (Heat: Heat makes blood vessels get larger, which is called vasodilation. This action helps to flush away chemicals that are making your knee hurt. It also helps to bring in nutrients and oxygen which help the area heal. True heat in the form of a moist hot pack, a heating pad, or warm shower or bath is more beneficial than creams that merely give the feeling of heat. Hot packs are usually placed on the sore area for 15 to 20 minutes) then go to A&E if your doctor will not/cannot help you. The pain in your shin/calf is where they cut your bone, think of all those severed nerves I am not having a go at you, but you are being a tad impatient, you may know your own body, but you have had a serious operation, which is not the same as just breaking a bone. A couple of weeks behaving and just doing what the professionals tell you and you should notice a huge difference. The guys on this forum (excluding myself here, as this is where I back off) are always here to back you up, pick you up when you are down and and between the lot of them suggest helpful means of geting back to normal. But initially you can't break the rules and think you know better. Good luck x
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