Posted , 4 users are following.
57 awaken again from knee pain. no onset trauma or injury. xrays, nm bone scan, mri, ct scan only treated so far for oa with no relief. going on 13 weeks hobbling on one leg. 24/7 pain both static and dynamic. very frustrated and getting depressed as quality of life has been seriously diminished. is this my new norm? docs not much help here...
0 likes, 5 replies
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purplerlover ricky38489
Posted
Ricky are you in Physical Therapy, doing you exercises at home? I had my surgery a month before you. I am doing everything they ask and still the swelling, numbness, hi pain and of course the tight tourniquet feeling around the knee.
This surgery has turned my life upside-down. I am used to being active, multi tasking and enjoying life. I have never been depressed but the first 3 months I was so depressed with the pain, no improvement, and poor quality of life I really didn't care about anything. The days dragged by, half the time I didn't know what day it was or did I care. There has been some improvement but the pain, swelling etc. still hangs on. Now I am being told 6 month's to a year for more improvement.
ICE is your friend, Do it 3 or 4 times a day. It helps. Please keep us posted. We are all in the same boat.
karen14697 ricky38489
Posted
my 2nd is on the calendar fir 5/23. I'm dreading it but know the pain will eventually stop my 1st on (rt knee) is fine! I could wait longer but shots dont last and I'm tired of bracing mu knee, waking up in the middle if the night to take something/anything that will work enuf! HOPE your situation improves but surgery is the only way out for me. The "twin turbo" my surgeon calls it!
CHICO_MARX ricky38489
Posted
Had that happen to me 4 times in my 50's. Imaging showed nothing. Got scoped 4 times (2 each side). Doc found 2 meniscus tears and 2 ripped femoral condyle rips. Fixed me every time. However, this led to a bone on bone + OA situation a few years later. Got SynVisc injections (3-shots in 14 days) that lasted 11 months each round. Very helpful; restored my quality of life. Moved from cold Jersey to warm Texas and needed nothing for 6 years until the left knee had to be replaced at age 68...right knee has no pain at all. This is all after 45 years of playing hockey...cumulative effect. The TKR took a long time to get past (12-18 months) but at 3+ years post-op, it's almost like it never happened. Yes, there are activity restrictions to make the device last 25 years but no big deal for me.
There is a new FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure now called Coolief. Seeing a doc next week to see if it will work on some hip and lower back pain. Supposed to be great for OA in knees and shoulders. You might want to look into the SynVisc and Coolief avenues.
purplerlover ricky38489
Posted
I was 68 last December when I had my TKR. 12-18 months for total healing? I will never last that long if these symptoms last that long. How did you keep positive when the pain didn't improve and you still had the tourniquet and knee pain? I was a positive person till the surgery. Quality of life too a huge hit. Family and friends don't get that it's into 5 months and I am STILL in so much pain, My SIL had both knees done. She claims she was pain-free in 3 months . She did the exercises and PT but has stopped since it doesn't hurt. They're telling me I should be fine. Don't know how you did 4 surgeries.
When does the tourniquet feeling go away?
CHICO_MARX purplerlover
Posted
"Stiffness", "tightness", a "band-like feeling" are all ways people describe this sensation. It goes away so gradually that you never notice the progression. Typically, people report feeling more "like their old selves" around the 9-10 month mark and are doing really well at one year. Some lingering stiffness may last to 18 months. However, stiffness will absolutely return at any time when you don't keep the knee active. A sedentary lifestyle guarantees continued issues. Keep moving!!!
Your frustration comes from having set unrealistic expectations in the first place (something we ALL do/did!!!) and also comparing yourself to another's recovery and making a false judgment. This recovery is yours and yours alone...everyone is different. You will be much more at ease if you leave that mindset behind and concentrate on three things: time, work and patience. It is absolutely not easy and takes a lot of strength and determination. I'm 3+ years p/o and have zero problems (except kneeling on hard surfaces but that's nerves, not the knee).
At 5 months, you're transitioning from the worst 3-month stretch and entering the rebuild part of your recovery. Gotta regain all the strength in your atrophied quads, glutes and core. This will also help with your pain as the muscles take over their normal function again and lessen the pressure on the joint. Have to do the rebuild...
Rebuild the Muscles
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ROM Work
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