I am still in a lot of pain at night. During the day and night my knee is swollen and I get tingling, numbness and sharp pain all the time but I am able to drive, and walk up and down the stairs at where I live. I am going on a trip next month but I am still worried mostly about the swelling, tingling, and numbness.
All normal...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
Welcome to the club..."Kneebie"...
Do you rest your leg during the day? I get night pain sometimes but only when i have done too much in the day. My TKR early March 2017
Hi Lynn,
I'm about month further along than you and I still have numbness on the outside of my knee, swelling but no tingling now. If I sit with my knee bent for too long it makes the swelling worse as does being on it too long. I returned to work this week at 11 weeks post TKR and even though I'm only doing 3 hour shifts sitting down I have to elevate as soon as I return home. Also I feel totally wiped out which just isn't me as I used to be so active. Fingers crossed my energy levels return soon but I realise our bodies have been through one of the most barbaric invasive surgeries there is so I still rest when my body tells me to.
Night times still get to me sometimes but less frequently now.
Healing vibes x
I've still got an area of numbness on the outside of the knee Lynn, but expect it to take a while if it will ever go. I think the tingling is the nerves mending. I was warned by the surgeon that the swelling can go on for up to a year.
Yes to everything. Tight "band" feeling, stiffness, clicking, popping, clunking and more. Could take 12-18 months to resolve. For me, I don't think the sounds will ever go away. The tingling will fade but you may have some permanent topical numbness. Had my hip replaced in '09. There's still this one spot...
Yes, Jenny I am resting in the day time. I believe the pain which is not to bad in the day time is because I have RA and when the surgery was done the RA had eaten my knee up. It's at night time when it's bad but I have to admit it is getting better.
The energy drain has been the biggest surprise for me! I could not have imagined it!😯
Be prepared to have that "energy drain" continue for a long while. With your quads in an atrophied state, every step will feel like ten. This takes a lot of time and effort to get past. Gym or home exercise equipment will do the trick but, again, will take time to rebuild all that muscle strength. Here's the plan...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/post-tkr-exercising-565527
Indeed!
Hi Ali; you are right about having no energy; although I have RA and know about having no energy. I also found out yesterday, that if I am on my knee to much during the day that there will be a lot of pain at night.
Thanks Chris, yes I was told that the swelling could last up to a year.
Hi I have memories exactly like this, the thing that worked best for me was regular sessions of icing and elevation...I had a gel pack that I would put behind my knee, with a towel I between for comfort and a bag of peas I kept for the job on the front again with a towel in between, I found doing this for 5/10mins really help with the swelling and my physiology encouraged me to rub my skin with different textures, ie. The scratches side of washing up sponges, brushes, sponges etc to recover sensation. Seems to me you are doing well good luck
I had my surgery 3/14/17. I had crazy night time knee pain, almost to the point of crying. I haven't had any of that for at least 3weeks now. Yay!
You are so right! I feel about 20 years older and I'm 61.
Excellent! It is when you look back you realise how things are progressing, isn't it:-))) Well done:-)))
Thanks for the tips and words of encouragement.
Yes, I just had a couple of bad nights back to back but I think it was because I had been up on it a lot on Sunday, but they were pretty bad.
Hello Lynn. I had a right TKR on the 5th Feb. I am having a lot of thigh pain and pins and needles in my knee, especially at night. Flexibility still not great, bend only at 90 degrees. I am able to walk without a crutch whilst inside but need support when I venture out. The right side of my knee is numb but I'm hoping that it will improve. It is such an arduous recovery but I guess we have to work at it! I'm 62 and I also need a left TKR but not thinking about that for some time!
Yes, I was told that I would eventually need a left knee replacement also. I have RA and it has really been working on my bones. I am in so much pain not just from my surgery; I have not been able to take my RA shot since surgery because the doctors are scared of me getting an infection. Praying that I can take it soon.