TKR Pain 2 years after TKR

[lovetocookandsew]

I think part of the reason your swelling isn't going down is the lack of proper icing and elevating. It really is a huge help to spend a lot of time icing and elevating. Putting an occasional pack of frozen peas on your knee as you sit on a sofa, or similar, with it below your heart, won't do the job. You really need multiple ice packs so you can rotate them, and you need to ice the front and back of your knee. You can order a bunch of ice packs from Amazon, if they'll deliver to you, or you can have your husband bring you a bunch when he comes home. Either way, you won't see a difference any time soon unless you work at icing and elevating as your full time job, along with resting and only doing a few bathroom and kitchen trips along with a little walking. Your knee is asking, make that begging, for proper icing and elevating, and it is letting you know that by swelling and hurting more. I suggest having two ice packs wrapped in a tea towel, on your knee, front and back, every time, and as those cool and melt, switch them out.

I'm not sure how many you'll need to keep that up, but you need enough so that you always have a frozen set ready to go when a set melts. I have 12 frozen bottles I rotate since they last 6 hours before needing to be switched out. I keep 12 in the rotation, just in case and could probably get away with 8, but why take the chance. I'd rather have extra than run out. Ice packs only last about an hour, so you need to think about that. If I were using ice packs, I'd have at least 4 sets to make sure I always had a frozen set ready to go. I also have a dedicated space in my kitchen freezer drawer for the bottles, and the ice packs I occasionally use for the back of my knee, to make sure they're kept frozen and are easily accessible. The last thing I want to do is rummage through a freezer trying to find randomly stored ice bottles.

Eventually, over a long time, your knee will be less swollen, but why not help it recover by doing for it what has proven to be the best method? Your knee loves to be iced and elevated; the ice helps with swelling and pain and elevating it allows those fluids to be drained from your knee and out of your body. My pain and swelling had ramped up while I waited for my ice machine to get here; I iced all day yesterday and all night last night, plus a lot today, and it's almost back to where it was last week. It's amazing how much pain I had when I wasn't using my machine, and how it swelled more as time went on, and how quickly it responded to both I&E when my machine finally arrived. Personally, I think an ice machine is much better, but those who don't have one really need to use the ice packs faithfully to get the most benefit possible from them.

 

[Spex10]

I can't say that icing does much for my knee. It's reduced in size all by itself. Sounds like @Mollymax has a lot of trouble with her other knee and the combination of them both is a recipe for pain. Also her pre existing tendency for increased swelling which had been such that she needed full length TEDs must underlie the current situation.
Bilateral pain so best go back to 2 sticks for a while (or "canes" as Americans call them!)
At least the dogs won't be her responsibility for too much longer so she can rest more. Just snooze while you can @Mollymax!

 

[Mollymax]

@hopalong61 it's no fun not sleeping all night is it. I did get a better sleep last night but resorted to taking my Amitriptyline again. Do you need your other knee done as well? I will be asking my surgeon when i see her when she plans on doing the other knee. I want going to rush into it but its so sore lately.
Lovetocookandsew I am icing and elevating constantly. I am sitting with it well elevated and ice on it right now. I also ice the back of my knee. I got some of the gel packs from Amazon so am using them as well.
I have made appointment with doctor for Monday as I need a further line for my work and then see physio on Tuesday. I am also considering phoning my lymphodema nurse as she was concerned before the operation that I was going to have more swelling than normal which would maybe need looked at. I am sure that is what is wrong.
Looking forward to hubby coming back tomorrow. He is maybe retired but he has other business that takes him away. Fortunately I think this is the last for a while.
Can't believe it is 5 weeks today since operation. I am definitely in the blues area right now. Tears aren't too far away. I knew this would be a long haul but it doesn't stop you feeling down and weepy.

 

[Spex10]

I'm sure your lymphoedema is a major factor here. If that swelling could go down you'd be so much more mobile. Could the lymphoedema nurse organise more special stockings for you? Horrible thought but could help.
I'm one day behind you. I'm doing away but ROM doesn't seem to have increased. It's OK though. OK is good enough for me - I have low standards, it's a recipe for an easier life!!

