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I had a knee replacement op 10 days ago.

Posted , 143 users are following.

ann02425
ann02425

I have a continual, deep pain/ache in practically the whole of my leg. I use ice on it (frozen peas!) a great deal of the time and I take my pain killers. At night I cannot sleep because there is nowhere New I can put my leg which does not become become equally painful within a few seconds. Anybody else have this problem? Also, I had to stop taking Diclofenac a few days before the op. How long before I can take it again?

15 likes, 331 replies

331 Replies

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  • christineuk62
    christineuk62 ann02425

    Posted

    Hi Ann

    Please ring the ward you was on or your Dr's surgery for info about meds.

    Recovery after TKR can take between 6 months to 2 years.

    I'm due to have mine revised in a couple of months.

    Keep your leg up as much as possible, with icing, take pain killing meds every 4 hrs.

    Its important to do the exercises the physio told you.

    Sleep deprivation is a major downside of recovery. Sometimes your Dr may prescribe something to help you sleep or you could try Kalms herbal tablets.

    Hope this helps you and anybody else in pain.

    Christine

    TKR Nov 2014 right knee

    ACL & LCL Ligament repairs left knee April 2016

  • toni1943
    toni1943 ann02425

    Posted

    Ann02425. This seems.to be a fairly common experience.  I am now 4 weeks post op and still waking at least once a night in pain.  However it is much better that it was three weeks ago and I can now get comfortable in bed.  For now nap when and where you can.  Are you on any pain relief at all?  Ask your doctor about the Dicofenac 
  • maxine39957
    maxine39957 ann02425

    Posted

    11/11/16

    I had a total knee replacement 6 months ago. I fell off a ladder into a laminate floor 7 years ago which caused one knee to deteriorate. I'm only 57. I was driving a 4 x 4 and returned to office work after 2.5 weeks. I'm self employed so had little choice. I was on one crutch after one week. However 6 months later I still have pain, limp a lot when I first move then it eases off but there's still a limp. I used to wear 4 inch heels but obviously can't now. Wearing Sketchers is easier but I have to wear heels for work so I can manage 1.5 inch ok for now. I'm hoping that in another 6 months I'm fully recovered. My knee will bend to 95° only but I'm way off straightening it. I'm getting private sports remedial massage to help but progress us slow. I can walk my dogs for 1.5 miles but only with resting on benches. I'm very disappointed but I live in hope it will recover.

    I did sleep ok in early days because I took strong painkillers. I came off those the second month end. Now on nothing.

    I do hope I can get my proper life back the way it used to be before the ladder fall.

  • susie21054
    susie21054 ann02425

    Posted

    I had my 2nd tkr (left) two weeks ago today.  My right leg tkr surgery was 11 months ago.  it is wonderful!  This time around is a little different more pain and swelling.  I know how much better it will be so I work thru the pain.  Both surgeries were outpatient.  Had nerve block which controlled pain for first 48 hrs.  1000mg Tylenol and 800mg Advil taken at the same time every 8 hours -oxy when needed.  Stopped oxy after 4 days.  Staples pinched when removed but relief after!  I start outpatient therapy today.  I can bend to 90 and straighten -5.  My confidence is getting better,  my mind tells me to limp but I don't have too.  Elevate, ice and move around every hour.  Stay positive it only gets better!

     

  • Twnurse
    Twnurse ann02425

    Posted

    I also get a continuous deep muscle cramp starting from my butt cheek going all the way down my back leg. A muscle relaxant does help but I think it is the way we are compensating when we are walking.
  • kim67692
    kim67692 ann02425

    Posted

    I'm about 3wks out still can't comfortable,and my hip ,and lower back hurts now outside pt or horrible really hard & painful ,and my doctor only gives meds 3wks out of surgery. I started pt outside super painful .I went through alot at surgery I had caught the flu was sick the day I was released,during surgery the doctor did something to my ankle I had finger prints(bruising) on my ankle,calf.no other bruising so I couldn't step on my ankle for about a week in half . Now I can't bend only to 90 now he said I'm back to 80 and now he's focused on straightening still can't get comfortable it's like a dead leg know how you feel

    • Twnurse
      Twnurse kim67692

      Posted

      Kim, I know just keep your knee moving. Rest and ice and elevate. I am going to look into a natural path to help with all the aches I get. I know each day and week will be different.
    • kim700
      kim700 kim67692

