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Just hit 10 weeks after tkr. Swelling, pain and stiffness still present. Pain has migrated up my th

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emcvey93
emcvey93

Just hit 10 weeks after tkr. Swelling, pain and stiffness still present. Pain has migrated up thigh toward hip. Any suggestions?

4 likes, 47 replies

47 Replies

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  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 emcvey93

    Posted

    This happened to me when I had tkr 4 and a half years ago.  Dr said it would settle down and it did.

    Hope this settles down for you as well.

    This is still really esarly days for you so do not be discouraged.

    Take care and keep in touch

    Love Sarah xxx

  • clive45466
    clive45466 emcvey93

    Posted

    Don't think any of us are doctors, but are you walking correctly. Walk towards a mirror, is your operated leg looking like the other leg?

  • Cementless
    Cementless emcvey93

    Posted

    I am also 10 weeks post TKR and still have stiffness in thigh, knee, calf areas and a little pain. Today I am trying to come off Tramadol and feel miserable: sweats, loose stools, a little shaky. I still take a muscle relaxant (Robaxin 500mg) every 6 hrs which helps with the tightness (stiffness) and Celebrex at night. I have 2 more days of PT left. I might have to take 1 Tramadol 50mg to get thru PT. Any suggesstions would also be helpful to withdraw from Tramadol!!!
    • carol8104
      carol8104 Cementless

      Posted

      Hi:

      I am where you are at.  I tried diflonec cream, it did nothing but I took a pill crusher and crushed up three aspirins, 1 tsp red cayenne pepper and mixed it in two Tablespoons of skin cream and have been applying it to my knee area and it seems to help.  I also take turmeric.  I used no pain meds since I arrived home but used lots of ice.  I won’t be having any fun any time soon.  I told my doctor I don’t know that F word.  So disgusted with my progress.  I will never have surgery ever again as I have too much oseoarthritis.  I am starting Celebrex.

    • jenfid
      jenfid Cementless

      Posted

      im a tramadol addict too was in 8 a day been on them 7years because of arthritis its taken me a year to get down to 2 a day .iv gone back up to 3/4 at moment TKR 6weeks ago

      don't just stop tramadol

      i did it by stopping one out at a time for a week then stopping another one it takes a while .if can't cope with stopping full one .split capsule tip out some of the powder put it back together .... gradually tip more out every day till there hadley any left . the last 2are the hardest to stop .any longer than 12 hours between them i start with the side affects .wish i had never started taking them but i will stop hopefully this year .... hope this is helpful Jenny

    • elizabeth19850
      elizabeth19850 jenfid

      Posted

      I am 12 weeks post left TKR and have been taking Targin (Oxycodone /Naloxone combo) for 11 weeks. I reduced the dose and have been taking 10/5mg daily (at night) for a week. I stopped taking it completely 4 nights ago and have been going through awful withdrawals. Any advice? I have only had 2 - 2 1/2 hrs sleep each night as the jitteryness and insomnia is severe.

    • jenfid
      jenfid elizabeth19850

      Posted

      iv not taken this but don't think you should just stop taking these strong pain killers should do it gradually .if there capsule take them apart empty some out if there caplets cut them in half

      withdrawal is awful

      i now use CBD oil for bad days

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX emcvey93

    Posted

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499

    10 weeks is still very early but here are a few thoughts...

    - Pain is normal at this stage.  Expect it.  Meds and ice.

    - Extreme pain plus swelling usually indicate that you're pushing the knee beyond its current capabilities (walking too far, standing too long, over-exercising, etc.).  Swelling is a clear sign of this.  The knee is telling you to back off.

    - Stiffness can linger for as long as 18 months post-op.  For some, they'll feel a bit of it forever.  My doc told me: "You have a giant mechanical device implanted in your body...what do you expect?"

    - You have pain in your thigh because your quad has atrophied.  Rebuilding that muscle takes time, effort (gym work) and an understanding that it doesn't come back overnight.  I'm almost 10 months out and still working on it.

