knee replaced sept.5 (still problems)

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joy

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hello, i am new to this site, but wanted to get some feedback.wondering if anyone else shares my frustrations. i am 49 y.o.,swimmer,before surgery did a lot of exercises to keep in shape, not over weight. i had my first knee surgery at 17 ( not a scope), soccer injury,then two more surgeries,injuries from sports and snow skiing. i have systemic lupus, which does complicate my situation. tkr done sept.5,2007. had to have a second procedure done to break up the scare tissue on oct 31. so back in the hospital for four days. i sincerely,did all my exercise and did everything the p.t. told me to do. my insurance has stopped extending physical therapy, so going to the gym on my own and swimming every morning.. can hardly walk in the morning because of stiffness and my knee is still very swollen and painful. i finally got back to work after 13 weeks off, and on my feet doing ultrasounds all day, which i am sure doesn't help. very frustrated because of the pain and swelling and sleeplessness. my doctor keeps telling me it will get better and asked if i wanted to see a pain control specialists. has anyone else been to a pain control place because of the tkr? does it help? thanks for any help.joy
 
Hello, Joy, and welcome.

Sadly yes, a small percentage of people do have extensive problems such as this. And as you say, your Lupus doesn't help as it was probably responsible for the excessive scar tissue you had to have dealt with.

You don't mention that you are using ice packs and elevation to ease your swelling. That's all I can suggestion to help.

The pain clinic can be very helpful but remember their focus is on helping you to cope with the pain and not to find the cause of it.

Personally I found a TENS maching invaluable after my arthroscopy and would go to work with it strapped onto my leg so I could plug in and buzz as and when the need arose! I would ask them about that.
 
has anyone else been to a pain control place because of the tkr? does it help? thanks for any help.joy

I have not been to one, but I looked into it at the U of Washington in Seattle. There was a long screening process, so it could take a couple of months to get an appointment. I decided not to go ahead with it, because I figured my pain was going to be better by then.

You might want to just do the research about what sort of pain clinic is available in your area. No harm in getting a referral from your doc, since he seems willing to send you there.
 
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