managing pain and swelling 1 month post knee osteotomy

I'm nearly seven weeks and although the swelling and pain is better, it's still bad enough to disturb my sleep. I don't want to take any oxycodone unless I just can't stand it anymore so I try Ibuprophen or Tylenol. They don't really help a whole lot. I'm having a lot of trouble with the incision. It's still red and swollen and pins and needles. My surgeon just saw it last week and he's not concerned that there's any infection. He said it looks like I'm developing keloid scar tissue and recommended that I use Mederma cream which is supposed to help erase scar tissue. I bought a tube ($45) and have been applying it at least six times a day. I don't see or feel any difference in the past 4 days since using it. I don't even care anymore what it looks like, I just want the burning, pain and discomfort to stop. And after seven weeks, my knee and entire leg still have some swelling. It's such a slow, tortuous process.

Oh Guy, think of it this way.  If you broke your leg, you would be in plaster for 6 weeks. When you say you had a lateral release, did they take bone with tendon, if so, you have to wait for the graft to take and settle down, also waiting for the tendon to get used to being in a different place as well as your knee cap being more centralised as opposed to being toards one side.  Adequate painkilling medication is a must. Without it, you cannot relax enough to function.  Seeing as you are already of oral morph, perhaps speak to your doctor about taking morphine capsules  They come in varying strengths and you can use your oral med as a top up. For all meds to work, you must take them on a regular basis (you most probably are, but a lot of people do not).  Also, if the pain is that bad,look into asking about lydocaine pain patches, they are prescription only, but they do work (so long as you are not allergic to plasters)Some GP's don't like prescribing them as they are "expensive", but hey, if they work!!!!  There are other things, but I think this is enough.  Get yourself sorted before the Christmas period as you don't want to end up going to A&E because of the painx

Boredom is a state of mind.  Keep it active  If you have to go out, use crutches,if you can stand the pressure of something against your skin, wear a brace (they have metal stays down the side for stability), try not to wear it during exercises as you will not be able to use your muscles to their full potential.  You are nearly there. Don't spoil it now by doing anything silly(or macho ;-)  ).

One of the unintended consequences of knee surgery of any kind is the unusual and severe pain. Most of this is nerve damage and the slow rate of healing this cause a. Also, most of us favored the hurt leg and this allowed all the soft tissue to atrophy and now not only are you relearning to walk properly but putting up with the actual healing process as well. Take it slow........hurrying the pace will only cause you more problems. Walk slow, step out properly and bend the leg as much as you can comfortably. Ice after excercise and elevate the leg when you can. Blood flow is mandatory and wont happen with the leg hanging. If this surgery doesn't teach you patience, nothing will. Everyone on here has been through one or more knee/leg surgeries. In my case 11. We all heal differently and yet, the same in many ways. Its all about staying with the therapy but doing it slow and steady. You will get lots of personal histories and advice on this forum. Stay with us and ask question as you take the journey. You'll make lots of Fri e new and get lots of help.

G'day guy,

I only had a right knee, partial knee replacement (a UKR) and so can't really comment on your surgery and pain relief. I have a heart arrythmia and am on warfarin for life and so there is much in the way of pain relief I cannot or rather dare not touch. So, I'm only on Co-Codomol 30/500 and generally this has worked. Surgery wise therefore I am not qualified to give you advice.

Boredom and frustration - well thats a different ball game. With my UKR and I suspect most knee surgery, nothing, absolutely nothing prepares you for the Rehab and recovery (R & R) process. In terms of my own R & R and the input from the hospital rehab team, well skilled and well intentioned though they maybe, on a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give them a 5. They loose 5 points because beyond exercises and stretches nobody helps you address the subject of total recovery which for me includes the addressing of frustration and boredom. In otherwords there is no holistic approach to R & R. I was given a NHS publication on the total process and yes, it was useful and it did illustrate the exercises and stretches but I got much more info from videos on YouTube !

Frustration, hmmm ! for me comes about from having to rely on my partner to do things and get things for me etc. etc. Boredom - well throw out the TV for a start, unless you have a liking for repeats and mediocre day time TV - hey - medicocre daytime TV. Then there are all the trashy Christmas programmes and reality TV. I have relied on the old standby of reading and crosswords, but I've also indulged in colouring in colouring in books. This is a forerunner to when I can do away with my crutches when I plan to embark on trying my hand at painting in watercolours. Then I've spent time on my laptop sorting out my photo library. My partner takes me out of the house for short drives and short walks (at least, even with crutches I can do that), initially that was a bit hard because of issues getting in and out of our small car but one learns to be innovative ! Now that I have a very good, high degree of bend in my knee this is now a doddle. Yes, I still have swelling but no pain unless I go clumsy with my exercises, I elevate and ice my knee 3 times a day (get the ankle raised above the level of the heart seems to be some sort of standard practice) and this does seem to help with pain and mobility.

This is about all I can offer Guy, my commisserations and good wishes for the time ahead.

John

I just wrote a reply and it disappeared?  

Well at least I'm not alone in the slow recovery.  I have to say the warnings they give you before the surgery just do not prepare you for the reality of having a swollen leg which feels like a dead weight hanging off your body. The amount of effort required even for simple tasks is amazing really.... it is really disabling. 

I hope to find a pain killer  more effective for the evenings because I'm not sleeping great.   I had hoped to be driving by week 6 but there is no chance.... I can't even bend my knee enough to get into the front of a car, let alone operate the pedals. 

Oh and Jemma you are right.........daytime TV is mindnumbing !

i think guy you need to let your doctor to help you there ,he knows your history ,some of the medications that we might sugest may not be right for you ,he/she is the best person to go to .i would say that you might ask him/her about anti inflamatory for the swelling i found them very good  .