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Calf pain after TKR
I am 5 weeks post op from TKR on my right knee. From the very 1st week, most of my pain is in my calf. It seems to be getting worse with every week. It is especially painful when I am sitting or driving. The only thing that gives me immediate relief is when I get in a hot bath. At my 4 week check up, I have virtually no swelling and my ROM is where its suppose to be. It is such a deep ache in my calf with numbness in my foot. Ultrasound showed no blood clot. I've been from my surgeon to a vascular specialist and now referred to a neurologist. Has anyone had this issue?
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Chris - Thanks for the suggestion. I will check out the knee pillow. I purchased one that had memory foam, but it isn’t very comfortable and doesn’t stay in place when sleeping. I previously had 4 surgeries on my right hip to treat bursitis, clean out the tendon, and cut a hole in my IT band so it would glide better. I got two staph infections which is why I had so many surgeries in short succession. Of course now that is flaring up again since the TKR. I hope we all find relief somehow.
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1 ReactionMy TKR in 2019. Immediately had burning calf pain, no clot, I have had ever possible muscle, nerve & vascular test. Nothing but can't walk more half mile until calf pain causes me to stop. They just tried pregablin and no improvements. Knee is fine. So frustrated.
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1 ReactionGood evening @lk3xs. My goodness, you have been a Connect member since 2019. I am glad you took the time to add to the body of information about this "delayed" TKR pain and discomfort. Yesterday, I walked 1/2 mile down our lane and back up the hill. Today, I almost crashed when I got out of bed. The top of my right leg let me know how unhappy it was.
So,,,, was it too much too soon? I am taking it easy tonight.....just did Yoga this morning. Maybe it is just not fair to expect that at 81 years old, every muscle is tuned up and ready to go. I had considered switching from Gabapentin to pregabalin. Think I will try to build up my stamina. You would never know I lived at 6,000 feet in the mountains and walked up and down almost every day. Guess "those were the days, my friend," and they will end. Letting go is so difficult.
If you come upon a solution please keep your fellow TKR members in the know.
May you be safe, protected and free of inner and outer harm.
Chris
Sports & doing it at full gear helped me toward a hip & both knees replaced in my 50s. Surgery not bad but this calf pain is puzzling. Can so elliptical bike & leg curls/presses no problem, just walking/stairs. Pregalin did not work & done with drug treatments!
Yes! I'm two weeks post op abd just say the calf pain has been the worst, and most consistent pain in all of this.
Had first TKR on 6/15/23 on right knee! Knee doing ok. Had my TKR on left leg on 3/14/24 ! Lots of more pain especially on back of calf. Have tried icing, elevation and Tylenol . Nothing works. Any ideas?
Have you called the surgeon who did the TKR? He/she should be able to advise you on this pain that you did not have with the surgery done on your other knee.
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1 ReactionHello @620915122k, You will notice that we merged your discussion with another discussion on the same topic so that you could meet other members with similar symptoms following a TKR. If you click the link below it will take you to the beginning of the discussion so that you can read the comments:
--- Calf pain after TKR: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/calf-pain-after-tkr/
One thing to consider is this kind of pain may also be a blood clot in the calf area which is something I have experienced and something that needs to be discussed with your doctor or surgeon as soon as possible. Have you discussed the pain on the back of your calf with your doctor?
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1 ReactionHi, I'm alamos 4 months after LTKR and have the same problems since 4 weeks. Have you find solution for this terrible pain?
My doctor had put me on Meloxicam but after being on it for a month or so I noticed swelling in my feet and calves. Someone had suggested that that is a side effect of the drug and so even though I stopped taking it; I still have swollen feet and calves especially when I wake up in the morning. I was told by my surgeon that 1 out of 20 her patients that have this surgery also have this outcome. Her only suggestion was offering Gabapentin and when I saw the side effects were at least double that of Meloxicam, I decided against it. I did order a mini-trampoline to jump on lightly for 5 to 10 minutes. It's supposed to be a natural way to deal with edema and it does help. I am 9 months out of my TKR and am still struggling so I do feel for so many of you because the chronic pain can wear me down sometimes. My quality of life is definitely not better at this point and I don't want to settle for the analogy of picking the short straw when it comes to the outcome of my surgery.