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After knee replacement surgery
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Oct 27, 2021 | Replies (618)Comment receiving replies
@debbraw I had my knee replacement on 1-23-2019 (just a few days behind you) and I am still on pain meds and will probably start wearing off once I hit 12 weeks if I see improvement. My recovery hasn't been one of the easy ones I've read about and I always take a pain pill an hour before going to sleep because if I don't, I wake up with knee pain. My knee still looks like a small grapefruit but I hear that's normal. ROM is 110 or 115/0 depending on what day it is but I think that 120 and above might come with time but if not, I can live with what I have. I do need my other knee done but am going to go the injection route until it doesn't work anymore. I've never had a cortisone shot or any other injections in either of my knees so I'm hopeful I can stall for a couple of years. I don't know how people can go through this surgery without taking narcotics. I understand the concerns but if constipation is managed wisely (I stay on top of that) and meds are taken as prescribed and then weaned off when the pain lessons, I see the benefits far outweighs the risks. Hope you are feeling better.
Replies to "@debbraw I had my knee replacement on 1-23-2019 (just a few days behind you) and I..."
@dkapustin When you start getting injections for the other knee, they generally start with cortisone. When you get to the point where that is not helping, they go to Hyaluronic injections -- either synvisc or Hyalgan. I had synvisc numerous times and it did help a lot. Here is a link to more info about these injections:
https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/where-it-hurts/knee-pain/treatment/knee-injection.php
@debbraw Sleeping was my thing too. I was only taking the drugs at bedtime after a short while. I never even took them before PT but when I would go to bed, the pain would suddenly hit me.
JK
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@dkapustin - I am in total agreement with you regarding the pain meds - the benefits definitely outweigh the risks for me. In fact, I could get on a soapbox on that issue. I think its just plain wrong the way they are so stingy with oxycodone. On my first knee replacement, I was taking oxycodone until 10 weeks - and tramadol for another two or three. On this surgery, my doctor used a robotic arm assisted technique. He said it made the surgery more accurate and that accuracy made the recovery faster and less painful because didn't have to remove as much bone. He was definitely correct. It was less pain and a quicker recovery. You might want to check into that technique for your next surgery. I know you are not ready to even THINK about it now. Your recovery has been so difficult and I feel for you. When you are ready to look into it, here's a tip. I learned the hard way that they cannot do the operation within 3 months of your last cortisone shot. So bear that in mind in terms of timing. Hope all goes well for you. And congrats on your ROM!!