6 weeks post knee replacement surgery.?

Question

My father just had knee replacement surg. 6 weeks ago and still needs pain meds. every 6 hours or so. Is this normal?

Answer 1

My Dad had the same surgery, and it took him 3 months before he was off of them. The best advice I could give him is to keep moving that leg! My dad had problems because he wouldn't keep bending the knee, and had to go on a continuous motion machine, which was very painful.

Remember, this surgery is devastating to that whole area. The body is trying to rebuild itself around titanium and plastic!

He had the surgery about 2 years ago, and even with all the pain that was involved, he says it's the best decision he ever made.

Answer 2

I had knee replacement surgery almost 2 years ago and I still need pain meds every day and night. For some people, it's normal. For me it is because of the amount of damage to my knee and leg. It may be the same with your father. I did find that aqua-exercise helped a good bit and perhaps it will help him too. He should be graduating to over the counter anti-inflammatories and keep the Rx stuff for night and extreme pain. At 6 weeks post-op, yes, he still needs the meds. I've had 16 surgeries on my bones and I can honestly say the knee replacement was the hardest to recover from. Godloveya.....

Answer 3

The best thing would be to call your doctor. It depends on your father's age as well. If he is older, 60+, the recovery will be harder for him just because at that age things take a little longer to rebuild in your body. Things will depend on his age, activity level, other conditions which may limit/prolong recovery.

From athletic therapy experience, the recovery for knee replacements is very long. ON AVERAGE: It will probably be 6 months until he can walk on his own comfortably. About 12-16 months until he can get back to jogging and other activities. Again this varies for each individual!! and might be much longer or shorter for your dad.

Get into rehab training/ physical therapy as soon as possible.

Just know the process is long and even the best athletes have a tough time. Some athletes end their careers after this type of injuy. Pain is normal and with physical therapy will continue for some months to come.

This is not to scare you but just to know the reality of the situation. Expect a very slow recovery. Don't push it. It will be at least 12 months before he can get back to 'normal'.

Look into getting a brace. Talk to your family doctor + surgeon about the recovery and the pills. If he has a heart condition you really need to talk to the doctor because pain killers for prolonged periods of time can be dangerous in this case.

I'm NOT a doctor! Make sure you get to one with your questions!

Answer 4

Yes, it is very normal to still have pain 6 weeks after knee replacement surgery. It is so important to continue the stretching and strengthening exercises, and to do that, it is helpful to know it is okay and normal to use pain medication when needed.

Answer 5

I have had total knee replacement 3 years ago. I still have pain in that knee. I think what your Dad is going through after just 6 weeks is to be expected. Have him ask his doctor.

Answer 6

Pain is subjective. It is not something that anyone other than the person feeling the pain can quantify. Your father might very well be in physical pain. Chances are the pain is stemming from some kind of stress. He might be unsure about his ability to get over the surgery and resume his life. Talk to him. He might be having serious body image problems that are manifesting as physical pain. Do not minimize his pain. If he is taking regular pain pills (OTC) then his pain is probably genuine. If he is still taking narcotics, then there might be dependency issues going on.