Pain after TKR; when does it go away?

Helenbothknees

I'm nine weeks after a bilateral TKR...my knees bend all the way back, I can manage stairs both up and down, walk quite a long way even on uneven surfaces, and beginning to be able to kneel. In other words all is going well....

...Except that I'm still in a lot of pain! I was taking paracetamol plus two 30mg tablets of codeine four times a day, and that was fine. Then I started getting constipation and nausea, so I cut the codeine back to alternate two tab and one tab, ie 6 a day instead of 8. No more side effects, and not too much pain...so then yesterday I decided to cut back to 4 a day, ie one codeine each time.

Not so good. OK for 24 hours, then I had a bad night with lots of anxiety, unlike me. Withdrawal symptoms? Could be, maybe. But the pain is the real problem. I thought it was really going, and I suppose it is a bit; but I didn't realise how bad it still was till I cut back on the codeine. So now I'm thinking of trying 5 a day, and just cutting back very, very slowly.

But how long will this last? How long is a piece of string, I suspect? If I ask any of the "professionals" they just say it'll go in time, and blame it on my having both knees done. This, I'm beginning to realise, is a standard excuse, and so few people have two knees done together that no-one can disprove it, and I suspect there's not much evidence. But anyway, I just wondered how the rest of the New Knees on here were managing, and what you take, and if you're finding you can cut back on pain killers (or whatever you want to call them).

Marrianne, Steve, Peg, Kath, Julia, anyone else from earlier on????

barbara12

Hi Helen
Im afraid I haven't had a TKR, but I know our Elnafin has had both done, she is on hols at the min, but I know she would say that 9 weeks is nothing, I have heard her say that recovery can take up to 18 months.
I think that is right, there will be alot of mending going on in that knee, you really have done so well, but I can understand you wanting to get rid of the pain.
Hopefully it wont be long xx

Helenbothknees

Thanks Barbara. I know complete recovery takes 12-18 months, but I did expect to be able to cut down on the codeine quite early on; even my new book (which I keep recommending as the TKR bible) seems to think I should. That's why I thought it would be useful to find out what we had on here in the way of individual differences; might make me feel a bit better; misery loves company or something. Meanwhile I've taken two codeine, as I'm going to yoga tonight, and I certainly can't do that with only one codeine tablet.

I get the feeling I'm doing better than average in terms of flexibility and strength, but worse in terms of pain, but who knows.... And does it really matter, except that I'm sick of taking pills.

barbara12

Aww dont worry Helen, you will soon get there, these books are just a guide...a bit like a baby book...I remember my mum saying go off instinct not what the book says.
You take the codeine for now and enjoy the yoga, there is nothing better.
Take care xx

JuliaHod12

Hi Helen

I'm on week 8 post TKR as you know. I have managed to reduce my tablets to 1 co-dydramol 3 times a day with occasional Ibufrofen in between as i feel the need.
I take 1 co-dydramol and 1 Ibubrofen at night to help me sleep.
I have struggled all the way along with pain control and not really been very successful in finding a combination that works completely.
I have however just returned to work this week (4hrs per day for the first 4 weeks) and I have found it considerably more painful to sit on my chair at my desk (may need to get this re-assessed) so I am now taking Tramadol 50mg and will see how I go on that :roll:

I think the pain issue is very much a personal thing and I also think you have done remarkably well for having the bi-lateral TKR. I dont think I am anywhere near as mobile as you at this point. I am still not walking very far, but do manage quite a lot in short bursts!

here's hoping you find a solution that works for you x

SteveBurns

Do you know what - don't take this the wrong way but I'm really glad there are others still experiencing pain this long after the op.

I was beginning to think it was just me

As I have written following my consultant visit yesterday he told me to get through the pain and get the leg bent, only I can do it so put up with it. :?

I have been to the gym, as you know, and am suffering a bit now but its my calves and not the knee, so must be doing something right.

I know it could be a year before the pain goes completely, I cut down on my Tramadol yesterday, ended up with 6 a day instead of 8, still on 8 paracetamol a day.

When the tabs wear off I really know it :x

I know people who have no pain at all within just a few weeks of the op.

