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.

[littletoe]

I had tkr 10weeks ago and the pain is now worse than before the operation.  started off well for the first 5 weeks,then slowly deteriorated until I can now hardly walk more than a few steps at a time.2 doctors have told me it,so quite normal but I persisted and have managed to get an appointment with the surgeon who did the operation this week. Quite honestly I,my dreading what he is going to diagnose as I think it may be a follow up operation and I hate hospitals

[MAE0806]

I have the same problem you mentioned.  I could be sitting on the couch with my leg elevated.  I fall asleep and suddenly I feel a snap at the back of my knee.  It wakes me up immediately and I have to move the leg around to get rid of the pain.  This happens at night sometimes when I am sleeping.  The leg all the sudden snaps in the back of the knee and.  I have not told my surgeon so I may have to make an appointment to see him and see what he says.  Have you found a solution to this problem.

[mattj158]

I had a total knee replacement 6 yrs ago.  It was surgery #6 on the knee. In the first 6 mos. following the surgery I had a manipulation procedure and another procedure to remove excess scar tissue. The pain levels have gradually increased over the years to now be more than they were prior to the replacement.  I had pt for 11 mos. following the initial replacement.  I have tried a variety of prescription pain killers and none are effective.  I am no longer taking any.  I have difficulty sitting, walking or sleeping more than 2 hours at a time.  I have seen 3 different orthopedic surgeons.  None have been able to come up with any solutions or suggestions that work.  Any suggestions, ideas, etc.?
Thanks.

[Sparky411]

My TKA took place on June 26. Up until late September I was still on narcotics for pain.  I worked through it all, the horrible pain, discomfort and sleepnless nights up until recently.  One thing I am not reading in many of the messages is how important it is to find a physical therapist who understands how to correct gait and body mechanics.  The disease that took our mobility also effected the way we move and the operation does not actually correct bad habits.  No amount of exercise will correct these totally.  Most PT's either don't have time to address poor body mechanics or they have little experience with it. Usually, they are into excercise, ice and stimulation machines.  Some do pilates but that too does not correct bad body mechanics. As long as the doctor can confirm that your knee remains in good mechanical alignment, and there is no infection, then that leaves body mechanics.  If your PT does not want to watch you walk during the first visit, then find someone who will and can communicate how to correct poor ambulation skills.  Also, the lumbar spine, specifically L4/L5, can refer pain into the knee, causing incredible discomfort;  this will also effect how you preceive the success of the TKA.  The PT should know this and should treat you for this.  Do not give up on your nursing career just because of your setbacks.   All of us who have had a TKA have had setbacks, pain, doubt and yes, some disappointment.  It is major surgery. I can only encourage you to work through them. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[LarainH]

OH man, I feel for u, I am five weeks post-op and not progressed as far as I would like to be, although the Flexinator machine is helping tremendously with pain and flexion mngmnt. It is torture to use but the rewards outweigh the pain whilst using it. I started swimming last week and it has helped tremendously as well. take your meds and go to PT. Work thru the pain and know we have all been there and we all feel ur pain ...

Ive had two ACL replacement surgeries and meniscus implant surgeries before having had the TKR, I thought TKR would be easy and "a piece of cake". In actuality, it takes ALOT of work and ALOT of self motivation to keep going. The flip side of the coin is to give up and be incapacitated for life.

I choose to do whatever it takes and to grit my teeth and bear it, although I have my dark moments of despair and discontent...be aware that this is normal and choose to see the glass as half full and get to work!!

I have to go torture myself with the Flexinator now but I wouldn't have it any other way as I see progress, as slow as it is...

Oh, and don't forget your pain pills!!

Good luck!!! Peace...GET WELL

[bmgarvin]

Hi
I'm 43, had left tka done 7 weeks ago, a week after it I had to go back in and have surgery to drain it because I began bleeding internally and it got massively swollen, my lower leg was numb due to swelling and the pain was unreal. I have never experienced such pain before or since.
I had two scopes before, also shots of cortisone and a lubricant medicine, without relief, had fallen down stairs at 37 and got worse and worse.
At the end could only stand ten minutes at a time, constant pain. Unable to work as an RN since December so I've wasted four years of college. Selling our business and sold my farm because I have no source of income now.
My range of motion and strength is fantastic....bending to 118 degrees, within 4 cm of being able to get it flat. Still have constant pain. My limping and falling has torn out my ACL and meniscus in the other one, scoping did not relieve it, and the surgeon says my knees are bone on bone. No longer need Percocet, but take Vicodin still, about out so will have to call again, I take 7.5 mg 1-2 prn....I take anywhere from one to a maximum of 6-8 or so on a bad day. Also take anti-inflammatory medicine and antidepressant.
I still cannot clean house, cook, work, or do anything. Can't shop. Can't have it down much. Must either be in recliner with ice on it, or in bed.
Bitterly depressed and have little to no hope I will ever be pain free. No longer require walker or cane, can go up and down stairs, but I hurt all the time. This is my first experience with pain beyond a headache/tylenol kind of thing. Wish they would have done more sooner.