Knee replacement

[EdieB]

I am 3 weeks into my knee replacement recovery. Of course having RA the procedure had it complications. My leg bone was over 20% tilted and they had to shorten ligaments. Needless to say I am in agony! I go to physical therapy 3times a week and I’m embarrassed to say I cry every time actually I cry everyday

I went to my Rheumatologist and he feels all of the above is from the RA; the emotion, the excruciating pain, cold feet and hands etc. he wants to put me back on my methotrexate injections. Now the discussions between him and the orthopedic dr begins. I feel like a ping pong ball being bounced from one to another.

Has anyone experienced similar problems? My poor husband feels so bad that he can’t make this all go away. I must say he is the most helpful, kind and caring man.

[sylvi]

Darling my RA wasn't that bad when i had my knee replacements,but i suggest you stick with the exercises as you will benefit in the long run. I had my first replacement and afterwards i kept telling them it wasn't right,anyway i got a second opinion and it had turned out they had put a straight joint in a bent leg and i had to go through the whole surgery again. So you can guess it was a bigger surgery and the exercises were harder. I have since made a good recovery . I saw the surgeon only last week due to fluid and he was still impressed with my progress and i still have a 110% bend of it.I think you should speak to all parties concerned with your health and get them to get you back on your mtx.

xxxxxx

[EdieB in reply to sylvi]

Thank you Sylvi. I’m glad you are moving along with your knee

[daisychains58]

I feel your pain and don’t be embarrassed, knee surgery is major and painful, it’s only natural to cry plus with the RA pain it’s intolerable. You need proper pain relief to get through this and in my opinion it’s opiates. I know it’s gone out of vogue these days but it’s the only thing that works.

I’ve had 2 hip replacements and a revision, 2002 to 2013 as well and I was on OxyContin 20mg twice a day and endone before physio and it worked. I was off it all within a month. Mind you I didn’t have inflammatory arthritis then either.

Just Had both knees replaced end of October last. Absolute agony as I had an opiate tolerance from ankle and knee pain from past year, and no pain relief worked. My ortho told me I would be pain free for the first 3 days. Gosh, I was bright as a button as soon as I woke in recovery, moving and feeling my feet, wide awake and in pain. Ended up having a morphine injection at 3am, in fact during my 5 days in hospital I had 3 of those injections, I was in constant pain and cried heaps. Was in rehab for 2 weeks after discharge. Talk about cry, every day for nearly 3 weeks, during physio, even in the hydro pool one day. I was still taking prednisone as well as targin 20/10, endone and Panadol. The doctors didn’t want me to start back on leflunomide for at least 3 weeks post surgery, the rheumy said straight away. I’m still not back on it. The pain relief in hospital was just not enough for me... I need an ankle replacement soon as it’s bone on bone so between the knee surgery, ankle pain and inflammation pain it’s was hard to know what’s what. One thing for sure, I’ve dropped the opioid use heaps, I can’t go through that hell pain ever again after surgery.

One thing about physio though EdieB is it is way less painful in a hydro pool than not and they all suggest you take endone and Panadol half hour prior to physio. That’s how it is in Australia anyway. Maybe you can access a heated pool and exercise there.

I wish you all the best, your stuck in a hard painful place, talk to your doctors about pain relief before physio. It does get better but I’m nearly 3 months post surgery and the knee on the bad ankle side is more painful than the other.

I don’t know what meds you normally take for your RA but prednisone is a good pain reliever in the short term as well. I’m no doctor but I know what pain is and to expect anyone to exercise after joint replacement and with RA when in agony and tears is just not cricket, it’s cruel.

Keep us posted and cry as much as you want, hopefully soon things will improve for you with a few changes to your exercise and pain relief schedule.

Sorry for the long post but I’m passionate about your plight having just lived it. Xx

.

[EdieB in reply to daisychains58]

Daisychain58 thank you so much for your words of honesty and encouragement. I am doing the best I can in therapy and doing my exercises at home. Yes the pain is unbearable at times but I think what is important right now is to get my head on straight. I do take roxicodone sometimes 2-3 times a day. I just can’t see the forest from the trees right now so I am miserable.

Just hearing from people like you in this forum gives me a lift in my spirits!!!

[daisychains58 in reply to EdieB]

I know exactly how you feel, it will get better and you know you have to exercise, get the knee straight in the first month is crucial, the knee bend will get better in time. I was totally miserable as you say you are, just snapping out of it after 3 months. It all justs overwhelming and you can see no end in sight, just getting thru the day.

Just remember when your exercising it’s not forever, it hurts but is necessary. Seriously, get your GP to give you endone and Panadol to take prior to a serious physio workout. It will make the world of difference.

Hope you’ve got someone to help and feed you, even the thought of having to get up and go to the loo is a mission. This forum is awesome cos we can vent and everyone understands the pain, frustration and misery we go thru.

Chin up Edie, you will get thru this. 😘

[EdieB in reply to daisychains58]

I have the nicest caring husband taking care of me. He never complains although every once in a while I can see his frustration. I find a way to get him to do something he enjoys and he is fine. He never yells or walks around moody. He is just a good man!!!

[stbernhard]

Hi, it will be four weeks tomorrow since a TKR on the left. I could not tolerate morphine, so was in a lot of pain. I cried a few times. It's just a normal reaction. Fatigue sets in and for me sleep was the relief. The care team were understanding and I started my exercise regime two days late. The first three days at home, I still cried at times because of the agony of the exercises. Now I am ok. The pain is bearable with paracetamol. I hope you get better quickly. Why were you off MTX? I only stopped the bioligic. Restarting with that tomorrow. All the best.

[EdieB in reply to stbernhard]

The Dr took me off the Methotrexate because my numbers were good and for the surgery. I had sepsis once from a prior surgery and he didn’t want to take any chances. Nor did the Orthopedic Dr.

[stbernhard in reply to EdieB]

I hope your pain lessens soon and the exercises get less agonising. All the best.

[Suzy95]

I hope you will feel better soon and all the pain is worth it so that you have a better quality of life. Has anyone experienced rapid progression of knee and hip arthritis due to a mixture of Ra and osteosrthritis!