Knee Replacement Pain After Three Months
Swelling and bruising can continue for three months or more following knee replacement surgery. However, it varies from patient to patient and depends on the condition you were in before surgery. Many patients are back to their activities without the pain they had before surgery by this stage of recovery.
If you find that any movement or activity is still exceedingly painful after three months, you may be experiencing chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain persisting for three months or longer. Its a condition that affects roughly 20% of knee replacement surgery patients. It can develop and increase in intensity in the weeks and months following surgery. This can have a huge impact on your overall quality of life. Talk to your doctor for help.
How Soon Will I Be Up And About
The staff will help you to get up and walk about as quickly as possible. If you’ve had keyhole surgery or are on an enhanced recovery programme, you may be able to walk on the same day as your operation. Generally, you’ll be helped to stand within 12 to 24 hours after your operation.
Walking with a frame or crutches is encouraged. Most people are able to walk independently with sticks after about a week.
During your stay in hospital, a physiotherapist will teach you exercises to help strengthen your knee. You can usually begin these the day after your operation. It’s important to follow the physiotherapist’s advice to avoid complications or dislocation of your new joint.
It’s normal to have initial discomfort while walking and exercising, and your legs and feet may be swollen.
You may be put on a passive motion machine to restore movement in your knee and leg. This support will slowly move your knee while you are in bed. It helps to decrease swelling by keeping your leg raised and helps improve your circulation.
The Many Potential Causes Of Persistent Pain After Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement is a surgical procedure to replace the worn-out or damaged surfaces of the knee joint with new, man-made surfaces. The goals of TKR are to relieve pain and restore the function of the knee. Most people who have TKR experience a significant decrease in pain and an improvement in knee function. However, a small number of people may experience persistent pain or other complications after surgery. There are many potential causes of persistent pain after TKR, including: Poor fit of the artificial knee joint Inflammation of the joint Nerve damage Infection Blood clots Loose pieces of bone or cartilage Scar tissue Wear and tear of the artificial joint In most cases, the cause of persistent pain after TKR can be identified and treated. However, in some cases, the pain may be chronic and difficult to treat.
There may be some back pain associated with total knee replacement, especially as you learn to walk and move more freely with your new knee. Theres a chance youll get rid of some of your pre-surgery back pain as a result of this procedure. If you had pain in your knee, you could have moved in a way that hurt your back as a result of your pain.
You May Like: How Do I Know If I Dislocated My Shoulder
The Problem Is Clearly The Patients Think They Can Do More After Knee Replacement And They Are Not Forewarned To Reduce Their Expectations
Doctors at Australias leading medical universities combined to produce this opinion published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery.
Walking ability and speed are important to the total knee replacement patient and are representative of their pain and function. Important functions to the patients such as how fast they can walk are typically not measured in determining patient outcome scores, compromising true patient outcome surveys.
Nerve Pain After Knee Replacement: Causes And Treatments
As the most common cause of nerve pain after a knee replacement, instability of the joint is the most common cause of nerve pain. The knee joint is a joint located at the top of the thigh that allows the thigh bone to move up and down as well as side to side. It is possible that the knee joint will not function as expected as a result of the knee replacement. The joint may become unstable, resulting in pain. The nerves that supply the joint are irritated, which is one of the causes of nerve pain after a knee replacement.
Read Also: Relief For Tennis Elbow Pain
When The Medical System Is Non
In December 2016, research from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom examined the need for post-knee replacement support from the medical community and what happens when that support is not there. Here is what they wrote:
Transformation from a person with osteoarthritis to someone recovering from a surgical intervention can lead to alterations in the source, type and level of support people receive from others, and can also change the assistance that they themselves are able to offer. In this study the authors followed ten patients post-knee replacement. What they found was when medical support was lacking, patients reached out to support groups to fill the gap.
A main consequences of lack of support was: Missing or ill-timed support from health professionals can have negative psychosocial consequences for patients going through joint replacement.
In November 2019, a paper from the University of Bristol continued this line of research by suggesting: There is evidence that social support is a prognostic factor for some outcomes after joint replacement. Development and evaluation of complex interventions to improve social support and social integration is warranted. In other words, support groups and other outreach programs would benefit the knee replacement patient.
Can Nerves Be Damaged During Knee Replacement Surgery
It is common for nerves near the knee joint to be damaged following knee replacement. In some cases, the patient is unaware of the condition until it causes a bothersome sensation.
