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TKR Has anyone had a nerve ablation post tkr?
- Thread starter Vida
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jaspa
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@Pumpkin - it was you!
Thank you for the 5s (my name for it). I do this in the morning before I get up for the day. I love it as a way to wake up the leg and gauge my pain levels.
OP
OP
Vida
post-grad
Mods. Could I please change the title of this thread to:
Vida‘s November 2021 knee rollercoaster
As I mentioned previously, my problem at 8 weeks is swelling. I admit I hit the ground running so probably deserved the setbacks but throughout all this, the swelling level has not changed. Meloxicam hasn’t helped at all so I won’t be renewing that prescription. Obviously it interferes with stretching and causes stiffness while walking. I have slowed down considerably thanks to all your advice and am reconciled to it being the year of the knee.
Having said that, I want to help myself where possible. After struggling with horrible nightly tingles from bedding irritation, and found the Saran Wrap method was no longer helping, I ordered a soft woollen knee stock from Amazon, some sort of special fabric. Will report back. And I just picked up an extra large elastic knee support…… extremely light……to add into the mix. I am wearing it while icing and will try wearing it when doing my gentle stretches: never for long periods of time, or overnight. It’s so comfortable and stops the painful catching in the outer side of the knee that seems to be hindering my progress.
Anyone tried light compression? is there a downside to this experiment?
Vida‘s November 2021 knee rollercoaster
As I mentioned previously, my problem at 8 weeks is swelling. I admit I hit the ground running so probably deserved the setbacks but throughout all this, the swelling level has not changed. Meloxicam hasn’t helped at all so I won’t be renewing that prescription. Obviously it interferes with stretching and causes stiffness while walking. I have slowed down considerably thanks to all your advice and am reconciled to it being the year of the knee.
Having said that, I want to help myself where possible. After struggling with horrible nightly tingles from bedding irritation, and found the Saran Wrap method was no longer helping, I ordered a soft woollen knee stock from Amazon, some sort of special fabric. Will report back. And I just picked up an extra large elastic knee support…… extremely light……to add into the mix. I am wearing it while icing and will try wearing it when doing my gentle stretches: never for long periods of time, or overnight. It’s so comfortable and stops the painful catching in the outer side of the knee that seems to be hindering my progress.
Anyone tried light compression? is there a downside to this experiment?
I have not tried the light compression brace but don't get much swelling at this point (but when I do I know I deserve the yelling my knee is doing - lol). I am, however, interested in the expectation and result. As a self-identified fabric tactilist, I am soooo very interested in the soft fabric from Amazon.
I have to say the Meloxicam didn't seem to do much for me either {she gives her disappointed look}.
OP
OP
Vida
post-grad
I can't recall when the nighttime irritation stopped but I no longer have it. I also no longer saran wrap my leg at night, though maybe I should for improved flexibility when I wake.
OP
OP
Vida
post-grad
I am currently trying CBD oil. The cream was irritating to apply, a bit grainy, but the oil from a 5 mg capsule feels heavenly. Will try putting it on at bedtime. My fancy socks are currently on the road. Must say, doing my stretches was much easier with the elastic sleeve and, when I removed it, I was able to walk without stiffness. I realize there is no silver bullet in this recovery arc but it all seems worth a try!
patriciad
senior
Will look forward to an update on the soft fabric Japanese knee warmer. Hope it helps. The sensitivity and irritation are all part of the healing process and will pass but hard to be patient when in discomfort. The meloxicam worked for me at a higher dose of 15mg (originally prescribed 7mg) but honestly it was the ice that gave me the best results. I do live in Florida so constant icing was never an issue but harder to do when you are in colder weather. You will get to the end of this rollercoaster of a knee recovery and the benefits of being pain free will make all this worth it. Hang on in there.
OP
OP
Vida
post-grad
@patriciad Skeptic that I am, the pricey kneesock actually helps! The Binchotan charcoal yarn is soft and cosy and has put an end to the annoying irritation. The best part is that it’s loose enough to slide over the horribly swollen knee and stay put all night. Score.
When it comes to topical pain relief, I have had good results over the last few days with Medistick. I am sure a lot of people who post here have used it before surgery but it’s new to me. (My husband starts looking on Amazon if I even mention I need anything.) The downside is the awful menthol smell, so I only use it at night. Then on goes the warmer. Yesterday I complained that the whole house smelled like a morgue. Then I realized it was just me walking the Medistick scent around with me.
When it comes to topical pain relief, I have had good results over the last few days with Medistick. I am sure a lot of people who post here have used it before surgery but it’s new to me. (My husband starts looking on Amazon if I even mention I need anything.) The downside is the awful menthol smell, so I only use it at night. Then on goes the warmer. Yesterday I complained that the whole house smelled like a morgue. Then I realized it was just me walking the Medistick scent around with me.
patriciad
senior
So @Vida you have warm smelly knees! sounds like you are getting some relief so happy to hear that. I know I am probably in the minority but I really like the smell of menthol so it wouldn’t be bothering me - my eyes might water but the smell would be fine. Glad you have found a solution to the sensitivity-hopefully that will start to ease for you very soon. Had to laugh at your morgue comment - all my fave detectives in Books and TV use menthol under their noses when going into a Morgue. So funny !
