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Anti-Inflammatory Supplements after Joint Replacement

Posted by lsmorgan @lsmorgan, May 31, 2021

I had my right knee replaced five weeks ago. I have lots of swelling and inflammation and I’m wondering if anyone takes supplements to help with the inflammation that has had a knee replacement? Sleeping is absolutely horrible at night. From what I understand this is common with a knee replacement but I am so exhausted.

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jeaninking | @jeaninking | Apr 1, 2023
In reply to @zoobird1 "Thank you and I thought I’d replied to this. What strength Voltaren do you use? I..." + (show)
@zoobird1

Thank you and I thought I’d replied to this. What strength Voltaren do you use?
I so appreciate your encouragement. It helps!!!

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I take 75 mg daily. I am prescribed twice a day, I was taking this before my TNR.
My surgery was on 1/30/23
I still hurt when on my feet for too long. But getting better everyday 🙏
I also take Tylenol as needed and neurontin at night.

REPLY
1 reply
zoobird1 | @zoobird1 | Apr 1, 2023
In reply to @jeaninking "I take 75 mg daily. I am prescribed twice a day, I was taking this before..." + (show)
@jeaninking

I take 75 mg daily. I am prescribed twice a day, I was taking this before my TNR.
My surgery was on 1/30/23
I still hurt when on my feet for too long. But getting better everyday 🙏
I also take Tylenol as needed and neurontin at night.

Jump to this post

I have the 1% gel Voltaren. My calves, thighs and behind my knee areas are so tender as well. Thank you!

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ldtfranklin | @ldtfranklin | Apr 1, 2023
In reply to @continentalred "Hi there. Sorry you are having difficulty. This recovery from TKR is certainly a challenge. I..." + (show)
@continentalred

Hi there. Sorry you are having difficulty. This recovery from TKR is certainly a challenge.
I would say that you have a muscle imbalance between your two legs and perhaps your surgical leg isn’t strong enough to support you hence the imbalance.
Also you might still have nerve cells trying to repair as nerves do get cut during surgery and this can take time. This has been perhaps the biggest issue for me and I got a lot of relief from taking Lyrica which addresses nerve pain. Another thing to consider is that if the nerve endings aren’t healed they might not be firing off as they should so perhaps your muscle contraction time is delayed.
Strengthening your leg muscles preferably through non weight bearing activities like aquafit and stationary exercise bike is good but it is also important to manage one’s weight. Every extra pound of weight is equal to 4 extra pounds on the knee.
I was able to lose 20 lbs in preparation for my surgery by exercising and restricting the times that l ate. I only eat between 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
I eat what I want in between those hours.
I have to say I never expected my recovery to have so many challenges. I am 6 months in and things are getting better.
You are fresh out of the gate and it will get better.
I hope I have helped with this information

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Yes thank you. I’m glad for all the information you gave me and I know these nerves and muscles need an overhaul before getting better. But my range is at 120. My therapist when she first met me and did PT was so surprised by how much I could do and it had only been 2 weeks where she said she have patients that are a month out and can’t do what I do. But I had my therapist interested in what I showed her on my X-ray. A screw that is screwed into my bone behind the device that’s inserted for my TKR. But she even looked at the report and realized what I was saying was true this doctor doesn’t mention anything about him breaking a bone during surgery nor of the screw and a stabilizer he claimed to support that broken bone. She told me to ask him was he going to remove that screw at some point. Because certain way I move my leg I get shock waves and sometimes pain. He did something wrong but won’t admit it and try to fix it or refer me to someone that specializes in mending broken bones.

REPLY
1 reply
ldtfranklin | @ldtfranklin | Apr 1, 2023
In reply to @continentalred "Hi there. Sorry you are having difficulty. This recovery from TKR is certainly a challenge. I..." + (show)
@continentalred

Hi there. Sorry you are having difficulty. This recovery from TKR is certainly a challenge.
I would say that you have a muscle imbalance between your two legs and perhaps your surgical leg isn’t strong enough to support you hence the imbalance.
Also you might still have nerve cells trying to repair as nerves do get cut during surgery and this can take time. This has been perhaps the biggest issue for me and I got a lot of relief from taking Lyrica which addresses nerve pain. Another thing to consider is that if the nerve endings aren’t healed they might not be firing off as they should so perhaps your muscle contraction time is delayed.
Strengthening your leg muscles preferably through non weight bearing activities like aquafit and stationary exercise bike is good but it is also important to manage one’s weight. Every extra pound of weight is equal to 4 extra pounds on the knee.
I was able to lose 20 lbs in preparation for my surgery by exercising and restricting the times that l ate. I only eat between 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
I eat what I want in between those hours.
I have to say I never expected my recovery to have so many challenges. I am 6 months in and things are getting better.
You are fresh out of the gate and it will get better.
I hope I have helped with this information

