Leg pain driving me mad

I work at a school I try to change position every 20mins so I'm not continually standing but can't really put leg up in the classroom .  I've tried using voltarol cream  which seems to help a little bit.   I'm on lots of other medications include methatrexate as I have rheumatoid arthritis .

I think the pain maybe because you are over doing it . I couldn't have done that at 8 weeks. Could you ice at lunch time ? And elevate for a while? . You are doing great ,just try to elevate all evening x

Hi Linda, I'm not surprised your leg is aching. Mine still hurts when I'm on my feet and I'm 12 weeks post op. I'm a retired teacher and know I could never cope in a classroom with this knee. You've done remarkably well to return to work so soon. I can't offer any more advice than others give you but hope it gets easier as time goes on. Jen 

Yes I saw them last week and they have increased methatrexate dose and I had a steroid jab. But that  didnt  really make any difference.   

As you're no doubt aware, the Mthotrexate will take a bit of time to kick in properly after a break. It may be that it will resolve soon. If not, don't be afraid to contact your helpline, if you have one. It might be possible to do more to help you through this.

Hi Gloria gosh I do admire your tenacity and how you are handling these ops. I am retired but desperately want to get my life back again. To have got back to work must have taken so much strengh from you. Keep up the good work you are a wonderful role model  take care tucks 

well thank you Tucks. I am trying really hard to get back to normality and although I may sound strong in actuality I am not always so . However , now, on my second TKR I believe I have to just be patient and give both legs time to heal. The first knee at 7 months is still often stiff in the morning and at night but I just push through it and if I need meds sometimes I just take them  because I believe that given time everything will be pretty good so why suffer needlessly if I don't have to. With my second TKR I am 4 weeks and again (although this knee is recovering Remarkedly well I must say) I am determined to give it the time it needs to recover and at this stage I still medicate 6 hourly and it varies between over the counter meds and prescriptive meds depending on the discomfort and I just allow myself couch potato time most of the time because I believe the leg needs healing time and that's what I will give it for 7 weeks and as I said I then intend to try to go back to work but in the meantime apart from some exercises a movie and lunch for about 3 hours here or there I do nothing else, just heal. Is it easy? No, I have the same bouts of depression like everyone else I have pain discomfort tightness etc etc swelling but we just have to wait for things to happen. I decided to give myself 18 months out of my life where I did not do anything like travel etc just to heal. But having said that I totally sympathise with everything that everyone is going through because it is a very traumatic and life altering operation. Good luck to you and thank you for your bolstering words

Hi Brittany how good have you been getting back to work so early. I am 9weeks post op, and although I am getting around ok, the nights are something else, I get a lot of pain and heat. There doesn't appear to be be a problem with the knee, bends are excellent and I am shopping, doing vacuuming ect.  But I dread night time coming around and the weeping stars. My bed is so hot ,and the heat just seems to be coming from my body. I am 82 and normally fit and healthy. Take care I do admire your resolve.

Tucks, have you asked your doc about the possibility of a mild muscle relaxant. I was having uncontrollable cramps caused by epidural injections. The spine specialist suggested the muscle relaxant for helping that and suddenly found myself going from 2 hr naps, mostly sitting up in my recliner. After the new drug, I am in bed 6-7 hrs with solid sleep. As I have mentioned a number of times, I have had 9 surgeries on the leg over 12 yes, 4 of those in 2013. I am no stranger to the drain lack of sleep puts on the body. Hope this improves.

Hi there thank you for your thoughts, a muscle relaxant seems a good idea I will see what my GP has to say.i have had very little pain relief from him since I left hospital. Just paracetomal  because I had problems with some of the meds the hospital gave me he's being very cautious with me. Alright for him but not so good for me still i will give him a try . Take care

tucks -- i think it has caught up with me at the weekend.  i feel totally exhausted.  and tearful today so i got into bed after i had finished work and before i went to physio.  life looked a bit brighter after that :-)

 i see your gp is only giving you paracetemol.  i find that simply incredible.  there are so many different pain killers out there and rather than trying some different ones, he opts to give you nothing.  paracetemol doesn't even work on my headaches!  i know this is quite a sensitive topic, but having worked in a retirement home for six months, i know that depression is quite common in the elderly.  when you next see your gp, how about speaking to him about this as well?  just to get you over the worst.  i hope you have somebody who can go with you and DEMAND help.  i am sorry if i sound bossy, but i find gps who prefer to ignore their patients requests / concerns totally unprofessional.  good luck, tucks!

Tucks, nighttimes are the worst for any sort of pain or discomfort. You sound as if you are doing really well during the day, do you medicate at night? Just a couple of prescriptive painkillers at night and maybe combined with a sleeping pill??? If it gets you through the nights until the leg is further on then that is a good thing. You really don't need to suffer! I too find night times are the worst time but just knock myself out with drugs ( sorry sounds crass I know) and always feel better in the morning and do not dread the nights. If on the other hand you do not like taking medication then investigate pain relief creams. There are really good ones in health shops. I use Living Essence brand and it is called accident relief cream and it takes off the edge. But please don't put up with it. At your age (again sorry) you should not have to.