Every one is different

pegleg

I stopped taking Gabapentin a few weeks ago after they ran out and just took Paracetamol 4 times a day for a while , haven't taken anything now for over a week (I'm 8 weeks post op) , so yes , everyone is different , I don't get any pain in my knee really , more muscle pain and backache .
However I went to physio today and I only have a 90 degree bend and my leg is a long way off straight , she thinks (along with all my other leg problems) that my muscles that allow the bend and straightness have shortened over the years (my knee hasn't been totally straight for a good 18 months) so she said my surgeon may suggest an op to lengthen them , so although I take no painkillers I have other problems now . Got to go on the 19th so will see what he says x

Helenbothknees

Steve, don't YOU take this the wrong way, but I could hug you! I too wondered if it was just me.

Don't anyone else take this the wrong way either, but Steve and I are possibly doing the most exercising, so maybe that's why we have the most pain. Mine is mainly at the point where the quadriceps muscle joins the bone, and I know the muscle has been cut there during the op and needs to heal. Maybe it's protesting at all I do! On the other hand, I'm making such good progress because I do so much, I think anyway.

Anyway, this conversation has really shown me how different we all are, so thank you everyone. I suppose we'll all get there in the end. I really hope we can all meet up, maybe...next Spring, before the idea completely goes cold?

pegleg

stickywicket

I can't remember how long I was on extra pain meds for after my first TKRs. After the revision, the knee got back to normal fairly quickly but I did have to have a couple of steroid jabs as the other joints started flaring a bit.

SteveBurns

My pain today is more about the calf muscles, both legs, due to the swimming and water exercising I did yesterday. I'll have a day off today and just enjoy watching my daughter play wheelchair tennis later. Severe pain when I woke up this morning, 8 hours after taking my tablets, not surprising :?

I do have this excruciating pain from the tendon below the knee when I try to bend it past about 100 degrees

By the way that book we got suggests we could play tennis, even squash, wouldn't that be good. Right now the only squash I play is when I try to get into my car with a knee that doesn't bend properly

Helen I accept the hug and here's one for you ((()))

Helenbothknees

Tennis and squash would be great if I had any hand/eye co-ordination, but although I used to be pretty athletic, I've never been any good at ball games. I think you should go for it though, Steve. I'll stick to walking, yoga, and maybe get back into salsa dancing, which would be great; I haven't been able to do it for years!

I dropped into my local leisure centre today to see if they had any classes I could manage, and found they have a hydrotherapy session in the pool on Thursday mornings, for people recovering from injury and suchlike. It sounds good; I'm going to give it a try tomorrow and I'll report back. Anyway, while trying to find my old swimming things from back when I was a keen swimmer, I came upon my favourite cat towel, with a huge ginger cat on it, which I'd hunted high and low for last summer. I'd left my swimming bag packed ready to go, and there was the towel. I'm so pleased.

I'll report back on the hydrotherapy. As for the pain, I seem to be able to manage on 5 codeine tabs a day...I hope...

SteveBurns

Sounds good Helen

kathbee

Hi Helen

I would say we are bound to be still feeling pain, and doubly for you having had both your knee ops at the same time.

I take 2 tramadol at night because this is the worst time for me when I am still and trying to sleep. I have taken tramadol for a few years now for RA and OA pain but dont like them through the day as it feels like too many. I dont feel I need paindullers through the day BUT I am not as active as you and a few others.

Yesterday I was in town as I had a couple of errands to do and by the time I got home I was really feeling the discomfort, but my other knee needs replacing and I have a few back probs including a small bone fracture and slipped discs, so its more than the new knee really with me when it comes to walking around (at a snail's pace I might add . Also having a rough time with exhaustion at the moment (thats on the RA side).

I was at the ortho clinic last week and everything seems to be ok according to the consultant, I mentioned I didnt expect to have clicking and cracking noises with the new knee but he told me its because its early days (was just over 7 weeks last week) and when more of the swelling and internal bruising has gone then I would not be noticing the noisy knee Dont know whether any other 'knee' guys and gals have noticed this.

I have good bend and movement in the knee/leg so feel that the op has been a success.

Hope everyone is not having such a bad day today.
The sun is out in West Yorks so thats something.

Kath x

Helenbothknees

Hi Kath,

You're probably right about the pain. Mine is OK at night now, and I go through the night without topping up the pain killers, but any exercise makes them hurt so I have to take painkillers all day. It could be the muscles from exercising; sometimes it's hard to tell.

I get clicking knees too. I was told it could last a year, and possibly for ever, and that I'd get used to it! :!: :!: :!:

I DEFINITELY feel that my op has b een a success. I have good bend in both knees, and can go for walks and enjoy it. What more do I really need?