OP
OP
Vida
post-grad
Well, at 10 weeks I am really stuck. yesterday I visited my surgeon to ask about the inflammation that has not reduced since leaving hospital and is preventing any and all further progress despite constant icing and elevating. If I drive, or walk more than a couple of blocks, or cycle gently or stretch more than slightly, I am into pain.
He was kind but said there was no quick fix. As meloxicam hasn‘t worked, he doubted any other oral anti inflammatory would help. Said he gets a few patients every year whose knees stay swollen for months and the only solution is to continue with ice and elevation and to reduce activity, which is funny as I really haven’t been doing much at all. He reassured me that the hardware was fine and there was no infection and showed me a massage technique for my husband to perform twice a day. Back in six weeks. At nearly three months I am really struggling to stay optimistic. Pep talks are most welcome.
He was kind but said there was no quick fix. As meloxicam hasn‘t worked, he doubted any other oral anti inflammatory would help. Said he gets a few patients every year whose knees stay swollen for months and the only solution is to continue with ice and elevation and to reduce activity, which is funny as I really haven’t been doing much at all. He reassured me that the hardware was fine and there was no infection and showed me a massage technique for my husband to perform twice a day. Back in six weeks. At nearly three months I am really struggling to stay optimistic. Pep talks are most welcome.
patriciad
senior
@Vida - So some good news today. No infection and implant is fine. These 2 points are very important and a real positive. At 12 weeks there is still plenty of swelling in most new knees especially if we’ve had some sort of setback earlier on. I know that was the case for me with both surgeries. It’s easy to think just about the joint but the trauma to all the internal tissues is considerable. 8 months out on my first TKR I had swelling and pain that took me back to my surgeon. He gave me a steroid shot for Bursitis- I was astounded and naively asked how could I get Bursitis in a fake knee? The answer was that I still had all my ligaments and tissue around the joint that had become inflamed from over doing it. Yours are still very much healing and mending. It can be a year to feel somewhat normal and I know I’m just repeating what you know - it’s a baby knee and needs more time. You will get there! You have a sensible OS that’s for sure.
Sks1997
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@Vida I think you know my journey. I will try to be positive, LOL! There are just some of us, actually a lot of us that are struggling at 6 or more months post-op. That is half way to the time that it takes the soft tissue, tendons, muscles, nerves to heal. My knee is still warm with mild swelling so it has inflammation and still healing. I do get impatient and feel angry at times that I am still dealing with this drama queen of a knee. BUT, I do believe that it is going to heal. I think that most of us try to get back to our “normal activities of life” and our knees just aren’t ready for the activity. And you still are “early in the game”. Keep up the icing and elevating and decreasing activity and you will start to see improvement. It sounds like you have a good and caring doc!
I agree, 10 weeks is still early in this recovery that takes an average of 52 weeks. I was just like you at 10 weeks. I took a long time to feel better, I had more improvement in my second year. I’m sorry that doesn’t really sound like a pep talk, but, I really was amazed at my improvement in my second year. Your improvement will come, hopefully sooner than mine did.
OP
OP
Vida
post-grad
Jockette, patriciad, Sks1997, kneeper
I guess I had a rough couple of days and needed to throw myself a pity party. Enjoyed a good old weep tonight, well out of my long suffering husband’s earshot, pulled up my big girl pants, then fired up the ice machine and stuck the leg back in the air. Going forward I will stick to just holding gentle long stretches without pushing to any pain and will apply the brakes on other activity. Most of all, I will try and cultivate patience that supposedly comes with maturity. Thank you so much. Vicki
I guess I had a rough couple of days and needed to throw myself a pity party. Enjoyed a good old weep tonight, well out of my long suffering husband’s earshot, pulled up my big girl pants, then fired up the ice machine and stuck the leg back in the air. Going forward I will stick to just holding gentle long stretches without pushing to any pain and will apply the brakes on other activity. Most of all, I will try and cultivate patience that supposedly comes with maturity. Thank you so much. Vicki
Last edited by a moderator:
Pity parties are welcome, we’ve all had them, I had many of my own! My husband was a saint, in my recovery! He told me more than once, while hugging me, “We’ll get through this.” I loved how he said “we.”
There are many ups and downs of this recovery and it’s really hard to accept the length of it and how slow it goes.
There are many ups and downs of this recovery and it’s really hard to accept the length of it and how slow it goes.
Sks1997
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@Jockette. What a sweet memory of your husband to treasure.
@Vida Yes we have all had our share of pity parties. I think I cried for almost two months after my surgery and then found BONESMART. I amazingly stopped crying and found out that what was going on was normal and I was encouraged and felt hopeful again! I do have my times of being really disgusted with this recovery though! I think it is a very long and bumpy rollercoaster ride!
@Vida Yes we have all had our share of pity parties. I think I cried for almost two months after my surgery and then found BONESMART. I amazingly stopped crying and found out that what was going on was normal and I was encouraged and felt hopeful again! I do have my times of being really disgusted with this recovery though! I think it is a very long and bumpy rollercoaster ride!
