TKR 2 months out new pain

[susanne]

Can anyone help. Just went thru another replacement 2 days ago
Having so much trouble with calf spasms, seizing up on me
So intense goes to my brain
Any suggestions how to alleviate this
Pure torture
But my knee doesn’t feel to bad 2 days out of surgery

 

[Pumpkin]

@susanne
Welcome back to BoneSmart!
Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble with calf spasms, have you called your surgeon? They may be able to give you something for the spasms.
Here is an article about magnesium, it can help with spasms.
Magnesium is a Star!

Suggest you bookmark your thread so you can find it easily next time you sign on.

Here is your copy of the Knee Recovery Guidelines, the articles are short and will not take long to read.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:

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rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

don't overwork.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

​

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

​

the BoneSmart view on exercise​

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

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Activity progression for TKRs​

6. Access these pages on the website

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Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds


We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.

OneStep App Request

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[Jamie]

Hi, @susanne .... sorry to hear you've needed another joint replacement, but we'll help you get through any challenges you're facing. Be sure and read all those articles Pumpkin left for you to refresh yourself on things to help with your recovery. In these early weeks ice, rest , elevation, and pain management are really important.

The spasms happen sometimes. Usually it's a factor of trying to do too much in the early days and not having adequate pain management. Also, be very sure you are drinking plenty of plain water each day and taking a Magnesium supplement.

 

[eaglemom]

Let me just add three more things that will hopefully help you out here.

When your icing are you elevating properly? If could be your position isn't correct, thus a possible reason for cramping.

From the TKR many times our electrolyte's are off, causing issues. Maybe try having some Gatorade, preferably the light green one. I believe its lemon - lime, but I'm not certain on that.

And finally if these continue possibly call your surgeon and explain what is happening. You might need a muscle relaxant for a short time. That is not unheard of.

We are here to help you. Let us know how your doing.

 

[susanne]

Thanks for all your suggestions.
This knee replacement was much easier than the first one except for my calf seizing up
I take meds for this prescribed by my neurologist but obviously not working
I am able to bend my knee which I couldn’t do with the other surgery
This surgeons PA said not to use wedge bc they don’t want knee to stay in bent position
But I’m ordering one anyway
I’ll stay in touch. Visiting PT coming today
Thanks again.
feel like I’m home again

 

[sistersinhim]

This surgeon's PA said not to use wedge bc they don’t want the knee to stay in a bent position
But I’m ordering one anyway

This thinking is from the old school. It has been found that a slight bend doesn't affect the extension at all and is much more comfortable, allowing better sleeping, which allows better healing.

 

[susanne]

I used my wedge extensively back in 2014 when I had my first knee replacement
Surgery was so different from last time. They use robotics now to get the exact placement of part.
I was able to bend my knee 76 degrees on Monday Today Thursday is 1 week since surgery . Also my foot looks like Fred Flintstone. So swollen. Guess it’s such a catch 22 as they say walk and do chair exercises and everything swells
And regarding wedge both nurses, pt and PA said not to use wedge, but to elevate foot under ankle
Thank you all again for all the useful information

 

[Jockette]

And regarding wedge both nurses, pt and PA said not to use wedge,

This is interesting, my hospital sent a wedge home with me and my surgeon really wanted me to use it.

This is the elevation a lot of us find helpful:

Elevation: Doing It the Right Way

Updated September 11, 2022 by Jamie Proper elevation is one of the best ways to help with pain and swelling following either hip or knee surgery. Many people elevate improperly, which can dramatically lower the effectiveness. In the weeks following your surgery, make sure you elevate your...

bonesmart.org

 

[susanne]

I know all about wedges from my last tkr
I agree it was the best thing to use
And still not sure why they all say not to
I think I’ll stick to my intuition and find my wedge !

 

[Jamie]

There are a number of surgeons these days who want patients to achieve as much extension as possible early in their recovery. Extension is critical because having it near or at zero ensures your gait can normalize.

But we sometimes find that trying to elevate only by putting support under your heel can be quite painful for people for long periods of time for quite a while in recovery. If it's causing significant pain, you are more likely to have swelling.

Since one of the main goals of elevation is to prevent pain and swelling, you'll need to find a balance that works for your body between the support provided by a foam wedge and time spent working on extension. Just be sure when using pillows or a foam wedge that you don't have anything directly behind the knee joint.

 

[Pumpkin]

Susanne said:
"But I noticed today that leg between bandaged knee and 1/4up from ankle is getting very red
I don’t have temperature and the site is a little warm
Would icing on that area take the redness away?"


Is your bandage too tight? If you can loosen it a little.
You need to keep your leg elevated and iced when you are not up for eating, bathroom, etc. So the swelling can go down.
If you leg becomes red, hot, painful, and swollen call your surgeons office for guidance.

Did you find your wedge?

Keep us posted on how you are doing?

 

[susanne]

Hi again. I must have blocked out my past experiences with replacements because my new knee has not given me any trouble so far.
I’m only 2 weeks out, but the swelling in my leg is not decreasing. Hat sonogram no clots
My foot looks like Shrecks
Thigh so swollen
Calf so tight and than cramps
I’ve been
Elevating.
icing
Pt exercises ( very minimal)
And of course cry
I just want to stick a pin in my leg to release fluid
Any other suggestions?
Thanks again

 

[Pumpkin]

@susanne
You'll notice that I have merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread. For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

So please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here. If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we'll get it changed for you.
If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.

Many members bookmark their thread in their computer browser, so they can find it when they log on.
How can I find my threads and posts?

 

[Susie-Q]

@susanne , did you have compression hose this time? It seems like this might help you with your foot swelling..... I had the horrible thigh-high compression hose with my first TKR and only the knee-high ones this time for two weeks. This time I had the robot too, like you. It's hard for me to compare the two since the first one was so long ago. Good luck to you in your recovery......

 

[Pumpkin]

Look for a Lymphedema specialist, could be a PT, OT, or a massage therapist. Be sure they have a certification from one of the lymphedema schools. They are experts in getting swelling down.

You can try this, it worked for me to help get the swelling down, in the order listed.
5 relaxation breaths, 5 ankle pumps, 5 gluteal sets ( squeeze your rear end), and 5 quad sets (press your knee into the bed)

 

[susanne]

Thank you all for the suggestions.
Surgeon keeps saying it’s normal but I don’t remember having my lower limb so swollen
It’s getting so unbearable and the pain is so intense
But the good part is knee doesn’t hurt, just everything else does
Calling surgeon tomorrow
Thanks again

 

[Jamie]

Well....being normal doesn't mean you can't do something to make it better. Pumpkin's suggestion can make a real difference for you.

 

[Pumpkin]

@susanne
Susanne said
"Just wondering why my ankle hurts so badly
I’ve been icing and elevating
And then the cramping starts
Not sure what else I can do
Funny thing knee doesn’t hurt too much
Just when I get up and swelling goes down to my foot
I just don’t remember having these issues when I had my other knee done 7years ago
Suggestions
Thank you"

You fractured your right ankle in 2018, suspect it may be related to the symptoms you are having now.

If you have compression socks they might help with the swelling you are having.

Give your surgeon a call and let them know you are having cramping.

 

[dogwalker2]

I had cramping issues with my first TKR, not so much this time round. I agree that it is horrible. What helped me was frequent changes of position, calf massage (always upwards, towards the knee) and walking about.

 

[susanne]

Thanks all
I’m not so sure if my fractured ankle has anything to do with this, unless they manipulated my leg in a weird position. I have appt with surgeon November 5th but I’m hoping to see him sooner
But in the meantime I text with PA every day with my list of “hurts”
To be continued……..