Hi, hoping someone out there has had the same issues as myself. Had right TKR 9.5mths ago, after being home for 3 days I tripped over my crutches and was readmitted to hospital as I had ripped 6cm of external and internal stitching and swelling in both legs was so extreme I couldn't even put on a pair of thongs with feet also so swollen. While I stayed in hospital I was confined to bed with legs raised as high as possible, was only allowed out to visit the bathroom. Surgeon was going to restitch but decided against due to a high possibility of infection and then having to replace my knew joint. Instead it was steristripped and covered in a larged bandage (forget the name) that sucked anything out of the wound. After a couple of months knee had healed well just a thicker scar. During this time I was just gently doing exercises and ended up with a ROM of 115% even though my knee, leg and foot were still severely swollen. I was only sent home with the initial exercises that you do prior to physio but my surgeon was so happy with my progress I never had rehab or physio so I just kept doing the same old exercises. Pain was tolerable as I was on high dose of oxycontin for 6mths and still take endone. Three months ago I had this unbearable pain in my gluts that at times would bring me to tears .. dr said I had a bursitis so sent me off for an ultrasound and came back positive. Had an injection which was unsuccessful and dr has now sent me off to physio to see if they can manipulate it, found out that I had caused the bursitis due to over doing my exercises which were only helping my ROM and leg straightening and due to not having physio or guidance my quads got 'lazy' and my hip was doing all the work instead of my quads which has caused this. Unfortunately for the past 3 mths I've had to rely on a crutch again when outside, swelling is still severe no meds have helped dr this week just took me off anti inflamatory meds that I've been taking since my op and am having a high course of cortizone to see if it helps. I still need slight support under my knee when lying flat on my back surgeon told me this can be normal for some people. Also can only sleep on my left side as both sides of my knee are still so tender and need to use a pillow between my legs to sleep if I can. Now I'm having this weird sensation in both knees constantly which is worse than being in pain (sorry so hard to describe the sensation but it's unbearable but not painful) pain killers don't help, only thing that can bring the slightest bit of ease is using a rub. Still icing knee regularly during the day for swelling relief and a heat pack for my gluts. Apologies for this being so long winded could've added so much more! Totally dreading having my left knee done only have had to have them done as was run over by a truck and it totally wrecked both knees prior to accident I used to run marathons. Really appreciate any advice that anyone can give... TIA
OMG, i feel for you hope someone can help you
I feel such empathy for you! I sincerely hope that you recover very well from all the horrible accidents you've experienced. People here will offer great support and information. I am unable to offer any solution other than to say, keep positive and get good medical treatment. Hugs from Sydney. X
You've had a rough ride by the sound of it all !! My first tkr 12 mths ago an easy one .I struggled for months with pain and sensations in my leg. I think we have to remember that it's not just the renewal of the joint that's involved its the tendons,ligaments nerves veins ect and they all take time to heal. Nerve endings I've found seem to take the longest, you must give time time to heal. Meanwhile keep doing the exercises and elevate and ice even after 9 mths it will still help. Also make sure you drink plenty as a hydrated body heals so much better .good luck
Wow!
i am sooooo sorry uve gone through all of this and still no end to it, u poor thing. I do feel for u.
Ok, I'm at the same time stage as u, 9 months or so out from a bilateral Tkr. I haven't had the problems uve had, don't think anyone has, who else could be that unlucky. The op itself, is enough to get through without falling , infections etc. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I was in hospital for 10 days with my operation. Knees were painful but ok. I struggled walking like everyone to begin with. I was unlucky that I had a big bleed from one knee and needed a blood transfusion. This overloaded me some how and I couldn't breath. Both my lungs had collapsed. I had high temperatures but no sign of infection in knees but they put it down to hospital pneumonia. Anyway, got over that, crawled along to the hospital rehab gym on one of those big walking frames , came back an hour later with one walking stick. Next day, no stick and home. No follow up physio at all. Had 90% bend in one knee and 100% in other. I sleep with a pillow under my knees or I don't sleep. I get that ' funny' sensation, not pain but very uncomfortable. One knee is still swollen. They both ache when I get up first thing till I get moving or if I sit for too long. Scars are fading slowly. No more modelling knee high socks for me lol. There is still numbness on the outside of each knee which is a weird sensation in itself. Check up with surgeon passed. Was a matter of bending and straightening and ok. I'm in Australia. I can't complain. Didn't cost me a single cent.
Like others that that will advise u, we're all different and heal at different stages. This operation is a marathon to get over not a race. We can follow advice, take our meds ( still taking OxyContin plus others), they advise icing the knee but I've never.
so u see, ur not alone. I wish u the best of luck. Be strong and follow the rules. Try not to let it get u down. I know easier said than done. I have "issues" so can understand if it does. Ur being very brave. So sending u a big virtual hug.
Sue xx
Thanks Sydney.. x
Thanks Marie I'm hoping someone has experienced similiar problems.
Thanks Chris, probably don't drink as much as I should as it keeps me up all night going to the toilet! But surgeon did advise that it can take 12-18mths just depending on the person and knee I'm finally feeling more positive now that I'm seeing a rehab physio. x
Hi Sue I'm also in Australia, Vic and covered under TAC so everything is private and I pay for nothing! My surgeon isn't keen on doing both knees at once and I suppose particularly on me as it took TAC 6yrs to approve the surgery so for that time I sat or lay down watching movies alot so as I couldn't walk properly... so I gained alot of weight Anyway thank you so much for your story I'm so glad I found this site as it's hard when you don't know anyone else who has had it. He did tell me it would take at least 12-18mths for my knee to feel as normal as it ever will. I'm hoping once I build my quads up that my knee will stop giving way on me and I can once again lose the wretched crutch! I'm feeling positive now that my dr has taken over and am now seeing a physio to help me progress.
Cheers Tracey x