TKR 68, good health. Knee replacement 6 weeks ago.

[Josephine]

I am a little afraid to try it from things I have heard.

It rather depends what kind of steroids he is talking about. Do you know? It could be prednisolone or Methylprednisolone. One is the organic compound and the other is a synthetic substance. Obviously the latter doesn't have the same side effects as the former.

 

[HowardGeek]

It is a methylprednisolone 5 day pack. I have issues with mood swings so that is why I am hesitant to try it. I see a back specialist on July 8th for Sciatica and was going to wait for his ex before I take the steriods. In the mean time I am in pain at night and limping and sore all day. The pain I have now is more like what I had at week 4.

 

[Josephine]

Well if it's M-prednisone then you have nothing to worry about. Because it is a synthetic compound, the side effects are almost non-existent. I've been having this injected into my shoulders (and other places!) for about 15 years and still going strong!

Cortisone shots: are they safe and is there a limit to how many?

 

[HowardGeek]

Not shots 21 pills in 5 days.

 

[kneeper]

Do you have a particular medical condition that makes you concerned about interactions etc?
I had a short course of steroids such as you describe (for a different situation) and had no issues. What my doc told me was that you did want to taper down. That was in fact how it was prescribed--this many on day one...this many on day 5.
Have you talked to your doctor about it?

 

[Josephine]

Not shots 21 pills in 5 days.

Oh, my mistake. I've never come across an oral type. However, I looked it up and it has a bit of a problem with side-effects. Read this

 

[possum65]

I have had 5 day tapering dose prednisone courses from time to time with asthma flare ups. It doesn't cause me any adverse effects over this short time frame. I am on treatment for long term depression, so I was a bit reluctant to rock the boat with this drug. Everyone is different, so it's hard to say if you will be adversely affected or not.
Works wonders for inflammation, in my case respiratory.

 

[Atlas_aus]

@HowardGeek ,

Firstly thank you for your service. I too am an Australian Vet with 22yrs service. It seems your VA is very similar to our DVA and everything takes months.... But I guess it is better than what the general public have.

The tendon on the outside of my knee gets tight and Real sore. That is where moist of my pain comes from. Will this correct itself in time or does something need to be done. Anyone else had this issue that resolved it.

I had both my knees done and they both have these symptoms. Although I have very little swelling (if any) I am still icing and have just started using a TENS machine on these areas with good success.

Only 5 weeks out myself but I am having a good run so far. Sleeping is possibly the hardest part, trying to find a comfortable position. Clearly I am moving a lot in my sleep as I end up trapped in my doona (blanket) in the morning !

I have only had 1 PT appt since recovery started and I am back tomorrow and will have weekly ones from then. It's a hard balance as I have had 2 lower back surgeries and it seems any exercise that has me on my back and lifting my legs sets my back off.... This has happened twice now after the PT exercises so I have cut hem out completely and will have to come up with an alternative.

At the end of the day we need to realiase we have had some major surgery and our bodies need time to heal. Just going about our daily lives gives us a lot of exercise is our depleted states and recovery is going to take time.

Good luck.

 

[HowardGeek]

My Surgeons assistant ordered a knee sleeve and sent a prescription to the VA. I had to go into have a fitting. The head of the PT department did an exam and a fitting. She said that in 25 years she had never seen a knee so loose and clunking. She didn't give me a sleeve but rather a brace with metal hinges. I made an appointment to see my surgeon on Monday. He is difficult and I am nervous about what is going on. I finished my steroid pack with no major improvement but at least no real side effects.

 

[Jockette]

He is difficult and I am nervous about what is going on

I understand being nervous about theses appointments. I hope your surgeon will listen to your concerns and be supportive and help you. Let us know how it goes.

 

[HowardGeek]

The surgeon says there is nothing wrong with my knee but I have trouble walking on it and pain all the time. The tightness on the outside grows worse. I saw the back doctor and he said I have neuropathy and sciatica. Ordered a MRI which happens in a couple of week. At this point I feel as though I am worse then before the surgery and may never get better. Just need to learn to live with it.

 

[HowardGeek]

I saw the doctor this week and he gave me a shot into my tendon. It will take time to see if it helps. He returned me to physical therapy and the evaluation shows I have lost range of motion and strength from where I was at at even 4 weeks. Very disappointing.

 

[HowardGeek]

after 4 months I have pain all the time - my knee has a pocket of fluid on it - I have difficulty getting out of a chair. The good part is I have goo range of motion. My knee burns at night. That is the only way I can describe the pain.
I am no longer getting any treatment and gave up on PT as it did not help. The last cortisone shot helped some but not sure if I should keep getting those. The IT band is inflamed and very tight.

 

[marieltha]

Sorry you are in pain. Think of it as a stage in your recovery.
From my own experience, I find it is easy to overdo (especially if you have been active) and even more significant, it is very easy to strain, sprain, and even tear the soft tissue in the “bad” leg and in the “good” leg. Super sensitive to twisting of any sort!
I sprained the ligament on the inside of the “good” knee and it is a slow process for it to heal, stop hurting, and re-gain strength. I was told to rest it for 5 days, then very very slowly begin using it again, wearing a stretchy brace with straps (no stays—those are usually for tears, I was told). Then, when I felt like it wasn’t going to give out, start slowly walking in a pool.
I have done all this. Still am doing it. The slow walking in the pool has really helped.
It is finally feeling like it is healing. I’m 2 1/2 months past the diagnosis of the sprained ligament. Told it would probably take 5 to recover.
Sprains happen. You will recover.

 

[HowardGeek]

After 6 months I am still in pain all the time. Cannot walk for more then a half hour without pain and sitting watching tv hurts. The doctor keeps saying it will take a year and I hope he is right.

 

[Celle]

Recovery can take a full year, sometimes even longer. I hope that your knee does improve with time.
Meanwhile, try walking for shorter periods, so you don't upset your knee more.
Are you elevating your leg when you're watching TV, or at least having it straight out in front of you? I found that I couldn't sit for long with my knee bent and my foot flat on the floor.
Pain: Movie sign in TKR

 

[HowardGeek]

It has now been 15 months since my knee replacement. I have had pain the entire time. The outside along the side of the knee hurts even when I sit or sleep. I cannot walk any distance. I have had multiple cortisone shots and braces etc. The surgeon says he sees no problem, I waited for 5 months to see someone but the VA never approved it. I have full range of motion so it appears the problem is probably soft tissue. My VA doctor says it is the IT band. She wanted to do more physical therapy but I had months of that. She finally gave me a prescription for Tramedol which I seldom take. With Covid I am reluctant to see any doctors now as I have other health issues and the VA offices have not been open. I owe them money but even their finance offices are closed.

 

[sistersinhim]

I am so sorry that you are having this problem with your knee. I found this information in our library. Maybe this might help you. https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/itb-ilio-tibial-band-issues-and-treatments.18936/