Saphenous Nerve Pain After Knee Surgery
If you have pain in the infrapatellar area of your knee, you should consult a doctor. During total knee arthroplasty, it is simple to cause saphenous nerve damage, so you should not experience any pain or dysfunction until the procedure is completed. It is best to consult with your doctor about how to manage pain after surgery, as well as what options you should consider.
Read Also: Treatment For Fluid On Knee
How Long Will I Need Pain Medication After Total Knee Replacement
Most patients report that they need pain medication for the first few weeks after surgery. However, some patients may need it for a few months.
After a total knee replacement, how long does it take for pain to fade out? When properly cared for, pain from surgery should go away in a matter of days. You should think about your pain and make sure not to abuse the medication you are prescribed. Most injuries and surgeries, according to the rest-ice-elevate rule, will require some ice. Following a total knee replacement, many patients report that their mobility has improved within weeks. The pain of surgery can be felt for weeks and even months afterward, affecting their quality of life. You should consult with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bill Hefley to determine the best course of treatment.
Knee Replacement Surgery: Causes Of Early Post
If you are experiencing pain after knee replacement surgery, you must first determine what is causing it. The presence of infection, problems with how the implant connects to the bone, or the mechanism of the implant are all possible symptoms of early post-operative pain. It is possible to have successful knee replacement surgery if the problem is resolved. In the unlikely event that the pain persists, additional evaluation may be required.
Also Check: Women Brown Knee High Boots
Surgeons Say One In Four Patients With Pain After Knee Replacement Had No Clear Reasoning For Their Pain It Wasnt The Hardware It Wasnt Anything Obvious That They Could See
In the research above, surgeons have a road map of where to look for pain after knee replacement. Returning to the findings released in the British Pain Journal , the doctors suggest looking for pain in other places that are usually not explored:
- Our main findings are that some patients have severe pain that interferes significantly with their lives and that a large number of them have pain sensitization problems , many of which can be classified as neuropathic pain , rather than any local, nociceptive cause .
- A heightened sense of pain following knee replacement will be discussed throughout this article.
What is the research saying?
In November 2018 a study was published in the Journal of Knee Surgery. The doctors also were looking at nerve pain after surgery.
- The study had 154 patients with 222 knee replacements
- The goal of the study was to define the prevalence of pain persisting after total knee replacement and determine the impact of neuropathic pain.
- The ratio of patients with
- moderate-to-severe pain was 28% .
- Thirteen patients experienced unclear pain.
- A significant number of patients experienced moderate-to-severe and unclear pain after total knee replacement.
It looked like neuropathy but it wasnt neuropathy.
How Long Does Stiffness Last After Knee Replacement
Some degree of stiffness is normal after surgery since you can’t move the injured knee right away. If you undergo proper rehabilitation, you should no longer have a stiff knee by the third month.
For starters, correct rehabilitative practices help prevent scar tissue buildup. The formation of scar tissues, in turn, are some of the top causes of joint stiffness. This is why it’s super important to get your knee moving as soon as your doctor allows you.
This is also why your doctor will likely let you walk within the first 24 hours after surgery. You’d need to rely on an assistive device, though, such as a cane, crutches, or a knee brace. Your healthcare team will also only permit you to walk a few steps during this time.
Speaking of which, your doctor will likely have you stay in the hospital for one to three days after the surgery. Your physician may extend this based on how much physical therapy you need. Your progression and recovery will also dictate the time you need to remain in the hospital.
Either way, you can expect your physical rehabilitation to start as early as day 2 after the surgery. You will still need a knee brace and other assistive devices to help you get up and move. You can also expect your knee to start healing while you’re still in the hospital.
Also Check: Dog Elbow Pads For Pressure Sores
What Causes Knee Pain 10 Years After Tkr
It is not uncommon to experience some degree of knee pain 10 years after tkr surgery. There are a number of potential causes, including: -The natural aging process. Over time, the artificial joint may begin to wear down, causing pain. -Inactivity. If you do not keep up with regular physical activity, the muscles and tissues around the knee can become weak and stiff, leading to pain. â Obesity. Excess weight puts additional stress on the knee joint, which can lead to pain. â Poor alignment. If the artificial knee is not properly aligned, it can place undue stress on the joint and surrounding tissues, leading to pain. If you are experiencing knee pain 10 years after tkr surgery, it is important to consult with your orthopedic surgeon to determine the cause and develop a treatment plan.
Patients who have chronic knee pain and limited function may benefit from knee replacement. An implant is a prosthetic piece of the joint that replaces all or a portion of the joint. It may take several months for the patient to fully recover from knee replacement surgery. Inflammation, soreness, and pain are common symptoms of surgery. Pain may also occur as rehabilitation progress. Loosening of the implant and infection are the two most common causes of pain after a knee replacement. If an artificial joint becomes infected, it can cause pain and stiffness in the joint.
