Anti-Inflammatory Supplements after Joint Replacement

Thank you for your reply.
I’m icing 4-6 times a day plus using a wet chilled washcloth from the freezer.
Going to physical therapy twice a week and my ROM is 125. I do the exercises at home as well and walk 20-30 minutes a day.
I take Prozac and nortriptyline for peripheral neuropathy in my feet and I’m used to tingling and burning from that.
My entire leg hurts all the time, feels beat and bruised thigh to ankle but compared to posters here on Connect my issue is minor.
I do feel like I’m healing well, just not getting much relief from the meds I’m taking.
Thank you for all you do for us “sufferers.”

I feel like a veteran lol ….. my first tkr I was swollen I bought an ice machine I ice most of the time …that is thy most important tool in your tool box when having tkr….I found with revision of that same knee mfr I had experienced next to no swelling so go figure it was also totally different experience……mfr when fresh out of tkr they do lymphatic drainage helped tremendously I did not know about mfr for first tkr or I would have been there….good luck to all

I had tkr January 30. I have tried everything for pain, mostly they didn’t seem to help. Percocet, Vicodin, Voltaran and Tylenol. I could not sleep at night that’s the worse part of healing. You need your sleep! Finally I visited my primary care doctor and she said to try Neurotin. This has worked for me I take this with Tylenol and Voltaren every night. Most nights I can sleep. I am getting better but it’s a process. Hang in there! God Bless

Hi thete

If you can cut down on the walking and perhaps try cycling on a stationary exercise bike or aquafit classes I think you might get some relief. I found that weight bearing activity like walking (even though it is good for you at other times) only makes the inflammation worse which causes more pain.
I was prescribed a compression stocking which helped with the inflammation
I even found some of the PT exercises made things worse if they involved too much weight bearing. Gradually strengthening your leg muscles through non weight bearing exercises will make your legs stronger and eventually able to support your knee when you walk.
Good luck. It is a longer recovery process than I would have imagined

Thank you so much! What great advice! Before TKR I noted the days I walked but haven’t lately. In retrospect the pain has been worse the couple of afternoons and evenings I resumed walking.
We live at state parks volunteering and some have an exercise equipment area.
I so appreciate your advice and encouragement!

So Dec 19th 2022 I had left knee TKR since both my legs were bowed outwards, Varys knees. I have Sleep Apnea and hence no surgeon will do bilateral TKR. I will be 57 in Dec. my biggest issue was apetite and sleep even with my device and mask. Still have lingering pain on the outer side of left knee but I use a mix of Voltaren and CBD cream with 500 mg of CBD; it helps. So at your Early stage of healing, my sugg is to cut back overdoing things because that can make the healing complicated. My process was

Monday and Wednesday - PT

30 mins of reclining bikes in gym with level 1 Wed and Thu

Fri and Sunday - walk around neighborhood 1/2 mile initially, now I can do 1 mile

Point is PT stretches and works out the muscles and they need rest after PT. Also drink 3-3.5 liters of water daily. For sleep I took muscle relaxants and sleeping pills Ambien. My surg says at least 6 months to get over all pain. Hang in there. Best wishes

Hi continentalred hope you don’t mind me asking you a question but I had TKR on right knee 2/23/2023 and for some odd reasons I’m having symptoms I can’t understand. My primary care physician tells me to call my Orthopedic doctor and my Orthopedic doctor just says it’s normal to feel that way it will get better. But I’m like somethings not right because I go to walk which it happened twice this week, I end up feeling and going unbalanced. But today I not only felt unbalanced but a slight shock hit in my leg and the leg went weak and I couldn’t move for a few seconds. My therapist witnessed it because we were going to do the walking exercise. But Wednesday I actually started leaning towards the left and almost fell twice and was so weak for a few minute. Just asking that maybe you or someone here experienced it and what did your orthopedic doctor say

Thank you so much!
Many words of wisdom there. It may be time for some Ambien.
I so appreciate your input.

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

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