12 wks., still hurting???

[hedgep]

Hi, I've posted before with nerve pain after my RTKR. Have been put on Gabapentin for that with some success. BUT, I am still in constant pain on the right side of the knee, with excessive pain when going down stairs. I am also the hairdresser that went back to work, so I'm just confused and worried that all this is too much. I have heard from a women who had both knees done on the same day as I, and she is just great, no pain at all. Am I an exception to the rule or is she? Am I just a whimp or is this normal? Any idea about this nerve stinging and how long that will last? Do I go see some other kind of doctor for that or just keep with the OS? Okay, I think that will keep you busy today. Thanks for this forum, it's a mind saver!

 

[Gretchendz]

Sorry you are still hurting.


We all heal at very different rates, so do not judge yourself by someone who says they were pain-free much earlier.

You might have returned to work too soon, it's hard for us to say. Many of us were still on some level of pain med at 12 weeks out.


Some questions:

1) Do pain meds help reduce or eliminate the pain you describe? Even at 12 weeks out, I sometimes took vicodin (for PT or other times when I knew it would hurt) and I was on a steady diet of ibuprofen.

2) Is the pain getting a little bit better each week?

3) Does it help when you rest, elevate, and ice at the end of the day?

If there are not some improvements, I would see my OS first. (I assume you have had post-op x-rays and nothing bad showed up there.)

 

[Josephine]

It's quite possible an ITB (ilio-tibial band) inflammation, hedgep, and very common. There are ITB stretches you can do to help alleviate it. Pain killers and/or anti-inflammatories will help as well. Icing is good but obviously you can't do that at work! If all else fails, see you doctor. Or you might pay you PT a visit and get them to do some deep massage.

This is the ITB

BTW, remember to refer to the 'sides' of your knee as outside/lateral or inside/medial. Right means different things in each leg! Think about it! The right side of the right knee is lateral, of the left knee is medial!

 

[hedgep]

Thanks for the responses. Yes, I believe the ITB on the lateral side of my right knee is the problem. I will look up the stretches you mentioned and try them. For the other questions; Yes, the percocet helps reduce, but not eliminate the pain. I just feel like I've been on it for a long time. Ibuprofin does nothing.
I'm not sure if the pain is reducing at all, but between the workouts and work, I know I'm asking alot of my knee. The xrays were excellent and walking is no problem. Most of the pain occurs when I'm still. Hope that makes it clearer.

 

[Max Wallace]

I still have some pain going down stairs at 4 months post op but I have found that the stronger my Quads are the less pain I have. When I do my PT and really work on the quads for strength I have less pain on the stairs. The pain I have is more of an annoince not enough to effect the way I go up and down.

Max BI-TKR 5 months ago.

In my opinion the quads need to be stronger for the new knee to work properly compared to a natural knee. This again is my opinion not any clinical studies.

 

[Jamie]

Max, you are still very early in the whole recovery process and it is VERY normal to have pain like you describe. You are correct, though, that working on your quads will be beneficial. Go to it!!!

 

[Linda2]

My IT band gave me fits after my surgery, but all the stretches helped. So did release moves from the PT and e-stim. Mine will still tighten up a bit occasionally, but I can stretch it easily now and all is well.

 

[Jamie]

Hedgep....sorry I missed answering your post somehow.....

Really not too much I can add - the info you received was right on the mark. But try not to feel bad if healing takes you a little longer than someone else. It sounds to me like you are well within the "normal" range with what is going on. And, as I remember, you did make a push to go back to work early - and work involves at least a fair amount of standing, twisting, bending. All that can make a difference. Even though you might not see it, you could have some soft tissue swelling. There isn't much room inside the knee and that pain can be in a variety of places. And it can move from day to day....mine did!! Hang in there!!!

 

[Judles]

And think POSITIVE, Hedge! Since you're on your feet a lot, you need to be good to yourself when you get some down time!

 

[Josephine]

Thanks for the responses. Yes, I believe the ITB on the lateral side of my right knee is the problem. I will look up the stretches you mentioned and try them. For the other questions; Yes, the percocet helps reduce, but not eliminate the pain. I just feel like I've been on it for a long time. Ibuprofin does nothing.
I'm not sure if the pain is reducing at all, but between the workouts and work, I know I'm asking alot of my knee. The xrays were excellent and walking is no problem. Most of the pain occurs when I'm still. Hope that makes it clearer.

Are you using ice to the max? It's great for drug-free pain relief.