My mom had a total knee replacement 8 days ago and has severe burning all around the joint. It gets worse when she's sitting and raises her foot up to straighten her leg. She has to do to exercises and the pain was so bad today that she was in tears. The therapist wasn't very helpful and acted like my mom was over reacting. Has anyone else has so much burning after a knee replacement?
Dear Cindy and Cindi's Mum
This is early days. It is a lot , a lot of pain after operation, there were days that after taking all drugs I could take plus 100 mg morfine, I wanted to call ambulance (I know it was stupid of me) to ask them to give me extra injection as I cold not bear the pain.
Unfortunately you need to do exercises , even through pain. Tell your mum to take your painkillers 30 min before exercises.
The pain goes a bit, but even now, after 9 weeks of operation, I have evenings that are very painful, especially if I done a bit too much during the day.
Please tell your mum that it will get better, definitely. The first days are very difficult. We all went through it.
Best of luck = Grace
Thank you so much! She's worried that something is wrong and that she may need another surgery to correct the problem. She took care of me after I had a hip replacement so she understands a lot of it but I don't think she's was prepared for the pain.
I'll share your comments with her and I'm sure it will comfort her.
Thanks!!
Tell Mum to hang in there. I had a right TKR five years ago and experienced the burning sensation for a fair time afterwards. I would describe it as acute discomfort rather than pain. It gradually went away but always benefitted from a brisk rub occasionally. I'm told the burning is because the nerves just below the skin surface have been disturbed. Exercse is important and therefore so are painkillers.
Some people sail thru the operation but others, like your mum and me have to put up with the discomfort and a lot worse if the letters on this forum are accurate
I had the left TKR 10 weeks ago and the burning sensation is back. I find Tramadol helps a lot but not everyone can tolerate that drug. The strange thing with me is that now that the left knee is burning, the right one has started again! No one can tell me why and I'm hoping they will both settle down soon.
I haven't had burning but a lot of swelling and a sciatica pain down my leg. I too have found the exercises very painful. Had my op on Mon. Hope this helps.
Thanks for all the help and advice. She's going to call the doctor if it doesn't improve a little but it really helps knowing others have had similar experiences.
Thanks. I had pain in my "good hip" not long before my hip replacement on the other side. They called it sympathy pain. It seems odd but apparently it's quite common when you have two of the same joints, appendages, etc. I had no idea. 😊
I had a lot of swelling, and that gives a burning sensation, and yes, sitting with your knee bent (like at a desk) is very painful. Tell her to get the legs up as often as she can, ice it for 10mins or so several times per day, and it will improve. The hardest time to cope I found was at night, so I lay on my back with the legs straight but on pillows and a folded quilt to get them higher than my heart. That reduced the swelling overnight, so each morning things felt better, and I always did my first lot of exercises then. Rested after that, and started on the icing etc. I have a business and found the difficulty running that was trying to keep up with computer work when I couldn't cope sitting at a desk for months! If your mum has a recliner chair, that's the best way to sit...
had rt tkr on 8/1/2014...unbearable burning pain...this helps me...run a tall narrow upright fan on my knee next to my bed helps keep it cool...I also ice constantly..using coleman [bought in walmart for $1.47 in usa } ice substitute cold packs...wrapped in a pillowcase...i hope it will pass....but I am now at 5 weeks ...go to physical therapy..keep trying....know that you are not alone in all this...I live near boston ma....and am a retired nurse ,,,never realized how tough this is ...best wishes for your recovery ...it just takes time and patience...thank you for letting me know I also am not alone and maybe its part of the process
I had both my knees done at the same time on 7/7/2014 it is so good to find this site, I am glad I am not the only one with these issues. The buring in my leg had finally stop for the most part, I did a lot of icing and sitting my legs up so they are higher than my heart. Now I am having problem walking without a cane, it seems to be all in my head, can anyone out there give out some advice how to overcome the fear of falling?
Hi Patricia, I'm nearly 11 weeks post op. I haven't really had a problem walking unaided (plenty of other complaints!) but I started off going without a crutch in the house then with very short walks on the flat then built up to longer ones. Do you still see a physio? There are exercises that improve your balance and these could help. Someone else on this site has mentioned these. I've thought of getting one of those folding sticks to take with me in case I get tired. Maybe you could take one with you as reassurance? I'm sure you'll do it. Like every other aspect of this recovery, it'll come in time, I'm sure. Good luck.
