Post Operative knee replacement, ongoing pain, please help

[4weddings]

My husband who is 70 had a total knee replacement 6 weeks ago and the pain seems to be intensifying rather than diminishing.  He had a childhood injury to this knee, then another operation 13 years ago but is crying with the pain most of the time and has gone from ordinary pain killers to needing morphine.   He has physiotherapy 3 times per week, also hydrotherapy and acupuncture, they all say he is making some progress but very slowly and keep telling him exercising will relieve the pain.
He can walk around the house for short periods without either crutches or a stick so has some function but the pain seems unrelenting and is affecting his life quite seriously (and mine).
He says the pain now is worse than prior to the operation and I am wondering if this is normal.   It is so painful he cannot do the exercises as he should and the knee is very swollen and tight.  

He has seen the general practitioner who is managing the pain but I am wondering if this is how it should be or if something is going off track and we should be seeing the surgeon for a follow-up.  Thank you if anybody can help me.

[katycat59]

Had TKR was bad from the first day after surgery. When  After I sit or stand , for just a few minutes it looks like someone placed a tourniquet around the top of my knee. The knee and leg down to the foot will turn red and then purple if I remain on it. The pain is always bad no matter what I do. I stay in the recliner most of the time with leg up and this helps keep the reddish purple color from happening. I had two Doppler's done blood flow seems to be fine.

[19harvey58]

iT's a poor show ,their is not alot



of advice is given post op ,they can't wait to get you out of your bed and ready for the next patient.
If I was you I'd be back and get it sorted out its,not good enough ,in the private sector it's a licence to print money get you done And  pick up the cash who cares what happens to you when you go home I've had both done four months post op got 120 degrees movement but that's it stopped so I'm thinking scar tissue read up about it ,it stops your new knees from working I'm going for slot of hard sports massage to see if I can break down scar tissue other than that I'm out on the bike three times a day hammering the joints to move alas no joy ,but I will keep it going  got to before the scat tissue heals up altogether watch this space hope you inprove

[limpyk]

I had a total left knee replacement 17 months ago.  I kept telling the doctor that the knee and the side of my calf was burning.  He didn't know what that was.  I told him the leg was shorter than the other, he said everyone says that.  Well 6 months of therapy, no help.  6 months ago new doctor right knee replacement.  better than left. measured the left knee and sure enough shorter.  He suggested I go to a plastic surgeon for the left knee for an excision of neuroma.  Had that two weeks ago, don't bother nothing if not worse.  I cannot walk barefooted because the leg is shorter, it burns constantly, sleep with a pillow between my legs, very restless sleep.  Pain pills do not help, just makes me ga ga.  Ruined my life.  I am very depressed.

[IlynnColon]

My first knee replacement was done in 2003. I never recovered from the operation. I was 58 years old them. My life was ruined. I underwent a "repair" in 2006 which was a replacing the first one. It was surpassingly a solution. It was not'. The right knee joint was almost gone and once again I was told that this new joint would be custom made for my right knee. It too has failed. My life now is nonexistent. I have pain and swelling every single day, 24 hours a day.  Up until 3 months ago I would get steroid shots which were my only source of relief but Medicare will no longer pay for them and they are now deemed dangerous for people with prosthetic joints. I am doomed to a life of pain and suffering. I can’t walk or do any type of exercise. I have gained more than 30 pounds. I am in danger of getting diabetes, high blood pressure and look forward to being addicted to Oxycontin for the rest of my life. Now I am told that doctors believe I have arthritis in my muscles and ligaments that are attached to or surrounding my titanium knee replacements. Are they crazy? Arthritis by definition a joint disease, not a metal disease. I know what you are going through. I pray that God gives a doctor the healing gift to help people like us, some relief in the future. If not for me, then I pray that it happens to you.

[mocandream10]

I was reading the comments on this site just to find the same answers. I have two replacements. First one in 07 and the other in 09, All of a sudden the latter one is starting to hurt me. It gets stiff and in lots of pain when I sit for a while or even if I stand in on place. when I wake up I can hardly walk on it. I too have developed back and hip pain, so I understand what you are saying about always in pain. If you find a relation to all of this please let me know.

[DeDe58]

I am glad I found this, sometimes you think you are the only one feeling like this. I had my left knee replaced Nov.1 and my right replaced Dec 15 of 2013 so I am 5 and 6 months post op. I still have stiffness in both but only have pain in the left.  I have pain that makes me limp about half of the time and I hate that I had my knees replaced because I did not want to limp. I have only take ibuprofen ( even in the hospital) my Dr told me recovery takes a year I just didn't believe it. I am 59 and in great shape (well I was) any suggestions from anyone on the limp?