Help with pain after 3 months of TKR

Posted by fran102 @fran102, Mar 8, 2023

It has been 3 months since I had TKR and still have terrible pain behind my knee. I finally got my ROM up to 115 and can bend my knee when walking although I still have to use a walker. I’m going to get a second opinion because my surgeon has been totally unhelpful. Does anyone have any recommendations on coping with the pain and is this normal? I feel so frustrated and scared I might be this way for the rest of my life. It’s pretty much nonstop pain. I go to PT 3x a week for 2 hour sessions and they have helped me with ROM and knee strengthening but have so far to go. They are trying to get me a Dynasplint. Has anyone ever used one and does it help? Thank you so much for any advice you can give me. I’m so depressed! I had no idea it would be like this.

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Is there anyone that had a knee replacement with success. I am concerned for my husband. He's going in May for his. Right now he can hardly walk so it's to Hopefully let him get his life back but reading alot of comments I'm getting concerned.

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Have you had an ultrasound. I was in a lot of pain and my surgeon did an ultrasound only to find that I had a bakers cyst at the back of my knee. This caused me a lot of pain but as the surgical swelling around my knee has decreased it’s not as painful. It could take over a year for the cyst to go away. However, I am 6.5 months post op and I can finally do the walking I want to and I feel strong stepping on and off curbs with my surgical knee. In the earlier months I wondered if I would ever get to this point.
Here are the things that have helped me along the way
1) Lyrica (prescription) for that nerve pain that can range from stabbing, burning, buzzing and itching sensation (particularly at night). Lyrica also helped me sleep
2)Aquafit. - Definitely helped me get back leg strength without weight bearing. I found weight bearing activities in the beginning only caused more inflammation on my knee
3) Compression stocking.- really helps keep the inflammation down in the knee area

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I did not need a referral for second opinion for my tkr…. I had tkr august of 21 never was able to get bend always had pain dr did not listen…. He did do manipulation at 6 weeks never did anything but cause more pain ….. I got second opinion about 6-7 months my pt was telling me something wrong and it was his pt team ….needless to say I had revision done June 22 just shy of year my knee was 2-3 sizes too big but was within original dr legal right to do so ….he can wright it off do to arthritis or whatever reason he chooses … I call it bad choices …. But new dr robotic surgery went awesome great bent like 110-115 some pain free days I still get sore at times but to be expected…..to all you who still dealing with it few months out get second opinion does not hurt … my new dr knew from X-ray was too big …. Was not looking forward to another surgery but so grateful I did …. Was totally different than first …. Pain from time I awoke was less go figure what right size can do ….don’t give up it does get better we just have to be persistent….

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@cookiepic

Is there anyone that had a knee replacement with success. I am concerned for my husband. He's going in May for his. Right now he can hardly walk so it's to Hopefully let him get his life back but reading alot of comments I'm getting concerned.

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@cookiepic The vast majority of knee replacements are successful! I have had both of my knees replaced, one year apart, and they work fine, no pain. I was back to normal by about 3 months after surgery.

Most of the people who come to post here have run into problems and are looking for help. There is always a small chance something may go wrong. Very few of the ones who have had successful results will bother to post. I came here before my surgery to find out also and was a bit concerned with all the negative results, but all went well! The key is working with PT seriously immediately after surgery so you don't lose range of motion.

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@cookiepic

Is there anyone that had a knee replacement with success. I am concerned for my husband. He's going in May for his. Right now he can hardly walk so it's to Hopefully let him get his life back but reading alot of comments I'm getting concerned.

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Hi. I’m having mine on May 11th and if you’re anything like me you’re reading everything you can get your hands on. Please try to see how much the success outweighs the failure, something I really had to focus on because I’m scared to death! I’ve spoken to many that have had it done, this includes family members, friends and many acquaintances that have had it done along with their family members. This really helped me look forward to having it done and getting rid of this pain that keeps me so restricted. Keep the positive outcomes in mind, such as I’ve learned to do. My best to your husband ❤️
.

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@gypsybythesea

So how did you get the second opinion referral? I see my doctor April 10, and something has to give I will be 4 months out and sleeping is a luxury I really no longer know. my knee is so stiff, and the pain. My doctor is saying IT Band syndrome. I take Tramadol and Xanax at bedtime, I get a couple of hours relief, the pain is lateral and behind my knee too...

