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I am 9 days PO from a TKR. Having strange keepcap / patellar tendon pain

Posted , 5 users are following.

Linn428
Linn428

 Hi everyone. I am brand new on this forum  so I apologize if this has been addressed before. But I doubt it has since I can’t seem to find anything online about it. I am having severe sharp pain on top of my kneecap and just below.  This pain is the worst when I try to do an exercise where I place a pillow under my knee and attempt to straighten my leg via lifting my heel off the bed. I am completely unable to do this exercise because the pain is so bad. I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience and if so did you ever find out what it was and did it ever go away and approximately how long did it take? I’m going to give it another few days but if I see no improvement I will have to go back to the doctor before my regular Check up.  I  do not want it to hinder my recovery. I hope it’s a simple thing.   Any help on this matter would be appreciated. Thanks Linn

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • martha08360
    martha08360 Linn428

    Posted

    I had that pain and other pain, for weeks.  good luck
  • tammy11224
    tammy11224 Linn428

    Posted

    Hang in there! I have had both knees done. 

    Left TKR in DEC 2016 and Tight TKR in OCT 2017.  Both experience with the same awesome surgeon and both completely different! Nine days is too early to tell anything. Talk to your PT-they know what their talking about! The more you move the better you feel! Best wishes for a quick recovery!!

  • tricia1954
    tricia1954 Linn428

    Posted

    Hi Linn

    I am 17 days out from a partial medial knee replacement and had the same on the other knee last June. I found exactly the same pain above and below the knee cap on both occasions. At around 8 weeks last time it peaked at its worst and then got gradually better. The only way I can manage my exercises this time is by very firmly holding my knee with my hand, almost as if you were gluing it back on, if you can picture that. I then do my heel slides as best I can, it still causes a lot of pain and I find myself panting through it(and then crying) but it does help and worked last time for me. 

    Hope it works for you, it just takes time, I am already finding it marginally easier in the last few days.

    good luck with your recovery. 

  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 Linn428

    Posted

    I would be tempted not to do that particular exercise for a few weeks, and consult with an physiotherapist.

    Heel slides and keeping the knee moving plus all the other exercises you get are important, and no doubt that one is too, but in the first month it is very possible that some may be out of reach...for me I could not do the straight leg raise!

    Persisting with working on range of motion, aka the bend and straightening...is vital.

    The exercise you mention is quite a hard one I think....based on my experience BEFORE surgery, it is one I could not do at all! Couldn't lift my heel up at all!

    Butn I am not a professional, these are just my thoughts on the matter.

    Is your pain under control generally, and are you able do do the other exercises with just slight pain when you get to point?

    A really good physio who has experience with knee replacements would be your best bet I think.

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