Three months post TKR and late night lateral knee pain question.

Posted by zoobird1 @zoobird1, May 11, 2023

I had my left knee replaced three months ago and have been sleeping well the last 2 to 3 weeks which is fantastic.
I’m doing fairly well during the day icing a couple of times, taking Tylenol and using diclofenac gel. I’m walking about three days a week for thirty minutes. The last several nights I have had such squeezing and tight pain on the lateral side of my knee and I cannot get to sleep and I’m very restless. Can’t even stay in one position for minutes. I’m very careful not to eat after nine o’clock as that will keep me awake. Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

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You might try some MFR and/ or massage in that area. I have a Theragun massager which helps and a foam roller for MFR. you can look online and/or YouTube for more on this. Also acupuncture may help. Unfortunately I am 21 months out and still in pain but going to get a fourth consult as the first three doctors all have different opinions.

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@mpirruccel

You might try some MFR and/ or massage in that area. I have a Theragun massager which helps and a foam roller for MFR. you can look online and/or YouTube for more on this. Also acupuncture may help. Unfortunately I am 21 months out and still in pain but going to get a fourth consult as the first three doctors all have different opinions.

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Thank you for replying! I do need to massage more than I do.
At about 3:00 this morning I read in several sources that Tramadol actually can cause sleep disturbances.
And I wonder if I'm burning my knee area tissue with the Diclofenac gel. Very sensitive and scaly. It's better today since I quit using it.
I am so sorry about your ongoing pain and I wish you the best.

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I had very bad knee pain for years due to the hip problem. I still sometimes use 2 salonpas on my knee and a compression knee sleeve that I buy on amazon. That might be of some help.

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Thank you so much. I’ll look into both those. Hadn’t thought of that duh.
Sorry for you enduring such pain for so long.

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@linnie1948

I had very bad knee pain for years due to the hip problem. I still sometimes use 2 salonpas on my knee and a compression knee sleeve that I buy on amazon. That might be of some help.

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Thanks for your reply. The knee sleeves sometimes help sometimes not. Taping seems to be the most consistent treatment to take the edge off the pain. But can only have on for a few days and then off to allow skin to breathe.

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Can you take ibuprofen? I asked the doctor for Tramadol when the pain got so severe that I almost cried. 25 mgs with acetaminophen took off the edge but I was never pain free. Surgery was four months ago and my knee is feeling much better. When I had my x-rays last week for my hip post op I asked them to take x-rays of my knee. Was surprised that I only have a bit of arthritis in the knee. Surgeon said it could take years before it becomes a problem. I had no idea that a bad hip could produce so much pain in the knee.

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@linnie1948

Can you take ibuprofen? I asked the doctor for Tramadol when the pain got so severe that I almost cried. 25 mgs with acetaminophen took off the edge but I was never pain free. Surgery was four months ago and my knee is feeling much better. When I had my x-rays last week for my hip post op I asked them to take x-rays of my knee. Was surprised that I only have a bit of arthritis in the knee. Surgeon said it could take years before it becomes a problem. I had no idea that a bad hip could produce so much pain in the knee.

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I’ve been cautioned about ibuprofen and last December my primary doc took me off naproxen due to slightly negative lab results. Switched to just Tylenol. After TKR in February my surgeon put me on oxycodone and both. Now the two (Ty and Ib) does help - just one doesn’t. I’m to the point where “just get me fairly pain free and I’ll deal with the lab/ internal issues later. I know things could be much worse! I have an ace bandage I’ll try. Did get to sleep last night and it was wonderful!
Thank you again.

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@zoobird1

I’ve been cautioned about ibuprofen and last December my primary doc took me off naproxen due to slightly negative lab results. Switched to just Tylenol. After TKR in February my surgeon put me on oxycodone and both. Now the two (Ty and Ib) does help - just one doesn’t. I’m to the point where “just get me fairly pain free and I’ll deal with the lab/ internal issues later. I know things could be much worse! I have an ace bandage I’ll try. Did get to sleep last night and it was wonderful!
Thank you again.

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Acetaminophen appears to be safer and works well with oxy. Just have to keep the mgs of acetaminophen (Tylenol) under 3000 total. I used to take acetaminophen round the clock for years but after surgery I’m taking about 50 percent less. Also I have heard that a TKR is worse than a THR. Hang in there.

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@mpirruccel

You might try some MFR and/ or massage in that area. I have a Theragun massager which helps and a foam roller for MFR. you can look online and/or YouTube for more on this. Also acupuncture may help. Unfortunately I am 21 months out and still in pain but going to get a fourth consult as the first three doctors all have different opinions.

Jump to this post

I am 4 1/2 months out of surgery. I had to go back in hospital and have a manipulation. I still get stiff off & on & I am still having trouble with range of motion. I had night pain for a long time. I went to a chiropractor and he adjusted me 3-4 times and I am sleeping much better. Knee may wake me up a couple times but usually I have my knee bent and it needs straightened out. Before I took a relaxer & a oxycodone to sleep. Still have pain, swelling & stiffness off & on through out day. I do a lot of icing & I pedal to relieve stiffness. This is my 2nd knee replacement. Other one went some better but still hard. I am now using a dynasplint to try & improve range of motion. Has anyone else used this & was it successful. I just got it about 2 weeks ago - 4 mos post surgery. Can I still improve ROM this late in the game?

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@linnie1948

Acetaminophen appears to be safer and works well with oxy. Just have to keep the mgs of acetaminophen (Tylenol) under 3000 total. I used to take acetaminophen round the clock for years but after surgery I’m taking about 50 percent less. Also I have heard that a TKR is worse than a THR. Hang in there.

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Thank you!
I’ve heard that also about THR. 😀

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