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Total Knee Replacement Pain Levels

Posted by jtturner @jtturner, May 11 6:08am

I am a 56 year old man in the US, and I underwent a TKR surgery on 8 April 2025. At 33 days out I am still experiencing intense pain around my knee and in my thigh. My skin is also very sensitive so application of ice is often very painful (pulsing & throbbing pain). Sleep is almost impossible - I am lucky to get 2-3 hours a night. My range of motion is good (125 degrees). Straightening more difficult but normal. I am also able to do PT exercises and walk without an assistive device. But again, my pain is almost unbearable and people keep telling me such discomfort is abnormal. Should I be concerned yet?

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jtturner | @jtturner | May 28 8:30am
In reply to @thisfatoldlady "Has your doctor considered particle disease? My sister had it in her hip (many years after..." + (show)
@thisfatoldlady

Has your doctor considered particle disease? My sister had it in her hip (many years after the original replacement) - the prosthesis starts shedding particles and the body's immune system attacks them, causing inflammation, and deterioration of the bone and surrounding muscle. She had to have a revision surgery to go in clean it all out, remove and replace the problematic parts of the prosthesis. Her original surgeon kept telling her he couldn't find anything wrong.

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Oh no. A new worry. I will have to do some research, but my guess is I am in the normal range and everything is functioning properly. I’m just one of the unlucky few who have significant pain past four weeks

REPLY
lynnn | @lynnn | May 28 9:40am
In reply to @jtturner "Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me..." + (show)
@jtturner

Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me on a new pain med (non-opiate). I took it last night and had very little pain. Slept through most of the night.

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wow - the new pain med you are on seems like a winner for you. We have to sleep.

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | May 28 10:07am
In reply to @jtturner "Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me..." + (show)
@jtturner

Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me on a new pain med (non-opiate). I took it last night and had very little pain. Slept through most of the night.

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What is the new drug? Sleep and no pain!!!!

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judycat | @judycat | May 28 11:42am
In reply to @lynnn "So sorry you are going through this. I had my TNR in Dec. and had a..." + (show)
@lynnn

So sorry you are going through this. I had my TNR in
Dec. and had a terrible time at night for four months.
Like you, I got hardly any sleep - some nights none. I
cannot take NSAIDS such as Aleve and Tylenol did no good at all. I couldn’t function. No pain during day.
So my surgeon said to get up and walk. When I did, the pain went away, but I couldn’t do that all night. Now since about the last three weeks I have no more pain and can sleep. I may need the other knee done but am very
hesitant to do it again. If you are having daytime pain something needs to be done about that.

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Look into Nano Knee or Jiffy knee....depending where you live. You will need to have PPO insurance. I had the Traditional TKR 10 yrs ago & said that I would never have it again. I live in CA. & had Nano Knee replacement. I only used my walker the first day...
It was not a piece of cake but so much better than the traditional.

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1 reply
judycat | @judycat | May 28 11:45am
In reply to @jtturner "Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me..." + (show)
@jtturner

Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me on a new pain med (non-opiate). I took it last night and had very little pain. Slept through most of the night.

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Wow...what is the drug? I cannot take opiates because they make me so sick! Tylenol , Ibuprofen , NSAIDs o nothing!

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karenheller | @karenheller | May 29 10:19am
In reply to @jtturner "Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me..." + (show)
@jtturner

Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me on a new pain med (non-opiate). I took it last night and had very little pain. Slept through most of the night.

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Do you mind sharing what that drug was?

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dna41 | @dna41 | May 29 11:51am
In reply to @judycat "Look into Nano Knee or Jiffy knee....depending where you live. You will need to have PPO..." + (show)
@judycat

Look into Nano Knee or Jiffy knee....depending where you live. You will need to have PPO insurance. I had the Traditional TKR 10 yrs ago & said that I would never have it again. I live in CA. & had Nano Knee replacement. I only used my walker the first day...
It was not a piece of cake but so much better than the traditional.

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Can you tell me where in CA you had the Nano Knee done?

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judycat | @judycat | May 29 6:23pm

There are several locations in So CA. My friend choose to have his in Burbank I wanted Dr. Thomas Ferro...the inventor of the Nano Knee. I went to his Downey office for a consultation & X-rays. He only does surgery in Arroyo Grande at his Nano Knee Surgical Center. I choose to make a mini vacation & we went in a couple days early & visited the area. Dr. Ferro gives an excellent discount at a local Best Western. Then on Tuesday, 4/8/2025, I had the Nano Knee replacement. I was walking that day. We drove home the next day. I only needed a walker 1 day. I was back to the gym, line dancing & Silver Sneakers after 5 weeks. It was not exactly a piece of cake like the advertisements show...at least not for me. However, the only really pain that I had was at night & it would get hot & ache. I bought an ice machine & then I was able to sleep at night. Some insurances will provide an ice machine. I have United Health Care & they are the worst & will not pay for any extras...I am a widow & had no one to take care of me...however, with the Nano Knee, you do not need a caretaker. With the traditional, I was in the hospital 3 days & Rehab 4 days.
I am traveling to Croatia less than 8weeks after my TKR. At 5-6 weeks, I had 128 flection & could get my leg completely straight.
I had the traditional TKR 10 1/2 yrs ago...It was very successful, but I remember crying & being in so much pain I was so weak & nauseated. I had to do a lot of PT . This is why I chose the Nano Knee There will be out of pocket for the 3-D Scan $8,500 ..But for me, It was worth it . I chose to have the Nano Knee rather than to take an extra trip or remodel! Big difference...after I hear so many horror stories!

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1 reply
lkw0311 | @lkw0311 | 5 days ago
In reply to @jtturner "Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me..." + (show)
@jtturner

Thank you. This gives me hope. Interestingly, I have a new development. My doctor put me on a new pain med (non-opiate). I took it last night and had very little pain. Slept through most of the night.

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What is the medication?

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1 reply
judycat | @judycat | 5 days ago
In reply to @lkw0311 "What is the medication?" + (show)
@lkw0311

What is the medication?

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Celebrex worked best for me...Tylonol & 800 Ibuprofen did not seem to help. I get too sick with
opiates.

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