Crashed on Day 9 - lower back pain

[maggy]

Has anyone else experienced lower back pain that is on one side and goes down your hip and leg? I'm thinking the sciatic nerve. My TKR was on Jan. 6 and everything was manageable for the most part and moving along well when yesterday this pain started. It feels exactly like back labour and has really thrown me for a loop. I can't sleep with my brace on anymore as it really is unbearable. My meds don't help it at all. I've been using a hot pad as it always feels cold. I thought I'd thrown things out of whack by leaning on my cane so I'm very careful now not to lean on it. Most of the day I've been walking around as that is the least painful position.

I have my second PT session tomorrow and don't know how I'll make it through the exercises where you're on the table.

It sure is encouraging to read the posts by those who are farther along and seem to be past this bad part. Thanks to those who post those...they're my light at the end of the tunnel right now.

Mag

 

[Nursepair]

Sounds like the sciatic nerve to me had it lots over the years. Do you have a walker you could use? That would make sure you had even balance not all one sided.

I always find a heat pad and lying flat for a day helps heal it quicker, just get up for the bathroom etc. And take your painkillers as per Jo's chart. I also find shiatsu helps, but that may not be feasable as you are only 9 days out. It is a very gentle massage for your whole body.

Hope it feels better soon... Sue

 

[Josephine]

... or a chiropractor. Was probably because you've been walking lopside which is why walkers are so much better,

 

[beachcomber]

Maggy,
It is really important that your therapist knows about your back. They will show you how to adapt your exercises to place less stress on that nerve. I had lumbar surgery for a herniated disk only 3 weeks after my knee replacement due to nerve damage and foot drop. We think the limping is what put me over the edge on my back....

Be sure to bend your other knee when you do leg lifts or any exercise that requires you to be on your back. I find heating pads to be most helpful to relax the tight muscles in my back and relieve pressure on the nerve. You may need a prescription for muscle relaxers as well.

 

[Gretchendz]

Yes. I had something similar really bad the first few weeks after my second TKR. It was driving me crazy--maybe even more than the knee.

My home PT had me lie on my other side with the leg that hurt resting on a very high pillow (or even pile of pillows) and swung forward. Basically, this stretched it out and relaxed it. The idea is to get it up and over and stretched gently.

This really helped get rid of it. I got initial relief after a few hours of doing that the first day. Whenever it came back, I would do that again and it would relieve it. Eventually it never came back.

 

[maggy]

Thanks all. Jo I think your thoughts that a walker may have prevented this are absolutely correct. I hope other newbies read this.

Beachcomber, my therapist yesterday said to make sure that I was walking without any limp and mostly leaving my cane behind. She showed me how to protect my back when doing my exercises. You're right about the heat. I'm living with my bag of microwavable oats behind me. How did you get through another surgery at three weeks? You must be tough.

I'm very lucky in that I have a son who does acupuncture and he came a gave me a treatment yesterday, which gave me some relief.

Gretendz, I'm going to try the high pillow thing. I do feel that a good stretch would be helpful. Thanks.

I can't lie down in one position for very long so staying on my back for is day is unthinkable. I don't know how one would be able to do that after TKR.

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice.

Now to get through one more day.
Mag

 

[hollie9]

I had terrible back pain for a month or so after my TKR. I was able to walk pretty well without a walker or anything. I'm quite sure my back pain was caused by spending so much time in bed icing my knee.

My PT started treating me for back pain as well as the TKR. The back pain eventually went away when I didn't need to ice so much and was able to be up and about more.

Hollie