To have underestimated the pain following knee replacement surgery

[Stiffnewknee]

I’ve just had a total knee replacement and OMG the pain is unbearable! I’m usually pretty good with pain but this is next level! The pain was so intense in hospital that even morphine wouldn’t touch it but now if I’m still then I’m not in much pain which is some progress! I’m on day 5 now and as long as I’m in one position it’s not too bad but the minute I try to move it’s a nightmare! It’s so stiff and difficult to bend making the physio exercises impossible at this stage. I’m trying my best because I know how important they are and I really want to be mobile ASAP. My leg is still very swollen and the biggest problem is pain and stiffness at on my thigh just above the front of the knee and also behind the knee. It’s as if my bone is being ripped off when I try to bend it. I was sent home with coedine and paracetamol every 4 hours and also with morphine to take when required. I’ve tried not to but I’m wondering if I should take it just so that I can make a bit more progress with the exercises. I’m not sure whether it’s best to take morphine and persevere with the exercises or be a bit kinder to myself and try to get the swelling down first. Any advice gratefully received, please tell me it gets better!

You're supposed to keep on top of the pain so you can exercise it. Have you got an ice thing from hospital, that's wll great for after exercise.

@Caligirl80 not suggesting anything - just saying what I had. And I mentioned whether or not someone was allowed to. The OP had mentioned the possibility of taking both. As with any drugs one must ideally take medical advice/follow dosage and so on. In fact I was surprised to be prescribed ibuprofen because for many years I was told to avoid it!

However, I’ll get my comment removed because I was in two minds at the time of posting. Anyone on here could be on here saying anything.

Octavia64 · Yesterday 10:25

Echo the others - take the drugs and get moving.
i had ankle surgery and the important thing is to get mobile asap.
hi Octavia64 (sorry ti hijack this post but I will reply to the knee issue ) I’ve been offered a new ankle on the nhs but am putting it off as long as possible. Could you tell me please if you feel it’s worth it and can you actually get yourself to the toilet independently the first two weeks, I haven’t the upper body strength to swing along on one leg as I have arthritis in every joint.
Onto the knees, I’ve had a partial and full knee. The full knee was extremely painful and I was pacing ( on crutches) all night for about 4 weeks. I can’t stress enough how important the exercise is especially the straightening and bending, the more you do it the sooner the pain will go. I can now walk a few miles regularly and without walking aids on the days my ankle allows. You will enjoy it immensely when you get mobile.

I'm due to have a partial knee replacement soon so I'm grateful for the advice in this thread. Can anyone tell me what your movement was like after 3 months. Are you still restricted or getting back to normal? I'm quite an active person. Thanks and sorry for going off at a tangent. I have just signed up to the facebook group. Thanks

@SkiAndTravelTheWorldWithMyDog I was back to all my normal activities at 3 months, gym, yoga and walking the dogs. I was lucky with my recovery, had nerve blocks along with the replacement and I think that really helped. I've noticed on the FB gp the ones who had partial replacements seem to be more active faster and are able to bend much deeper. I think if you are quite active to start you should be fine, keep doing lots of pre op exercises to prepare yourself. Everyone has a different rate of recovery but they all get to the same place in the end. Good luck!

The surgeon and the nurses warned me that knee replacement was a very painful procedure ( they weren’t kidding )
Doing my physio exercises was the most painful thing post knee replacement , but I knew they were essential for a good recovery.

I took cocodemel at regular intervals, rather than waiting until I really really needed them . I used an ice pack for 20 minutes before doing my physio exercises. It helped having a friend doing the exercises alongside me. When I had to do 15 repetitions they wouldn’t let me stop after 3 but when feeling kind they allowed me to stop at 12 😂
Good friends were vital in my recovery
Stick with it. I am now pain free and fully mobile.

My friend had his done on May14th and he is doing great, he's out and about walking unaided and doing really well and he was given permission to get back to driving after 3 weeks. His knee lets him know if he's overdone it some days so he will ease off a bit but in general he's got great movement. He followed and did all of the physio given and he stayed well on top with the meds so as not to allow the pain to creep in and disrupt the physio. Hope that helps.

@Knavesmirelass @seasally thanks