← Return to How well is pain controlled after total knee replacement?

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@ellerbracke

I wish you luck and hope all goes well. Wanted to add that the PT experience can vary tremendously from therapist to therapist (and of course depending on the patient). I had 3 home PT visits, and on day 12 after surgery I went to outpatient PT. I had worked with this particular group before with other rehab, and they trusted me enough to do all that was asked of me. They never tried to force the knee into painful positions, and I usually went there every 7 to 10 days to check on progress, and add progressively harder exercises. In the beginning you can expect to do 3 sets of 20 to 25 minutes of exercises at home, and with 20 minutes of icing afterwards it does take some time. After roughly 8 weeks I reduced it to 2 times daily. Now (4 months) just some stretching, otherwise walking, swimming, recumbent bike etc. As far as sleep and pain is concerned: yes, I will impact you. I found that if I iced the knee just before going to sleep and took 2 Tylenol it let me fall asleep ok. Not always stay asleep, but that happens - sorry!

Jump to this post


Replies to "I wish you luck and hope all goes well. Wanted to add that the PT experience..."

Thank you for such a thorough answer! I know I'll be OK and the pain won't last forever.

I have spinal stenosis, plus a Morton's neuroma that is intrusively painful. Add the knee pain (2 surgeries since 2010. The 2nd surgeon recognized the reverse bucket handle meniscus tear the 1st surgeon missed & did his best, but I'm left with a severe deformity that has caused a myriad of skeletal issues). I also have an autoimmune disease which has been flaring up more often as I age.

I'm in a lot of pain already and it impacts me daily. As silly as it sounds, I worry the pain from the TKR is going to overwhelm me.

I'm in my 60s now, and for most of my life I was active, fit and had a good attitude about dealing with pain.

I have been in so much pain the past few years that I feel as if I am not tolerating it at all. It just exhausts me. I'm looking forward to a good result and some relief at last.

Many thanks for your help.