Post TKR. Experiencing stiffness, swelling, burning pain

I am so sorry for your pain. Having both knees done 5 weeks apart last fall, I had residual nerve pain for many months. My ortho prescribed gabepentin which helped greatly especially at night. I took it several times a day for 6+ months, then off/on.

For swelling, I would elevate and ice, again for many months. And now at a year, still occasionally do. I had no side effects nor difficultly coming off the gabepentin.

Having TKRs gave me my active life back. The time and attention to my recovery, I admit, was much longer than anticipated but worth it. May your recovery be blessed.

Look into Iliotibial Syndrome. I had excruciating pain for 9 years after TKR. Praise God, an informed PA suggested it could be IT syndrome. The surgeon had only given me the option of opening up the knee and "taking a look" years earlier when I sought help. I did an internet search and started doing exercises and stretching unlike any I had done before. I got some relief in a couple of days and now am doing PT for it specifically. Previously I tried PT twice, stretching, strengthening, acupuncture, cold laser, topical cream, opiates. Primary told me I was just going to learn to live with it. IT syndrome can be caused by TKR but it is rare.

My first TKR went fine, but the second left me with serious pain that got worse the more I flexed my leg, e.g., using a peddler. After CT scan, they found that the implant was rotated and improperly aligned, which was causing the pain.

I've had both knees replaced without any issues. I did get IT syndrome years ago when I was a runner. That was fixed by stretching the IT band.

One easy way to do this is to stand and cross one foot over and right next to the other. Try to touch your toes, go as far as you can. Keep knees straight. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds, cross feet again and repeat for the other side. Ice is also helpful.

That stretch three times a day gave me some relief in two days before PT. The PT is also massaging the band after stretches.

Thanks for your tips. I have not used ice very often.

I am a year out and still have lots of soreness and stiffness when I do to much which I often do. I'm mowing the yard, walking on the treadmill and riding a recumbent bike. If I ride the bike for more than 5-10 minutes I can experience some swelling and stiffness when I got off. Aleve helps which I take sparingly as I can't do oral nsaids. Voltaren also helps. It does get better and I've come so far since my replacement. I'm sure you will continue to improve. I also had IT issues which resolved after 2-3 weeks of doing PT for it. Shoes make a big difference as the ones I was wearing were too tight. I now wear a men's New Balance 9.5 wide and I was wearing a women's 11b. Big difference for me and my foot pain and leg feeling tired stopped after this. You were your shoes differently after having your knee replaced because it's perfect now (hopefully) and the wear differently on the bottoms.

You're very welcome. Ice became a staple when I was a runner, and when I was recovering from my TKRs last year. ITB syndrome can be very painful, but usually responds well to stretching, icing, and rest.

One thing to NOT do is apply heat. Yes it loosens things up but it also brings in blood to the area and causes inflammation. I never use heat, anywhere. Always ice. It's not as fun, but it works.

Excellent point on shoes Cindy.

Can you hire someone to mow your lawn? Lawns look flat but they aren't, there are small, subtle dips and elevations and this is very hard on the knees. I'd let someone else do it - it's an investment in your knees.

And when your knees do get sore, always, always ice and elevate. It's simple, drug free and it works.

Hi Joe, I think Cindy @cindymattern is a lot like me - I treated lawn mowing as one form of PT after hip replacement. It was hard, and sometimes took 3 hours to do my 45 minute patch of grass, but boy did it give me a feeling of accomplishment!
Besides, where I live, we practically have to beg for someone to mow unless it is summer and my nephews are off school.
Sue