KNEE ARTHRITIS - Total Knee Replacement :
still having pain after 10 weeks - - Posted by gramie65 (gramie65), 24 January 2005
hello, i am 10 weeks post opt of tkr and seemed to have traded bone on bone pain for constant aching in the knee and surrounding areas. Can't walk for very long without stiffness and pain starting up so half to stop the walking and sit down. Am I expecting too much too soon or is this the way it will be forever living on pain medication?
Posted by Jan_L. (Jan_L.), 24 January 2005
Hello Gramie65,
(This is a copy of the message I left for you under the topic: "Struggling with rehab? Pain problems?")
It is normal to still have some pain 10 weeks post-op. There is an orthopedic surgeon, Ronald P. Grelsamer, M.D., that participates at this web site and he has written a couple of books, one of which is titled What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You about Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery. In his book he has a question and answer section, this is a quote from his book, (page 253):
"It's been three months and I'm still having pain after my joint replacement. Is this normal?
Not if the pain is severe. Some achiness is normal, but no more than that - especially in the hip. The knee can be sore from the bending and straightening exercises. In the first three months, pain can be attributed to the surgery itself, but after three months, the surgeon will start to look for other sources of pain."
In another part of the book (page 257) Dr. Grelsamer states: "By and large, most of the hip pain should resolved within a month and knee pain should be very tolerable by the end of the third month."
I hope he doesn't mind me quoting his book. I found this book very helpful, you might want to consider getting it.
It sounds like it should continue to get better, 10 weeks post-op for a TKR is still early. I hope this helps.
Jan L.
Posted by gramie65 (gramie65), 24 January 2005
Thanks for the info. I will check into the book you referenced and try to stop worrying about this for awhile and see what happens. Just gets discouraging at times when you this is will be a cureall and all will be pain free.
Updated Sat Nov 21 2009
