Hi Cheryl,
1. The clicking is normal. Until the titanium and plastic get “used” to each other, I was told not to worry. The clicking isn’t from the Bakers Cyst. My clicking is on the lateral (outside) side of the knee. I still have pain in that area too. I was told the pain is from the IT band. I stretch, stretch, stretch everyday. Hoping that that pain will go away soon.
2. My knee pain felt like a constant, throbbing toothache with sharp knife like intermittent pains. The sharp pains were nerve pains. That’s what the Gabapentin was for. It was still swelling at four months too. Between the pains, swelling and stiffness, it was pretty bad. I still have the lateral pain from the tight IT band, but the nerve pain is gone. The swelling is minimal now, so that helps reduce pain too. I do remember my knee feeling very tight at times. Maybe that’s the vice like pain you refer to. To this day, my knee is still very stiff. It feels better when I walk and stretch.
3.Ice was my best friend for about four months. Sometimes I wouldn’t exercise for a few days if the swelling and pain were pain. I would take Tylenol or Ibuprofen sometimes too. I really felt that ice helped me the most. I was always rubbing and massaging my knee too.
4. If my knee is really sore, I look back on what I did the previous day or two. Yes, for me, I sometimes take a break from exercise for a day or two. When I was three to four months post op, I remember taking 3-4 days off if I was really swollen and sore.
5. Every day is different. Sometimes it hurts during the night, and when I wake up. Lately, I can’t wait to get out of bed so I can stretch and move. Around four months I remember it feeling worse in the afternoon or evening if I went shopping. I could only shop for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours at 4/6 months. I’m gradually getting stronger. Now I feel better as the day goes on.
Hope I answered your questions.
A friend of a friend had a recent TKR in September. Her doctor told her 12 - 18 months recovery. We still have a long healing process in front of us. Think positive and keep on moving.
Sue