Jump to this post

Oh yea and my weight loss is not an issue. Before I had surgery I lost 60 lbs then had Gastric Bypass surgery and loss around 160lbs. I’m still trying to lose 30 more because that’s my goal and even my therapist waa saying every time I see you you’re getting smaller. I’m almost at my goal, 10 more lbs

REPLY
continentalred | @continentalred | Apr 2, 2023
In reply to @ldtfranklin "Yes thank you. I’m glad for all the information you gave me and I know these..." + (show)
@ldtfranklin

Yes thank you. I’m glad for all the information you gave me and I know these nerves and muscles need an overhaul before getting better. But my range is at 120. My therapist when she first met me and did PT was so surprised by how much I could do and it had only been 2 weeks where she said she have patients that are a month out and can’t do what I do. But I had my therapist interested in what I showed her on my X-ray. A screw that is screwed into my bone behind the device that’s inserted for my TKR. But she even looked at the report and realized what I was saying was true this doctor doesn’t mention anything about him breaking a bone during surgery nor of the screw and a stabilizer he claimed to support that broken bone. She told me to ask him was he going to remove that screw at some point. Because certain way I move my leg I get shock waves and sometimes pain. He did something wrong but won’t admit it and try to fix it or refer me to someone that specializes in mending broken bones.

Jump to this post

That does sound awful. I hope the pain subsides. It sounds like you have been thru a lot

REPLY
jazzy155 | @jazzy155 | Apr 2, 2023

5 weeks!! You are a newbie and feeling just like I felt at 5 weeks. Hang in there. Take your pain meds and Motrin! Very important. At 6 weeks the pain starts subsiding. It is a long haul but give it time. I am at 11 1/2 weeks post surgery and things are so much better.

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cindymattern | @cindymattern | Apr 3, 2023

I am a little over 6 months out. You are doing great. It's definitely a process and there are days I still struggle but things are so much better. I am doing everything I did before except getting on the floor or my knees. I did take Gabapentin for a while (900mg at bedtime) and it helped tremendously with sleep but it was probably a few months before I really slept well. I still wake up now and then with my feet or knee being sore but things get stronger the further out. They say give it 6-12 months and it's definitely true. Knee surgery is really invasive and hard.

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bloom3309 | @bloom3309 | Apr 3, 2023

I'd like to hear from some who've had shoulder replacement. It's more than two years since surgery, and despite PT and home PT workouts, I still feel like I have rotator cuff injury. Lots of Aleve and Tramadol daily with Voltaren rubs as well as ice packs. Surgeon said "everything looks fine." Kind of at the end of my rope.

REPLY
1 reply
ddsack | @ddsack | Apr 3, 2023
In reply to @bloom3309 "I'd like to hear from some who've had shoulder replacement. It's more than two years since..." + (show)
@bloom3309

I'd like to hear from some who've had shoulder replacement. It's more than two years since surgery, and despite PT and home PT workouts, I still feel like I have rotator cuff injury. Lots of Aleve and Tramadol daily with Voltaren rubs as well as ice packs. Surgeon said "everything looks fine." Kind of at the end of my rope.

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bloom3309, was yours a regular or reverse shoulder replacement? It's my understanding that if your rotator cuff is damaged or frayed before replacement, you are better off with a reverse procedure in which much of the rotator cuff is removed. Sorry to hear about your ongoing pain.

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dmk | @dmk | Apr 4, 2023

I had a reverse total shoulder in 2019 I still have some bone embedded where ac joint is that he couldn’t fix. I had major shoulder surgery years ago and at that time they cut out a tendon and other things. Needless to say my life has improved dramatically for the better but the muscles that take over to do all the work for the missing Rotater cuff etc gets achy and can get painful. I just take Tylenol arthritis at night, go for dry needling and tape shoulder at least every 3 weeks. I do my pulleys every day and that helps as well to keep muscles going. I also do therabands twice week and hand weights twice a week but am never suppose to lift more than 10 lbs max. Also do water aerobics. Will use ice and heat from time to time. Dry needling and taping and doing exercises are my vices. Best of luck

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