Total knee replacement April. Constant pain spiraled into depression

What does your surgeon say about this and are you considering another opinion on the state of your knee?
I am sorry you are in so much pain.

If your surgeon has not provided you with a solution, it is time to get a second opinion from a talented revision surgeon. Something is wrong and you need to figure it out.

I had a TKR last November and I experienced pain I couldn't have imagined. My surgeon wrote a second prescription for pain meds. I talked to him about the difficult recovery. He had no recommendations other than physical therapy and ice. As time passed I developed severe anemia which now has been diagnosed as due to inflammation due to lupus and PMR. My point is that this operation is major and I didn't understand that. Also there was something else going on in my body that took months to diagnose and greatly affected my recovery. If you don't feel right start complaining. Assume your doctors are invested in your recovery but need additional information.

Call your insurance company. They can be very helpful in finding specialists in the area where you live. You definitely need new eyes to take a fresh look at the knee. It's not supposed to be as you describe. Find another surgeon. If they don't help you try a different specialty. Maybe someone in internal medicine? Don't let up till someone listens and takes you seriously. Best wishes, and let us know how this turns out.

I am sorry that you are having a very difficult recovery.
My TKR 12/23 was a personal disaster. I could not sleep, very tight constriction at the joint and severe pain at the lateral side of knee which made walking painful and difficult and stairs impossible.

I understand your depression. My ‘good life’ presurgery was ruined overnight; like going from 60MPH to hitting a wall.

I saw several surgeons and finally obtained a diagnosis of (mid flexion instability) that there was too much laxity in the implant.

I fortunately found a surgeon specializing in revisions and my surgery 4/26 has mostly resolved my knee pain.
I can walk again and stairs are much more manageable.

Do not give up. Find a surgeon specializing in revisions and hopefully you will get significant relief and improvement.

Thank you for your reply. My surgeon is revered as one of the very best in the area. He did both my hips in ‘12 & ‘13. My communication since has been with his PA and the assistant who handles refills/setting up appointments, etc. I have not made issue about this constricting pain at night. It’s managed with the meds I still have. I wonder if I’m expecting too much too soon ?

@gravity3 Thank you for your empathy. It is really appreciated. I have not directly addressed this with my surgeon. Keep hoping it heals alone. Giving 4 more weeks. If no improvement with the constriction will have to resort to a follow-up appointment.

@luvkitties

Why wait?

@luvkitties

I think that you should expect much more not less. If you are a woman this is common conditioning........questioning oneself...am I asking too much?
If you don't get answers, then consider a second opinion.

@gravity3 Thank you for your concern. I just sent an e-mail to my surgeon before seeing your replies. Wondering if I need more PT and questioned scar tissue ?