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10 days post tkr and pain unbearable
I am a head and neck cancer group member as well.
Now I have had a tkr 10 days ago. I was not naive going into this new adventure and knew it would be very painful post surgery however, the level of pain I am living with is much greater than expected. I am no stranger to pain (surgery number13). Also, I have a very high pain tolerance. The swelling and bruising is as expected. The incision and staples look good. No indication of infection. The pain is in the knee joint. The dr originally put me on Hydromorphone. It wasn’t even softening the pain a bit. So he now has put me on Tramadol. No difference.
Have been icing and painfully completing all Physio exercises. Basically been doing everything I have been told to do. Movement in joint and leg is as expected etc. I am hardly sleeping and in constant pain. I realize that the first two weeks are supposed to be the worst and then it will slowly improve. I guess my question is what others have experienced in the first few weeks and/or if anyone has any suggestions. Or I am not too proud to hear that I am just being a big wimp and to suck it up. 64 year old male in otherwise good health and not overweight.
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Tricky,
Hows ROM now after MUA?
Find a PT who doesnt just push, but uses Hold/relax and/or contract relax to override muscles (quads and hamstrings resistance).
My Best,
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2 ReactionsThe first month or so after tkr is very painful. Don’t be afraid to ask for a refills on the meds. It’s important to do your pt and walk around. I know with my 1st tkr I was in a lot of pain. It was kinda shocking to me how painful it was. Knee replacement is a big surgery and it just takes time (a year they say) to totally recover. I had my other knee done in late August last year and it’s fine now unless I go up and down the stairs a lot. I get some throbbing pain at night if I overdo it. Just rest, use a lot of ice, elevate and enjoy not having to do too much. Watch tv, read, distract yourself if you can. It’ll get better. I know it really is painful but one day you’ll be glad you did it. Hang in!
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1 ReactionOh, also ask for OxyContin. My prescription was for 5 mg every 4 hours but to be honest I usually took 2 at a time the first couple or 3 weeks. A good doctor will know how painful it is a help you with your pain.
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2 Reactions8 months postop. MUA was at 12 weeks. I gained about 30* and can extend to 0* now. I can hike, walk all over the place. Going downstairs is still an issue. Still very stiff in a.m. , of if I sit too long. Hopefully that will all continue to improve.
I was told at the 6 weeks postop that with my other knee, the surgeon would go down a size as there was questions of the femoral componant being perhaps a little large!!! WTH?
So, many variables that go into it all. I thought I had a great PT team, but I was not making any progress and they should have guided me better perhaps? So glad I had the 2nd opinion to proceed w the MUA. Don’t think I’ll be able to proceed w knee #2 after all of this ordeal.
1. I think issues are severely underreported.
2. Coordination between PT and surgeon is critical
3. Have to strongly advocate own destiny or you may end up with a non-functional joint and not even realize why!
4. So many variables from both sides contributes to the outcome one of a good replacement. I thought I did my homework and pre-op PT and health needs. I didn’t investigate enough what it all entails I guess.
5. Need more info on arthrofibrosis for everyone!!
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1 ReactionI am sorry your knee at the earlier stages was giving issues.
I am happy to read you are doing grest now. Try few heel slides in am or knee to chest a few times before you put the weight on the joint 1st thing in am.
I have started those from day one, in bed- though those heel slides were impossible at the beginning. The hospital PT had provided awesome exercises that I had already used prior to my surgery as well as PT therapy before my surgery. That is what was so surprising that it was harder than anticipated- I thought I was prepared.
I still use a strap to get to my numbers. I wonder if heel-slides will ever be easier?
Skin is very taunt and it feels best after I apply body oil.
I remember the elation I felt when I could do a complete pedal around on my stationary bike instead of back and forth.
Thank you for your words of encouragement.
Heel slides will get easier! We say "motion is the lotion" and of course consistency and persistency (dont give up!l
Ps
I went through ACL repair myself, no matter how much i prepared even with PT prior to surgery, muscles were "shot" after surgery , no control of the leg, my husband had to craddle the leg to bring jn/out of bed. Different procedure, yet was hard to recover with no muscle control. So, I agree it was harder than anticipated. At least i had smart surgeon who said he wont do surgery unless I agreed to have/work with PT intead of trying to do it myself.
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2 ReactionsI may have replied in the past to you, but I just want to say, once again, how sorry I am for the pain that you have experienced! I noticed that your post was in June of 2024, so I hope that you are doing better. I had TKR in 2020 and my recovery was AWFUL!!! The pain meds (different ones) didn’t do anything for the pain or gave me terrible side effects so they told me to take Tylenol, which did nothing for the pain. I have had two babies and several abdominal surgeries in the past, but I NEVER experienced pain like this knee replacement pain. My other knee is bad, but I will never get another knee replacement again. I did all that they told me to do ahead of time……strengthening my quads etc but it was not helpful in the recovery. I am currently getting gel shots to my other knee, and they haven’t helped a lot. My replaced knee isn’t great either. I still have pain in both knees, so take Advil and Tylenol, and use knee compression supports on both knees. I am now 75, I was athletic in college with running, skied a lot with my family and did aerobics. I probably wore out my knees!!! All the best to you!
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