Ongoing Pain After Knee Replacement: People Need Support And Encouragement To Seek Help
This is a plain English summary of an original research article
People with ongoing pain after knee replacement surgery may experience a sense of futility and believe nothing more can be done. A new study found that that one in five people report ongoing pain after knee replacement surgery, but many do not seek help in dealing with their pain.
The researchers say that improvements in the information given before surgery could help. And it is important that clinicians acknowledge pain at follow-up appointments. This may encourage people to seek help to manage their pain through services such as physiotherapy, surgery, or medication.
In this new study, researchers found that some patients did not want to undergo further treatment because they thought it would not work or be risky, or because they had other health problems to deal with. People were uncertain about what to do about their pain even after consulting their surgeon or GP.
Recommended Reading: Pain And Stiffness Behind Knee
Is It The Opioids
A 2019 paper from Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston describes the problems of opioid use before knee replacement.
Prescription opioid use is common among patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis before undergoing total knee replacement. Preoperative opioid use may be associated with worse clinical and safety outcomes after total knee replacement.
In this study, the researchers targeted preoperative opioid use among patients 65 years and older with mortality and other complications at 30 days post-total knee replacement.
Study learning points:
- 316,593 patients who underwent total knee replacement:
- 22,895 were continuous opioid users before surgery.
- 161,511 were intermittent opioid users before surgery.
- 132,187 did not use opioids before surgery.
Knee Replacement Surgery: What To Expect
This is an important step in many peoples lives. Pain and other symptoms may occur in the days and weeks following surgery. You should check to see if the implant is functioning properly after a knee replacement, especially if you experience knee pain. An infection can form as a result of early post-op pain, problems with how the implant connects to bone, or issues with the implant mechanism itself. When you experience pain after surgery, it is critical that you see your doctor as soon as possible. Within two to six weeks, most of the neural function returns to normal.
You May Like: Cortisone Shot For Frozen Shoulder
How To Avoid Post
To reduce pain following knee replacement surgery, a few steps should be taken. If you have residual pain after the surgery, consult with a therapist to see if you can work it out. Maintaining good posture and keeping your weight off your knee is also a good way to keep it off your knee. Finally, if pain persists after surgery, you should consider revision surgery.
How Long Does Nerve Damage Take To Heal After Knee Replacement
The majority of people will feel a return in some way or another. This could have been caused by the fact that the nerve had simply been stretched during surgery. Some nerves have grown and replaced the other. Experts recommend that a stretched nerve heal in 6 to 12 weeks.
How To Reduce Knee Stiffness
You can use a few techniques to reduce stiffness. You can start by maintaining good knee alignment. This is accomplished by ensuring that your knee is in the proper position as you move it. In addition, brace or cushion can be used to support the knee. Finally, you can reduce the stiffness by taking medication. There are other ways you can help reduce stiffness, as well as a few things you can do. As a first step, ensure that the implant youre replacing is strong enough. Before proceeding, make sure that the replacement is carried out correctly. Finally, you should take good care of your knee after the operation.
You May Like: Gym Gloves With Wrist Support
How Long Does Shin Pain Last After Tkr
The answer to this question depends on the individual. Some people may experience shin pain for a few days after their tkr surgery, while others may have shin pain for several weeks or even months. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, and it is important to discuss your individual case with your surgeon to get a more accurate estimate of how long your shin pain may last.
Prolotherapy And Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy For Post
We are going to briefly address two treatment options that we offer here at Caring Medical. We will explore these treatments more deeply below. These are non-surgical, injections. They are not cortisone, they are not gel shots.
Prolotherapy is an injection technique utilizing simple sugar or dextrose which causes a small controlled inflammation at weakened tissue. This triggers the immune system to initiate repair of the injured tendons and ligaments. Blood supply dramatically increases in the injured area. The body is alerted that healing needs to take place and reparative cells are sent to the treated area of the knee that needs healing. The body also lays down new collagen in the treated areas, thereby strengthening the weakened structures. Once the tendons and ligaments are strengthened, the joint stabilizes and the tendonitis or tendinosis condition resolves.
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is the use of a patients blood platelets and healing factors to stimulate repair of a tendon it is considered when tendon damage is more severe. We will be discussing these treatments further below and try to provide a realistic outlook as to if these treatments may benefit you.
Also Check: How To Treat Elbow Tendon Pain