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total knee replacement

Posted , 19 users are following.

chris60619
chris60619

hi 6 weeks into my op and still no proper sleep taking co codimol 2 at night as per doctor, but not sure what to take for the pain during the day, my surgeon told me it would be painful, but there's pain and then pain, not sure what to do taking over my life, all I hear my self say is oh the pain, my hip hurts, my back aches, I try to stay positive, every day a bonus, but oh does it hurt

2 likes, 37 replies

37 Replies

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  • colin66867
    colin66867 chris60619

    Posted

    Hi Chris I am starting week 8 post TKR  and I went through exactly the same as you, a ton of pain plus no sleep. 1st you need to get the pain under control. I took the limit of cocodomol through the day 6 at reg intervals (2 every 6 hrs) at night my GP prescribed TRAMADOL 2 going to bed these gave pain reliek and some 5 hrs sleep .added to this ice packs 3/4 times a day. and the dreaded exercises,if you are in to much pain  you wil,l not complete the  circuit so  only try exercises 20 min after taking painkillers. this worked for me I am now only taking paracetamol when needed,week 6 is early days Chris so ,reg pain killers+ exercise+ice therapy + rest= results good luck

     

  • judy16658
    judy16658 chris60619

    Posted

    Chris,

         I am 16 weeks pist Tkr and just niw sleeping well. I take one pain pill before bed and another when I wake up around 2 AM. That seems to get me through the night. I also experienced a lot of pain in my calves, back and ankle, from my muscles adjsting to the imprived alignment. That is easing up now. Give yourself more time, take pain meds mre frequently and it will improve.

    jJudy

  • mary12001
    mary12001 chris60619

    Posted

    Hi

    Me too

    Had a total knee replacement on the 13th Feb.

    Taking that many pain killers and morphine - I've lost count.

    Had the clips taken out today and my knee is red swollen and really painful.

  • luz301
    luz301 chris60619

    Posted

    Hey Chris I did my knee replacement on Jan 28...I have this burning pain in my thigh...I cry at night....I feel hopeless....I feel...angry.....everyone tells me it takes time....some days...are better....I take pain killers.....makes me drowsy....so we are going to do this....be positive.....don't give up...okay?????I will not give up....God bless....
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 luz301

      Posted

      You are in such very early stages everything seems hopeless, terrifying and insurmountable but these feelings will pass gradually with a little more time. Continue to excercise but not to t he point of exhaustion or pain. Ice as often as you want .....its going to help with the bruising. Elevate the leg when you are resting and be sure and hydrate. Dehydration is an enemy of healing. Take pain meds on a schedule. Don't wait for pain to start or you are behind the curve. As far as rest.....if you have a recliner, use it. My recliner became my best friend shortly after my original surgery, a synovectomy and has remained that way through the last 10. Patience is truly a virtue when you go through something this traumatic. You suddenly find yourself in a lonesome vacuum where you can be overcome with fear and depression. If pain meds arent doing it....talk to your primary care and get help. If you start feeling overcome and depressed, same thing.....talk to a Dr. There is help out there. When you need a friend, this forum is the place to go. Someone is on here around the click as contributors from all over the world are here. Tell us where you are from and possi b my someone is near you. BTW, I'm from the mid section of the US.. Hang in there.....have a rant, have a cry, try something different or new, Lee p a journal......whatever you do......understand you will get better.
    • mary12001
      mary12001 luz301

      Posted

      Thank you Luz - it's the middle of the night here and I'm in terrible pain
    • colin66867
      colin66867 luz301

      Posted

       HI  LUZ it really sounds that you are talking  from a dark place. I  had my tkr 3 days ltr than you so I speaking from your corner,  up 4 weeks after I was convinced i had made the greatest mistake of my 64 yrs having this op. i was in great pain, angry, deprived of sleep, snapping at my ever patient wife, we were both totally hacked off!!

