Severe knee pain

Posted , 5 users are following.

After an arthroscopy that failed to ease my knee pain plus another form of steroid injection a week ago I've been back to see my surgeon because of the constant pain and lack of mobility and it's been agreed I will have either a partial knee replacement or if I'm not a suitable candidate then full knee replacement as they've now informed me I have no cartliage left in my knee hence the pain? What I can't understand is why I'm now suffering badly with pain at the back of my knee? Running down the back of my calf!! 

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Mandy

    I had a total knee replacement 4 and a half weeks ago and am well on the road to recovery and loving my new knee.

    before the operation I had exactly the same pain as you are describing. Because I also had no cartiledge left and it was bone on bone. Walking and standing was very painful, so I tended to 'lock' my knee and walk/ hobble unnaturally. This I believe strained the muscles and accounts for the pain at the back of the knee and down the calf. About a week before the operation I also started to back pain in the lumbar region (which since the op has now gone)

    The TKR has been a great success for me, I am male 58 years living in Australia, but I know some people on this site have not fared anywhere near as well, so dont rush into the TKR and do plenty of research first and make sure you have a very experienced surgeon. Good luck and if you decide to go for it, I hope it is as successful for you as it has been for me.

    cheers Timo

    • Posted

      Thanks Tim 😀 I've been researching since my last visit to hospital on Tuesday? This seems to be my only option now and I'm hoping but will be a success as the pain I'm experiencing is horrendous! I haven't worked for the best part of six months and have to go back for financial reasons!

      like you I'm walking very disjointed and relying on the support of a crutch when it gets really bad! And like I explained to my surgeon my morning starts off with a breakfast of co codamol? However I have discovered a gel called flexiseq which is brilliant 😀 

       

    • Posted

      Once knees get to the bone on bone stage there is only one option.  I to had an  arthroscopy and debridment, and it was a complete failure.  the annoying thing was my surgeon then could not do the TKR until three months had past so as to avoid complicationsmad  So I had three months of really bad pain, and so wished I had gone straight for the TKR. 

      I will be 6 weeks post op tomorrow, and it is the best thing I have done, I am driving, walking the dogs, shopping, all without aids and NO pain.  I still have some improvements to achieve, like walking correctly down stairs, and I need to get a grip of the minor limp and I must do my exercises more, but all in all, I have never looked back.  If you trust your surgeon, go for it, you can then get on with the rest of your life.  do let us know what you decided to do.

    • Posted

      I'm now waiting on a referral date to discuss what will be best in regards to partial or total knee replacement! Mad as it sounds I cannot wait as at present I have no quality of life! I love walking and most of our holidays are spent in the Lake District but obviously this is currently not an option!

      i must admit I was warned before I had the arthroscopy that it might not work but I had a feeling the immense pain I was suffering wasn't entirely down to the tear in my cartliage 

    • Posted

      Hi Mandy, from what you say, I think you're making the right decision to go for a TKR. From someone 6 months on all I would say is don't expect a quick fix. There's a lot of hard work after the op and I don't think you recover well if you're not prepared to be diligent with the exercises. Everyone is different, recovers differently and encounters different problems. My knee is now strong, bend is good and leg more or less straight. I can certainly walk better and further than I did pre op. I still feel I've further to go though. I've had a problem with a tight muscle in the buttock causing pain down the back of my leg. Not sure why, possibly due to realignment of the leg which was bent for so long before. This has meant walking hasn't been as comfortable as it should e. Exercises are helping and it is improving. 

      I don't want to put you off and you may - hopefully- sail through the op and recover quickly. But I just think it's best to be prepared. Despite the problems, I don't regret having it done and am looking forward, like you, to enjoying some walking on our holidays. Good luck! Jen 

    • Posted

      Thank you Jen I suffer with sciatica in the same leg as I have the knee problem so the combination of both is agony!! 

      Osteoarthritis is the main contributor of my chronic knee and I'm worrying my other knee is also giving out!! 

    • Posted

      Hi Mandy, I'm 8 wks post op from TKR and suffered like many on this forum for years.  After several knee surgies and no cartilage left with severe osteoarthritis as well I waited far too long for the TKR.  By waiting and developing a limp and not a good walk it wore my other joints out.  So don't wait too long. I had to have my hip replaced before the knee and my other hip replaced sometime this year.  As others have stated it is work, some days are great some not so great. Everyone is different in their ROM as well. It really depends how you went into the operation I think. I know I have not been able to bend completely nor straighten my knee for years (plus it was always swollen - still is) so the muscles get tight and shorten (especially in the back of the knee). So you have to work harder to try and get the 0 degree of straight and the 125 - 130 for bend. Best of luck to you. This forum is great, if you have this done this is a very diversed support group with valuable info.

       

    • Posted

      Thank you Heidi

      itsvlovely to be able to talk to like minded people who are going through or have gone through what I am experiencing! It's the things you take for granted like getting in and out of the bath? That is a major struggle as I fear my osteoarthritis has affected other joints in my body as well! 

      I'm hoping I don't have to wait terribly long to meet with my new consultant 

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