    - Pain directly in your his can be referred pain from your quads or an indication that your hips are out of alignment.  Very common in TKR patients because we have walked "funny" for so long to avoid the knee pain that we need a chiropractor to straighten us out again.  My hip pain was caused by locked SI hip joints that gave me a case of sciatica.  Again, very common.  Ortho sent me to a chiro.  Done with the pain in a few sessions.

    Read the long post.  Could answer a lot of your questions.  Just remember...10 weeks is still really early.  Think marathon not sprint.  Do the latter and your recovery will only be longer and more painful.  

  • dianne07195
    dianne07195 emcvey93

    Posted

    Hi ,I too am at 10 weeks post op for a TKR.I still have really bad stiffness,and swelling,and st times pain they seems to be all over the leg.I am told this is perfectly normal,as long as it isnt severe pain,mine I would say is morea dull ache,sometimes as far as the cheek of my bottom.I am doing my exercises as instructed,hard but persevere.

    I am told by various people including my Physio,thhat this is normal,and everyone proceeds with recovery differently,but I know hoe you feel you do feel so alone,but we must keep on and hope fully we will both be so glad we had it,but i'm told it will take a good year.

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX dianne07195

      Posted

      You are totally on point!  Some people feel stiffness or a "band" around the knee...same thing.  That feeling, along with very minor pain plus the popping and clicking sounds can last 12-18 months post-op.  Personally, I don't think my clicking sounds will ever go away.  Who cares...I can walk without pain.  

      Most people see a big difference around the 3-month mark when compared to the first few weeks...especially, no more writhing in pain!  After PT gets your ROM back (0 / +120), ya gotta hit the gym to rebuild quads, glutes and core.  Not easy...takes work and patience.  Need to build your strength back to walk correctly and take the pressure off the new knee.  

    • Cementless
      Cementless CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      I had my last day of PT yesterday (9 weeks) and i only have 107 degree range of motion and -4 for straightening. They all reassured me the 120 degree and 0 straightening will come in time. I am thinking about starting back to Pilates in a couple of weeks. Apparently, time, healing, and exercise is the key.
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX Cementless

      Posted

      I finished PT at -1 / +121 after 9 weeks of it.  Did a lot of heel slides at home...

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-heel-slide-exercises-526213

      The gym got me to 0 / +133.  People don't realize that there's a lot more work to this after PT...especially to rebuild quads, glutes and core.  Recovery is a year-long process but no doc will tell you that before the op.  Plus I still have some minor residual pain on occasional nights, stiffness and clicking/popping sounds.  All very normal.

      You may find that the endorphins generated by the gym work will also help overcome any lingering depression or anxiety.  Gotta get back to real life or limp forever.  Everyone makes their own choices.

    • dianne07195
      dianne07195 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thank you Chico,it's so good to know you are not alone,and so helpful to be able to share.my next hurdle is to be able to have a bath,any tips.?.

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX dianne07195

      Posted

      Don't slip.  Seriously...  Don't know your tub but mine has a step into it plus flat surfaces around.  So I put a non-slip rubber bath mat on the step and two suction cup handles on the top so that I can get in and out while maintaining a sure grip and footing.  I always check the handles to make sure they're tight before every entry. 

  • cheryl90571
    cheryl90571 emcvey93

    Posted

    Hi there!

    I'm over a year post surgery for my two TKRs and sometimes will get random pain in weird areas ( hip, sciatic nerve, outer calf areas, etc.) Moving, stretching, Ibuprofen, and wrapping up in my fleece afghan with a nice cup of tea are ways I deal with these weird pains. Refocusing on some project sadYesterday it was trimming my red raspberry bushes and roses before the next round of snow was a good way to get my mind off my sciatic nerve issue.)

    I hear from TKR veterans that random pain is often nerves that are regrowing and healing.

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