1. < Joint Replacements

After knee replacement surgery

Posted by beatricefay @beatricefay, Jun 16, 2016

Had left knee replaced 9 days ago. Right knee two years ago. Having a problem with inflammation so hard to bend knee and exercise. Trying to ice and raise knee above heart. Doctor suggested getting compression hose. Anybody have this experience and can offer suggestions. So tired all the time from pain interrupting my sleep and painkillers. My insurance refused to pay for the painkiller recommended by surgeon so have to take one with more opiates. That's frustrating. Two years ago it was covered but now too expensive for me to use. Seems the drug companies, not our doctors are determining what we use.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

crazz | @crazz | May 18, 2019

55 years old and had TKA of R knee on Jan, 14, 2019. Recovery of knee went well other than developing pain in right foot so severe that at first it hindered my rehab. After reading posts on this site, I suggested that my surgeon try lyrica, which Ive been taking ever since and it helpings greatly. I continued with rehab and have full range of motion, very little to no swelling in my knee. Leg tires after a long day or workout but otherwise knee is healing well. However the pain in my foot requires Lyrica and daily tramadol/Ultram to keep the pain under control. I can not walk long distances or workout as this increases the pain. I went to a pain clinic and they tried cauterizing 2 different nerves in the back to see if the pain was coming from areas I had mild stenosis, per an MRI. I want desperately to get off these meds but Im unsure what Dr. to see next. Surgeon has no idea what caused this, even though it started the day I had surgery? Any one else out there that has had a similar complication and has a suggestion as who i should see next, or what I can do to alleviate this pain to get back to the things I love doing? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

REPLY
3 replies
Ethan McConkey, Moderator | @ethanmcconkey | May 18, 2019

Hi @crazz and welcome to Connect. That must be so frustrating to have such pain in your foot.

I wanted to tag fellow Connect members @ellerbracke @johnbishop and @contentandwell as they have undergone knee replacement and may be able to offer you support.

Back to you @crazz how long ago did you have the nerves cauterized? Did it bring any relief at all?

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crazz | @crazz | May 18, 2019

cauterized on 5/16 at 8 am and by midnight i had to take a Lyrica, tramadol and tylenol to calm the pain.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 19, 2019
In reply to @crazz "55 years old and had TKA of R knee on Jan, 14, 2019. Recovery of knee..." + (show)
@crazz

55 years old and had TKA of R knee on Jan, 14, 2019. Recovery of knee went well other than developing pain in right foot so severe that at first it hindered my rehab. After reading posts on this site, I suggested that my surgeon try lyrica, which Ive been taking ever since and it helpings greatly. I continued with rehab and have full range of motion, very little to no swelling in my knee. Leg tires after a long day or workout but otherwise knee is healing well. However the pain in my foot requires Lyrica and daily tramadol/Ultram to keep the pain under control. I can not walk long distances or workout as this increases the pain. I went to a pain clinic and they tried cauterizing 2 different nerves in the back to see if the pain was coming from areas I had mild stenosis, per an MRI. I want desperately to get off these meds but Im unsure what Dr. to see next. Surgeon has no idea what caused this, even though it started the day I had surgery? Any one else out there that has had a similar complication and has a suggestion as who i should see next, or what I can do to alleviate this pain to get back to the things I love doing? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jump to this post

Hi @crazz, I'm still working on my rehab at home on a right TKR done April 5th. Before the surgery, the anesthesiologist explained that nerve damage is one of the possibilities of the surgery. I was a little concerned because I already have neuropathy but I only have numbness in the feet and no pain. There is another discussion here on Connect that I think might be helpful for you.

> Groups > Neuropathy > Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | May 19, 2019
In reply to @crazz "55 years old and had TKA of R knee on Jan, 14, 2019. Recovery of knee..." + (show)
@crazz

55 years old and had TKA of R knee on Jan, 14, 2019. Recovery of knee went well other than developing pain in right foot so severe that at first it hindered my rehab. After reading posts on this site, I suggested that my surgeon try lyrica, which Ive been taking ever since and it helpings greatly. I continued with rehab and have full range of motion, very little to no swelling in my knee. Leg tires after a long day or workout but otherwise knee is healing well. However the pain in my foot requires Lyrica and daily tramadol/Ultram to keep the pain under control. I can not walk long distances or workout as this increases the pain. I went to a pain clinic and they tried cauterizing 2 different nerves in the back to see if the pain was coming from areas I had mild stenosis, per an MRI. I want desperately to get off these meds but Im unsure what Dr. to see next. Surgeon has no idea what caused this, even though it started the day I had surgery? Any one else out there that has had a similar complication and has a suggestion as who i should see next, or what I can do to alleviate this pain to get back to the things I love doing? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jump to this post

@crazz @ethanmcconkey I wish I knew something that would help with this, but I have never heard of foot pain as you mention after a TKR. I was very fortunate with both of my TKRs, my pain was not bad. I never did get the flex I had hoped for after my second TKR but what I got is manageable. I have no pain, either in the knee or my foot.

