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Date: 10.02.2016
From: Caroline

Subject: Two weeks after a total knee replacement.

I have had rheumatoid arthritis for over twenty years which had finally caused me enough damage to go for a total knee replacement of my left knee. I had the operation two weeks ago today (27th. January 2016) and after three nights was able to go home. The operation itself was fine and I was awake throughout, my x-rays look good, my mobility is possibly ahead of schedule and I am following the exercise regime. However, I am feeling more pain than I had expected at this stage and have still to take morphine twice during the night and paracetamol throughout the 24 hours. The actual knee pain itself (occasional jabbing) is not so bad but my main pain is a constant gnawing from the top of my leg below my hip but not the hip itself down the outside of my leg to the operated knee. My own theory is that under-used muscles are coming into play and that tendons are stretching. For years before the operation I suppose I have been walking with a constantly bent leg in a stiff position and now this is being stretched.
I am wondering if anyone else has experience of a total knee operation after suffering RA for a time and what they can remember of the recovery process, of what pain they felt two weeks later and any other ideas they might have.
Thanks in advance -just posting this helps the pain.
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Date: 10.02.2016
From: Suz

Subject: Re: Two weeks after a total knee replacement.

Hi Caroline

I have had R.A for twenty years started at young age. so far i had left hip done and had my right elbow done 6 mths ago and i was in so much pain and agony from surgery had morphine and paracetamol for pain which helped thank God. before having the surgery my elbow was in bent position and staightening and bending it now does make my muscles feel tight and quite restricted but with movement slowyly things loosens up. I think your right under-used muscles are coming into play and they stretching might cause some pain.

I hope things get better for you.

Have you had any treatment for your R.A to prevent joint damage during the years you had r.a?

Suz
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Date: 10.02.2016
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: Two weeks after a total knee replacement.

hi Caroline , I also have had RA for twenty years & need my right knee done & not realy looking forward to it

as for your hip it sounds bit like bursitis on your hip , had problems with my hip a couple years ago , the joint is ok now but left with bursitis in the joint , I use difflam cream to settle it down , its a anti-inflammatory cream but works well on muscle pain & bursitis


got busitis in my elbow & that dont cause any problems but it can be very painful on your hips , worth a try , you can get the cream on prescription or buy it from somewhere like Boots , as for inflammation in a joint I prefer to use Voltarol
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Date: 11.02.2016
From: Caroline

Subject: Re: Two weeks after a total knee replacement.

Hello Suz and Colin W and thank you both for getting back to me. It really helps just to have someone else reply with their own perspectives on my problem especially after another restless night of taking painkillers and applying an ice-pack in the early hours.
I'm hoping, Suz, that my gnawing pain is just that -muscles and tendons now stretching into their "proper" position. In answer to your question about treatment for RA I've had a whole range of treatments from gold injections, Naproxen, Methotrexate for years, through to biologics -infusions of Remicade for several years and then when those ceased working, Enbrel self-injected and now Abatacept plus numerous earlier drugs along the way. They advise you to temporarily stop the Abatacept some weeks before and after the operation and I also stopped taking the Methotrexate (a conflict of opinions on that one)but will start them again in a few days. That might also have some bearing on the pain I am in.

Colin -thanks, too, for your advice. I'm hoping I haven't got a problem in my actual hip itself as the pain goes really from the top of my leg down to my knee so I'm thinking it is a muscular pain. An anti-inflammatory cream might give me some relief, however, so thanks for the tip.
Good luck with your possible knee operation. I went to one of the best places for such operations, I believe -at least in the south -the Horder Centre at Crowborough in Sussex. They are a specialist hospital in this field. There is plenty of information about the operation and recovery etc. on the Horder Centre website. The operation itself was no problem at all. I was fully awake and talking to those around me as they operated having had an epidural and very light sedation (a "glass of wine" they called it!)I had my own ensuite room (yes -NHS),tasty food, always cheerful staff and plenty of encouragement to get up and about and use the inpatient gym with special physio sessions morning and afternoon. I was out of hospital after three nights. I think it is when you are home that the real hard work begins and you definitely need someone there to support you for the first weeks. My husband has been great -I can't imagine doing this on your own.
Good luck with everything both of you and thanks again for replying.
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