Pain months after Total Knee Replacement

Posted by cgbi @cgbi, Jul 12, 2019

Had tkr nine months ago. Was feeling good till 4 weeks ago. I started working full time and went on vacation were I walked a lot. Now my knee almost feels like it did before surgery. I limp and have a hard time walking without pain. I don't know what to do. My led will not lie straight and the pain is pretty constant.

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@sjot4u

Hi Chris. Thanks for your reply. No I didn’t get a new patella and didn’t have gout or crystals. Ok I get it no strenuous activities = increased longevity. I used to hike but won’t do that anymore. So walking further increases over time. That’s hopeful.

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Yep...gotta just go up the mountain and then be lifted off the top or ride a donkey down like at the Grand Canyon. I was easily doing 3 miles a day with just small inclines at a regional park and at the quarry. I hope to work up to 3 miles again this year.

By the way.....I did read a reference last night that estimated the life of an average TKR to be 15 years. Didn't check the authenticity of the statement and yet I am sure the longevity is different for everyone based upon age, activities and total care of the knee. Chris

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@sjot4u : Let me add some comments. No, after the first 6 weeks I never had the tight band feeling. I’ve been walking roughly 2 miles most days, starting at 4 months post TKR. Semi-level ground, slight inclines. I do the walking for its aerobic benefit, so as fast as I can manage without causing pain. On a really good day I can do a mile in about 15 1/2 minutes (14 1/2 minutes before TKR). However, this past September we were sight-seeing in Seattle, and one morning we walked / strolled through town, and attractions, for 3 1/2 hours non-stop. Followed that up with another 2 hours after a lunch break. Well, looking at some displays at Pike’s Market, grabbing a bite to go, but basically in motion the whole time. That was 12 months after TKR.
Weather still affects my knee from time to time, and during a recent trip to a ski village I was forced - no alternative to get around - to walk fairly steep inclines for a week. Doable, but definitely not recommended long-term. Uphill ok, even though I had to get used to elevation at 4000 ft., downhill very taxing.

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Hi, I had Mako Robotic assist TKR 5 months ago. From the front of my knee to my foot it is somewhat numb. I had the nerve conduction test and was told the main nerves are ok. They compared with my other leg. I have been on gabapentin for about 3 months. My foot and top of it gets so tight when I’m resting. If I do any house work or other activity by the afternoon I can barely walk. It feels like something is rubbing or pushing on something. That’s the only way I can explain it. The surgeon comment was I don’t know what that is. I had my left knee replaced on 2014. I had no problems with it. It’s very frustrating that after 5 months I’m having pains and trouble walking. I sent an email to my doctors office requesting a MRI. That was a week ago. I am going to follow up on Tuesday. Has anyone had any problems like this?

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@teaguea

Hi, I had Mako Robotic assist TKR 5 months ago. From the front of my knee to my foot it is somewhat numb. I had the nerve conduction test and was told the main nerves are ok. They compared with my other leg. I have been on gabapentin for about 3 months. My foot and top of it gets so tight when I’m resting. If I do any house work or other activity by the afternoon I can barely walk. It feels like something is rubbing or pushing on something. That’s the only way I can explain it. The surgeon comment was I don’t know what that is. I had my left knee replaced on 2014. I had no problems with it. It’s very frustrating that after 5 months I’m having pains and trouble walking. I sent an email to my doctors office requesting a MRI. That was a week ago. I am going to follow up on Tuesday. Has anyone had any problems like this?

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I had TKR just about 3yrs ago and the pain in the front of my lower knee to shin is terrible. Tight , sharp, rubbing pain that is at a 9 everyday. If I am seated pain is zero but as soon as I stand, wow, walking is almost out of the question. I tried a revision, 15 different nerve blocks, cut nerves , Stemwave PNS implants, and Abbot DRG SPINAL stimulator. Nothing has worked. I was accepted into UPENN PAIN CENTER and am hopeful they have answers, Sept.22. Mentally I found Biofeedback attention training very helpful getting thru each day BEST OF LOOK TO YOU

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@teaguea You'll see that I moved your post to a similar discussion about pain months after a TKR. I wanted you to be able to connect with members like @ellerbracke,and @cgbi.

