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9 months post TKR pain waking me up

Posted , 10 users are following.

camille74285
camille74285

Hello all... i do hope someone can offer me some advise. im 9 months post TKR OP left knee and looking like my right knee will need to be done. My problem is i am still being woken up with pain in my operated knee is this still normal after 9 months??? i understand the pain in unoperated but its now been 9 months since my TKR and the pain is excruating once ive been asleep for around 2-3hrs... any advise please its driving me mad.. thank you..

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • marion18849
    marion18849 camille74285

    Posted

    hi im 23 wks post op and having the same problem. mine hurts at the back of the knee when i straighten my leg. its so stiff. pain killers dint help any more

  • lynn41926
    lynn41926 camille74285

    Posted

    Hi. Like you I'm about 9 months post op on my left knee, right one did need doing but somehow hasnt been as bad since left was done. I still have aching in my op knee, but not as bad as pain pre op. I know it can take 18 months to 2 years to be fully right so I'm hoping its just taking its time. I can cope with this pain without painkillers, and i can do a hell of a lot more than I could before, but i still get woken by stiffness in my knee every night. I sleep with a pillow between my knees but when I've been in the same position for a couple of hours, I have to get up and stretch my legs. I think it just takes time, but if you're worried then see your consultant. Good luck 👍

    • camille74285
      camille74285 lynn41926

      Posted

      thank you Lynn... Very much like you I have to get up and move about. Its great in the day.. bit so stiff and painful after i been sleeping for about 2-3hrs... Always so hard to know if ive done too much or not enough. I think i just thought after 9 months sleeping would get easier...

  • lynda49844
    lynda49844 camille74285

    Posted

    Whereabouts is the pain? I'm 7 months out and the only time I have trouble at night is if I've done a lot especially stairs. Sleeping with a pillow between my knees helped early on, but I haven't needed it for a month or so now. I need the other knee done as well and am probably going to have it done early next year.

    • camille74285
      camille74285 lynda49844

      Posted

      HI Lynda thanks for reply. The pain is usually at the front of the knee. I too slept with a pillow between my knees but only use that on ocassion now. i feel fine in the day but after ive been in bed for about 2-3hrs it really starts to ache go stiff and is qutie painful. I always have to get up and move around. i wondered if it was because either ive done too much or not enough in the day. Its such a hard one to call not knowing if youve done too much or not enough. It had just become so bothersome at night waking up all the time especially 9 months post op.

    • lynda49844
      lynda49844 camille74285

      Posted

      You could try wrapping your knee in cling film. It sounds daft, but worked for me when a

      stiff, painful knee kept me awake at night. I do sometimes have pain in the middle of my kneecap, usually when my knees have been bent for a long time or up and down lots of stairs. I hope you find something to help.

  • Deigh
    Deigh camille74285

    Posted

    I am 9 months post op as well, December 10th, 2018 was my surgery. I have been dealing with pain and stiffness in both knees, I has bilateral knee replacement. my surgeon suggested that I stop doing physio and just live my life as normal and that would be my exercises. since I stopped the physio exercises, I am feeling better. But I do feel tightness when I do too much. I have full range of motion and can do stairs, walk and all the things that I have not been able to do for years. I know it just takes time. A friend had bilateral knee replacement and he was 24 months before it finally cleared up, and another friend had bilateral and had no issues like this at all. Seems to be the luck of the draw. keep icing, elevating and increase activity slowly. Most say to keep ice on for 15 minutes. I was told to keep it on as long as I could, whether it was a half hour or three hours. As long as you are not putting the ice directly on your skin. it's fine to ice as long as you want. Just put a towel or cloth between the ice and your skin.

    Hope you find some relief.

    • lynda49844
      lynda49844 Deigh

      Posted

      I was advised to ice for a minimum of 30 minutes and preferably 40 to 60 at least 4 times a day. I've also heard that some surgeons are advocating no physio until at least 6 weeks, just normal daily activities as much as you're able. It's great to hear you're doing well. It can't be easy having bilateral, but at least you get it over and done with. I had my first done in January this year and hope to have the other done next January.

    • Deigh
      Deigh lynda49844

      Posted

      Bilateral was challenging, but I was fortunate that I healed quickly. If I didn't have have this tightness issue, I would have been ready to take on the world by the fourth month. I started acupuncture yesterday and feel a bit stiff today, but the acupuncturist believes it will help and to expect stiffness today.

      Good luck with your second surgery. I think you are very brave. I opted for bilateral because I knew I would be too much of a baby to return a second time. LOL. But, knowing what to expect and what to do will hopefully make your recovery easier and faster.

  • jane10032
    jane10032 camille74285

    Posted

    Camille, I am 6 months out TKR right knee . Am still being awakened with pain and especially spasms in right knee. It used to start 1/2 hr after going to bed.

    Dr put me on Ropiranol and that has helped for the first 4 1/2hrs and then I am awakened by the pain in knee and shaking in that leg which doesn't stop so I am up for the day at 4:30 am This is a long recovery. I have tried stretching to no avail. I am getting more active and back to hiking thinking it may help. Ropiranol is for restless leg however it does help a bit. Are you taking anything for the pain before you go to bed?

    Hot bath with epson salts before bed seems to help a bit but getting out of the tub is not a pretty site.

    CBD cream rubbed on the knee gives me some relief with the pain during the evening after exercise.

    You must be dreading going through this recovery with another knee.

    Jane

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