10 days post tkr and pain unbearable

How are you doing? Praying much for you. I'm so sorry this is so painful.

I feel terrible for all that you are going through right now! I could have written the post three years ago. Like you, the pain that I had with that surgery was truly unbearable! I did all of the “right things”……getting in shape with lots of exercise ahead of time etc but I was NOT prepared for all that came after the surgery! I was allergic to several pain meds……breaking out in a rash, vomiting etc. Also, those medications couldn’t even *touch* the pain! I couldn’t sleep and had no appetite. I felt depressed (had never had feeling in my life) and it was awful! PT would come to my home but I was in such pain, I couldn’t make much progress with the in-home exercises. Once I went to “outside PT”, I got a wonderful therapist who truly understood all that I had gone through. I went twice a week for six months (which is a long time), but little by little, I made progress. I told my orthopedic surgeon that I would *never* have my other knee done! I would rather put up with some pain and stiffness and get a cortisone shot every now and then rather than ever put myself through that again! When I said that to him, his words to me were “Well, total knee replacement is the roughest surgery that anyone can go through”. I am happy for those people who can take the pain meds and are able to get through it with less pain than me. Wishing you continued recovery. The recovery will come, but for some, it just takes longer. Keep icing your knee. Wishing you all the best.

TKR is so different for every person. I suppose that’s why we don’t usually hear the “horror” stories before hand. No one would undergo it! I sat at the surgeon’s office yesterday for a 4 week post MUA procedure that left me unable to walk and in pain from bleeding and quadriceps hematomas. Initially I had TKR surgery, followed 2 days later by a “perfect storm medical emergency” - had followed doctors orders implicitly - and ended up in the ICU + hospital for a week. Didn’t get the immediate PT I needed and developed a “stiff knee”. (I am 74, have been exercising , biking and hiking for most of my life). I sat near someone there for a 2 week check up from TKR. An overweight man in his 50s, knee bent more than 90 degrees, breezing right through. I could hardly bear it, as I may now have to have a revision surgery to remove excessive scar tissue so I MIGHT be able achieve 90-100 degrees. Of course, reliving for the 3rd time the recovery and all the PT I’ve invested for 12 weeks. I praise God for the grace of strength to get through this. There are some great you tube therapy sites for those who need encouragement and guidance. This site is great too. Good luck everyone.

Spinner I had bad tkr ….revision one year after tkr …. For me was not as much pain …. So hopefully for you be better as well …. I went from 70 before revision to now 100. Good luck ……by chance are you having new dr for revision ?

Thanks for the reply. I am getting an appointment for a second opinion before I decide what to do. My present surgeon is highly respected with a 5.0 rating in my area. Still, I could make a change .

I had hip replacement issues, and I learned that being an excellent surgeon doesn't always translate to being as skilled clinician. The doc did everything right, but had NO patience or skill in dealing with complications. I changed to someone who was willing to see "the whole person" and the difference was amazing.

Thanks for the reply. I am getting an appointment for a second opinion before I decide what to do. My present surgeon is highly respected with a 5.0 rating in my area. Still, I could make a change .