I went to a great hydrotherapy class this morning; I've posted about it in the 2012 TKRs thread; forgot that I'd mentioned it here yesterday...

kathbee

Oh a year or forever, then perhaps the consultant was fobbing me off a bit then. :roll:

Could do with a hydrotherapy session right now.
The one I used to go to at a fairly local hospital was so old it finally gave up the ghost and a private one I went to closed down.

Glad to hear you feel it has all been worth while Helen. Big decision to go for a bilateral I would say. But had I been given the opportunity then it would all be over now and I wouldnt be wondering how long is the other knee going to play up before the time comes for more surgery.

Kath x

loovechocolate

Hi
I click when I exercise which is weird but I am getting used to it now I’m 4 months in, been to see consultant again today he’s pleased with me and doesn’t want to see me again for 6 months

Helenbothknees

Glad to hear you feel it has all been worth while Helen. Big decision to go for a bilateral I would say.

Not really a big decision. My knees hurt so much that I could hardly walk, and I wondered how much longer I could go on before ending up in a wheelchair. No decision at all really; I had little choice. I was just so relieved when the consultant said he could do both of them together.

My consultant doesn't want to see me at all as far as I know! Do most people get regular follow-up appointments?

kathbee

Think its usually a 6 week post op appointment, mine was 7 weeks but maybe all health authorites arent the same.
So you havent been to the ortho clinic after your ops then?

Kathx

Helenbothknees

Oh yes, I had an appointment with the consultant 8 weeks after my op. He said he was very happy and didn't need to see me again. I was referring to loovechocolate's post talking about more appointments after a few months; I never heard about any of those. Sorry for the confusion.

loovechocolate

Helenbothknees wrote:

Oh yes, I had an appointment with the consultant 8 weeks after my op. He said he was very happy and didn't need to see me again. I was referring to loovechocolate's post talking about more appointments after a few months; I never heard about any of those. Sorry for the confusion.

I don't know I saw him at 7 weeks 13 weeks and today he said he wants to do xrays on both knees and will see me in 6 months I had xrays before discharge, I just thought this was normal I did see the other lady who was in same time as me, is it because I had my op privately? I don't know, sorry. I must say I do feel happier today he has asured me I'm doing all the right things re exercise/rest etc

Helenbothknees

Ah, if you had it done privately that's probably why you get more aftercare. Our NHS is wonderful, and but for them I wouldn't have two nice new knees, but they do keep the costs down - and this is possibly one of the ways. I'm not bothered, things seem to be going well, and I was told that if I had any worries I could make an appointment to see my consultant any time in the next six months, or after that through my GP.

marrianne

Hello everyone,I am glad you are tootling along in varying degrees I havent posted for a week cos I really have felt grotty ,Keep running out bless of co/codomol . apathetic dont want tio exercise scared of the R/A as I have been haveing some bad general pain ,mannaging on nurofen and gaberpentine ,its the nights I just cannot get comfortable once my knees are hot thats it terrible feeling o/h is fed up with me leg in ,leg out bunch the pillows chuck on floor ,dose of early hours awake at 5/am ,in the day I feel tired and sickly ,back on the lueflemide for R/a should go for monitering of b/p but just cannot get motivated ,So you see we are all different good weeks bad weeks ,and As DD always says it will pass as is the way , anyway I know one thing we have all done really well ,and the support on here with you lot has really helped so thanks everyone and please keep updating .......oh on happy note Last Sunday was lovely spent the day at Tissington model village and mannaged an hour on the Tissington trail ,also little boy on the car park was asking his Daddy was there on Argos bless him take care everyone ,Marrianne

kathbee

Wondered how you were doing Marianne, sorry you havent been feeling so well.

Helen, When I saw the consultant last week, he told me he would see me in 12 months time for xray. Then hopefully that will be it............ except that I might be told my other knee is due for replacement,
I will have to think seriously about it.

Kath x

pegleg

Marrianne , that's a shame you have been feeling manky , its a long old road we're on and I think we forget how many good days we have because the bad ones seem to take over ! , I think we are all coping well and I'm sure you will get the pain\tiredness under control and start feeling brighter very soon xx

Helenbothknees

Marrianne, so sorry you're not feeling good.

Tissington is round the corner from me, almost. Are we neighbours, or did you have a long-distance day out? Anyway, next time you're coming to this neck of the woods, send me a message and maybe we can meet up for coffee. If you'd like to, that is; if not, no matter.

You hang in there anyway, and things will get better!