      Posted

      I know your pain. I had finger bruises on my thighs. I think they have to hold the leg /ankle so hard to get the replacement on but it should heal. This certainly wasn't the journey that I expected but I am told that it does get better. I never went to rehab because I heard such terrible things and I had been in pain for so many years that I thought I might just punch someone if they inflicted pain on me so I chose do do it myself. My Dr. Told me that if I did my 2 exercises I would be good. I really worked at It, in my time and I have pretty good range of motion. I used a Jacuzzi to help bend my knee, with good results. I am 3 months out from a double knee replacement and I am not pain free by any means. For me, I did what I could and my Rom came back. I have lots of swelling and pain. I also have a clicking sound when I walk. Bummer. Don't despair. Rest and elevate and listening ur own body. Everyone recovers differently. Take this time to just rest ur body. I believe it just takes time.

  • jean42930
    jean42930 ann02425

    Posted

    Hi im 6 days post op and know exactly what you mean. I cant take diclofenic so using dihydracodeiene someone has said it does get easier so hang in there. No consolation i know at 2am and not slept sad

    • Twnurse
      Twnurse jean42930

      Posted

      Just nap and rest when your knee tells you too. I will be 3 weeks on Tuesday and some days better than others. Still can't be up for long periods with out knee talking to me.

  • kim700
    kim700 ann02425

    Posted

    My bones ached and knee pain was terrible. I still do t sleep well at night due to pain. I thought the pain would be gone once the old knees were gone but that hasn't been the case. This is just the most painful and brutal thing we can do to our bodies, as far as surgery is concerned. Time is our friend! I have every faith that it will get better.

  • kim700
    kim700 ann02425

    Posted

    How is your knee now after over a year?

     

    • Don007
      Don007 kim700

      Posted

      I had my surgery two years ago tomorrow! Other than the first 4 weeks of what I would call agony, the knee is great. I had 5º to 105º before the surgery. From the beginning I had great flexibility. Within a week I had improved to 0º and 120º and now somewhere over 140º! Other than the home PT for the first 2 weeks, I saw my PT a total of 3 times! I asked why and he said I had already met all expected goals so there was no need for any PT. At my 6 week post op meeting with my surgeon, he said see you next year, but the only thing he wanted to know was how my knee did back my first day skiing!

      This past season was my first time back. I skied 6 days in a row without ANY pain whatsoever. As a matter of fact my real knee hurt and was slightly swollen, but my new knee was never stiff or swollen in anyway shape or form! While skiing I ended up thinking of my real knee more than my artificial one!!!

      For anyone interested, I have the Conformis custom fit TKR.

  • michael61284
    michael61284 ann02425

    Posted

    Hi Guys, i had my total knee replacement on the 16 May 2016 and im still in pain. I have been put in the 1 in 50 failed joint replacement and i am certain it was due to the pressure put on you to bend your knee as much as possible in the shortest period of time. If you have any sort of swelling after the op and abnormally high amount of pain go see you GP asap. I got a bad infection 3 weeks after surgery.The sleeping part is the pain in the butt part. What i found the best but dont recommend it is i took double the pain meds before i went to sleep and that would knock me out for a good part of the evening.

    My recommendation to you is to as much as you feel comfortable with and no more putting in just a little more effort every day. In the evening i would have a shower just before bed time and heat my knee up with the hot water, i would then sit on the edge of my bed with your foot on the floor and your knee bent to its max then keeping your feet on the floor slowly move your body forward thus bending your knee to a greater angle till you cannot take the pain anylonger but you must hold it there for at least 5 min, i know its painful but you will find the pain will start to faid as you get used to that pain. I also went for physio every day which did help but you can get away with it by rubbing voltaren in yourself from thigh down to ankle and i mean a good rub. I was off all meds by 6 weeks but at 12 weeks i was walking and felt a hooking sensation with a loud crack and unbelievable pain and that was the start to the pain i live with day to day.

    All i can say is dont force your knee to do what is not comfortable, do things at you own pace but you must bend it just a little more every day and if there is any abnormal swelling or pain see your GP asap. Your next big pain in the butt is still to come. The wife and i love traveling and man going through security points is such a pain nowadays and not even your doctors letter or the scar is going to stop them frisking you every time.

  • dark_crystal
    dark_crystal ann02425

    Posted

    I'm 6 weeks after my op .During the night I place a cushion between my knees and have an ice pack and take my meds . it's not easy but you will get there in the end.wish you good luck

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