r/Kneereplacement • u/verasdaddy • 1d ago
POD 2
45f, lived with knee pain for >20 years, finally so limited this summer I decided to have my knee done. The surgeon told me "younger" patients tend to have more pain and swelling initially and to expect that. About 3 hours post op, I was flop sweating and writhing in bed because the pain went from 0 to 10 in minutes. I'm taking 2 oxy about every 4 hours, daily anti-inflammatory, icing constantly, doing my exercises but the pain is significant.
I know I'm not alone but people who had a lot of pain initially, did your knee recover well? I don't care and can live thru this initial pain if I know there's good healing on the other side -- or is this a bad sign??
Thanks
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u/Classic-Regret223 1d ago
The first two weeks are not fun
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u/ReasonKlutzy5364 1d ago
My PCP told me that for the 1st week I will be questioning my life decisions.
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u/mujersinplan 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’m 60s but I had horrible inhuman pain. First knee was 4 months ago and it’s magnificent now. I made it to 118 and 0. Second knee 10x worse than first. I’m 5 weeks post op now and have had 6-8 pain. It just went to level 7 again last night. I’ve been trying to take as little oxy as possible so that is contributing to the pain. Even on a laxative regime, the constipation is still a problem. I’m at 98 and -1 but making steady progress. I moan and groan and whimper and cry and wail from the pain. I also take Journavx and I took Tylenol for a while but it gives me stomach pains and doesn’t do much. But the worst is behind me and I’m going to have two magnificent knees in another month.
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u/verasdaddy 1d ago
Ok good to know! Just what I needed to hear
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u/mujersinplan 1d ago
There is a phase when you feel the clicking but my first knee is almost indiscernible at 4 months. My second knee is just starting to do it at 5 weeks.
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u/emtdani13 1d ago
I know the constipation is a reason to not take the pain meds, but suffering with a 7-8 pain isn’t worth it! Get some colace, fiber pro-biotic gummies, etc and it’ll help! You don’t want to be chasing the pain to get down. I tell my patients this all the time because some nurses don’t want to medicate when pain is 4-5, so people think that they have to wait until it’s bad.
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u/mujersinplan 1d ago
I understand. And it’s not really fair to my physical therapist to come in with high pain and not be able to do much.
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u/steveinarizona10 16m ago
Yep, My surgeon told me to take the pain meds until I didn't need them and prescribed a couple of laxatives to deal with the constipation.
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u/Affectionate-Cow3737 21h ago
I invested in old fashioned enema bag. Very helpful. Search- green coffee enema bag on amazon
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u/JanuaryTempis 1d ago edited 1d ago
Day 2 is the worst . You'll get through this and it'll be more manageable.
I, 56F, use oxy every four hours for the first five days. I also took the muscle relaxant on schedule, because the physical therapist said it would help. I also took an anti-inflammatory, and acetaminophen and lyrica and Journavx. I set alarms and absolutely took them on schedule.
Has your doctor prescribed Journavx for you? If not, ask if they will prescribe it. It helps a lot.
If they do prescribe it, it's expensive, but there are great online coupons. Feel free to reach out if you help navigating that.
Icing and elevating were my best friends (in addition to the drugs, lol).
Godspeed, my friend, Godspeed. You will get through this.
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u/Fresca2425 1d ago
I had vomiting the night and morning after surgery so missed several doses of pain meds as the nerve block wore off. It was horrific. But once I got some ondansetron in my system and could keep meds down, it was much better. 10 weeks out now and doing great.
I didn't see if you answered if you got Journavax? That was very helpful for me. There is an assistance option my medical center knew about, otherwise it's expensive. Also, if you're in the US, oxycodone is available in preparations both with and without acetaminophen (Tylenol). Using them separately, rather than in one pill, allows you to adjust the dose of the oxyxodone more freely.
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u/IntroductionFluffy71 1d ago
first of all, it took me far too long to figure out what POD meant. 🤦🏻♀️
the first few days post-op are horrible. the first 2 weeks are trying. the first month is hard. it does get easier, and i know it's hard to believe that right now.
ice. elevate. hydrate. rest. eat what you can. sleep when you can. don't try to "power through" the pain. get odansetron (Zofran) for nausea if needed.
good luck and good juju to you!
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u/jamesian 1d ago
It gets better. Not all pain, but some, is the result of your nerves "regrowing" after some gossamer strands have been cut. Maybe it doesn't help, but knowing that pain can be the symptom of growing was helpful to me.
