just as i thought i was really getting somewhere, my knee starts making creaking noises as i practice bending. No pain just noise. Now, 2 hours later ifind that my knee is very painful again. pain on the outside and in the centre. I really hope it doesnt last. It seems to be the pattern however and i guess we just push on and weather the storm. I also wish i could find a better sleeping position as my knee has started doing stretches of its own in the night which are a bit disconcerting. Anyone else experience this?
My knee does the spasm thing at night... After being on it all day .. been doing that since wk1.. now 20 weeks....
my knee does the same thing and I'm also 20 weeks
Hi Sally,
Think thats pretty normal for the course. Im finding as time goes on, some of the old pains disappear while new ones start up. Im also now feeling the pieces of my knee moving inside my leg like a hinge. Very odd. Also getting a clicking sound every now and and again which Im told is also normal. Your right. We have to weather the storm. This is one tough operation. Push through. Try and stay positive and look forward to a pain free healthy knee! Sleep is also 1 of my biggest problems
Thanks everyone. Does anybody here successfully sleep on their side?
Hi Sally, it takes awhile before one can sleep on their side but a body pillow between the legs helps as does a frozen gel pack laid on the up side of the knee. Sleeping with the new knee down has only been comfortable since about week 8 and only for short times. I find that it feels better when the knee is out of the blankets and cooler. The movement you feel in the mechanical part can be disconcerting but it lessons as your muscles around the knee strengthen. It is more noticable in my 12 week old knee and not very notable in my 11 month old knee. Take your meds about an hour before bed for a longer sleep interval. It does get better as you get stronger with physio. The best painfree time for me is in the pool so I do the hardest physio workout there. Hope my experience helps you out. Cheers, Mary
Me!!.. that's about the only thing I can do just now walking is still dodgy due to the weak muscles.... I can only sleep lying on the operated side though... The other way is a no. Go at the moment...
Thanks Mary
it helps a lot to hear others experiences. Sometimes you feel as if you are going mad!
So agree - old pains go away and new ones raise their ugly heads! My surgeon told me the "clicking" sounds from my knee is normal. I am 8 weeks post op and still have trouble sleeping - not sure what is up with that. I actually have been progressing well (in fact, textbook style recovery - yeah!). At 6 weeks I was released from therapy and the surgeon - measurements then were 127 and 0. My doctor and physical therapists recommended a stationary bicycle as exercise. Thankfully a friend brought me a bike to borrow - not only provided the bike, but delivered! (Thank you Michele Rosenberg). Been exercising on the bike, but sometimes complaining about different pain(s) in the knee. This morning I developed little painful twinges in the other leg. Now I realize I'm actually helping the muscles in both legs. Duh - now I understand the feelings - it's plain exercise!!!!
You say taking meds before bedtime helps with pain. At 6 weeks my doctor quit prescribing pain meds and told me just to take tylenol, or something similar. Finding that just doesn't help. Any suggestions?
Tylenol didn't do it for me either. I use 220 mg. Of naproxen (Aleve) twice a day (before my pool workout at 8 am and around 9 pm) and it works well.
I'm now 14 weeks post op and although my knee is not so bad during the day, by 5pm ish it's very painful and swollen and so the remainder of the evening is spent elevating and icing. I try not to take pain killers but I quite often have to resort to Ibruphen, or sometimes Codeine as when I go to bed I can't sleep due to pain. I generally find myself squirming around in bed and I don't think that I've managed to sleep through one night since my TKR!
Life has improved since October 22nd but it's a long haul and I know that I'll have to be patient for a good 6 months to 1year😳
I just returned to my regular maintenance chiropractry treatment today. He worked my hips and lower back. I expect sleeping will improve from this readjustment. It did last TKR. Your back, hips, knees and ankles are making some.amazing adjustments to the new knees (especially if they were straightened like mine) so I recommend trying chiro once you have enough flexibility.
Mary
That's very interesting as my back has been really painful this week and I don't usually suffer from back pain. Perhaps it's due to my TKR as my leg had to be straightened too😳
I find that my back and hip is a bit achey too... and as you say have had to make big adjustment ..my knee was very bent... and I walked on it like that for years.. so our bodies have had to realign.. I got quite a few back exercises from my physio...He also said need to work the core muscles...again mine are weakened. But. I hope to see some improvements soon
..Take care. Mary
Hi Mary, Yes I believe in a holistic approach to recovery and both my physiotherapist and surgeon are along for the ride. I have now included my chiropractor (who also does acupuncture when I need it) and will have a massage soon. I prefer prevention and steady recovery and my health and mobility for the next 30-50 (I am 55 and optimistic because my Grandma lived to a pretty healthy 101) years depends on it!
Cheers,
Mary
That makes sense to me. It is all connected and works together to make us the amazing human machines that we are.
Mary
I know how you feel.. I am 56..... and hope to get a lot of years out of this knee... apart from my knee I am normally quite healthy and active so this being not very mobile is hard to deat with.... not a whinger athough I do like a wee moan now and again :-D
Ha! A little whining and moaning is fine among friends! This forum has been excellent for me. None of my younger friends have gone through anything like this and though my older friends have, they often do not have the high expectations for recovery or the determination to do what it takes to get back to biking, skiing,and mountain hiking. I get the best of advice from 5 generations between this forum and my life in Canada! That is pretty valuable to me.
Mary
Hi Mary,
You will back on those trails in no time! And I'LL be traveling through those lakes and portages. Have a great weekend!