4 and half weeks postop tkr

Read the Sciatica section...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499

Need a chiropractor...my ortho suggested one.  I locked up my SI joints...caused the sciatica.  Painful but recoverable.  Try some Voltaren Gel (RX only in US) on your hip and glutes...especially the Sciatic Knot.

Sciatica is very common after TKR and sometimes it can be exacerbated by position during the exercises while lying in bed, especially the one where you pull the leg up towards you  . . .make sure your back is always well supported when doing this exercise.  re the Baker's cyst, it can come back unfortunately . . . .

Hi Lesley,

I am three years post operation. TKR right knee. Beastly sciatica pains when standing. Walking is often also difficult and painful. If it's too hard I use my fore-arm crutches which I always carry in my Mazda2 hatch-back trunk. Without my daily Tramal 25-50 mg. (never more than 50 mg!) the pain would be too much. Walking (hopping) down stairs is also difficult. I always look for escalators or elevators (lifts). One advantage with my TKR is when going to the mall, or restaurants I always get premium parking for 'disabled' - no discussion.  I am TKR patient not invalid but disabled ( or less abled as my wheel-chair bound friend from New Delhi, says) and I demand this parking space! My advice low impact physio, like swimming. Or home exercise like lift-the-sandbag-on-ankle-while-sitting-at the computer. For the pain. Asprin if it works or Tramadol and strong coffee. It works for me. Best of luck Bangkok-Johnnie        

Hi Lesley, so sorry to hear that you are battling!  I am post-op right TKR 9 months and left TKR 3 months and both times suffered badly from SI joint pain in my back on the side of the opreated knee as well as terrible pain in the hip and down the leg.  Could also not sleep on the operated side because the hip pain would kill me.  It is only now after three months with the right TKR that I can sleep on the operated side for a while before the pain wakes me up.  With my first surgery I battled with the pain for months and did not have a proper night's sleep for six months, then I had my second surgery and still no proper sleep even with strong anti-inflammatories and painkillers. My surgeon suggested an infiltration of the SI joint and that made the world of difference for me!  I still have pain on bad days but it brought me a lot of relief within the first week after the infiltration. Physio for the SI joint also helps to relieve the pain. If you have trouble with your SI joint you will experience pain to the side of your lower back.  Do a little research and talk to your doctor about it, don't suffer in silence.  Good luck!