Have you heard from them today about an MRI?

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@sprinrosa64

I had TKR just about 3yrs ago and the pain in the front of my lower knee to shin is terrible. Tight , sharp, rubbing pain that is at a 9 everyday. If I am seated pain is zero but as soon as I stand, wow, walking is almost out of the question. I tried a revision, 15 different nerve blocks, cut nerves , Stemwave PNS implants, and Abbot DRG SPINAL stimulator. Nothing has worked. I was accepted into UPENN PAIN CENTER and am hopeful they have answers, Sept.22. Mentally I found Biofeedback attention training very helpful getting thru each day BEST OF LOOK TO YOU

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Oh dear, it breaks my heart to read about your pain. Almost unbelievable. Do you use topicals in your pain area? Perhaps even cannabis topicals, balms, or ointments. It is interesting that you find biofeedback training helpful. Several years ago, I was rear-ended on the freeway. The recovery was pretty long and I had to get back to work. I was taught how to use biofeedback. It worked. When I packed to fly out on Mondays, I always included my biofeedback tapes. I think what actually happens is similar to mindfulness. It does take time and practice.

The last time I used it was the evening I fell down the mountain. In the ambulance, they told me I could not have any more pain meds as the paramedic wasn't authorized to give me more with such a high BP. I told him, "Give me five minutes and don't talk." He was so amazed that I could lower my BP by practicing biofeedback right there in the vehicle.

Would you be willing to try Mindfulness?
Be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris

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@artscaping

Oh dear, it breaks my heart to read about your pain. Almost unbelievable. Do you use topicals in your pain area? Perhaps even cannabis topicals, balms, or ointments. It is interesting that you find biofeedback training helpful. Several years ago, I was rear-ended on the freeway. The recovery was pretty long and I had to get back to work. I was taught how to use biofeedback. It worked. When I packed to fly out on Mondays, I always included my biofeedback tapes. I think what actually happens is similar to mindfulness. It does take time and practice.

The last time I used it was the evening I fell down the mountain. In the ambulance, they told me I could not have any more pain meds as the paramedic wasn't authorized to give me more with such a high BP. I told him, "Give me five minutes and don't talk." He was so amazed that I could lower my BP by practicing biofeedback right there in the vehicle.

Would you be willing to try Mindfulness?
Be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris

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Yes I have tried every form of cannabis, and nothing helps. I am interested in Mindfulness, do you have any website worth looking into. The biofeedback takes practice but when pain is this bad I am willing to practice, practice, practice. I can only tell myself there is a an answer out there because
this is no way to live , I am only 65 and it is unthinkable of staying like this year after year ANY HELP IS WELCOMED THANKS BE WELL

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I've had both knees and hips done, and 3 surgeries went really well. However, after the last knee surgery, I was doing reasonably well for about a month and then felt terrible, even worse than before the surgery. The more I exercised and used that knee, the worse it felt. My surgeon ordered a CT scan, and discovered that the appliance had rotated and is at least 33 degrees out of alignment. Now I am considering the risks of a revision.

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@gracebalch

I've had both knees and hips done, and 3 surgeries went really well. However, after the last knee surgery, I was doing reasonably well for about a month and then felt terrible, even worse than before the surgery. The more I exercised and used that knee, the worse it felt. My surgeon ordered a CT scan, and discovered that the appliance had rotated and is at least 33 degrees out of alignment. Now I am considering the risks of a revision.

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First - I would definitely find a better surgeon. Your surgeon did a terrible job and is not qualified to do a revision surgery.

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@gracebalch

I've had both knees and hips done, and 3 surgeries went really well. However, after the last knee surgery, I was doing reasonably well for about a month and then felt terrible, even worse than before the surgery. The more I exercised and used that knee, the worse it felt. My surgeon ordered a CT scan, and discovered that the appliance had rotated and is at least 33 degrees out of alignment. Now I am considering the risks of a revision.

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So sorry to hear that.

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