Jen
Thank you the idea of taken a cane for reassurance. I am still going to PT, but range of motion is very poor still, I do the excerice at least two times a day. How is your range of motion going?
Hi Patricia, my range of motion is pretty good I think and I've managed to get the leg more or less straight. I still get quite a bit of muscle pain at the back of the leg though which gets worse when I walk downhill. The only thing the physio suggests is stretching exercises! I suppose it's the same for you with improving the range of motion. It's hard and tiring keeping them up though isn't it? I try to do mine 3 times a day but they take about 1/2hour each time. I also try to use my stationary bike each day. But I still get frustrated at lack of improvement in the discomfort. We'll get there, I suppose.
Jen x
I'm so glad to find this thread, even though last posting was 3 mos. ago. Had right TKR 9 weeks ago and wondering if there's anything to ease the burning. After reading all, I'm feeling lucky. Although constantly aware, the burning is really bothersome at night. However, I have been able to tolerate all taking Aleve twice a day and pain pills only before going to physical therapy, that being more intense than my home routine. Has anyone gotten any relief from the burning using any rub on analgesic or cooling lotions? I was just told the burning normally lasts 4-6 mos. and can last, to some degree, for one year! Would love to find something to calm this down at night.
I sleep on my left side ,bring my right tkr over the left leg keep my knee out of the blankets and run a fan on my knee ..Happy to report the burning pain subsided around 12 weeks .In daytime Iused cold packs and icing .I still have that annoying numbness at the outer aspect of my knee .Just need more time ,the surgeon said it could take upto a year
My knee replacement was about 3 weeks ago and the pain and swelling is going down slowly. Right now probably the hardest part is the taught skin from knee to foot with the feeling of a really bad sunburn. The skin stings to the touch! I have been using some lotion to ease this and that is helping some. Icing and elevation are a real plus. I talked to both my surgeon and PT (both excellent) and they agreed that it was unrealistic to always have the knee straight especially when try to sleep. I now sleep on the couch so I can put my knee up on the back of the couch in a relatively comfortable position, and watch TV or read if I can't sleep. Try to get those hours of sleep you can!!! Also I'm dusting off the recliner this weekend and hope that helps as well.. Best of luck. This thing just plain hurts. I broke a bunch of ribs and a collarbone in July falling off my bicycle and I swear this is as painful because it is (for me) very difficult to find a position where I can drop off to sleep! Hang in there to you all and thanks for this thread .... it does help to know we are in this together!
I had my right knee replaced 3 weeks ago. I am off of crutches but still use 1 when I go out because I have a tendency to limp when my leg is stiff. Sleeping is still elusive! I am a side sleeper and it is nearly impossible to find a comfortable, fairly pain free position. Also even a sheet touching the knee is painful. Since I am the newest to this conversation I was hoping some of you could update me on your progress. I start outpatient physical therapy tomorrow. In home went well, even tho painful!! I am bending to 110 degrees after stretching. I don't understand why my calf and foot hurt so much!! Is this normal?? It hurts just to touch the top of my foot so I wear slippers when outside. I would appreciate any info I can get. Thanks
Hang in there. I had right TKR six weeks ago. This past week was my first week back at work and last night I slept five hours in a row for the first time since the surgery. Major accomplishment. The burning has lessened, started on the left side and now has moved to the right. The pain I feel now is so different tha. Before the surgery and it changes so I know I am getting better. Just takes time.
Cindy, I had two total knee replacements several years ago. I never felt it was a total success, but now I am having swelling in both knees and they burn like fire. Wish I knew why this is as I never want that surgery again in my life!!
My wife Rigth TKR on 1/25/15 she still has the burning sensation on the bottom outside part of the knee and still can't walk without a cane or a crutch, she has been thru a lot of pain, it has been a long hard process, she puts ice on it every day and still does the exercises. Any advice or anything that will help? the doctor says all the symptoms are not unnormal even the swelling.