Osteoarthritis Community

Doctors have different protocols when it comes to surgery and they usually have good reasons based on the experiences of their patients.

That being said, if you're still having problems then make an appointment to see your doctor so he can find out what's going on.

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the community. It sounds like you are doing too much too soon and might need to recuperate a little longer. I agree with _swank_ , go back to your surgeon and let him exam you. Please keep us updated.

I am in the same boat. Pain in the exact same area and the more active I am the more it hurts. I told my doctor and he said to take an antiinflammatory. But why would there be an inflammation unless something was causing it? That is why I thought I had the surgery! Very frustrated! I asked for another MRI but he said no. I've been out of work for 3 months so it's not like I did anything to quickly. I keep thinking it will get better.

My Dr. said the same thing (take Motrin).If the pain continues, I plan on going to a different doctor & request an MRI.
I've been on W. C. for 3 years (wnet back to school tfor a career change); I don't know either what caused the meniscal tear. Now after my surgery & P.T., I'm getting different kinds of pain. Let me know how you make out.

I suffered for 3 years after knee surgery. Nothing helped me. The doctors just looked at me and told me to take over the counter pain medication. I decided to try collagen tablets and just a few days found my pain easing and within 2 weeks the pain was gone. To this day I take collagen.

Be sure that you're wearing good shoes -- if the soles are a bit worn, it can change the stresses on your knee joint. Maybe an insert of some sort would help. You might check with a podiatrist. Be careful with the anti-inflammatories -- your kidneys have to be in good shape for you to take them. Your ortho guy wouldn't intentionally tell you to take them if he knew your kidney lab values were off kilter, but they aren't the focus of his care. You might ask him if they're okay, in case his thinking needs a jog.

I would not give up on PT yet. They should check to see if the alignment of your pelvis, hip, knee and ankle is correct and if you are overusing the wrong muscles in the leg and/or not recruiting the correct muscles.

I agree you have to be balanced, I see a podiatrist about every 3 months. I had a total knee replacement 3 years ago and still have pain. I think that I had too much physo while in hospital I was in hospital 7 days instead the normal 4-5 days, they couldn't get my pain management right, I've never experienced pain like it. After returning home, I was useless, so weak and sick, lost 7kg while in hospital because I couldn't eat always sick in the stomach. After 3 days at home my knee seized up and had to go back into hospital for manipulation under anaesthetic. When I told my specialist that I was still experiencing pain, he told me that there was nothing wrong with my knee. Obviously it is all in the mind!!
My other knee is on the way out now, but I'm very reluctant to having another replacement.

Hi everyone. I too have had a total knee replacement. After 3 prior surgeries before that. I've been to PT several times and the pain is driving me insane. It hurts worst now then it did before surgery. I had to install a chair lift in my house to get up the stiars as it was taking me all day to do 3 sets of stairs one step at a time. So now i only have 2 sets to do,and ride the second floor up. I also had to get a lisence plate to get me to a handi cap parking place as the pain is so intense ! I wake up crying all the time ,and I've tried al kinds of pain meds but nothing seems to help. It takes the edge off and thats it. I've had an ultra sound and it shows that i have a cysts in the politeal vein in the back of my leg,but the surgeon said it was nothing to worry about.I had a bone scan and it sias that the cement may be failing but i cannot get anyone to help ease my pain. I was on 8 pills a day of oxiycotin and i thought i was gonna loose my mind. I couldn't get hold of my doctor so i had to detox myself for a week and almost landed in the hospital. I was having really bad side affects from detoxing. My surgeon looks at me like i'm crazy? He can't figure out why i'm in so much pain.My legs feels hot and there is swelling.i cannot walk or stand on my leg for more then 10 mintues at a time. I caanot do house work,chores,errands are impossible. I need some answers before i loose my mind complelty. I thought having a knew knee was going to solve my problems,was i wrong. Punka1234

I have had both my knees replaced. The first one in 2004, the second in 2005. The first one is just fine! No pain or swelling. The other one has almost driven me crazy. I have so much pain that NO medication will completely rid my pain. I had physical therapy with both of them. I used the same doctor for both surgeries. Every time I go to him and complain, he just does another x-ray and says it is still in place. He also said that I had a lot of tendonitis in that leg before surgery that could be causing my pain. I was not put to sleep with either surgery, due to a heart problem. I have had other major surgeries, but I have NEVER had as much uncontrold pain. They even used a morphine pump after surgery, but even that did not stop the pain. I have as much pain now as I did before the surgery. I can not stand up very long at the time, and there are days that I am afraid to try to walk. My regular doctor will not order an electric chair for me. I take darvocet and lyrica for pain. I rarely sleep well and wake up EVERY morning in a world of pain, to the point of tears. I have decided to see other doctors and maybe get an MRI done. At times, I get so frustrated that I want to give up, but I don't know how. I have had shots ordered into my back because I was hit in the back by an 18 wheeler as I was stopped to make a turn. He hit me doing 60 mph so the state troopper said. That occured years before my knee surgeries, therefore I suffer a tremendous amount of pain in my back also.When they injected my back it paralyzed me for 2 hours. I never went back for my second or third injection. Would you believe, my knee surgeon actually put an injection into my fake knee! (lol) It did seem to help for a couple of days. I think I am just going to try WD40 and see if it will help. Of course I am joking, but honestly, if any one knows about a way to get relief please let me know!

I am so sorry to hear of all the pain these rotten knees are causing. I am going to hang on to my other one for as long as I can. Knee replacement must be one of the most painful operations there is. I have just purchased a tens machine, and I use it on my knees at bed time and I have been sleeping through, not having to get up for pain relief, that may be a way to go, you probably can hire one to try it out. Good luck.

Mike,
I'm a retired nurse who had a total knee. You are spending too many hours on your feet and that is why your knee is swelling. You have to change how long you are standing at one time until your knee heals. Keep it elevated and apply an ace bandage for added support when you are standing. Try using ice only and if that doesn't help then try using heat. Usually ice works best until healing is complete. It takes a long time for a knee to heal. It took me 8 weeks.

Hello I am a 45 yr old with otherartuis in her left knee and I have had 4 scope surgeries done and I have had the cotazone shots too but still I havent had any releaf of pain .I am going to see a surgeon on thursday to talk about total knee replacement I am scared to have this done I dont know how long I will be in the hospital or how long I will be off my feet.Any information will be greatly apperitcated . Thank you .Lisa

I had both knees replaced in 2009 due to degenerative arthritis. My back had also been bothering me. Because I hurt all the time I was not aware that something new could develop. Please see a doctor to check you for fibromyalgia. It can develop after the trauma of surgery or other types of stress/trauma. Good luck!