I certainly understand wanting to get off the medications. I hate being on medications and try to limit them to absolutely essential ones.
Please let us know if you are able to find out what is causing your foot pain, and what the solution is for it.
JK

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | May 19, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @crazz, I'm still working on my rehab at home on a right TKR done April..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @crazz, I'm still working on my rehab at home on a right TKR done April 5th. Before the surgery, the anesthesiologist explained that nerve damage is one of the possibilities of the surgery. I was a little concerned because I already have neuropathy but I only have numbness in the feet and no pain. There is another discussion here on Connect that I think might be helpful for you.

> Groups > Neuropathy > Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

Jump to this post

@johnbishop Wow! I developed fascia issues about 3 years ago while hiking around a quarry. Thank goodness for MFR therapy. Without that soft touch technique, I would be in deep doo-doo. Have a great rainy day. So glad we got the deck furniture out complete with all the cushions. Chris

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1 reply
crazz | @crazz | May 19, 2019
In reply to @kelseydm "Hi @beatricefay. Sorry to hear you are having a difficult recovery process! Here are two existing..." + (show)
@kelseydm

Hi @beatricefay. Sorry to hear you are having a difficult recovery process! Here are two existing threads on Connect that you might find interesting: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/knee-replacement-with-osteopenia-and-osteoporosis/ and https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/im-having-knee-replacement-l-on-june-20th-any-suggestions-on-how/. I think you'll find the second one particularly helpful.

I'm also tagging @dawn_giacabazi, @mendeztrumpet, @niazumbanut, @dorsey, @julieannejp and @flor who have posted about knee replacement in the past and should be able to provide some insights and support.

Here's hoping your recovery takes a turn! Please keep us updated on your progress.

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Thanks for your help! Im grateful for any input.

REPLY
mari | @mari | May 19, 2019
In reply to @crazz "55 years old and had TKA of R knee on Jan, 14, 2019. Recovery of knee..." + (show)
@crazz

55 years old and had TKA of R knee on Jan, 14, 2019. Recovery of knee went well other than developing pain in right foot so severe that at first it hindered my rehab. After reading posts on this site, I suggested that my surgeon try lyrica, which Ive been taking ever since and it helpings greatly. I continued with rehab and have full range of motion, very little to no swelling in my knee. Leg tires after a long day or workout but otherwise knee is healing well. However the pain in my foot requires Lyrica and daily tramadol/Ultram to keep the pain under control. I can not walk long distances or workout as this increases the pain. I went to a pain clinic and they tried cauterizing 2 different nerves in the back to see if the pain was coming from areas I had mild stenosis, per an MRI. I want desperately to get off these meds but Im unsure what Dr. to see next. Surgeon has no idea what caused this, even though it started the day I had surgery? Any one else out there that has had a similar complication and has a suggestion as who i should see next, or what I can do to alleviate this pain to get back to the things I love doing? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jump to this post

I'll b buying CBD oil soon. I asked about the on app NEXTDOOR and got 78 replies, majority in favor of it! And got great or good results. - with No side effects!

REPLY
crazz | @crazz | May 19, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@crazz @ethanmcconkey I wish I knew something that would help with this, but I have never..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@crazz @ethanmcconkey I wish I knew something that would help with this, but I have never heard of foot pain as you mention after a TKR. I was very fortunate with both of my TKRs, my pain was not bad. I never did get the flex I had hoped for after my second TKR but what I got is manageable. I have no pain, either in the knee or my foot.

I certainly understand wanting to get off the medications. I hate being on medications and try to limit them to absolutely essential ones.
Please let us know if you are able to find out what is causing your foot pain, and what the solution is for it.
JK

Jump to this post

Thanks for your response. I do hate taking the pain medication I was on Mobic, tramadol/ultram, oxycodone and then Lyrica for complication of foot pain, for 2-3 months. Im thankful I did as it helped me to be able to push therapy and my knee is at 0-135. I am still taking Lyrica and Occasional Tramadol so that I am able to go back to work and do most activities of daily living .I am still trying to figure out what is causing foot pain but until then these pills help keep me active. I kept trying to go off pain pills during PT and the therapists encouraged me to continue to pain pills so that I could get full extension and flexion. Also used CBD oil and got relief for knee pain but not foot pain.

REPLY
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | May 19, 2019
In reply to @artscaping "@johnbishop Wow! I developed fascia issues about 3 years ago while hiking around a quarry. Thank..." + (show)
@artscaping

@johnbishop Wow! I developed fascia issues about 3 years ago while hiking around a quarry. Thank goodness for MFR therapy. Without that soft touch technique, I would be in deep doo-doo. Have a great rainy day. So glad we got the deck furniture out complete with all the cushions. Chris

Jump to this post

@johnbishop, forgot to mention that the fascia issue happened about 4 years after TKR. I even went back to the surgeon. He personally walked me to X-ray and waited for the pics. When he said there was nothing amiss with the knee apparatus, he hugged me and said, “I’am sorry Chris, it’s the fascia.” I didn’t know what that meant or why I got the hug. I do now and that is why my daily mantra is to be free of suffering even if it is only for a few minutes or better yet, a few hours. Chris

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