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Awaiting another TKR

Posted , 5 users are following.

laila20290
laila20290

I had a tkr in October 2017 and I am not doing badly. The surgeon told me at the time that the other knee will need to be done also eventually and I thought may be a year or even longer to give me time to recover. Well I cannot describe to you my tkr friends the amount of excruciating pain I am in at the moment on the other knee , the whole leg is swollen,I can’t straighten it at all ,I cannot sleep from the pain. I have been twice to the GP ,he has already started the ball rolling to have the other one done ,but I never had that type of pain on the first leg ,the knee was painful yes but not like this,can arthritis be so severe and in the whole leg like this, I am on the second type of pain killers as the first one did not agree with me ,I don’t know what to do with myself it is very depressing.😰😰😰

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • debbie35639
    debbie35639 laila20290

    Posted

    I would assume that since you had your surgery, the other knee has taken over the excess force on your "good" one. I don't think there is a lot you can do but work on strengthening exercises as best you can. Build the quads as much as you can. As best as you can tolerate. That is the best advice I can give to you. Best of luck to you!!

    • laila20290
      laila20290 debbie35639

      Posted

      Thank you Debbie , I am sure you are absolutely right the left knee has taken all the strain since I had the tkr on the right one , unfortunately I am unable to do any kind of excersise as it is extremely difficult to bend it , straightened it , so the only thing I am going to do is try aqua cycling which helped before on the operated one . Anyway thank you
  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX laila20290

    Posted

    The full recovery takes a year.  Once your ROM is back, you have to rebuild all the supporting muscles (quads, glutes and core) plus stretch your tight hamstrings.  Takes months.  Do the work and the pain will diminish.  Right now, the knee joint is taking all the pressure...you have to get it back onto the muscles where it belongs.

    Same boat.  I'm waiting until I have completely recovered and all my leg strength is back to better than it was before.

    • laila20290
      laila20290 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      i know Chico that the full recovery takes a year ,I am only seven month into the first TKR and I am now unable to do any exercises due to the excruciating pain I am getting from the other leg plus the swelling on top , I was given naproxen first and it did not work I am now on co-dydramol which is also not great , I am not sure if there is any pain killers that actually works one hundred percent.so will see . Thank you for your input Chico 
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX laila20290

      Posted

      Have you tried SynVisc shots on the other knee?  That could get you past this bad period while you strengthen #1.  SynVisc worked great for me for years.  Even a temporary cortisone injection might help.  You may want to consider Tramadol (Ultram) which is a very mild opioid and usually used as a transitional drug from the heavy duty painkillers down to naproxen.  In your case, it could be a step up in pain relief.
  • marilyn10235
    marilyn10235 laila20290

    Posted

    Hi Leila, your left leg has had to do all the work in the early days after r TKR. Unfortunately there's not much you can do about it until you get your other op. 

    Yes arthritis can be extremely severe & because you changed your gait after the other op you put more pressure on the left leg. Your whole way of walking changed which has had a knock on effect on the left, and that causes pain & swelling!

    Are you able to take NSAIDs? Horrible things I know but they do help with the inflammation.

    I hope you get your op soon. I was lucky last year, went back on the waiting list for no2 end of Oct 2017 & had op on 17/12/17!! I thought I would have to wait months!! Fingers crossed your next op will be soon.

    Marilyn 

    XX

    • laila20290
      laila20290 marilyn10235

      Posted

      Marilyn thank you for your support , I was prescribed naproxen first but that did not work I am now on co-dydramol and that’s also not fully effective , I can’t take ibuprofen as it gives me nausea so it’s trial and error.i am due to see the doctor again on Wednesday for an steroid injection for my arthritis in my hand so I will discuss with him other possible nsaids for my knee.Thank you again
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