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Burning after total knee replacement

Posted by jetter @jetter, Feb 12, 2019

why does it burn after total replacement?

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 2, 2025
In reply to @ravance62 "Hi- I started searching on Google about knee pain and burning after Total Knee Replacement. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for ravance62 @ravance62

Hi- I started searching on Google about knee pain and burning after Total Knee Replacement. I am 13 weeks post op and have completed 3 PT sessions every week but have had much stiffness and burning pain increasing over the last 5 weeks. I was supposed to have the other knee done at the 12 week mark but was afraid to do it considering how my left knee was doing. My surgeon agreed I needed more healing even tho financially it would have been fantastic to get it done as we were at the 100% paid by insurance status for any remaining covered expenses for 2024. I am wanting to ask you how you are doing now and if the pain did subside, how long after the surgery did you finally feel better? Thank you.

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Yes, joint replacement often surprises us with how many things can hurt and how long full recovery can take. And it is different for each of us - and even between surgeries on the same person.

Can you describe your self-care routine at home? How many times a day are you doing your exercises? How is your range of motion - is it progressing? Do you still elevate your leg and ice when it you are sitting?

Does the location or type of the burning sensation change fron day to day? This is often the feeling of nerves repairing and regenerating and can last for several weeks to a few months.

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joanhope6 | @joanhope6 | Jan 3, 2025

It's been 11 months since I had. Knee replacement. I do the strengthening exercise 3 times a week from my therapist and ride my bicycle 5 to 6 days a week for 20 minutes. Walk about 4 times a week. Yet I am experiencing soreness, tingling pain sleepless nights

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joanhope6 | @joanhope6 | Jan 4, 2025
In reply to @sueinmn "Yes, joint replacement often surprises us with how many things can hurt and how long full..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

Yes, joint replacement often surprises us with how many things can hurt and how long full recovery can take. And it is different for each of us - and even between surgeries on the same person.

Can you describe your self-care routine at home? How many times a day are you doing your exercises? How is your range of motion - is it progressing? Do you still elevate your leg and ice when it you are sitting?

Does the location or type of the burning sensation change fron day to day? This is often the feeling of nerves repairing and regenerating and can last for several weeks to a few months.

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Thank you for responding. I do strengthening exercising once per day, 3 times per week. I ride my bicycle 6 days a week in the morning. And I walk 6 days a week in the evening. Range of motion is 110. I massage twice a day to help alleviate the stiffness and soreness. I don't elevate and ice. I do use heat. The burning sensation is mostly in the same area. It is truly a challenge! Walking on it and going up stairs. Joan

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dmk | @dmk | Jan 5, 2025

I had a specific area after TKR which my DPT noted with second DPT opinion that is was some muscle and some nerve. Answers rolling pin up to down for can’t remember 2 -3 minutes. Excruciating at first but over a period of time got better and better no issues since I had my knee done 2021 with no complaints to date

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lifetimetee | @lifetimetee | Feb 25, 2025
In reply to @debbraw "Hi @jetter - Welcome to Connect! I just had a TKR two weeks ago (thankfully w/o..." + (show)
Profile picture for Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor @debbraw

Hi @jetter - Welcome to Connect! I just had a TKR two weeks ago (thankfully w/o the burning sensation you describe). @connie1559 is right that there's a wealth of knowledge on TKR's in this forum. And @contentandwell is spot-on regarding the fact that every single TKR is different - not just every person but every surgery. I've been fortunate with my recovery, but my right knee was much slower than my left in almost every aspect of recuperation. Can I ask when you had your surgery? Also, aside from the burning sensation, how are you doing with range of motion and strength in your knee - and with pain management? I find that if I can control the pain and inflammation, I don't have as much swelling so I do better at my PT exercises.

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I just got it done on the 20th of Feburary. I wish I could send u pics

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lifetimetee | @lifetimetee | Feb 25, 2025
In reply to @connie1559 "When did you have your TKR? Is there a specific area that burns? Do you feel..." + (show)
Profile picture for connie1559 @connie1559

When did you have your TKR? Is there a specific area that burns? Do you feel the burning all the time? Have you felt it from the beginning or has the burning feeling developed over a few days? Is your discomfort from the burning relieved by pain meds, if you’re taking pain meds? Is the burning relieved by icing?

For the first 1-1/2 weeks after my recent right TKR, I felt a lot of a burning type pain each time I lowered my leg after having it elevated. I assumed it was a circulation issue. I now experience a burning, tingling feeling in the patella area. It lasts from a couple of seconds to a couple of minutes. It’s bearable but it definitely gets my attention each time it happens.

There are lots of supportive TKR folks here with countless experiences going through the TKR process. I hope someone can answer your question. Good luck!

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Just where the caif is it all red and burns when I stand on it. Is only red there and when I put my foot on the ground.

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zilla | @zilla | Apr 19 10:51am
In reply to @pat20 "I had my TKR on November 14, 20 19 and I have had quite a bit..." + (show)
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I had my TKR on November 14, 20 19 and I have had quite a bit of pain mostly at night. The burning pain did not start until December. It does it burn all the time but when it hits it feels like five wasp are stinging me. I can’t sleep at night, it’s usually 3 o’clock or 4 o’clock before I can go to sleep at night. I have been back to the surgeon and he re-X-rayed my Knee and said it was okay. I just wish the surgeons would tell you what to expect, even though I know everyone is not the same

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@pat20 They always do a plain film just to make you feel better, but plain films essentially show nothing except maybe gross pathology, like a broken bone. Post TKR pain has much more subtle causes, many of them neurological, that will only show up on more sophisticated tests. To get to those causes you have to become THAT patient, the one that complains incessantly and asks for drugs. Even then they sort of write you off and subtly imply that the fault is yours for not exercising enough or something. So there are all these people out there that have failed knee but are considered successful because they no longer complain.

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joanhope6 | @joanhope6 | Apr 24 6:16am
In reply to @gator1965 "I still have burning pain 10 months after total knee replacement. I think this is quite..." + (show)
Profile picture for gator1965 @gator1965

I still have burning pain 10 months after total knee replacement. I think this is quite common

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@gi ator1965 I had Tkr 2,3 years ago and I still have burning and tingling pain and sleep issues. I was told that there is nothing they can do about it.

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