Pain is getting unbearable after bilateral knee replacement
Posted , 10 users are following.
I have been reading some of the post regarding knee replacement and it does seem that some are suffering tightness and pain in legs after surgery. I am at week 22 after bilateral knee replacement and the pain is unbearable at times, which leads me to be depressed at times, and upset with my surgeon who did not indicate that this was a possibility. I have my daughters wedding in 5 weeks and the only thing that I was told by the surgeons staff was that since my surgery was six months before the wedding that I would be in great shape and dancing at the wedding. I will be lucky if I can stand long enough to have photo's done, and definitely will not be dancing. Sitting, sleeping, standing, pretty much everything, causes pain.
I am doing physiotherapy still, twice a week as well as at home, massage once to twice a week, saw a chiropractor for several weeks, doing all my exercises, going in a pool, using a hot tub , everything that is recommended to me. Still no relief and constant pain.
I am looking for anyone that found something that worked for them. Does anyone have a success story that can give me some direction to help alleviate the pain. My neighbour had bilateral knee replacement and he said that it took two years for the pain and tightness to go away, but I think by then, I may lose my mind. As much as I try not to, this consumes me every day.
Any words of wisdom from anyone who has or is dealing with this.
Very disappointed that surgeons are not more forthcoming with the after effects. When I was in rehab after surgery for 12 day, they nicknamed me SuperStar because I was progressing so well. Then this set in and is taking the best of me.
1 like, 22 replies
jenny61596 Deigh
Posted
Sorry to hear , I must say my pain was minimal by 12 weeks , I would go back . I did no real physio to start with , and have full movement now , I think sometimes too much isnt good . I did use pool for exercise and water areobics and walking . I dont think you should be in such pain , get it checked I was walking fine well before 22 weeks. Go back to surgeon , good luck
Deigh jenny61596
Posted
I actually am walking well and was walking without a walker or cane by week three. I have been back to the surgeon and everything is fine mechanically, just the severe tightness and muscle pain. Have a MRI booked for June 6th and did a xray yesterday of the spine to make sure there is no nerve injury from the epidural.
I am glad to hear that you did well, and you could be right that doing too much may be creating more pain.
karen14697 Deigh
Posted
Reading this blog has brought back memories of my first TKR 18 months ago. Facing this fir my left knee a week away seems unreal. Hope iI have the guts to go thru it! Hang in there!
Deigh karen14697
Posted
My initial fear was that this was not common, as my surgeon indicated that he had never seen tightness and pain from that, but since joining this forum and finding out this is indeed an issue for some, I feel less stressed that something is wrong. My knees mechanics are perfect. I hope that you have smooth sailing through your recovery and are not bothered by tightness because based on talking with others, it is not a given that this will happen. Good luck with your surgery.
CHICO_MARX Deigh
Posted
This is totally common. Most people report tightness, stiffness, a "band-like feeling", etc. to 12 months while some may linger to 18. The big thing is to do the muscle rebuild to keep the knee muscles string and the joint active...LONG-TERM. Even people with a decade-old TKRs will report stiffness if they don't move the leg. It has to become part of your daily life.