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PKR Eileen's knee journey.

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I am sorry you are in so much pain right now. I also had a hard time getting the pain under control so I do understand what you are going through. It will get better. You might need a different medication if the percocet are not helping enough.
 
Yes, as KarriB suggested (and someone else, too, I think) I asked my husband to set his alarm, too, so he would wake me and bring me my pain meds those first few weeks. That worked. I really hope you can talk to the OS soon to get your pain meds reevaluated if you're having this intensity of pain still. But, it is really bad when you get behind on the pain meds in your system. I had that happen too, and was a basket case for a few days! Hang in there! We're with you!
 
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I agree with you about calling your doctor on Monday. I didn't realize you were in the military hospital system and think you're right about those options for weekend support. They are designed for real emergencies where an ER is needed and that wouldn't do you any good at all. Hang in there.....it does get better. We all wonder why we did this in those early days. But that feeling will go away too. Put on some movies, nap as much as possible, and stick with your program. It will be tomorrow very soon.
 
I just remembered one of the other questions that I had. Has anyone else had severe muscle pain right above their knee? I keep having to move my ice pack up over that area because it causes extreme pain in the rest of my knee when it goes on for too long.... It reminds me of before surgery when my muscles would spasm and knee would buckle. Just curious if it is something I need to be concerned about.

Thank you!
 
So sorry about the pain, the first two weeks I took the maximum two norcos every four hours without fail and had ice on and leg elevated about 23 hours a day. After that, my body pretty much let me know I could cut back. I didn't have pain in the place you have described, but plenty of other places that seem to show up, then over several days dissipate. Hope someone can give you more specific answers,
 
Thank you.

Right knee patellofemoral anthroplasy ( partial replacement) 14 October 2016
 
As great lakes said, you'll experince pain all Around the knee due to the trauma of surgery. Some experince zingers that feel a bit like an electrical shock, which means your nerves are connecting again.
 
That's good to know ty both :) I have been having muscle spasms and nerve twinges as well but can't take the gabapentin they prescribed bc last time I was on it it caused me to have full body tremors so going to ask for something else on Monday but my mom is an herbalist and is bringing me something to help that won't interfere with the pain meds yay.

Right knee patellofemoral anthroplasy ( partial replacement) 14 October 2016
 
I have the pain in the muscle right above my knee. I use two ice packs. One on my knee and one on that area. The ice does help.
 
I'm sorry you are in so much pain. Have you considered just icing and leaving off compression until pain is better controlled?

Hang in there. It WILL get better. Right now, rest, elevate and ice (and medicate!) as much as possible. Saying comfort prayers for you right now.


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
I thought about turning the compression off but I can't figure out how. The medical supply guy set it up to docs orders and I'm afraid to mess it up lol

Right knee patellofemoral anthroplasy ( partial replacement) 14 October 2016
 
Hope you pain is getting under control. My dr. Assistant said for the first few weeks after surgery I would dislike them. Because of the pain . I will be watching your post to see how your doing know the others said it but it does get better
 
Thigh pain is probably from the tourniquet during surgery. It will get better. Itching: ask for a pain med switch. I can tolerate oxy but not hydro codone myself . Don't forget any pain med dose!!! Any concerns, ask here, we have gone through this and are all willing to help!

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Hi hacker0721,
I also have had lots of quadriceps-area, above-the-knee pain, too, as well as nerve pain down the TKR leg, along the femoral nerve area. For the nerve pain I was prescribed a muscle relaxer, which I took initially with OxyContin from weeks 2-8, and later with the Bonesmart-buddy recommended combo of Tramadol and Tylenol from the 8-10Th weeks. The above-knee twitchiness has mostly subsided and now I mainly just take Tylenol. It has seemed like many of us experience various nervy feelings, though, and it must be a common experience. The muscle relaxer I really only ever seemed to need at night, and not since about week 11 consistently. So, if it's any reassurance, in my case at least, those uncomfortable nervy-twitchy feelings disappeared relatively early on... hang in there, and know we'll all do our best to help1
 
Thank you everyone for the advice and support! Like I have seen many people post, I thought I had prepared myself enough but was in no way prepared for this. I am calling my OS today they should be in the office in about half an hour so hoping he can help me out with some of this. I have found that the pain in my quad area I can minimize with a heat compress. Ice makes it worse, fun lol. @BBCG, do you know if IBprofuen will work as well as tylenol? With the amount of tylenol based meds I am on (oxy and perc) I would rather not take anymore bc of an existing liver condition.

So glad I ran across Bonesmart when my OS started duscussing PKR, this is definately a recovery process that you need a support network to help over the emotional and mental "humps"
 
I believe BBCG is only taking Tylenol at this point in her recovery, 3 months out. Ibuprofen will not cover your pain at this point, continue your pain meds as prescribed until you speak with the doctor. Let him kno about your pain levels and muscle spasms.
 
Hi sorry to hear about your awful pain. Hope you get it under control soon.
Just to restate what someone above said. You do not need to do much exercise at all. I had a partial two years ago and for the first three weeks apart from a few heel slides and walks around the house, I did nothing. Even after that I took it very slowly, did not do any PT - just heel slides and extension exercises and very few of those but I did walk around every hour or so and started short walks outside. I built up very, very slowly and after three months was in the gym but still slowly and steadily and if anything hurt, I didn't do it again for ages. Ice can be your best friend for now too.
I recovered really well and now can walk for miles and my knee is amazing.
Good luck with your recovery.
 
@hacker0721 After the first week.... it is much less intense pain... not to say you will not have pain, but, it is different in a healing way. You will notice the difference between the before miserable daily pain and the new discomfort after surgery... hang in there! You are on your way to a new pain free life! I can testify to that.
 
Thank you all! Talked to OS nurse this morning and she is going to get him to change my script from perc to something else bc of the itching. I have noticed that I actually feel less pain when I am up and putting slight weight on my foot. Laying down with knee elevated is usually when it hurts the most but the ice is amazing :)
I have been reading thru many of the recovery journals on here and feel better educated, so thank you all!

Right knee patellofemoral anthroplasy ( partial replacement) 14 October 2016
 
Yes, KarriB is correct: I am only taking Tylenol now, at 3 months, and if I'm late with a dose, it isn't a big deal. With a pre-existing liver issue, I'd also be cautious about too much Tylenol, too, hacker0721. A dear friend has had to contend with liver disease now, following many surgeries over many years. I am very glad the OS can prescribe a different pain med combo for you... so glad you could get through to someone so quickly, too! Keep us posted; we're here for you!
 
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