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Almost eight weeks after TKR, I am still in a great deal of pain. Not so much in the knee, but defferred pain in my entire leg, worst in calf, shin and ankle. I did really well, never needed to use sticks or crutches from day one, did all the exercise without much problem,,,, but, from the second week, my leg muscles went into spasm and I have been in agony since. I am not sleeping more than a maximum of three hours out of 24 and there is nowhere I am comfortable ! I am pacing around to aleviate the pain for between 20 and 22 hours a day..... Non of the pain relief prescribed has helped ( Paracetamol, Tramadol and Diazapam ) and I am just about demented with the lack of sleep more so than the pain ! At my six week check up, I was told that all was well, the only exercise I was told to do was to try and get my leg straighter as it is not quite as straight as the other one...... I am driving again, but would not be able to drive more than 40 miles without being in pain. None of the medical staff I have spoken to seem to be concerned about this, but I am just about at my wits end now. Is it just me ? I have a high pain threshold and have been told I may have " overdone " things from the beginning !!!!
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nicky14342 jane07384
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pegs_girl jane07384
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I am 16 weeks post op, and understand why you feel demented having no sleep, i ended up getting over counter sleeping pills which really did help. Did Physio advise not to use the sticks?? i was told i needed them to reduce weight from my operated knee. i reduced them down to 1 after 4 weeks, then to none at 7, this was al lon the advice of Physio. I too have a high pain threshold but TKR pain is the worst i have ever come accross, but it does get better. I did push myself with the with my excersises, and even bought an excersise bike, i have a full bend now and hardly any pain, i can only explain my discomfort as a 'tired' feeling!I am back at work on phased return but have to say being back in work has tired me out, i am sure the tiredness will reduce once im used to it again. Keep being positive and get something to help you sleep, if the shop bought pills dont work then ask your GP for slow realease DIHYCROLCODEINE think thats how you spell it, these are really powerfull pain killer and will help with sleep.
pam39536 jane07384
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debbie02705 jane07384
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petemorris jane07384
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I'm 3 months post op now and I still don't get much sleep....It's definitely better then it was. But I rarely stay in bed for a full night, and most days wake up and get up at about 4:00am and take some pain killers. Then sit there watching the TV doing the 'nodding dog' impression!...
So you're definitely not on your own....I think pretty much the sleep thing is common to everyone who has a TKR. I can remember the hospital staff telling me to just sleep as and when ever you can...day night, whenever...I thought it was just because you kinda needed 'more' sleep...they didn't tell me it's because you WON'T be able to sleep for months!!!
jane07384
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pam39536 jane07384
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jane07384 pam39536
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