knee replacement
 

7 weeks ago today i had a total knee replacement done on my right knee.
i went home 2 days later...had a visiting nurse 3 times and a physical therapist 6 times who released me because i was 0-122 in flexing and 4 out of 5 strength.

I do everything except run and jump.

My question is this...WHEN is this going to stop hurting? The ache is constant...and consuming.

I go back to the doctor next week. He told me that i will like him in 6 months.

Does that mean i will be in constant pain until that time?

What can i do to make this better?

I elevate and ice as much as i can. I take a pain pill three times a day.

But i am so tired of this.

Sounds like you are progressing quite well if you are 0-122 bend and 4 out of 5 in strength....but the pain would be troublesome. I just had my second knee operation done May 21st (little over 3 weeks ago) and I can walk, walk briskly, still going to PT 2 times a week.....but I am not in pain when doing this, except when I push the PT. My real issue is swelling of the knee that causes tightness in my bending and when I do that I incur pain or a sharp grabbing....but again I am only 3 week from surgery. I do feel aches while turning in bed. I assume the pain pills are heavy duty like NARCO, but after 7 weeks I am surprised you are still on them. Right now I ( at 3 weeks) am on one One pill a day and that's only before I go to PT.

Based on my first knee operation, my ability to do things greatly progressed between weeks 4-6 and by week 8 I was I was playing water volleyball (jumping etc) and full swing golf on Championship. Could have played earlier but why chance it. For me, First knee is OK and second is progressing on schedule.

One question I will ask you is.... Did you get a metal (blood) test done before surgery to determine if you were allegeric to metals such as colbalt, titanium etc? There was a poster recently on this board who after 9 months after knee surgery was still experiencing pain and it was determined she had a reaction to the metal used in the knee. You should find her posts and read them....it is something to consider.

Hopefully as time passes you will progress and the pain will subside...good luck.

no i did not get a blood test for metal. In 1993...i broke my left leg and had a plate and pins put in it and i did not have a reaction to that.

yes i am taking norco...which i believe stops next week.

I can walk....but not without a limp. Like i said....i do everything i have always done since week 2...except for run and jump. My flexibility is wonderful...it is just this darn ACHE that is driving me bonkers.

i also have the swelling and then the tightness like you describe.

I have not had any more therapy since week three because i was 0-122 and the doctor was elated. Flexibility is not the issue...though i am not sure why i am still limping.

thank you for your well wishes....i keep hoping this ache will stop soon.

Follow this thread...

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ee+replacement

My pain was very minimal just days after surgery. I took a pain pill only for physical therapy and rehab. Might be you aren't allergic to the metal in your leg, but could be to the metal (likely nickel) in your knee. I sure wouldn't wait another six months to determine whether I'm happy with the new knee or not. Good luck!

Thank you for the link. I read the thread and found it very informative.

I go back to the dr next Wednesday and I will certainly discuss this with him.
I am a very impatient person....and get frustrated easily....though I am not a cry baby. I just feel like this ache that feels like a deep headache in my knee.....should be easing up. Then I get mad at myself for not being able to overcome it.

I hope the dr is right....4 months from now I will love him...but right now I surly do not.

My wife had about 8 more weeks of therapy than you. She too had flexibility but her doctor still kept her in physical therapy. Could it be that your doctor stopped your therapy too soon?

If my flexibility was at 122 he could not validate more therapy ......I still had 3 more therapists visits the insurance would pay for...but i had to need it.

I do wonder though how more therapy would take away the ache? I had three weeks of therapy....6 visits.

I vacuum, I clean house, I mow with the tracter, I go up and down stairs, I work.
The issue is not bending my knee...the issue is the deep penetrating ache ....the swelling, then the tightness.

Maybe I just expect too much.

This probably wont help but I had a hip done one year ago . The swelling was for about 6 to 8 months that alone will cause pain. I still get aches a little in the operative area but nothing like before the surgery.Remember they cut your knee out and put in a new one. Ask them to ck for blood clots dont want to scare you. By the way I notice the leg feeling better with every passing month.

Thank you...I know i am impatient....and i push myself really hard...and that in itself could be part of the problem. I have been on the go since week three doing whatever i want....and sometimes you have to pay the piper for doing too much.

It has gotten better each week....i just think it should be like new..TODAY...lol

The doctor was very pleased with me last time...called me a rock star....but i will certainly talk to him next week about all the issues raised here. God knows I WANT to be better...I hate this.

I can honestly say that it took a full 10 months to a year before my knee felt "normal" and pain free. I had a rough go of it, but I know others who have had the same surgery that were just fine after 6 months. Everyone is different and heals at a different rate. If you're doing everything you're supposed to, and not OVER doing it, then you just have to give it time. Good luck!

My wife got a knee replacement last April (2014). She swears by ice and Biofreeze for pain relief. Her doctor told her that the aching would be gone at the year anniversary. She said to tell you to be patient. She bought a Knee Ice Pack by A to P Total Knee Wrap on Amazon for $79. Best money ever spent. She still uses it regularly to keep swelling down. Good luck. It will get better.

thank you both for the encouragement.

Yesterday i went the entire day with no pain pill other than tylenol.....AND we went to the baseball game so i did a lot of walking.

I will look for this BIOFREEZE product today...that could be the ticket i need! I use the ice pack they gave me in the hospital and it does a pretty good job.

I am glad to hear others took a while to heal...I was beginning to think i was a wus.
My knee replacement has not affected my golf game...since i have never played golf in my life...:1rotfl:lol

But i truly do the yard work and housework and went back to work week 3...so i have not let it keep me from doing the things i need to do.

I do ride my stationary bike and surprisingly...it does not hurt...i was afraid it would but my flexibility is amazing....if it is not equal to my other knee...it is very close.

So if i could just stop limping and stop the ache...all would be good.

what i really want...is to be to the point...my knee is not constantly on my mind. Those of you who have had this done will understand what i mean. I dont want to worry about it anymore....I just want to live normally and not be constantly reminded of a bad knee.
I had arthroscopic surgery 8 years ago on it where they determined i needed a new patella but was too young so i lived with the bone spurs and bone on bone...and now that i am 60 they went ahead and replaced the knee....now....i just want my life back...

I got the biofreeze today...and i will tell you it did help. Today i even decreased the tylenol i took...so things are moving upward.

Thank you all for being so helpful

Everyone is different healing from surgeries. There is no perfect surgical model of anyone's knee replacement.
I DO understand the pain and icing can be your friend, but most of my friends also did a lot of water therapy. It helped them significantly getting into a pool. Easy to move and reduce swelling and stiffness and also allows you better range of motion. Example: doing squats/lunges in a pool with no pressure but you're getting great resistance and rebuilding your muscles. Swelling and stiffness can last for quite a while.
Water therapy for me was the best but now, I am dealing with an entirely different problem.
Pain on the other hand should get much better between 10-12 weeks. Listen to your doctor but, most of all: only you really KNOW your body. Document your pain levels and symptoms in a daily journal. You may be surprised that you ARE getting better as the days go by.
Wishing you a 100% speedy recovery.