 

[hopalong61]

Hi @Mollymax Yes i have to have my other knee replaced at some stage. The consultant asked me at my 6 week appointment when i'd like it done ! I said i'd leave it until next year , probably January, which will be 12 months since my RTKR. He's going to XRay both knees at my 12 month follow up and i'll take it from there. My daughter goes to Uni in September so i'll be on my own from then, my son only lives 2 miles away so i could have some help if needed but i'm quite independent really and like my own company so i should be ok after the first week or so.
As i can feel that my new knee is improving i probably would be happy to have the other one done. If you'd asked me a couple of months ago i would have said no !
The weepy times were few for me thankfully but i can understand 100% how you could be that way, i've not had a pain free day since Jan 20th and still don't sleep all night but i'm confident that will change eventually. It's a long process but will be worth it i'm sure.

 

[Mollymax]

@hopalong61 I will need other one done soon I think. On the day of my operation as I was in tears when surgeon came to see me before the op she asked which knee I wanted done as both were as bad. The reason she asked was in case I was scared getting the left one done due to cellulitus and lymphodema. As it hurt more at that time I said just go ahead with the left one. Not sure when I would like the other done. I would have liked to have been able to get back to my long distance walking by next summer.
It's only been 5 weeks since the operation so I suppose I am expecting too much too soon. I need to 'Man Up' as my daughter says....lol. I do notice despite the swelling I am walking better and less pain on that leg but limping badly with the other. I am sure I will be fine in the long run.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@Mollymax I don't know about your work situation, but if possible, I'd say get the other knee done asap. If you have to be stuck recovering, you may as well be stuck recovering with both knees. I have wondered why you didn't do both of them at the same time, but it's a moot point now. Can you schedule the other one in the very near future? Maybe that way you'll be past the harder first part of recovery by the holidays and can enjoy them with your family. And by next summer you'll then have the full year almost behind you.

 

[Mollymax]

@lovetocookandsew I was never offered them both at same time. The doctor I saw last week mentioned it but said they really don't like doing both together. I will ask the surgeon at my appt on 17th when she is thinking about doing the other knee. I don't think my work will be happy if it's too soon but as I plan to retire on 31st Jan next year I won't worry what they think.

 

[mlwreader]

surgeon came to see me before the op she asked which knee I wanted done as both were as bad. The reason she asked was in case I was scared getting the left one done due to cellulitus and lymphodema. As it hurt more at that time I said just go ahead with the left one.

@Mollymax The surgeon asked me the same question, even though I was getting them both done that day. I don't know why they would ask that, but he marked my left leg as the one to start with.

 

[Mollymax]

Strange to ask if you were getting both done. I can't imagine both operated on at same time. 5 years ago I got both feet operated on for bunions and worried how I would cope but I was fine. Not nearly as big an op though

1.45am and another sleepless night. Can't get my knee comfy at all tonight

 

[Mollymax]

Horrendous night. Discomfort in left knee pain in right knee. Just couldn't sleep Was up early. Going to be a long day.

 

[Spex10]

Oh dear. Are you still at the caravan? Does something wake you up or can you not get off to sleep at all?
The days certainly are long though. I know I'm extremely lucky to sleep more or less OK (but up at 3 hourly intervals throughout the night). However, I never take that for granted - every night could be a bad one.

 

[Mollymax]

Yes still at caravan. I enjoy being here. Plan to spend more time here once I retire. It really is a bit of a luxury caravan and it has a bigger kitchen and bathroom than my house.
I am not a great sleeper at the best of times but never this bad. It's more a case of I just can't get off to sleep since the operation. Last night I could not get either knee comfy no matter what I tried. My unoperated knee is very swollen and is now as painful as the other one says before it's op. Just been dozing on the sofa. That is really unusual for me as I never sleep during the day.
How are you getting on Spex10?

