TKR and now manipulation - but the pain remains so severe - Knee & Hip Problems Message Board

Barry1 · 06-09-2008, 11:13 AM

Had a TKR Jan 11. The approval by Kaiser for CPM machine and physical therapy got lost so didn't get post op help for nearly 2 weeks -a mess - loss of range of motion beyond 90 - but worst of all the pain remains constant and severe -8 out of 10 without 20 mg Norco/Vicodin per 4-6 hours and now will have to wean off that if I ever get pain relief. They're about to do manipulation under general anesthesia June 26 -

scared to death of this - over 5 months out but will do anything to get out of pain - but surgeon says it may not help the pain

- but might give higher range of motion if I work hard on it after I get home (CPM and physical therapy) One positive note: I Have a fantastic physical therapist lined up. Any advice out there - quality of life ain't what it used to be - but I continue to work full time - all this is the result of a surgeon who messed up a simple tiny repair to the meniscus - and cut all of the meniscus/cartilage out from all around my R knee, we think, because he mixed me up with another patient

. But that is painful water under the bridge. Barry Palm Springs CA

lthomas · 06-10-2008, 06:16 AM

You may not have needed the meniscus and cartilage taken out or it may have been when he got in there it was worse than he thought . That has happened to me but the OS did leave some cartilage. He was able to buy me 8 years until I had TKA. I walked without an ACL for about 30 years so my cartilage was totally shot. Too bad you didn't stay awake during the surgery. Now if you don't do a spinal a lot of OS tape the surgery or take pictures of the material they remove.

I wish I could give you another site. It is totally for knee problems and very active. From the post on that site MUA seems to be successful most of the time if you can keep the ROM after surgery. Keep up with your PT and I would say you will be OK.

Some of the pain may be post surgery stress. I have had that twice before and it is very painful but mine gradually went away over a period of about 10 months.