Thigh pain after knee replacement

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I know some people suffer with thigh pain after a TKR . . and I wonder how many of them actually end up with this permanently?  At the moment, the pain in my thigh usually starts about ten minutes after lying down, and then wakes me in the night with excruciating pain which literally makes me scream and tremble.  It feels as if someone is ripping the leg apart with a burning knife.  Strangely, though, during the day it just feels a bit sore to touch and stiff.  I'm worried that this nerve pain will be permanent.  since day three of the operation, I've only been given paraacetamol for the pain, and I've really reached the end of my tether and been reduced to a trembling wreck by this pain.  I had the operation a month ago, and although the walking and general moving around is better, the pain is infinitesimally worse . . any hope for the future?

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  • Posted

    Hello, I wish I could tell you it will get better but with my experience it hasn't! And for the ones that is saying it sounds like a muscle cramp, (this is not to sound mean) they have NO idea what they are talking about when it comes to what you or I am experiencing! Only somebody that has felt this pain will truly understand! To hear your description of your attacks, it just brings tears! My description: when it hits at any moment during the night( I have had 2 attacks while driving and it is so scary! I was able to get to the side of the road quickly thank God) I have to jump up in a bent over position screaming to the top of my lungs (I am 52yrs old have had 4 different surgeries (not including 2 child births) never once took pain medicine afterwards, with absolutely minimal recovery time if any at all but this?? OMG) it feels like Freddy Kruger's claws are on fire and he is ripping the inside of my right thigh to shredds and it last a good 20 to 25 mins. (so going to the hospital is out of the question because by the time you get there it's over and they think its just leg cramps!) then I end up on the floor after it finally releases me and I am hot then cold and exhausted. Childbirth has nothing on it! Everbody said magnesium, bananas stuff like that doesn't work because it is not cramps. My husband did a video because even my doctor didn't understand until he saw the video. Everytime I played it for my multiple doctors they then understood the pain because tears would pour down my face just hearing it. The pain is so real! (I was informed that I had nerve damage because of the tourniquet was to tight for a long period of time, but that is one of the risks of knee surgery that you sign off on) My Dr. prescribes zanaflex aka. Tizanidine 4mg (up to 3 during an attack) but he told me as soon as the attack starts to take them. (I thought why? it's a pill that will have to go through my system so there was no way it would help fast!) but to my suprise, It helps super quickly! (It is a nerve pill) I compare it to a nitro pill. (I do know it isn't the same) Because when the attack is happening the nerves are so out of control fast acting that it works quicker that way. Now you do need a support system (mine is my husband and my 2 granddaughters they will jump out of dead sleep and come running!) because as you know you won't be able to get you drink or medicine because you literally can't move, it does knock me out I have literally laid down right where I was and passed out wherever I was at but it does give you some relief, it will lessen the length of the attack but to me that is better than nothing. It isn't addictive, it isn't a pain pill but a short acting nerve pill that will help you get through the attacks. Please talk to your Dr. and ask him if you can try it. My surgery was 5 years ago and it is still happening, I pray yours will go away, I just know mine hasn't. Please don't doubt what you are going through it is real.

    • Posted

      jessie49414, Thank You So Much for your response! Well, I had my TKR last June, and I am FINALLY out of the woods with my thigh pain! It truly seemed like an eternity! When they say 2 to 3 months to recoupe, they have to be joking! This is the end of April, and I actually STARTED feeling a lot better in January! Every once in awhile, I will get a bit of a nerve cramp in my knee now, but not often at all. I Thank God that I am able to walk without pain now! Now I just pray that my other knee will not give out. Thank You, again, for your experience. It was nice not to feel so alone in the way I felt! God Bless YOU!

    • Posted

      I am so glad it worked it's way out for you. When it 1st happened I was terrified so I went on a search and put in my description and was relieved for the same reason, that I wasn't alone either. Don't get me wrong I would NEVER wish this pain on anybody, I was glad to see it wasn't in my head! Bless you and I hope this trials is over for you! Stay safe and HEALTHY!

