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Debilitating pain 6 months after knee replacement

Joint Replacements | Last Active: Feb 22, 2023 | Replies (117)

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@johnbishop

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.

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Replies to "Hi @rosiegirl, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @colleenyoung and other..."

John, thank you for your response. I've iced the knee, but that made no dofference. I've always found icing swelling hlps, but not this time. The doctor who operated retited not long after my surgery, and when this all started, the surgeon to whom he referred me told me it would go away. Not going back there. I was able to make an appointment next week for a surgeon referred by my family physician. I've always slept with a pillow under my knees or between them while lying on my side because of back issues, so that hasn't provided any relief. The replacement itself was successful, so I am flummoxed at the amount of pain so long after the surgery.
Someone recently reminded me of my extreme sensitivity to nickel. Many knee replacements, although mostly titanium, do contain some nickel. My cousin had the same problem and eventually had to get a new, nickel-free knee. I am really hoping it is not that or anything else that that requires another surgery.

I hope your swelling eventually dissapates.