 

[Celle]

That is really unusual for me as I never sleep during the day.

Molly, while you aren't sleeping at night, you really need to take daytime naps. It's no good trying to stay awake during the daytime, in the hopes that you will sleep better at night. That just doesn't work. Until your normal sleep pattern returns, sleep where you can, how you can, and when you can. All those daytime naps add up to the amount of sleep that you need.

Have you considered icing your non-operated knee? Icing can help with pain there, too.

What pain medications are you taking now? Often, when pain keeps you awake at night, you are under-medicated.

 

[Spex10]

Went for a walk today instead of doing heel slides. Enjoyed being out by myself. Also phoned the place where I volunteer to see how everyone's getting on and heard good news about one of my clients. Very happy for him.
Although I've retired I usually have busy weeks with volunteering and other activities at set times. This is because I find it important to keep weekends special. I'm looking forward to getting back to my old routine although glad I won't have to brave the town centre right now. The festival crowds drive me nuts. It never seems to occur to them that not everyone is on holiday. Don't get me started on tourists using bus drivers as information offices and holding up the buses for ages. Oh no! There goes my blood pressure !! And relax...

 

[Mollymax]

Hi Celle yes I am taking naps during the day, well the last 2 days as I haven't slept at night. I can't keep my eyes open when relaxing on sofa with leg elevated and iced. At least making the day go faster. I have been icing the right knee as well. Something must work soon. I have been taking slow release dihydracodin twice at day and 2 paracetamol every 6 hours without fail. I am also taking 30mg of Amitriptyline at night. I am seeing doctor on Monday for a further sick line so will speak to him about meds. I will be asking surgeon on 17th about op on other knee.

Spex10 I wouldn't even try go into Edinburgh during the festival. It's far to busy. Hubby used to work on the trains before retiring and he hated August because of the crowds. Good you got good news from work. I am avoiding phoning work at all costs as I hate the place.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@Mollymax You said you are due to retire in January.....Let's see...the time off work for this surgery should be about 3 months. If you have your other knee done in September, right before you're due to go back from your first knee recovery, then you'll need another 3 months off work, which brings you to late December. Hmmmmmmmmmmm........I don't know if you can accomplish and/or get away with that, but if you hate your workplace, the stress of having to go back can't be good for your spirits. But if you know you don't have to go back before retiring, maybe it'll perk you up at least a little.

For most of us recovering from this surgery, sleeping is like having a new baby in the house; the baby keeps us up at night so we snatch bits and pieces of sleep when and where we can. At least we don't need to care for an actual newborn baby, we just have to cater to a new baby knee. That makes it a little easier to sleep whenever we can, whenever the knee is behaving and lets us. It really does make a difference in our spirits, our patience, attitudes, etc, to be well rested. And our spouses share in the benefits when we eventually sleep well each night. We're better able to handle the ups and downs of this recovery when we're well rested. This is a difficult recovery; some have a harder time of it than others. My last TKR recovery was horrific; this one has been a lot easier. Same knee, different recoveries.

 

[Mollymax]

Tried to upload photo of my knees but it comes up with error file is too large. Have managed to post before so don't know what is wrong.

 

[Mollymax]

@lovetocookandsew I am going to speak to surgeon about when she would do other knee seeing as it has flared up badly. I know I will go through the same terrors even though my brain is telling me it was all ok on day of operation. That's just me I'm afraid.
I look forward to the time I am comfy in bed and sleep through the night. Not sure j will get away with 3 months off work. Hopefully doctor signs me of for a good number of weeks again on Monday when I see him.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

It's normal to be nervous and scared before surgery-I know I was. But we still got it done because we know the only way to get our lives back is to get rid of the mean knee and get a nice new knee. When your doctor sees your knees, he should sign you off for more weeks-ask him for at least 4 more weeks, if not 6 more. Then, just schedule your other knee for surgery at the tail end of the time he signed you off for, and you'll be off again for that knee. That way you'll have very little time left at your job when you do go back.