       then i  shared it all with an old friend who was just getting over his 2nd tkr at 80. this was his advice... take the allowed pain killers say cocodomol 2 x 6 hrs strictly regularly. try some ,any type exercise 20 min after taking meds, then ice for 20 min if you are not sleeping at night try tramadol x 2 at bed time, but if you can grab some sleep in the day time sleep when you can. and this man was a coal miner for 47 yrs his last advise was if you need to cry  or rant and rave  go for it

       you have just under gone a very invasive brutal op but nothing lasts forever good or bad good luck

    • luz301
      luz301 colin66867

      Posted

      Thank you....Will follow your advice....is been brutal....
    • luz301
      luz301 mary12001

      Posted

      Yes....I'm up as well....pain...and burning....took more meds....is like a yoyo....I keep saying to myself. This is brutal....I rather do my c section ten times....than to deal with this!!!!
  • mary12001
    mary12001 chris60619

    Posted

    Thank you for your helpful advice.

    It's the middle of the night here in Birmingham UK and I'm in such pain.ivejust taken some more morphine - rummaging g around for the other tablets but can't find them. I'm trying to rise above it all and think of all the cruelty that has and is going on in the universe and offer the pain up to God. Thank you thank you thank you for your kindness xx

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 mary12001

      Posted

      Mary...I just wrote to Lux. This would very much apply to yuk as well. If you find it, consider it your message as well
    • luz301
      luz301 mary12001

      Posted

      Hang in there....is not easy....is brutal......I can't wait for the pain to go away......but I know in say few months it will get better
  • mary12001
    mary12001 chris60619

    Posted

    Pain,pain pain and then trying to walk again makes you so depressed.

    I'm 67 - I think they leave it too late to give people new knees

    • sarah87162
      sarah87162 mary12001

      Posted

      How long ago did you have your knee replacement?

      I had mine 4 years ago and I am 65 now.

      Although mine was really bad, they said they would not have done me any earlier.

      I had an excellent consultant and lots of help with physiotherapy afterwards which has meant I have a very good result.

      Sarah

    • mary12001
      mary12001 sarah87162

      Posted

      Hi Sarah

      I had it done on the 13th February this year.

      I had it done by Mr Rik Kundra. Although I feel the operation was a success ( he kept the kneecap) I am worn down from the pain and stiffness in the morning.

      The new knee is made of chrome - does it make any difference? A friend of mine said titanium is the best which they don't do on the NHS. Would this material be less painful. The new knee is not heavy (Thank God)

      A male TKR was telling me his was like a ton weight

    • WatchManager
      WatchManager mary12001

      Posted

      Hi Mary,

      I'd check again. I've had one done private in November and one on the NHS in January and there is no difference, both by the same surgeon in the same hospital. They are both Titanium. If you are in that much pain then change your meds. I was on 2 x 30mg codiene and 2 x 500 mg of paracetemol four times within each 24 hours, with the odd tramadol on a night time. After 2 weeks I put myself down to only one of each which is now prescribed as one combined tablet (Co-codimol) called Solpadol. They do leave the knee cap in place if its not worn. If anyone confirms that the NHS only do chrome please advise and I'll contact my surgeon and ask him why he's telling porky pies.You'll always have a numbness on the outside edge of the knee but shouldn't be painful. You are on track, just see about increasing your meds at this stage and measure your improvement week by week not day to day. Remember this little reminder when going down or upstairs - "Good one first up to heaven, Bad one first down to hell" .

      Mix them up and you'll know about it.

      Also nip to the chemist and buy some cocoa butter lotion with vitamin E. This helps make the skin supple and aids stretching. When it feels comfortable then massage it it really hard to disperse the swelling.

    • mary12001
      mary12001 sarah87162

      Posted

      Feb 13 2016

      Just over two weeks ago.

      In hospital again because I overdosed on pain killers.

      Worried now about infection.

    • sarah87162
      sarah87162 mary12001

      Posted

      Not sure what my new knee is made of.

      Yes it is easy to pick up infections if you are in hospital. It happened to me once, but it did clear up quite quickly with the right antibiotics.

      Hope you are doing alright.

      Take care and keep in touch

      Praying for you.

      Sarah xxx

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