Hi everyone, I had a TKR 4 weeks ago and I think I am progressing fairly well. I am walking with 1 crutch and working hard on my physio. My only real complaint is when I am sitting and especially when I am driving. I get an aching type pain starting in the back of my thigh and spreading through my whole leg. It is excruciating and the pain meds don't seem to help. I can drive about 15 minutes before I have to stop and get out of the car. I can sit in an arm chair for about 30 minutes and at the computer about 20 minutes. Then I have to get up and walk around until the pain goes away. I am using the Iceman about 2 to 3 hours a day and it helps. Is this a normal condition with a TKR? Is there anything I can do to help? I am also interested in what causes this pain. The only answer I get from the doctor and the therapist is "everybody is different". Very frustrated.
Pain When Sitting?
- Thread starter pallen
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loggon
big-cheese
I had the same pain but not excruciating. It was the IT Band and the sciatic nerve my PT would work on it and if finally got better.
calling_all_angels
big-cheese
United StatesPallen,
That is the same I was told every knee is different!!!! But I woke up in pain in the recovery room. And was told shhhhhhhhh it is just tourniquet pain. Then they doped me up for the next 2days! I had wonderful talks with my Mom during those 2 days. (She had been dead a year then) But with all morpine and what ever they were shooting and puting in my IV I was wacko for 2 days. And I still can not have anything lay accross the top of my thigh. And it is hard for me in a car because the pain circles like a band around the thigh. So if you do find out why it hurts please please share.
So welcome to the forum!!! It is so nice to meet you!!!
That is the same I was told every knee is different!!!! But I woke up in pain in the recovery room. And was told shhhhhhhhh it is just tourniquet pain. Then they doped me up for the next 2days! I had wonderful talks with my Mom during those 2 days. (She had been dead a year then) But with all morpine and what ever they were shooting and puting in my IV I was wacko for 2 days. And I still can not have anything lay accross the top of my thigh. And it is hard for me in a car because the pain circles like a band around the thigh. So if you do find out why it hurts please please share.
So welcome to the forum!!! It is so nice to meet you!!!
Motherofmany
graduate
Welcome Pallen,
I also had the pain behind the thigh and calf where the metal meets bone. It did go away in time. Figured it was soft tissue swelling and that takes time to heal.
I did tweak my calf during pt on the bike today and have felt it in that same place all day. Maybe a muscle issue, but not sure. Hope this passes too for me and you both.
Although all TKR patients go through the same surgery, we are all unique and heal at different rates. This can be frustrating if you are one who heals slower (like me). Be patient, walk when you need to and before you know it, it will be gone and you will be thankful! I can now sit for about 1 hour before needing to get up and walk around. Helps with the stiffness too.
Try icing the area and if it doesn't give relief, try heat. Usually one of these will help when the pain meds don't.
I feel your pain! :cnsl:Will be praying for you.
Blessings,
I also had the pain behind the thigh and calf where the metal meets bone. It did go away in time. Figured it was soft tissue swelling and that takes time to heal.
I did tweak my calf during pt on the bike today and have felt it in that same place all day. Maybe a muscle issue, but not sure. Hope this passes too for me and you both.
Although all TKR patients go through the same surgery, we are all unique and heal at different rates. This can be frustrating if you are one who heals slower (like me). Be patient, walk when you need to and before you know it, it will be gone and you will be thankful! I can now sit for about 1 hour before needing to get up and walk around. Helps with the stiffness too.
Try icing the area and if it doesn't give relief, try heat. Usually one of these will help when the pain meds don't.
I feel your pain! :cnsl:Will be praying for you.
Blessings,
Texas
alpha
Hey Pallen. Sorry your Having pain Ii think at 4 weeks I had pain everywhere. But yeah that IT band I think seems to get to everyone. I hope it gets better for you soon. Try Ice and rubbling it out. My PT did that and it helped...Good Luck to you. It will get better 6 weeks was my mark for real good relief Hang in there....
Welcome to BoneSmart, Pallen. We're glad you joined us.
I am having trouble thinking that you are DRIVING at the 4-week mark from surgery. And taking PAIN PILLS! You might want to rethink that.
At 4 weeks with pain, you need to be on a pain med schedule. That means you take your pain meds every 4 hours (or whatever the prescription says) whether you hurt or not. This means you have to get yourself up in the night and take the meds on schedule. That way you stay ahead of the pain. If you don't do that, you're just playing catch up and it does not work well...as you know!! And the warnings on the pain med label are serious. You should not be driving or operating machinery. You are impaired just as you are if you have been drinking.
The other suggestion is what you can read in other posts above...ICE. You need to do that as much as you can. Not just 2-3 hours a day. It is especially helpful at night, because lying still while sleeping can make the pain worse.
Try this for a couple of days and things should begin to improve as far as pain goes.
I am having trouble thinking that you are DRIVING at the 4-week mark from surgery. And taking PAIN PILLS! You might want to rethink that.
At 4 weeks with pain, you need to be on a pain med schedule. That means you take your pain meds every 4 hours (or whatever the prescription says) whether you hurt or not. This means you have to get yourself up in the night and take the meds on schedule. That way you stay ahead of the pain. If you don't do that, you're just playing catch up and it does not work well...as you know!! And the warnings on the pain med label are serious. You should not be driving or operating machinery. You are impaired just as you are if you have been drinking.
The other suggestion is what you can read in other posts above...ICE. You need to do that as much as you can. Not just 2-3 hours a day. It is especially helpful at night, because lying still while sleeping can make the pain worse.
Try this for a couple of days and things should begin to improve as far as pain goes.
