Nerve pain after TKR

[hedgep]

I am 7 wks. out of TKR and am having great pain on the outside of my R knee. Also, nerve pain just below the knee cap. I can't seem to find anyone with the same pain. My range of motion is excellent, but this pain is a pain. Anyone else out there????

 

[ship4]

I did not experience this, but I did have a lateral release with each knee. Did you have a lateral release regarding the tracking of your patella? Just wondering if maltracking of the patella on the implants could be contributing to your pain level.
Best,
Crystal

 

[hedgep]

I'm not sure what all that means. I think my patella is okay. It is just my right knee and the pain kind of half horseshoes around the right side and below the patella. Does that help?

 

[Max Wallace]

I am 4 months post op and still numb, go figure. 7 weeks is not a long time and I still had some pain at that stage.

Max

 

[Josephine]

I have an answer for that numbness! There is a branch of the saphenous nerve that runs right across the front of the knee and right across the path of the incision. There is just no way to avoid dividing it. The nerve ends 'may eventually find each other and heal'! And they may not! But nerves are pretty darned rugged fellers and given enough time usually get together!

As for the pain, it's probably tendonitis and you've been over enthusiastic with the PT, mister! Do a search for tendonitis, there's been a lot of threads about it. Also, are you being diligent about your pain meds? Not being a hero and thinking you 'ought' to be doing without them? Let me tell you, I shall be taking them for 7 months! if need be, never mind 7 weeks! Be kind to yourself.

(Not sure what you mean by 'nerve' pain as all pain is connected with nerves!)

 

[Jamie]

Hedgep, so glad you decided to join the forum. Welcome!!!

As Jo said, remember that you are still VERY early in the recovery process. I had various pains on the side of my knee for at least 6 months. In fact, I even went to my surgeon at about the 6 month mark because of a side pain (mine was mostly on the inside) and was told it was soft tissue swelling....take anti-inflammants, ice, and don't over use the knees for a while. You know what? The doc was absolutely RIGHT!!! I did as he said and the pain went away. It still comes around now and then (lesser though) at a year out from surgery if I over do it. So don't be surprised if that happens to you down the road.

I hope you are still on a regular scedule of pain meds. That should really help you a lot. I stayed on my prescription meds for almost 3 months, so don't feel like you need to get off them if you still hurt! You need good pain management to be able to accomplish the PT goals that should be part of your recovery process.

 

[hedgep]

Thankyou all for your input, I feel better already. Especially encouraged about taking my pain meds, I was beginning to think I shouldn't be on them anymore. This has been a very helpful sight. Thanks, you will hear from me again.

 

[Nana55]

I am a nurse as is Josephine I am 12 weeks and I still take pain meds and will for as long as I need them. I had a hysterectomy and gallbladder surgery several years before knee surgery and I took more pain medication in the hospital after TK than I did for post op and at home after those surgeries.

As folks here have convinced me and my OS agrees, this is a very different kind of surgery that involves several major nerves, tendons, muscles, and bone joints plus the location of the surgery. SOooo I take and I have a new appreciation of folks who need medication for pain control that I didn't have before.

Good Luck!!