Burning after total knee replacement

Posted by jetter @jetter, Feb 12, 2019

why does it burn after total replacement?

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I'm 4 weeks post op on my right knee TKR. I had my left knee done in July 6 months ago TKR. I had/have the burning on the left inner knee same as mentioned on both, however this right one is far worse. It did go away on the left 6 months post op. My question is why and what is causing the burning, even if it is normal.

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@suziet

I'm 4 weeks post op on my right knee TKR. I had my left knee done in July 6 months ago TKR. I had/have the burning on the left inner knee same as mentioned on both, however this right one is far worse. It did go away on the left 6 months post op. My question is why and what is causing the burning, even if it is normal.

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Hi there I have the same issue 4 weeks post op the burning is awful. I read in here it is from nerves ?

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Thank you for the comment.
Well I have determined, after post op on my other TKR. This has to be up there at the top portion if the list as one of the most brutal surgery's one can have. What I mean by that is, the rehab PT required asap following surgery and for ALL the months after.
On that note I will say at 7 months post op on the first TKR its worth it. However very hard to see it that way while in the thick of rehab.
I also know no two knees are a like. My first went easier than this one.
My heart goes out to my fellow TKR patients.

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Hi, Friend,
I had double knee replacement six months ago and my knees were hot for months. I think it is part of healing, but I am no doctor. Agree, it’s very uncomfortable. Even after 6 months mine were both hot yesterday after an hour car ride.
I think it takes much longer than the docs say and as have said we are all different. Put some ice on them and calm your knee down. Your knee has been through Hell.

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I am 5.5 months into my TKR surgery and about three weeks ago started having numbness and burning on the top and outside of my thigh. Is that normal and what can I do to treat it?

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@amandaf

I am 5.5 months into my TKR surgery and about three weeks ago started having numbness and burning on the top and outside of my thigh. Is that normal and what can I do to treat it?

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Welcome @amandaf, I'm not sure if the thigh pain and numbness is normal but I'm sure you are not alone. I had my right knee replaced a few years ago and didn't have a lot of pain but I think that was because my surgeon got me started on specific exercises prior to and following the surgery to make recovery easier for me.

I did see an easy home treatment for thigh pain after a TKR that may help --- How to TREAT thigh pain at HOME after Total Knee Replacement:
https://youtu.be/Sy_DsaomAjU

It sounds like the pain and numbness came on suddenly after your TKR recovery was going well. Do you think you may have strained a muscle or tendon?

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@doodles418

I am 10 weeks out from double TKR and 3 weeks out from MUA. I'm still experiencing the burning on the sides of the knees and across the patella. PT tells me the same, "be patient and see how it goes". At 3 1/2 weeks out it sounds like you are doing great!

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I'm on my 11 day after my surgery swelling is moderate but after elevating leg when I go to stand there's a burning sensation lower leg area witch will go away after a few seconds ankle area is really sensitive

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I had a PKR in my right knee on the outside as that is where my arthritis was severe. I was doing well for the first 5 weeks and then bam, out of the blue, searing burning pain and a deep ache that I cannot describe. Doctor said he thought it might be overworking of my MCL, but I am not convinced. The pain is EXACTLY the same as what I had prior to surgery. The area where I had surgery feels fine, but the rest of the knee not so much. I am starting to wonder if I should have had a TKR, or if this is nerve pain that is not even related and that might have been what my issue was all along. I am pretty miserable right now as I am scheduled to have my left knee done in a few weeks, and this pain is going to delay that surgery. I just want to get it done. I take ibuprofen like all the time for pain and it helps for a little while but not for long, hence why I wake up in the middle of the night almost crying in pain because I cannot get comfortable with my knee bent or straight. I walk OK but by the end of the day am limping again. I do PT exercises and am very good about staying on top of it but if I do activity, sometimes it makes it worse. I ice and elevate too and the knee still has swelling. Sometimes the burning pain suddenly strikes and makes me jump out of my chair. I don't know what to do about it.

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@ndoud

I had a PKR in my right knee on the outside as that is where my arthritis was severe. I was doing well for the first 5 weeks and then bam, out of the blue, searing burning pain and a deep ache that I cannot describe. Doctor said he thought it might be overworking of my MCL, but I am not convinced. The pain is EXACTLY the same as what I had prior to surgery. The area where I had surgery feels fine, but the rest of the knee not so much. I am starting to wonder if I should have had a TKR, or if this is nerve pain that is not even related and that might have been what my issue was all along. I am pretty miserable right now as I am scheduled to have my left knee done in a few weeks, and this pain is going to delay that surgery. I just want to get it done. I take ibuprofen like all the time for pain and it helps for a little while but not for long, hence why I wake up in the middle of the night almost crying in pain because I cannot get comfortable with my knee bent or straight. I walk OK but by the end of the day am limping again. I do PT exercises and am very good about staying on top of it but if I do activity, sometimes it makes it worse. I ice and elevate too and the knee still has swelling. Sometimes the burning pain suddenly strikes and makes me jump out of my chair. I don't know what to do about it.

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I am trying extracorporeal pulse activation technology (epat for short)
Along with cupping and myofascial release. Only one visit to massage therapist so far but feel less pain after a couple of days. Haven’t tried swimming or cycling yet after treatment. Unfortunately doctors either don’t know about or don’t believe in alternative therapies. Neither surgeon nor pain doctor said therapy would help my long-standing pain. You must be your
own advocate and search for what might help.

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I had tkr in December. I still have swelling and burning around the knee cap. Not much pain other than the burning, which started only about 6 weeks ago, but the swelling is concerning to me. I've tried ice, elevation, compression sock and nothing seems to work. Is this normal this far out in recovery or should I be concerned?

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