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Sudden knee pain overnight

Posted by jhammel @jhammel, Jan 2 8:27am

I am 4 weeks post-op on a TKR.
I go to PT twice a week and have a regimen of exercises that I do in the morning and in the evening with walking in between.
My ROM is 0/110. Which I feel has been excellent. I have slept in a recliner these past four weeks as I am a side sleeper.

Last night, I took a tramadol and decided to sleep in the bed for a few hours which was mainly spent on my side. This morning I woke up not able to bend my knee without excruciating pain in my upper shin that radiates to the side of my knee into the back.
This has been just all of a sudden overnight has anyone else experienced this sudden excruciating pain after only having mild pain after exercises? I have stiffness of course that goes away with ice. And I use a heating pad on the upper muscles in my leg.
I have sent a message to my surgeon's office and I guess I will have to lay off one day of exercising and heel slides which I hate to do and use ice today. I have no problem with my leg out straight it has no pain nor with walking.
Thank you for any advice and comments!

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melc65 | @melc65 | 3 days ago

I am 10 months post TKR. And yes I did have severe pain in my knee when I returned to sleeping in my bed. I too am a side sleeper. I found that it was from siatica. I also have spinal stenosis which irritates the siatica. I’m doing PT and has helped so much.

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1 reply
jhammel | @jhammel | 3 days ago
In reply to @melc65 "I am 10 months post TKR. And yes I did have severe pain in my knee..." + (show)
@melc65

I am 10 months post TKR. And yes I did have severe pain in my knee when I returned to sleeping in my bed. I too am a side sleeper. I found that it was from siatica. I also have spinal stenosis which irritates the siatica. I’m doing PT and has helped so much.

Jump to this post

With a regimen of muscle relaxers and some tramadol I was able to do small heel slides today and get some range of motion back. I just hope it keeps improving!

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | 3 days ago
In reply to @jhammel "With a regimen of muscle relaxers and some tramadol I was able to do small heel..." + (show)
@jhammel

With a regimen of muscle relaxers and some tramadol I was able to do small heel slides today and get some range of motion back. I just hope it keeps improving!

Jump to this post

Just a guess on my part, but the first times I slept on my side after shoulder surgery, my back was stiff after 6 weeks on my back and I had leg and back pain the next 3 days. I pulled out my trusty ice packs and used them, ended up taking tramadol for a couple nights and got back on track.

What @melc said makes sense - probably my sciatic nerve. Faithfully doing my back stretches along with shoulder pt every day.

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