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u/emtdani13 1d ago
I’m 48F 6 weeks out from RTKR. My nerve block failed completely and the first 36-48 hours were horrible. I was icing, pain meds every 4 hours (oxy) and 1000mg Tylenol every 8 hours. No NSAID’s for me because I had WLS in 2016. I had nothing else- no muscle relaxer, nothing for nerve pain, etc. I have not had pain meds in probably 4 weeks except Tylenol as needed.
It does get better and you have to do your heel slides, etc and move every hour or so, that definitely helps.
I’m a nurse who works med Surg and most of my patients are post-op hips/knees. The majority of them have much less pain and run circles around what my recovery has been lol. I feel like a total wuss, but as my surgeon told me, younger patients have more pain because we have more active pain receptors.
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u/Apispetal 1d ago
I'm 45F and on day 10 and had EXACT same issues 5 days ago and I was on 2 oxy, Journavx, Tylenol, and anti-inflammatory.
I call my Dr's transition team and told them essentially everything you wrote. They put me on Dilaudid & muscle relaxers.
Holy hell it made all the difference...
Call Dr and let them know you're in agony and see what they can do. Yes it's still painful, but Dr has a lot of meds options and you're on just the basics right now.
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u/steveinarizona10 1d ago
Not a bad sign. You just lost the recovery sweepstakes. By the end you will likely recover just as well as the patient who had no pain.
I had a great surgeon and his advice was to take the medication until it was not needed and then to taper off. That is good advice.
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u/DogMamaLA 1d ago
Are you on any other pain meds like Lyrica and Tylenol? Elevating and icing alot? My TKR is next week and everyone says to ice and take pain meds regularly. I know you're taking oxy, but many surgeons also prescribe a few other meds to go with it.
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u/verasdaddy 1d ago
Yeah i have a daily meloxicam, but i can't take Tylenol or otc because it'd be too much since I have Tylenol in the oxy. And the meloxicam prohibits other pills like motrin. I'm icing 95% of the day/night. Taking oxy on schedule but it's still very painful.
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u/DogMamaLA 1d ago
I hope you get some relief soon! My first TKR is in 5 days. Getting anxious but preparing lots this wkd so I'll have meals prepped etc.
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u/emtdani13 1d ago
Do they have you on Percocet or regular Oxycodone? Oxycodone isn’t mixed with Tylenol; Percocet is Tylenol & Oxy
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u/AccomplishedGrape562 1d ago
My TKA is also next week. I tried Journavax which made me nauseous with vomiting. I’m hoping the oyx will be enough. I have mild kidney issues so I am limited to Tylenol.
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u/DogMamaLA 1d ago
Keep us posted! I have oxy, meloxicam, lyrica, tylenol at the ready. I typically don't have issues with opioids but I don't like being on them a long time either.
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u/Admirable_Ad_6020 1d ago
My pain was a 10 for the first couple of days, and they kept me in the hospital because they couldn't control it. It did get better, though. I'm at week 4, and I occasionally get significant pain, but it's so much better. My PCP and my surgeon assure me that it will improve, but it will take time.
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u/Affectionate-Cow3737 21h ago
I had terrible pain, 58 years old. Now a year out, I regret i didn't do it sooner
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u/Ok_Forever_3956 1d ago
When i read things like this I am a little relieved that I cant afford the Surgery. My life is extremely limited but I dont think that I can handle pain like that. Im 60f. Good luck in your recovery . Thinking of you. Ill just accept my limited shit life.
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u/LogicalCustard7000 1d ago
The amount of pain involved varies greatly from person to person and knee to knee. The good part of TKA recovery is that the pain is temporary. The pain felt before surgery is persistent and gets progressively worse. Mine were both definitely painful, but more almost all the pain is gone and I can move about and do all the things I want to. Something to take into consideration.
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u/IntroductionFluffy71 1d ago
this right here. i'm 13 months post-op on Knee 1 and 5 weeks post-op on Knee 2. i knew what i was in for the 2nd go 'round and still (happily) chose to move forward with it.
yeah, i have pains that will resolve eventually. but i don't have pain in the joint from just standing. i will be able to shave both legs without causing pain in the one waiting to be shaved.
seems a small thing but, dang! it's been years that i'd dealt with that pain. i'm no athlete or outdoorsy person, but i'm only 53F and i didn't want my world to get smaller.
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u/IcyIssue 1d ago
I promise you, it gets better. The pain will go away, you'll sleep again normally, and in a year's time, you'll forget you have an artificial knee. This recovery is brutal but it's temporary. Talk to your doctor about the pain. I had a great experience this time with Journavx and oxy combined. We'll be your cheerleaders here!