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Does your Doctor suggestion anything for IT BAND syndrome…. I feel that is what I am experiencing…. Going for a second opinion…

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@ezas123

I did not need a referral for second opinion for my tkr…. I had tkr august of 21 never was able to get bend always had pain dr did not listen…. He did do manipulation at 6 weeks never did anything but cause more pain ….. I got second opinion about 6-7 months my pt was telling me something wrong and it was his pt team ….needless to say I had revision done June 22 just shy of year my knee was 2-3 sizes too big but was within original dr legal right to do so ….he can wright it off do to arthritis or whatever reason he chooses … I call it bad choices …. But new dr robotic surgery went awesome great bent like 110-115 some pain free days I still get sore at times but to be expected…..to all you who still dealing with it few months out get second opinion does not hurt … my new dr knew from X-ray was too big …. Was not looking forward to another surgery but so grateful I did …. Was totally different than first …. Pain from time I awoke was less go figure what right size can do ….don’t give up it does get better we just have to be persistent….

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I truly appreciate your comment and encouragement and I’m not looking forward to another surgery at all. My knee is a normal size, as a matter of fact the same size as the other one. But what I can’t understand is it’s usually worse when I’ve fallen asleep at night only to awake with pain because I’ve stayed in one position all night because with sleep apnea which I have that happens. I wake to like I need to oil my knee and leg joint. I ask Orthopedic Dr, Primary Doctor and he asks as though he cares about them more than me. So I’m going to tell him either he work on my behalf or I’ll have to find another PCP. I don’t know what happened to listen to your patient. It’s as though everywhere I go for treatment my PCP calls me and asks me why I’m there and the Orthopedic doctor seemly get wind of it too and it’s like they get hush money cause they disappear and don’t come back in but send the nurse with discharge papers. All I’m looking for is I made a mistake and let me straighten it out apologize because we’re human. I understand where you’re coming from and that is wrong cause that’s what they’re doing to me. I said they’re railroading me or throwing me out to the dogs for me to fend for my self because that’s exactly what I have been doing. I found out I had hematoma through urgent care Dr and I was the one had to call my cardiologist to tell him about and see what to do about my blood thinners and he said get off it when my orthopedic Dr should have been taken me off and done test he would seen I had problems. Instead he discharges me without a pain regimen in place. I’m happy you’re doing better

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@brescher

I am also 4 months out and still so much pain…. I am still doing my at home therapy but pain is still excruciating…. Motion and and walking is good…
Going to get a second opinion on my condition on April 27. Hopefully by then things will have improved…. So very disappointed at this point!!

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Oh GOD bless you! I will be praying for you and I’m so sorry you are going through that. Cause I still have pain but to hear you say almost 4 months later you’re still dealing with pain that breaks my heart. I’m just little over a month. My surgery was 2/23/2023 and still can’t get answers why. When I move my right leg at times I get an excruciating pain in the knee and ankle area like I just picked it up and dropped it but didn’t. I be almost double up in pain sometimes

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@ldtfranklin

Oh GOD bless you! I will be praying for you and I’m so sorry you are going through that. Cause I still have pain but to hear you say almost 4 months later you’re still dealing with pain that breaks my heart. I’m just little over a month. My surgery was 2/23/2023 and still can’t get answers why. When I move my right leg at times I get an excruciating pain in the knee and ankle area like I just picked it up and dropped it but didn’t. I be almost double up in pain sometimes

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Excruciating pain after 4 weeks is entirely normal. I went through the same thing. I'm at almost 11 weeks and the pain is a lot better. I have trouble standing for long periods of time. My knee feels really stiff when I overdo it. Continue with your PT and don't get discouraged. Hang in there!

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@cookiepic

Is there anyone that had a knee replacement with success. I am concerned for my husband. He's going in May for his. Right now he can hardly walk so it's to Hopefully let him get his life back but reading alot of comments I'm getting concerned.

Jump to this post

My first knee replacement went terrible the dr put in 2-3 sizes too big which I found out he is aloud to do …. I suffered for a year …. Happy to say I had revision with another dr went amazing dr used mako robotic got right size I have full flexion and rom of 110-115….so best advice find surgeon who use robotic for surgery better results…..best of luck to you and your husband

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