I stumbled onto this site!

I stumbled onto this site, looking for some kind of help. I have a very long story, but will make it short as possible. I had a total hip replacement on the left side in Feb. of 2013. After I got home from the hosp., I started having this horrible pain behind my knee on the same leg. I can only describe it as a band around the knee and it just gets tighter and tighter. It's ok when I'm down off of it, but as soon as my feet hit the floor, it's there. It is progressively getting worse.It's been 2 years & 2 months as of tomorrow and they can't find out what it is. They have run scans, MRIs, xrays. You name it and they've done it. I even had a knee arthroscope done. I'm really at my wit's end. I can't do anything. Things I'm use to doing, like taking care of my big dogs outside, I can't do. I can't clean house. I can't tolerate being up on that leg for more than 10 minutes at a time. Pain meds don't touch it. I have them and they do help with the pain going up & down that leg and my back, but not behind the knee. Sometimes it feels like it could rupture any minute. I feel like it's connected to the surgery,but doc. says no. Any suggestions as to what else I can do?

Hey ponylady.Welcome.Sounds like you're describing my right knee.I put all my weight on my left leg and I'll have to get a replacement eventually.

I've been scoped twice.

I've had gel made from Rooster Comb injected under my kneecap.

I feel your pain,really.

God Bless and welcome,

Rick

edit: jmho,It kind of sounds like your Sciatic Nerve going off when your leg is extended.If that's the culprit,nerve pain sux.

Do you take anything like Lyrica or Nuerotin for nerve pain?

Pain meds won't kill nerve pain.They'll change your perspective on the pain but don't help a whole lot.

Have you tried getting a second opinion from another neurosurgeon. The surgeon you speak to needs to specialize in knees... each neurosurgeon has different specialities and that should be your starting place. Not all mris can pick everything up there could be hidden damage, keep pressing on for help from your doctors..keep going until you can find a doctor that will help you...maybe ask about physical therapy with ultra sound treatments...

Hi and welcome to HW and the CP forum. I am a bilateral knee replacement one worked one failed as well as lumbar issues. I have sciatica and unfortunately it's exactly the kinda pain you describe and also in the posterior side of my right knee. This also happens to be the one with broken hardware. One question,was the mri with or without contrast?

Hi PonyLady & welcome to the chronic pain forum. So glad that you found us. but sorry that you have to be here.

As you can see from the responses so far there are lots of different thoughts on what could be causing you the issues you are dealing with. Regardless, I do hope that you can get some answers. Having problems & not knowing why is beyond frustrating, it literally will wear a person out. You know your body better than any dr so keep telling them what is going on. In the meantime, you really may want to consider getting referred to a pain mgt dr..They know how to treat pain better than our usual drs since that is their specialty. Perhaps a PM dr can get your pain at a more tolerable level until the drs can figure out what is going on with you.

Keep us posted.

Welcome PonyLady,

In your original post you say that the pain that goes up and down your leg into your back is pretty set fire for some kind of neuropathic pain. Most likely it would be coming from your lower back or in the SI area, some kind of nerve impingement that is causing you the significant amount of pain.

A PM doc is well versed with which nerves radiate to wear and from where. This would probably be a good start for you. Sometimes they can't pinpoint which area is the culprit but they are able to get to it by process of elimination. Another words if I had lower back pain that radiated down my buttocks and then down my legs, either stopping at the knee or going straight thru to the foot, it is going to be a nerve problem.

Now a nerve can also be impinged because of disc's, stenosis or other spinal cord or vertebral issues. I have an L-5 nerve impingement that is now chronic, they attempted to relieve the pressure and inflammation around it but were unsuccessful numerous times, now the nerve is permanently damaged.

You have a whole lot to process so, I hope you do get relief soon, hang in there and be strong - we are here for you if you need us!

Hugs from Texas,

Pam

Sorry I didn't get back to this yesterday, my daughter & granddaughter came over for a visit and they didn't leave till about midnight last night. I enjoy having them over. The granddaughter is the apple of my eye. They grow up so fast anymore. One minute they're babies and the next they're out & gone. I want to thank every body for responding yesterday. It helps so much just having someone to talk to. I try not to burden my husband with all this. He has a full plate as it is. His father was recently diagnosed with liver cancer & both his parents are up in their 80's, so he does what he can for them. And of course, since I can't do a whole lot, most of our housework falls on him. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with guilt, because I can't be of any more help to him. I keep telling myself one day all this will be gone and I'll be able to help him again.