4 months after partial knee replacement
Posted , 6 users are following.
It has been 4 months now since my op for a partial knee replacement and I just don't think I am improving as I should. My operated knee is fine apart from still getting some stiffness and it still feels a bit swollen and sore sometimes but although I can get about unaided I still don't feel confident walking very far without a stick and if I try to I tend to end up limping and waddling! I still get pain from my other knee but I am on the waiting list to have that one done but I had really hoped I would be walking better by now. I tend to get tightness and pain in my hamstring area and pain at the very top of my leg at the back where it joins my buttocks, I also get some nerve pain and pain in my lower back. I have some good days when I feel everything is on track and then the next day I seem to go backwards. I still struggle to stand up from sitting as it feels stiff and painful. I know I have to be patient but shouldn't I feel better than this by now? Before my op I was in a lot of pain from my knees when walking but I didn't suffer from all these other pains that I do now.
0 likes, 8 replies
kackknee Mandy1962
Posted
Your other knee will ache mainly because of your TKR knee, for some reason pain migrates from one part of the body to the other (mind, even distribution). When your TKR knee pain subsides so will the other knee.
Mandy1962 kackknee
Posted
Thanks, I hope you're right.
andre45096 Mandy1962
Posted
pain migrates I was told can take up to 12 months
when i walk i have to keep saying to myself heel toe heell toe otherwise i limp i am 9 week post op bit walk without a stick good distance but not if i dont concentrate
my pain is still bad but in my ankle and thigh thigh so think this is probably normal
Deigh Mandy1962
Posted
The pains that you are describing are normal side effects. However, it still causes pain that we didn't expect and that's not easy to handle. I am 14 months out from bilateral knee replacement. My right knee is healing so much faster than my left. I was initially the perfect scenario for healing, I was, and still am, ahead of the curve in what I accomplished. The only thing holding me back is the tightness and pain in other areas, such as back, sciatica, tightness around the knees, pain radiating from my hips to my toes, which I assume is from muscles aching. The things that I have found that work are doing stretches, massage, chiropractor and keeping moving by walking. There are two physiotherapists on YouTube, Bob and Brad, that I watch their videos and do the stretches that they suggest. They have really helped. Unfortunately, the surgeons don't mention that we are going to go through this, and my surgeon claims to have never seen it before. He did send me to a pain clinic and they said that the things I am doing will eventually make this pain go away. I watched a video yesterday of a surgeon who was explaining knee replacement and he was the first one that I have seen admit that it can take as long as two to three years to be over the side effects from the surgery. A friend who had bilateral surgery told me that he was two years with pain, and then suddenly one day it was gone and he is now snow skiing, and enjoying all the things that he couldn't do before. So, I look at him and know that it might just take longer than expected, but will eventually get there. Hopefully, you won't be that long, but I wanted to point this out so that you won't get discouraged when and if, you aren't where the doctors tell you that you will be by certain months.
Mandy1962 Deigh
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply it is very reassuring. My consultant did tell me that it is a long route to full recovery and when I told him that I still feel the need to use my stick when walking any distance he told me not to worry about it as it is more important that I feel safe and only I will know when I am ready to do without it.
I guess I am just feeling a little impatient at my progress. I feel as if I rarely have a day without any kind of pain. I am still taking Tramadol for my other knee but I look forward to the day when I could do without any painkillers and just be pain free. I was thinking of going for physio to try and help but maybe I should just try those stretches and walking more first. I actually feel better when I'm walking most of the time! Thanks again for your input.
Fraser1949 Mandy1962
Posted
i am in my 5th month after second TRK the first went like clockwork met all expectations, so went for second a year later not so much TRK the problem but back and sciatica is really hard to deal with on a daily basis never a painfree day doing PT for these additional problems, trying to get through daily life can sometimes seem hard with this unexpected pain. it is nice to have this area to talk to others going through this and giving us hope, I am hoping spring will give some relief. Also going to try Aquatic fit as heard its great for these problems.
Mandy1962 Fraser1949
Posted
Thanks for your reply, it is some kind of small comfort that there are others going through the same thing. At least I know I'm not alone. However, like you every day seems a struggle at the moment with back pain and nerve pain. I do stretching excercises as often as possible but I think I may benefit from some Physio therapy.
Fraser1949 Mandy1962
Posted
Thats a good idea, it helps to have someone teach you the correct way to do some exercises , and to talk to Ontario if you are over 65 with a doctors prescription PT is covered.