I'm 4 weeks post TKR. The joint & incision feel fine. Although the muscles are tight the range of motion is good. What has me pulling my hair out is nerve pain! The surface of my skin is unbearably sensitive to even the slightest of touch. This, coupled with the occasional burst of lightening down the back of my leg, is making life a living torture! Pain meds do precisely nothing for this nerve pain. Does anyone have any tips for nerve pain relief?
Try Tramadol. It's a nerve blocker.
Yes...I agree.
Hi, so sorry to hear you're in so much pain & nerve pain is nasty. Amytriptoline also is good for nerve pain. See your GP, don't wait to see the surgeon. GP should be able to prescribe something for nerve pain.
As you've no doubt read on this forum TKR is a brutal operation. You've been diced up & sewn back together. I still have a spot on my scar, when I massage, it that twangs at the back of the knee. It felt horrible at 1st but am used to it. I never had nerve pain. I feel for you, had sciatica few years back & that is also nerve so I do not envy you.
I hope you get something to relieve it soon. Hang on on there & look after yourself, in a couple of years you will be skipping about on your new knee like a spring lamb!
Have a lovely Christmas but just make sure someone else does all the work!!
Good luck on your journey.
XX
Hi Pleiadeez7, the drug that helps with nerve pain is lyrica, ask your doctor if they think this is an appropriate drug for you. I've been taking 450mg of lyrica a day. At this stage I would suggest that you don't get started on tramadol. Lyrica targets the nerve pain and has made a huge difference in my life. I had right tkr 14 months ago and I'm still waiting for left tkr so for both it's been a huge help.
Also endep (amitriptyline) is good. See which one your doctor thinks.
I would go for amitriptyline as it assists sleep and depression.
I too suffered from nerve pain around week 3 and 4. The PT suggested the drug mentioned here but would not prescribe it as it is a strong nerve drug used often for diabetics not temporary conditions, as hopefully this is. Honestly, I did not get strong enough long acting pain meds. But the good news the nerve pain subsided after about 2 weeks. My PT said to keep lightly touching the sensitive knee with tissue or cotton balls to desensitize the area and calm the knee down. It felt dumb rubbing a tissue over the knee but I began using my clairsonic on my knee and incision. Yes, weird huh. The vibration is very gentle and has calmed the incision and nerves down. I use the clarisonic on my knee every night after I exercise working on lossening the scar tissue and skin that is tight around the knee along the incision. For those that are not familiar with this products, it uses fast moving brush heads to gently clean your face. Before you laugh, give it a try. I still have a 1/4 side of my knee that is numb. Other than a stabbing nerve pain occasionally, no other nerve pain. I consider the stabbing pain to indicate healing so it does not bother me much as it subsides quickly
Monday, I will be 12 weeks post right tkr. I still don't sleep well and still use a cane outside , as I'm uneven due to my last hip replacement, but am healing. I still felt better before surgery but can now use the exercise bike and drive short distances without pain.
Good healing. One day you will realize a few minutes went by when you did not think of your keep or the pain.
Sue
Dr. put me on Lyrica 50 mg 1 tab every 12 hours also on Tramadol
Her as are the last to heal and may take months. Ask your Dr about The possibility of using either gabepentin or lyrica to help you buy some relief. Others have suggested some form of sleeve to keep things from rubbing against it but that's sort of a band aid approach. Lots of stuff has been cut and all has to refire to work again.
First, wrap the knee loosely with an ACE bandage or get a light compression knee sleeve. This relieves the torture of the knee rubbibg against sheets or clothes. Feeling will eventually subside.
Muscles will be tight. Need to stretch. Once the PT gives you back your ROM...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/zero-degrees--517809
...ya gotta hit the gym to rebuild the strength in your quads, glutes and core. All have atrophied so it will take time and work. Read the Exercise Section here...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
The nerve pain could be from sciatica (section in the above post). Lyrica, Neurontin, Gabapentin, Celebrex are some meds. If it's actually sciatica, don't treat the pain, fix the problem. Go see a chirporactor and get your hips and back realligned. Very common in TKR patients. We walk funny to compensate for the knee pain and throw everything else out of whack. I'd start there rather than take drugs.
I'm still suffering with topical nerve pain with the added bonus of the frequent yet unexpected blasts of lightening that shoot down the back of the leg. All of the meds mentioned in this post (Tramadol, Lyrica, Gabapentin, etc.) have been totally useless. P/T has turned into a torture method worthy of terrorist interrogation. Forcing myself through P/T, to keep range of motion, and encasing the leg in ice have become my sole purposes in life. One other item I've added to my regimen is "Jah Healing Balm" which is very effective at helping the muscles relax a bit. I'll update again in a few weeks, or if I discover a fabulous pain mgmt tool.
The absolute best med for topical nerve pain is Voltaren Gel (RX in the USA). Works great for me when all those meds you mentioned didn't do anything for me either.
Also consider that you may have a case of sciatica which presents as shooting pain down the leg. Read the Sciatica Section in the TRK Experience post above. If that's your problem, you need a chiropractor, not drugs. A pinched sciatic nerve is very common in TKR patients and has to be corrected by a chiropractic adjustment of your hip and back alignment. My knee surgeon sent me to one immeditely upon the onset of my sciatica. Consider it...
Hi....i agree with Chico about the sciatica being relieved by a chiropractor. The second day after my tkr I experienced that awful shooting pain down the back of my thigh and into my hip/back which I mentioned to my surgeon. He didn't agree it was sciatica saying it had nothing to do with the op . As I'd lived with sciatica for 4 years prior to having my laminectomy I knew it was indeed sciatica. I took myself off to the Chiro who worked his magic on my lower back and I found instant relief. I had 4 sessions with the chiropractor and all is well. Our bodies are designed to be balanced and having knee or back problems can upset the balance. From personal experience I prefer chiropractic treatment to PT treatment as the PT tried to force my poor swollen knee to 120 2 weeks after my tkr and we all know what that feels like! Good luck to all tkr persons out there....have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year 😊 🎄 🎅 🌠
Hi, Chico Marx & Lesley are both spot on, chiropractic is the best for these problems. I see mine regularly. Lovely lady from USA she really helped in the lead up to my op.
All the best
🎄🎄
Marilyn
XX
Thanks Marilyn....have a wonderful Christmas 🎅 and new year xx
You too Lesley
🎄🎄
XX
I had both knees replaced July 17th this year, I had the never block I also have rheumatoid arthritis and has not been under control for a while. Surgery went great, not much pain no bruising, I had an easy time got my bend in bith my legs to 120 % within 2 to 3 weeks. During my 3rd week I was gettibg off the toliet and I hard and felt a snap in my rught knee, I fell back on yhe toliet my knee was very sore afterwards and still is 4 months after surgery, Dr looked at my kner said it looked and felt fine and to give it somr time ( my 3 month check up ) . The last few weeks I felt stinging on my knees and top of my feet and I feel unstable like I have no balance when I walk . I had to start using my cain again. Yesterday the day before Thanksgiving my left leg did the same thing my right knee did snap and buckled on me, now both are hurting when I get up and down mostly. I am do fusterated not sure what to think. I am 52 and overweight. I am on steriods till I can get into my rheumatologist.
I'm 4 months out from surgery and still having nerve pain. Any suggestions?
Describe it, please...