I am not having an issue with pain except when I am sitting and the pain meds don't seem to help with that anyway. I am taking a little milder pain med than I was before and I got the OK from the doctor before driving. I am using Tramacet and taking 1 every 6 hours. I am very surprised at how little pain I have when standing or walking compared to how bad it was in the first 2 weeks, when I was taking Percoset and using the maximum dosage. I agree on the ice and I will try to use it more as you suggest, but the rig I have is not very portable, so I am limited to laying in bed with it on. I am getting really bored with not being able to do some of my regular activities. Btw, what is an IT Band?
The iliotibial (IT) band is a tough group of fibers that run along the outside of the thigh. The gluteal muscles and the tensor fascia lata muscle attach to the top, and the lower part attaches to the tibia, just below the knee. It functions primarily as a stabilizer during running and can become irritated from overuse. Runners will usually describe pain on the outside part of the knee or lower thigh, often worsened by going up or down stairs, or getting out of a car.
![[Bonesmart.org] Pain When Sitting?](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' width='261' height='199' viewBox%3D'0 0 261 199'%2F%3E "[Bonesmart.org] Pain When Sitting?")
![[Bonesmart.org] Pain When Sitting?](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' width='288' height='360' viewBox%3D'0 0 288 360'%2F%3E "[Bonesmart.org] Pain When Sitting?")
Predisposing factors for the development of IT band inflammation include training error and abnormal biomechanics. Some runners make the mistake of only running on one side of the road. Most roads are higher in the center and slope off on either side. The foot that is on the outside part of the road is therefore lower than the other. This causes the pelvis to tilt to one side and stresses the IT band. The biomechanical abnormalities that may lead to IT band problems are, excessive pronation of the foot, leg length discrepancy, lateral pelvic tilt, and "bowed" legs. Tight gluteal or quadriceps muscles may also contribute. Video tape analysis is a great tool for uncovering biomechanical problems.
![[Bonesmart.org] Pain When Sitting?](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' width='418' height='260' viewBox%3D'0 0 418 260'%2F%3E "[Bonesmart.org] Pain When Sitting?")
Treatment consists of relative rest, ice massage, addressing any biomechanical or training errors, and gentle stretching . When doing the IT band stretch the "pulling" sensation is usually felt along the mid to upper thigh. Don't worry if this doesn't seem to exactly hit the site where the pain occurs. The IT band is a long structure and the goal is to get it to loosen and lengthen. Along the same lines, gentle stretching of the gluteal muscles will also help. (Please see the broken link removed: https://www.rice.edu/~jenky/stretch.html section -- especially the broken link removed: https://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/itband_str.html.)
Prevention of the IT band syndrome is achieved by running on a level surface or alternating directions on the road, a balanced approach to training which allows for rest and recovery, and preventive stretching. In some strengthening the external hip rotators will help. This is achieved by doing sets of one leg squats in front of a mirror. Watch pelvic alignment to ensure that one side does not drop. Finally, orthotics can be quite useful if you have a tendency to develop IT band inflammation.
Treatment consists of relative rest, ice massage, addressing any biomechanical or training errors, and gentle stretching . When doing the IT band stretch the "pulling" sensation is usually felt along the mid to upper thigh. Don't worry if this doesn't seem to exactly hit the site where the pain occurs. The IT band is a long structure and the goal is to get it to loosen and lengthen. Along the same lines, gentle stretching of the gluteal muscles will also help. (Please see the broken link removed: https://www.rice.edu/~jenky/stretch.html section -- especially the broken link removed: https://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/itband_str.html.)
Prevention of the IT band syndrome is achieved by running on a level surface or alternating directions on the road, a balanced approach to training which allows for rest and recovery, and preventive stretching. In some strengthening the external hip rotators will help. This is achieved by doing sets of one leg squats in front of a mirror. Watch pelvic alignment to ensure that one side does not drop. Finally, orthotics can be quite useful if you have a tendency to develop IT band inflammation.
loggon
big-cheese
Great pic Jamie.
Jo posted the one I was interested in to show grandson.
Is it possible that you can do a thread and post this pic and the one Jo posted. I looked for so long the other day and never found the pic. Thanks Jo for posting it again.
Jo posted the one I was interested in to show grandson.
Is it possible that you can do a thread and post this pic and the one Jo posted. I looked for so long the other day and never found the pic. Thanks Jo for posting it again.
I put a thread in both the knee and hip forums under the INFORMATION CENTER heading so you can find them more easily. I also looked for the picture Jo had and couldn't find it.
So....Jo....if you read this, please post your photo and whatever other IT Band information you have in those two threads, would you?
So....Jo....if you read this, please post your photo and whatever other IT Band information you have in those two threads, would you?
Thanks for the info Jamie. Now that I think back, I shattered my left femur in a car accident about 32 yeras ago, same side as my new knee, and I had a similiar pain problem during that recovery. I was on crutches for almost a year and it took 4 operations to get me back on my feet. I think that has really messed up the way that I walk and I had to take stairs one at a time ever since. I can tell already that I am going to be walking better than I have in years once I get through the recovery.
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Ilio Tibial band. This means it starts on the ilium which is the crest of the pelvis, often referred to as the (upper) hip bone, and ends on the top of the tibia or shin bone. However, it is also attached to the top of the femur (thigh bone) and therefore plays a big part in the motion of the leg in walking, going up and down stairs, etc.
Look in this thread in the Recurring Knee information in the Information Centre (Link above) but the link to the thread is here IT Band Information
Look in this thread in the Recurring Knee information in the Information Centre (Link above) but the link to the thread is here IT Band Information
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