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Debilitating pain 6 months after knee replacement
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Feb 22, 2023 | Replies (117)Comment receiving replies
Had TKR in right knee 7/17. The surgery worked, but my knee remained swollen so that bending it was very uncomfortable. I also have extreme sensitivity of my scar, and on a few occasions when I've bumped it, it caused excruciating pain. Not able to kneel on this knee at all because of the pain it causes. I was told this sometimes happens after aTKR, and that it is normal and may never improve.
A few weeks ago I started to feel occasional "popping" in this knee and it bent backwards a few times, so that I had to grab something to keep from falling. Then I started to experience very bad swelling of the knee and there was burning in the back of my right leg immediately above where my knee bends. It lessened and was replaced by even worse burning pain on the inside of the leg at my knee with occasional stabbing pain. The pain has spread to the outside of my leg at the knee and my kneecap. It is so bad that I am unable to sleep.
I tried taking Tramadol for the pain at night with no relief. Ibuprofen did not help, so the doctor prescribed Mobic 7.5mg twice a day. After four days, it has not yet worked.
Before this happened I experienced some sciatica at, above and below my knee, but that was resolved with a dose of steroids.
Has anyone experienced this? If so, were you able to resolve the pain? How? Also, any idea what is causing this?
Replies to "Had TKR in right knee 7/17. The surgery worked, but my knee remained swollen so that..."
Hi @rosiegirl, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @colleenyoung and other members. I'm 2 months post op from a total knee replacement for my right knee. I have not had the pain that you have experienced but my ankle and leg are still quite swollen although the knee itself is not as bad. Part of my swelling issue is that I also have lymphedema and need to wear compression socks to help keep the swelling down.
Have you discussed the popping and the knee bent backwards a few times with your doctor? I would want to know if there was a possibility that the knee might have been re-injured. I had some issues sleeping due to some aching in my knee (not real sharp pains) when I got back from the hospital from the knee surgery. What has helped me was a really small fluffy travel pillow that I keep between my knees/legs. Another thing that helped the swelling was to elevate and ice the leg several times a day, keeping the leg at eye level by laying on the couch with a large pillow under the leg.
@rosiegirl I am really sorry to hear of the problems you having with your knee. I was in a lot of pain for about four weeks and around then it started improving and I was great at the six-week mark.
For you to have this much pain still really does not sound right. Have you sought a second opinion? I think I would do that if I had that much pain, preferably one from a really top ortho at an excellent medical center. I have no idea if having sciatica could contribute to your pain or now, that is not a problem I have had.
As @colleenyoung mentioned, I am a huge advocate of water exercise, and also the recumbent bike. When I was talking to my ortho I asked him about the best exercises and coincidentally these are two of the exercises he considers best also. I continue to do both of those but now I also do other exercises in the gym at my health club.
I really hope you find a top doctor to get a second opinion from. You should not have to deal with this much pain for so long.
JK
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Hi @rosiegirl and welcome to Connect. You'll notice that I moved your question about having pain 2 years post total knee replacement to this existing discussion in the Joints Replacement group. Click VIEW & REPLY to read through the past posts. I think you'll find them useful.
You'll meet @ellerbracke @babette @sandy9 and others who also experienced extended periods of pain. Fellow members @debbraw and @johnbishop share really useful resources and link to related discussions.
Be sure to browse through all the topics of the Joints Replacement group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/joint-replacements/
Rosiegirl, did you do physical therapy after your TKR? Are you able to water sports? @contentandwell swears by water exercise.