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Hello Cathy,
I also had a TKR in Chicago on July 28th. I have had several surgeries in my 68 years, and this is by far the worst. The first three months were horrible. I cried almost daily. I was on Gabapentin, as well as several other medications. By the fourth month, the nerve pain finally subsided, but I was still having lateral knee from a tight IT band. I have been exercising for six months, and it’s still painful. I also have a large, painful Bakers Cyst behind my knee that won’t absorb on its own. Between the cyst and IT band issue, I’m not happy. Yesterday was my six month anniversary. My doctor told me it would take one year to heal, so all I can do at this time, is believe him and pray that someday I will be pain free.
I tried to hurry the healing process along by increasing my repetitions and sometimes working through the pain. I realized that it only made me feel worse, and felt like I was regressing. For me, there isn’t an easy fix, nor exercises that will shorten my healing time. The body will heal on its own accord and nothing I do will heal it faster. I eat well, take vitamin supplements, drink a lot of water, try to keep at a healthy weight and do my exercises 5-6 times a week for six months.
Happy New Year!
Replies to "Hello Cathy, I also had a TKR in Chicago on July 28th. I have had several..."
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Hello Cathy and SBanner,
Thank you for responding to my post. Your experiences sound a lot like mine. I am entering my 4th month after surgery and it's been hell! I'm still in PT, 2x a week and my PT tells me to hang in there as it just takes time. Like you, my surgeon prescribed gabapentin but the drug has been so hard on me that I'm in the process of weaning off of it. While my flexion and extension are where they need to be, my gait/walk is totally off, unless I'm using a cane. I'm told this is due to my quad muscle being very weak and unable to support the knee. The exercises to strengthen the quad are so difficult, but I power through them. Therefore, the knee is always sore and swollen -- still feels like it's in a vice all day long. I exercise daily and by the end of the day, I'm so sore and swollen that I, too, just want to start sobbing (and of course, questioning what the hell did I do?) My surgeon has told me I fall into the 10% of patients who take a VERY long time to recover. I too have a small cyst that is present on the X-rays, which my PT noticed (surgeon said nothing about it). Not sure what can be done about it outside of healing on its own? I ice all day long, which does help the pain, but just causes more stiffness. It's a vicious circle!
I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one falling into that 10% but yikes, this is exhausting. Best wishes to you both,
Cheryl from Chicago