TKR Knee extension problem

[Jamie]

There still can be some swelling. The knee compartment is very compact and just a bit of fluid in there can cause pain. You might not even see it from the outside. So...icing is a good idea.

I'm going to tag Jo so that she can comment. With your surgery being last September, it doesn't seem to me that you should be having this much pain. We'll see what she says. @Josephine:

 

[Josephine]

I don't quite get about this pain, CB.
Where is it?
What is it like (throbbing, burning, aching, etc)?
When does it occur?
Are you taking any pain meds?
If so what, how much and how often?
Does rest make it any better?
Does ice make it any better?
What kinds of activity make it worse?

 

[Crybaby]

The pain is in the kneecap, mainly. Also back of the knee. After i have been sitting, even a very short time, i get very stiff. standing up and straightening the knee is painful. Hard to say how it feels, but sore; jolting pain when I put weight on it. Usually not painful to touch but my PT massages it, which hurts like pressing on a bruise and stsys sore for some hours afterwsrd.

The worst part of the day is getting up, standing up and walking to bsthroom,kitchen etc. Jjust a flash of pain. Other bad moments -- getting out of the car ( passenger seat), getting up from my desk. I take pain meds, dilaudd having been cutting them
down per doctor's directions, for over a month. Now movingnto Percocet.

Resting with legs elevated helps. My PT says i have back problems so have trouble standing up straight. Walking is very slow, very tiring.but i do walk, do go out, do work, try to have kind of normal life and to getmy mind off the knee. Right now iam lying down,legs elevated, and the knee is throbbing. But I can usually distract myself from it by reading,

 

[Josephine]

Do you think you have back problems? Have you had back problems before?

I think you need to consider a second opinion, preferably from someone who is totally unconnected with your present surgeon and who is also a revision specialist. This is not to say I think you need a revision, but such surgeons are more used to identifying and sourcing problems than regular knee surgeons are.

Can you do that?

 

[Dhare63]

Hi CB,

I have no real advice as Jo and Jamie are the pro's here, but do know that we feel your pain and pray for comfort and relief for you. This can be such a tenuous journey, and as such makes it hard to know what to do next. I hope you seek the second opinion and can get some answers.

Keep us posted and take care, Dawn

 

[Retsel]

CB
Just catching up on your posts. I am so sorry you are still in so much pain and not feeling stable enough to use a cane.
I had my first surgery on 8/29 three weeks before yours. My knee still gets stiff when I sit for a period of time. I do still experience some pain however not as much as you describe. I have trouble sleeping in bed because I just can't get comfortable enough to sleep all night. I do however sleep much better in the recliner. I have read it on here and my OS told me it would take up to a year to heal from TKR.

I do hope things improve for you soon. I agree that you should look for a revision specialist for a 2nd opinion.

Best of luck to you....

 

[grabbit97]

I had my surgery 8/4/11. I am still experiencing pain under the knee across the leg.. like a band of steel... also pain that goes from the knee up L4 (quad muscle) to the hip flexor area... I am taking tylenol and advil, a couple of times a day... I feel for your pain, as I said, I too still have pain.. OS says operated knee is great... it just takes TIME...
So with that said, we endure, and know that hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Crybaby]

Thank you all for for your concern and good wishes.

 

[Jamie]

CB.....Jo's idea to talk with a different doctor is an excellent one. Do you know when you had your TKR if they put in a patellar button?