I had total knee replacement 3 months ago, I need help with dealing and coping with pain.?

Question

I've reached the point where I just can't take it anymore. Is there anyone out there that can help me. I'm not looking for drugs, I'm looking for guidance. I want to hear about your own experiences. Some days the pain just gets to be so unbearable. I've heard from other people that have had TKR that one day I'll just wake up and the pain will be gone. How true is that? I've also been very depressed, I'm not thinking about killing myself, but I just need some help. Any words or prayers of encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I am allergic to pain killers, so I had to rely on deep breathing alone for pain management, even with a broken hip. I inhale through the nose, hold and distribute oxygen and fresh energy throughout my body and exhale through the mouth. Equal length of each phase inhale-hold-exhale is best. Creative visualization works for me too. Prayers do wonders; affirmations help a lot; for example,--every day in every way I feel better and better. Every bit adds. Try alternatives to drugs--acupressure, acupuncture, and so on--whatever works for you. Give yourself time to clear your system from drug dependency--withdrawal symptoms manifesting as pain but don't give up searching. Pain is not normal. And please tell your doctor and your surgeon about your pain--again, and again, and again--not everyone reacts well to pain killers, so the doctors know many drugs and many non-drug alternatives too. Get well soon!

Answer 2

I have to agree that you should call your surgeon and schedule an appt with them. Three months after a TKR, your pain should be minimal if not gone. How are you walking and is the movement of your knee normal? If not, you might need to have have physical therapy to help you along. Taking a medication like Naprosyn or Ibuprofen will help by reducing any localized swelling that may be in the area. However, I would be asking why I am having such severe pain. So call your doctor on Monday and schedule an appointment STAT... There is no need for you to live in constant pain.

Then depression is not uncommon in a person with chronic pain issues. Depression will also increase your pain levels. So that is another reason to see your doctor, to get rid of the depression.

With proper care and treatment you can be either pain free or close to it and depression free. It is just a phone call away.

Answer 3

I've had chronic neck and headaches since neck surgery 15 years ago. I take pain meds (prescribed) but they only make things more bearable. I don't get a high or worry about addiction because it doesn't happen 99.9% of the time. It is true that TKR hurts like hell for about 6 mos. and it tapers after that and ends. You need to talk to your Doctor (And/or get other opinions.) Tell him/her/them how the pain is affecting you. Don't be afraid to take pain meds you get from a doctor. Also be aware that many Dr's don't have a very good grasp of how to treat pain in this country. If you check you'll find that almost all pain tx clinics are run by anesthesiologists. It's not an accident...

Answer 4

I am sorry you are having such a bad time with your knee. I had a total replacement of the left knee about 3 years ago, then the right knee 8 months later. I went back to work as a nusre after 13 weeks the first time and 10 weeks the second time. I had terrible pain for a few days after surgery, pretty bad pain up to 2 wks, then much less. I had physical therapy at home for 2 weeks starting 1 week after surgery. Then I went to out patient therapy every day for 8 weeks.I still have some stiffness and soreness at times, but function pretty well. I believe my course was pretty average. It is extremely unusual to have such bad pain as you have after 3 months. What does your doctor say? Have you been going to physical therapy? You really need to have a VERY good talk with your orthopedic surgeon and find out why you are having such pain. It is not typical tohave that much pain 3 months after surgery. I hope he can find a way to help you past this. i see several people have said you should get more pain meds. Well, yes you need pain relief, but even more important is finding out why you have this pain...it is not right to have so much pain so long after surgery.

Answer 5

If you had the surgery 3 months ago and are still having this much pain you need to go back to the doc and find out what is causing the pain . Unbearable pain three months after a knee replacement is not normal. See the surgeon and find out what is going on. In the mean time try ice for 15 minutes or so when it is really painful and take naproxen which you can get over the counter till you see the doc.

Answer 6

hopefully it will get better soon. If it's any consolation, my sister at age 60 had both knees done. She went to Europe after that on a 21 day trip. Before the operation, she could hardly walk a block.
good luck and god bless :-)
she did have an infection in one knee, so it would be advisable to see your doctor about the pain.

Answer 7

Talk to your surgeon and physiatrist (rehab doc). See if they can determine the cause of the pain and direct therapy for the pain. If they can't, ask for a referal to a pain specialist. Sometimes, pain causes muscles to tense and the tense muscles in turn cause pain. There are ways to break the cycle.

Answer 8

See your Doctor. Take pain meds to get rid of the pain. You have to break the cycle of pain or it will feed on itself. It could be a reflex sympathetic syndrome. You need to take pain pills, or get epidural linjections to block the pain before it becomes disabling. The longer you let it go on the harder it gets to get rid of it.

Answer 9

My mother had that and for about 4 months she was in terrible pain and her doctor gave her some strong pills for pain. You do need to hound your doctor for some stronger pain pills like Vicodan.

Answer 10

Call your doctor. Insist on stronger pain medication.