stellar_knee_soon
new member
Hello,
This is my first post. I had a TKR on October 15th 2013 and surgically it went well (i.e nice looking xray).
However, from the onset I have had continued extreme pain and inflammation around my knee. I was in Hospital for 4 weeks post op and had aggressive PT from the second week (during the first week my leg was too swollen to bend at all from my ankle to my thigh). I have been doing PT 3 times a week since discharge, this includes 45 mins in the gym and 45 mins in the pool. I frequently was unable to do any of my exercises at home after a day of PT as my leg was so swollen and excruciatingly sore despite strong pain medication.
I also had excruciating calf cramps which have only been alleviated for a few weeks since being switched to Lyrica (not sure why they took so long to do this as I felt the cramps at night undid all my stretches in the day) I have 70-90 degrees flexion and 0-10 degrees extension depending on how much I have done at PT or been on my feet (it deteriorates the more I do). It seems the harder I try the worse it gets - yet the therapist just says I have to get over it.
I've had severe rheumatoid arthritis for 30 years, so I am familiar with strong pain - yet my knee feel so inflamed that I don't want to force it any more as I can almost instantly feel it swell. My surgeon is not satisfied with my bend and I am scheduled for and MUA next Tuesday. He said that he wants me to do PT every day afterwards, but I am afraid of repeating the same mistakes, i.e if I am in such pain and my knee is so angry, should I push it as this failed the first time.
At the same time, I feel a bit powerless to argue with the PT as they make you feel soft for not being able to get through the pain. I had a hip replaced 15 years ago and I've had natural childbirth, all of which I didn't complain about (or feel so much pain), so I feel like I'm not just being soft. I've also got a tendency to produce keloid scars, which I did with my hip so I accept that I may just be full of scar tissue.
I also feel like I've damaged my medial ligament as it is now extremely painful to lift my knee in certain angles and go up stairs even in the pool - this only began after a vigorous PT session. My surgeon was uninterested and said that I need to get my muscles stronger.
Although I willing to have the MUA in the hope some of the pain is due to scar tissue I am afraid that the outcome will be the same, and that I know I can't try any harder than I have. I wonder if the continued inflammation is going to cause the same issues and if anyone had any suggestions for mentally and physically getting through the MUA and recovery and not repeating the same mistakes?
many thanks,
This is my first post. I had a TKR on October 15th 2013 and surgically it went well (i.e nice looking xray).
However, from the onset I have had continued extreme pain and inflammation around my knee. I was in Hospital for 4 weeks post op and had aggressive PT from the second week (during the first week my leg was too swollen to bend at all from my ankle to my thigh). I have been doing PT 3 times a week since discharge, this includes 45 mins in the gym and 45 mins in the pool. I frequently was unable to do any of my exercises at home after a day of PT as my leg was so swollen and excruciatingly sore despite strong pain medication.
I also had excruciating calf cramps which have only been alleviated for a few weeks since being switched to Lyrica (not sure why they took so long to do this as I felt the cramps at night undid all my stretches in the day) I have 70-90 degrees flexion and 0-10 degrees extension depending on how much I have done at PT or been on my feet (it deteriorates the more I do). It seems the harder I try the worse it gets - yet the therapist just says I have to get over it.
I've had severe rheumatoid arthritis for 30 years, so I am familiar with strong pain - yet my knee feel so inflamed that I don't want to force it any more as I can almost instantly feel it swell. My surgeon is not satisfied with my bend and I am scheduled for and MUA next Tuesday. He said that he wants me to do PT every day afterwards, but I am afraid of repeating the same mistakes, i.e if I am in such pain and my knee is so angry, should I push it as this failed the first time.
At the same time, I feel a bit powerless to argue with the PT as they make you feel soft for not being able to get through the pain. I had a hip replaced 15 years ago and I've had natural childbirth, all of which I didn't complain about (or feel so much pain), so I feel like I'm not just being soft. I've also got a tendency to produce keloid scars, which I did with my hip so I accept that I may just be full of scar tissue.
I also feel like I've damaged my medial ligament as it is now extremely painful to lift my knee in certain angles and go up stairs even in the pool - this only began after a vigorous PT session. My surgeon was uninterested and said that I need to get my muscles stronger.
Although I willing to have the MUA in the hope some of the pain is due to scar tissue I am afraid that the outcome will be the same, and that I know I can't try any harder than I have. I wonder if the continued inflammation is going to cause the same issues and if anyone had any suggestions for mentally and physically getting through the MUA and recovery and not repeating the same mistakes?
many thanks,