Are you having knee pain after surgery?

My foxtrot says that my pain comes from swelling. I hope he's right. I told him that it makes sense to have pain considering that they cut nerves and everything. He said, well we'd better not have cut any nerves.

Hello Sarah.

In answer to your post, I'm +10 week TKR and can add my own experiences.

I discovered this forum when wondering "What's going on with my leg?"  I had comprehensively underestimated what to expect post-op. The surgeon and his team do their job, the nurses provide initial care and comfort, the hospital physios get us on crutches and able to get up and down stairs. Then from 3rd day onwards it's homeward bound for a lengthy marathon, torturous, debilitating and uncomfortable in ways, degrees and time-scale. Just when there's signs of things getting easier, comes pain and discomfort in one form of another. As an example, couple weeks ago me thinks, "I'm sleeping OK now, not waking up in pain, before getting out of bed getting good flexing maybe only 20º short of utopia." Time for shower and before I first rinse-off I can feel the illusive band on my knee tightening (as it starts to swell) calf tightening (bearable but not painful) heel and smaller toes tingling and loosing some feeling) but worst of all cramping resumes in rear upper-leg muscle and gluteus maximus (bum cheek). Not pleasant, making standing or walking very painful. 

I did a couple of six mile cycle rides one week ago. Little discomfort and almost no problem whilst cycling although when I got off it took couple of minutes each time before I could walk without extreme difficulty. Three days ago I attempted couple of 15 minute walks, aided by a single crutch (first time used a crutch for say 4 weeks) and I had to stop several times attempting to 'stretch' the cramp away and rest few minutes. Presently, whenever I stand-up the cramp takes presidents and determines what I can do and how long I can move about. Also, after sitting, any attempt to stand feels like winding a clock-up to get the leg working. When cramping is at the ultimate limit of endurance, swinging the leg and stretching the hamstring can win some short-term respite.

As regards meds, I take 500mg Naproxin after breakfast & evening meal and up to 2 x 500mg paracetamol infrequently ('on demand' or when anticipating being on feet for prolonged time). I avoid other painkillers, specially codeine!

We go away this weekend and will be abroad 2 months. We have a sailing yacht and my Wife & I crew it ourselves. Most friends think it's luxury - sailing friends know it's hard work and fun (most of the time). "Change is as good as a rest?". Also, it'll be considerably warmer than here and there's not too much call for long walks to be had on a modest private sailing yacht.

That's it with my 10 weeks snippet. Sharing with you and other TKR beneficiaries with one final comment for today "When going through Hell ....... keep on going"

Alan

xxx

 

My pain was mostly on the inside of the knee . . numbness and tingling across the whole knee and the whole thigh , Pain in the thigh sometimes absolutely incredible  at night. .  but then during the day, just sore to touch.  two years on, thigh still numb yet painful to pressure, knee numb still, but not painful . . .feet tingling and burning (i think because of the spinal injection)  But all in all i am happy with the outcome.  In my case, the pain subsided after about 10 weeks, so I have been luckier than you.  

 

Sounds like me, but who knows?  I'm 7 mos out.  Quit PT, no better, nor worse until I took a spill and landed on both knees.  Luckily I had appmt with Ortho.  Discharged me.  So, now both legs hurting, mostly when sleeping or trying to.  

Good luck ick on your nerve surgery.

That was supposed to be luck, not ick