So behind my knee, around where the inner cord thing is, I have occasional sharp pains through that area and it really scares me because I have a huge fear of blood clots. Could it be because of sciatica? I have a pain that runs from my butt cheek down my thigh and into my foot, so it's possible that I have that.
Courtney Renee, how many weeks po are U? I have had the pain behind my knee....and swelling there also. The back of my knee actually swelled out....I elevated and iced more regularly and it went away eventually. It was fluid and I just kept exercising and extra rest. Not sure about the other pain...but I had an angry IT band...which runs down the outside of your leg....this was at 3 weeks po. The pain was actually excruciating. I will tell you also I am now 12 weeks po and things do get better.
Pam
Thank you. I just have major health anxiety so when a pain starts, I freak out. There are no physical signs on my legs and the pain lasts for about a couple hours at a time. I have the pain on the outside of my leg too.
Courtney, I had this too. I felt as if the pain behind my knees (I had a bilateral TKR done) was way worse than any other pain. Nothing did much to numb it. It's actually what caused me to search and find this site. I wanted to add heat, but was instructed not to (I had my surgery while living in India, and some of the aftercare I questioned). One thing that really helped me was stretching that area. Mainly sitting on my bed, legs out straight and pulling my toes up and towards my body, in a way that lifts my heels off the bed. You could also use a towel or belt or something and use your arms to pull it forward (pretty sure that was the only way I could do that initially). Nearly two years later, I still have an odd sensation behind my knees and will do this stretch.
Blood clots generally are in the calf. They start with a burning pain. Your pain can be related to the surgery. There generally is a tourniquet applied to control bleeding. This can cause bruising up and down the leg. The other possibility is during the surgery some bruising took place and there is some swelling. Keep working on your straightening excercises as you will need to slowly get back to zero. It will go away in time but it may take time. If you have a stationary bike or acess to a pool use either or both of those. Continue your excercise but don't push yourself into pain. Be sure and ice often and stay well hydrated.......drink lots of water.
Ouch. That does not sound fun. I'm considering going to my gp about it at this point, but I don't know if they can help all that much.
Hmm...I hadn't really considered that. I'll keep on working and I'll see how it goes.
Courtney Renee, when was your surgery??
Hi , as I was told before I joined this forum, hang in here it will get better and so it has, I do feel sorry for you and hope you get well soon. about you fear of blood clots, were you given anti clot injections to take home with you to inject daily for 10 days, I ask this because I had them given to me to inject myself to prevent clots.I think that once the injections are gone there's little chance of a blood clott, perhaps I am wrong.
Get well soon .
Um, when was your surgery
Operation was 29th March 2016 and I am 72, bending my knee ok, straightening nearly there, hardly any pain , and sleep on the bedroom floor / carpet no pains.
Get well soon.
Sweetie, sometimes this site has a mind of it own, sorry to have bothered you
sueisobel, what makes you say that, you have not bothered me, honestly, I am just trying to help and comfort you, you will find that this is a very helpful forum, If I can help please ask me and I'll do my best.
Regards
Fred
Oh please do not take offence to my comment. What I meant was, my post was addressed to someone else and by mistake it went to you.
hence me apologising for bothering you
That's fine, it take more than that to offend me, don'the worry all is OK.
If you can get onto the food and able to get up try sleeping on the floor for a good night's sleep.
Have a look a my post on the 9th
OH what part of this world are you
Cheers
Fred
Hey Courtney Renee .....when was your surgery?? Was it total knee replacement??
I suffered back of knee pain and sciatica type pain. I found that this troubled me more than anything in the early months of my recovery. My physio eventually diagnosed a tight piriformis (muscle in the buttock). She gave me specific exercises for this which I still do daily. I am now nearly 2 years post op. It is now heaps better but did take a long time to improve. I found the pain behind the knee worse when walking downhill. I also took a long time to fully straighten my knee. I think these two things combined caused the back of knee pain.
You could ask your physio about the possibility of piriformis syndrome contributing to your symptoms or google it and try the recommended stretches. I can only say that things do improve but, in my experience, take a long time. I still get some tingling/numbness down the back of my leg and into my foot but it's nowhere near as bad as it was and I don't get more than the odd twinge at the back of the knee. I find continuing with the exercises is essential. Hope this helps in some way.
Jennifer, is it possible for you to briefly explain the exercise? Sounds like something I could benifit from.
Mine is on my left side so I lie on my back, hold my knee with my left hand on the side and underneath and my leg bent and pull up and across as far as I can towards my right shoulder. Hold for about 30 secs and repeat 5 times. You should feel a pull in the muscle in your buttock.
I also do "flossing". Sit with head bent and chin on chest then raise leg up and out horizontally at the same time lifting your head to look above you. Do 10 X 3 times. I did these about 3 times a day initially but now do every morning when I get up.
If you "google" piriformis syndrome you'll probably find a better description of these exercises as well as some others. Hope they help.