Total knee replacement & nerve pain

Try Tramadol. It's a nerve blocker.

Hi, so sorry to hear you're in so much pain & nerve pain is nasty. Amytriptoline also is good for nerve pain. See your GP, don't wait to see the surgeon. GP should be able to prescribe something for nerve pain.

As you've no doubt read on this forum TKR is a brutal operation. You've been diced up & sewn back together. I still have a spot on my scar, when I massage, it that twangs at the back of the knee. It felt horrible at 1st but am used to it. I never had nerve pain. I feel for you, had sciatica few years back & that is also nerve so I do not envy you.

I hope you get something to relieve it soon. Hang on on there & look after yourself, in a couple of years you will be skipping about on your new knee like a spring lamb!

Have a lovely Christmas but just make sure someone else does all the work!!

Good luck on your journey.

XX

Hi Pleiadeez7, the drug that helps with nerve pain is lyrica, ask your doctor if they think this is an appropriate drug for you.  I've been taking 450mg of lyrica a day. At this stage I would suggest that you don't get started on tramadol. Lyrica targets the nerve pain and has made a huge difference in my life. I had right tkr 14 months ago and I'm still waiting for left tkr so for both it's been a huge help.

I too suffered from nerve pain around week 3 and 4. The PT suggested the drug mentioned here but would not prescribe it as it is a strong nerve drug used often for diabetics not temporary conditions, as hopefully this is. Honestly, I did not get strong enough long acting pain meds. But the good news the nerve pain subsided after about 2 weeks. My PT said to keep lightly touching the sensitive knee with tissue or cotton balls to desensitize the area and calm the knee down. It felt dumb rubbing a tissue over the knee but I began using my clairsonic on my knee and incision. Yes, weird huh. The vibration is very gentle and has calmed the incision and nerves down. I use the clarisonic on my knee every night after I exercise working on lossening the scar tissue and skin that is tight around the knee along the incision. For those that are not familiar with this products, it uses fast moving brush heads to gently clean your face. Before you laugh, give it a try. I still have a 1/4 side of my knee that is numb. Other than a stabbing nerve pain occasionally, no other nerve pain. I consider the stabbing pain to indicate healing so it does not bother me much as it subsides quickly

Monday, I will be 12 weeks post right tkr. I still don't sleep well and still use a cane outside , as I'm uneven due to my last hip replacement, but am healing. I still felt better before surgery but can now use the exercise bike and drive short distances without pain.

Good healing. One day you will realize a few minutes went by when you did not think of your keep or the pain.

Sue

Her as are the last to heal and may take months. Ask your Dr about The possibility of using either gabepentin or lyrica to help you buy some relief. Others have suggested some form of sleeve to keep things from rubbing against it but that's sort of a band aid approach. Lots of stuff has been cut and all has to refire to work again.

First, wrap the knee loosely with an ACE bandage or get a light compression knee sleeve.  This relieves the torture of the knee rubbibg against sheets or clothes.  Feeling will eventually subside.

Muscles will be tight.  Need to stretch.  Once the PT gives you back your ROM...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/zero-degrees--517809

...ya gotta hit the gym to rebuild the strength in your quads, glutes and core.  All have atrophied so it will take time and work.  Read the Exercise Section here...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499

The nerve pain could be from sciatica (section in the above post).  Lyrica, Neurontin, Gabapentin, Celebrex are some meds.  If it's actually sciatica, don't treat the pain, fix the problem.  Go see a chirporactor and get your hips and back realligned.  Very common in TKR patients.  We walk funny to compensate for the knee pain and throw everything else out of whack.  I'd start there rather than take drugs.