    • Posted

      I'm so sorry to read about your poor outcome with tkr. I had my first tkr in June of 2012. The rehab was excruciating. I was able to straiten the leg completely but never able to bend it past 85 degrees without pain and swelling. I went to a second surgeon after 3 years of pain and swelling. I ended up having to have a second tkr because came loose out of the bone due to all the therapy. The second surgeon said that the prosthetic was the wrong size and that's why I couldn't bend it completely. The pain is much better now, but I still can't bend my knee enough to ride a bike. I also can't walk long distances because the knee will swell up and stiffen. I still have numbness and pain from my upper thigh to just below the knee. Your pain is real. Don't let then tell you otherwise. I hope your pain eventually subsides and you can enjoy life to the fullest.

  • Posted

    I promise you, it WILL get better! Like I told jessie49414, it took at least 6 to 7 months for the pain I was having to get better. Now, I am just praying that my other knee will not give out on me. I would just hate to go through this surgery again! All the Best to you! Just try to hang in there!

    • Posted

      I hope it does but the Dr. don't feel like it will either. It's been 5 1/2 years now and has already started to the left side because of how often the attacks occur and

      how severe. They want to do a nerve block but I don't want to due to the fear that it could make it worse. Thank you so much for your kind words!

    • Posted

      My heart goes out to you jessie49414! Nerve blocks are good, however, in my experience, they haven't lasted long. I consider myself very blessed that the nerve 'cramps' lasted only 10 months, thankfully. When I did have them, it would literally send me 'flying' out of bed - always happened after I laid down in bed - very strange indeed! During the day, it was fine. Well, I pray the pain will lessen for you as well! God Bless!

  • Posted

    Just had an TKR last week and the top of my thigh hurts so bad. The PT just told me it hurts because they cut into the muscle during surgery and then stitch it back together! It will take time to heal!

  • Posted

    I had surgury five weeks ago, both knees. The thigh pain is really something. Not going into my deal, but I'll share a couple things regarding pain management. What we experience are a boatload of disparate muscle spasms. Taken together, we're faced with dull ache AND sharp pain.

    Not for this, but I was prescribed a muscle relaxer for my thigh after hip replacement a couple years ago. It really helps me a lot.I don't take narcotic pain meds, but something needs to happen that I can't do on my own. Yack with your doc about it. The other medication I use is Lyrica. I had been taking it for neuropathy but discovered it resolved a good bit of this TKR pain at night. I read up on it, and Lyrica is being found, in a number of studies, to be as effective as narcotics for us TKRs without the addictive overhead. But again, please remember, I don't take narcotic pain meds, so there's no pharmaceutical collision with the Lyrica. There may not be anyway, but that's a question for your doctor. And finally, I bought shiatzo massager. It has four rotating balls, and use this a lot. When I'm just sitting and chilling, I have this thing grinding away. And at night, if I have trouble getting to sleep, I have that thing working also. It destroys pain. About 35 bucks. It helps resolve the spasms, stretches the muscles and connective tissue. They should include one in your goodbye package after surgery.

    I am sorry you are suffering. Well, that each of is. Like a cat in a bag wildly thrashing around, there's only way out, and that's straight through the top. One way only. We'll all get there, and my way may be far less graceful than yours, but I'll get there.

  • Posted

    I'm in week 7 post Op knee replacement. still experiencing sometimes debilitating thigh pain at night. My surgeon prescribed Tramadol 50mg, Gabapentin 300mg, Ibuprofen 600mg and Hydrocodone 10mg for break through pain. For the first 4 weeks this worked fine. I was able to cut way back on these during weeks 5 and 6. But, now in week 7 I'm starting to have the thigh pains again but the pills don't work anymore. They don't even put me to sleep meaning painful, sleepless nights. Perhaps your GP can prescribe these for you and hopefully they'll help you. I'm going back to my surgeon for a resolution.

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