Anyone else have painful knee joints after prolonged ICU stay?

[holdtheprozac]

I spent a month in ICU and was intubated most of the time through a tracheostomy (due to double pneumonia caused by Legionnaire's Disease). I also spend a considerable amount of that time in an induced coma and had to relearn walking, hand movements, etc. Two months later I am still suffering from very painful knee joints. Anyone else have this? It's quite debilitating.

[Sepsur]

Yes - I found magnesium sulphate helped - you may have a different mineral deficits- maybe get your bloods checked

[holdtheprozac in reply to Sepsur]

Thanks! I am already taking magnesium, but am scheduled for a blood test, so will see what it says. Thanks again

[Gooddaysunshine]

My knees swell up like huge red balloons if I push a bit too hard on the walking front. Once they went to double their normal size, which was a sign to ease back a bit. After three months of inactivity in my case, I think it is a shock to these joints after not moving for so long, now they are being asked to pivot, bend, and take your whole body weight again, after getting out of the habit. Also the muscles around the joints and in your back, buttocks, etc that might take some of the strain normally will have wasted away someone, putting more strain on the knee.

[holdtheprozac]

Thanks sunshine, yes I have had lots of aches and pains all over, but none as bad as the knees. I can barely walk up and down stairs and only with a lot of help. Hope you are on the mend yourself x

[Paulty]

Hi I still have this after my ICU at Coventry although when I went to the ward I couldn't move any part of my body I have had to relearning everything my sore joints come from bing phoned for 18hr a day in icu this is also why I lost 60% of my muscle mass.

[holdtheprozac]

Sorry you went through that - it is very debilitating isn't it? My knees still hurt almost 4 months on and my hair is falling out as well.

[Sleepalotmore in reply to holdtheprozac]

My hair came out a lot! Caused me some stress aside thought I was going to lose it all. I even started to look at wigs!! Seems to be growing back but my hair is a different texture all over, softer.Please try not to worry like I did. It's all part of the body's response to being so ill.

[moemelling]

I was 7 weeks in hospital with Covid. 6 of those weeks were in ICU. I was in an induced coma on a ventilator for 4 weeks and also had a tracheotomy. I too had a very resistant strain of Pneumonia and numerous DVTs. I came home mid March. It’s an unbelievably long recovery sorry. Physical, emotional & mental health problems. I was ‘proned’ (face down) whilst in a coma. It has caused irreparable nerve damage to my right arm due to it being wedged underneath me. My saliva glands took over 2 months to start working again so my mouth & tongue are still unbearably sore. My voice is very hoarse and speech takes a lot of energy (vocal chords were damaged). Worst of all my lungs are destroyed. They are badly scarred by Covid. There has been very little improvement. They call you back at 8-10 weeks to CT scan your lungs to check the amount of scarring. Apparently not all people are affected like this 🤞 2 months after coma most of my hair fell out but luckily I had lots of hair so not completely bald👍 It’s life changing! No doubt about it! I am 53. I’m now looking to sell up our lovely big family home and downsize to a bungalow. I can’t manage stairs anymore.

[holdtheprozac in reply to moemelling]

Oh my, what an awful experience. I have heard of people being put in prone and it has some awful effects. I cannot even imagine how sick you must have been, and how hard your recovery has been. Yes, stairs are a problem for sure, so lucky we already live in a bungalow style house. I'm 62, and pretty much feel like I've got the joint pain for life. I noticed today my hair is starting to go curly again, which is a good sign. Thankful for small mercies!

[Randyd501]

Yes and also shoulder pain. One year later I still have it and I still can’t walk from being in a coma for 3 months because of endocarditis. Also had OHS aortic valve replacement due to vegetation on my heart. My lungs failed was put in a prone bed for 10 day. I do PT 5x a week and I’m 63 years old

[holdtheprozac in reply to Randyd501]

Thanks for posting. What a long haul you've been through! I also have shoulder pain, and have been trying to work out why! So it all must be connected.... But how do we get rid of it? I do hope you're getting better xx

[Sleepalotmore]

Me too! Although I have been out of icu for 16 months now. I too was in icu around 7 weeks , 5 weeks on a ventilator and 23 days on ECMO and trachy. My knees are painful and also some other joints such as my fingers! Generally weaker all over.

[holdtheprozac in reply to Sleepalotmore]

Thanks for telling us your experience - it all helps. I just wonder if it will ever go away or if there's anything we can do about it. And yes, my fingers are also affected - I often wake in the middle of the night with numb fingers.

[Sleepalotmore in reply to holdtheprozac]

It does feel like it will never go away! I sometimes feel frustrated that I'm now so much weaker and full of aches and pains as well stiffness and tired by 8pm when I was used to not going to bed before 10.30PM. I just want to be the way I was before getting ill, mainly with acute respiratory failure and pneumonia. What a difference 3 months in hospital makes!!I do hope we will all feel better sooner rather than later .

[25079]

Hi I too was in a coma in Jan 2023 from contacting Leginnares disease. I had pneumonia collapsed lungs and a clot. I was in a a coma for 15 days. I had to learn to walk and have terrible pain in my knees legs and arms. I am getting better but it is hard. I wish you well.