Crazy Pains!!

[thebeast]

For the past 2 or 3 weeks I have aquired a crazy pain in the knee. When I take a deep breath I get a pain in the bottom of the knee that feels like a tooth would feel after a filling and cold or hot touches it. I know how strange this sounds but, that is the only way I can explain it. I visited the OS on Tuesday and he said that everything looked good. Said that the pain might possibly be "nerve sensitivity.":sct:

Has anyone ever heard of this? I also cannot stand to be in a room with airconditioner. I have had to ajust the thermostat in our house so that I could even live in my own home. When I go out to other places I usually take a lg towel to wrap aroung my knee.

Am I the only one who has this problem?:pzld:

 

[loggon]

I have had crazy pains, but never the cold problem, I keep my house a/c at 64 or 66. I hate the heat esp. at night.

I do get pain that comes and goes but I think it is nerves growing back and some muscle pain.

 

[brs0660]

I'm like Pat keep me coool..

I do have crazy pains. Feels like someone is sticking a needle in my knee. Goes away quickly.

Barb

 

[Motherofmany]

Sounds familiar to me too. Others think I'm crazy when I say sometimes when I take deep breathes or even yawn big, I feel this scraping feeling around the patella. It's really strange and hurts too! Just like you are describing.

I also get the hot poker feeling around the IT Band and then my leg jerks like I've been electricuted. This is Nerve Regeneration as far as I can tell. Not sure about the above problem though, since I haven't figured it out myself.

Hoping yours will get better in time.

 

[thebeast]

You know how you can kind of "feel" the metal with a new filling in a tooth. Well, I told my OS that when i get the pain, I can feel the metal in my knee:shk:! For just a second it almost takes my breath, then, it is gone.

We now keep the temp. in the house at 80:D, just for me. My husband has put a window unit in the study and has now re-located to that room!

 

[Motherofmany]

Forgot to post about the air issue. My PT says TKRs are sensitive to blowing air from fans and AC. Strange since ice seems to help, but it's a different type of cold.

I also have trouble finding balance with the AC and fan going, but with this heat, it's necessary to keep both going otherwise I would ignite.

Thought it would help to know this is normal for others too. Even when I'm hot, I need the knee protected from blowing air and often wrap it even when I'm icing otherwise it aches from the air.

Sounds like your recovery is close to mine. Hope ours improves soon!

Blessings,

 

[loggon]

Really. Cool air or blowing air does not bother mine, but as we always say here each knee is different.

Man if I could not keep the air cold and my fan going I would die. I really hate heat.

 

[Pat29627]

I felt chilled from right after surgery until 8 weeks later. I was chilled to the bone all over my body. When I iced my knee I'd put on layers and lie under a couple blankets. Then when I started Tramadol (Ultram), just 1/2 pill twice a night, the chilliness went away within 3 days.

I've had the little electric jolt nerve pains. I was terrified of RSD since my daughter has it. The doctor said the nerve pains were only the nerves trying to grow back together. He recommended massaging the knee with oil or lotion. I rubbed vitamin E oil into the scar every night, too. That's supposed to make it heal nicely, and mine is looking pretty good.

Pat

 

[Texas]

Yes Beast I couldnt get enough covers on me it was terrible so cold. It will pass thou, everyone is different so I hope it stops soon..Hang in there....All gets better at about 6 weeks...just me....Post anytime...

 

[Jamie]

Beast, I can't recall....when was your surgery?

 

[thebeast]

Jamie, I am approaching week 11 (on Tuesday). I am looking into accupuncture for the nerve sinstivity issues. I had the bedsore on the heel which impeded the pt for about 3 weeks. Now I am in pt 3x a week. ROM is at 95 to 100 and extension is at 5 to7. I still have some pain on a regular basis. My OS said that I should not worry too much about having to still take up to 3 hydrocodones (10/325), daily due to the trauma of the previous 3 surgeries before the TKR. I should be coming off those in the next couple weeks.

 

[Jamie]

Your surgeon sounds very wise. You need to be more concerned about good pain management at this point than worrying about getting off the prescription pain meds. Many here on the forum regularly took pills like hydrocodone for months following surgery. When you need them, you NEED them for pain control. In your case you are playing catch up since you had to wait before starting therapy and an exercise program. But it sounds like you're doing fine with ROM. It will get better as the pain and swelling are either controlled or lessen with time.

I remember feeling lots of funny sensations with my knee. I think that's just part of the process. The strangest one for me was a kind of odd "ache" when (like you) I would take a deep breath. Go figure. It eventually went away and I'm sure your pains will too. Three months is still pretty early in the recovery process. You'll see changes at the 6 month and even at the 1-year point. It's definitely a PROCESS - over time!