Help with pain after 3 months of TKR

Posted by fran102 @fran102, Mar 8, 2023

It has been 3 months since I had TKR and still have terrible pain behind my knee. I finally got my ROM up to 115 and can bend my knee when walking although I still have to use a walker. I’m going to get a second opinion because my surgeon has been totally unhelpful. Does anyone have any recommendations on coping with the pain and is this normal? I feel so frustrated and scared I might be this way for the rest of my life. It’s pretty much nonstop pain. I go to PT 3x a week for 2 hour sessions and they have helped me with ROM and knee strengthening but have so far to go. They are trying to get me a Dynasplint. Has anyone ever used one and does it help? Thank you so much for any advice you can give me. I’m so depressed! I had no idea it would be like this.

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@cookiepic

Is there anyone that had a knee replacement with success. I am concerned for my husband. He's going in May for his. Right now he can hardly walk so it's to Hopefully let him get his life back but reading alot of comments I'm getting concerned.

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Most work eventually
just have patience
do the PT, even at home
afterwards
give it 3 months or so
you will see slow but overall
improvements
in a years time he will have forgotten about it all

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@ezas123

I did not need a referral for second opinion for my tkr…. I had tkr august of 21 never was able to get bend always had pain dr did not listen…. He did do manipulation at 6 weeks never did anything but cause more pain ….. I got second opinion about 6-7 months my pt was telling me something wrong and it was his pt team ….needless to say I had revision done June 22 just shy of year my knee was 2-3 sizes too big but was within original dr legal right to do so ….he can wright it off do to arthritis or whatever reason he chooses … I call it bad choices …. But new dr robotic surgery went awesome great bent like 110-115 some pain free days I still get sore at times but to be expected…..to all you who still dealing with it few months out get second opinion does not hurt … my new dr knew from X-ray was too big …. Was not looking forward to another surgery but so grateful I did …. Was totally different than first …. Pain from time I awoke was less go figure what right size can do ….don’t give up it does get better we just have to be persistent….

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How did they determine yours was too big?
Glad you’re better!

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@ezas123

My first knee replacement went terrible the dr put in 2-3 sizes too big which I found out he is aloud to do …. I suffered for a year …. Happy to say I had revision with another dr went amazing dr used mako robotic got right size I have full flexion and rom of 110-115….so best advice find surgeon who use robotic for surgery better results…..best of luck to you and your husband

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Glad you’re doing well! How did the second doctor determine it was too big?

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@zoobird1

Glad you’re doing well! How did the second doctor determine it was too big?

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By my original surgeon X-rays

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@ezas123

By my original surgeon X-rays

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Thank you!

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@jazzy155

Excruciating pain after 4 weeks is entirely normal. I went through the same thing. I'm at almost 11 weeks and the pain is a lot better. I have trouble standing for long periods of time. My knee feels really stiff when I overdo it. Continue with your PT and don't get discouraged. Hang in there!

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Thank you 🙏 ! I’ve been praying everyday to get an answer from God saying what’s the next step. Because I feel like a piece of a puzzle is missing and it needs to be found to complete the picture. This doctor which did left knee last year in June did a tremendous job on my knee and I exceeded his expectations in recovery even though I had a hurdle I had to jump with my Healthcare not doing their job and ended up delaying my therapy because of fear of infection because the RN not coming out and doing his job but calling in every time after his first visit and directing me to the emergency room. This one though is totally different. I was able to get when the therapy came by and walk with no pain, discomfort, nor problems. But the missing puzzle is why my doctor keeps avoiding my questions and in his after surgery summary he doesn’t mention he broke a bone while doing the surgery and had to put a stabilizer and screw in my knee. But verbally mention it to me. But his lame excuse is that the screw is attached to something but I’m unable to see it in an X-ray. But what he pointed out really didn’t add up because everything else he used in my knee you can see in the X-ray except this mystery thing he claims the screw is attached to. How is it that I’m able to see all of this and not this mystery piece? So I’m getting a second opinion and because the urgent care doctor saw something in that ultrasound that he definitely wanted me to see. He made that clear when he said this CD has just the ultrasound on it but this one has both the ultrasound and the scan. That CD I should never had allowed my doctor to view which was to give me the proof I was looking for. Because I think they either switched my CD’S or did something to them because when I missed the X-ray copy of the screw document in my papers that I questioned my doctor about it he asked me to let him see what I was talking about but in the meantime he had some printout of his own as before and I think it was switched by him or the other doctor. But the X-ray technician states about the protrusion of a screw. So until I get some answers to that I can’t give a sigh of relief.

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@brescher

Does your Doctor suggestion anything for IT BAND syndrome…. I feel that is what I am experiencing…. Going for a second opinion…

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I asked about the feeling like a rubber band is wrapped around my leg in a certain spot and his reply was needs more therapy to strengthen the muscles. I went to therapy but the way I got around I actually did those exercises and more to get strength but it never stopped. I got knee support that had some type of menthol release in it and put that on. It helped me from feeling the rubber band feeling but I noticed since June of 2022 I don’t feel the rubber band feeling anymore.

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@cookiepic

Is there anyone that had a knee replacement with success. I am concerned for my husband. He's going in May for his. Right now he can hardly walk so it's to Hopefully let him get his life back but reading alot of comments I'm getting concerned.

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I had my right me done 6 weeks ago and the right knee is just great. My left knee is really bad and it's making the rehab harder.
So I am counting down the days till I can go and get the last one redone it's worth it.
Do the rehab before and after surgery it makes a big difference

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Went for 2nd opinion. Not IT BAND !!
All X-rays and CT scan are good!! No swelling….no redness. But very painful surrounding knee. Diagnosed as nerve pain.
Hopefully will go away… prescribed GABAPENTIN!! 17 weeks out from TKR.
Has anyone had this??
Brescher

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@brescher

Went for 2nd opinion. Not IT BAND !!
All X-rays and CT scan are good!! No swelling….no redness. But very painful surrounding knee. Diagnosed as nerve pain.
Hopefully will go away… prescribed GABAPENTIN!! 17 weeks out from TKR.
Has anyone had this??
Brescher

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Gabapentin can be very helpful for nerve pain. I was taking it before my TKR and went off it however went back on after the TKR because of nerve pain. It will go away in time and the Gabapentin will help. It made me drowsy so I took it all at night. Keep in mind it must be weaned off of when you stop as you can't just stop taking it or there are side effects.

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