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Total Knee Replacement Pain Levels

Posted by jtturner @jtturner, 3 days ago

I am a 56 year old man in the US, and I underwent a TKR surgery on 8 April 2025. At 33 days out I am still experiencing intense pain around my knee and in my thigh. My skin is also very sensitive so application of ice is often very painful (pulsing & throbbing pain). Sleep is almost impossible - I am lucky to get 2-3 hours a night. My range of motion is good (125 degrees). Straightening more difficult but normal. I am also able to do PT exercises and walk without an assistive device. But again, my pain is almost unbearable and people keep telling me such discomfort is abnormal. Should I be concerned yet?

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | 3 days ago

Have you contacted the surgeon/surgical team?

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1 reply
Phoenix | @kudzu | 3 days ago

I’ve not had knee replacement, but I’ve had knee issues with quite a bit of pain, especially at night. PT helped a lot.
Unbearable pain, though, is unacceptable and I’ve read it can impede recovery. The dr needs to do something about that.

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jtturner | @jtturner | 3 days ago
In reply to @gravity3 "Have you contacted the surgeon/surgical team?" + (show)
@gravity3

Have you contacted the surgeon/surgical team?

Jump to this post

I saw them last week and they didnt seem concerned at this point. I returned to work part time last week (desk job) and my symptoms worsened Thursday-last night, so I will likely contact Monday or after my initial PT (out of home) appointment.

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1 reply
lynnn | @lynnn | 1 day ago
In reply to @jtturner "I saw them last week and they didnt seem concerned at this point. I returned to..." + (show)
@jtturner

I saw them last week and they didnt seem concerned at this point. I returned to work part time last week (desk job) and my symptoms worsened Thursday-last night, so I will likely contact Monday or after my initial PT (out of home) appointment.

Jump to this post

So sorry you are going through this. I had my TNR in
Dec. and had a terrible time at night for four months.
Like you, I got hardly any sleep - some nights none. I
cannot take NSAIDS such as Aleve and Tylenol did no good at all. I couldn’t function. No pain during day.
So my surgeon said to get up and walk. When I did, the pain went away, but I couldn’t do that all night. Now since about the last three weeks I have no more pain and can sleep. I may need the other knee done but am very
hesitant to do it again. If you are having daytime pain something needs to be done about that.

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1 reply
judycat | @judycat | 1 day ago
In reply to @lynnn "So sorry you are going through this. I had my TNR in Dec. and had a..." + (show)
@lynnn

So sorry you are going through this. I had my TNR in
Dec. and had a terrible time at night for four months.
Like you, I got hardly any sleep - some nights none. I
cannot take NSAIDS such as Aleve and Tylenol did no good at all. I couldn’t function. No pain during day.
So my surgeon said to get up and walk. When I did, the pain went away, but I couldn’t do that all night. Now since about the last three weeks I have no more pain and can sleep. I may need the other knee done but am very
hesitant to do it again. If you are having daytime pain something needs to be done about that.

Jump to this post

If you don’t already have an ice machine, definitely get one and hook it up at night. That is the only way I was able to get a good nights sleep.

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1 reply
lynnn | @lynnn | 1 day ago
In reply to @judycat "If you don’t already have an ice machine, definitely get one and hook it up at..." + (show)
@judycat

If you don’t already have an ice machine, definitely get one and hook it up at night. That is the only way I was able to get a good nights sleep.

Jump to this post

Thank you. But I have no night pain now for 3 weeks.
Will consider if I have another TNR although leery.

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