Guest guest Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 Hi Donna, IO have an artificial left knee and the RSD was relentless when it invaded after the knee re placement surgery. I am having problems with it again, some as you describe and my Rheumatologist and pain management doctor both agree that it needs to be tightened. Unfortunately that requires surgery and since IO had it put in when I lived in another area I can't get anyone competent to operate on someone else's knee. I don't sleep much either, my pain level gets so high form different parts of my body stiffening when I lay still to long. One thing I did do that helped was get a Craftmatic bed with and air mattress.Felice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 With New Years blessings having been said..I have a question now I know that the RSD has gone into my lower extremities and I have accepted that however I have such horrific pain in my knees both in the front and at the main tendon in the back of my knees. This keeps me from being able to bend at the knees comfortably and when I do I have to pull myself up by leaning on something. Of all of the pain I have put up with this bothers me the most. I went to my primary but unfortunately I saw his nurse practioner who though he is pleasent enough and can handle simple diagnosis has admitted he has no clue about RSD..my primary was not there when I saw Matt, so I need to contact him next week.... In the meantime, has anyone else had this problem with their lower body? I can handle anything so far when it comes to my upper body but this has been the most miserable so far..Im not sure if its because I am on my feet so much more or if its because Ive had previous damage to my knees or what...but I need some relief! Any suggestions? My pain meds are a joke to be honest..I'm trying to hold out until my followup in January but Im going to end up calling Monday and making an earlier appt and begging for new meds! Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions I would sure appreciate it!!! Hugs Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 Donna, Do not want to scare you, but this is the exact pain that I am having now! The front and backside of my knees hurt so bad it brings me to tears and if I bent down there is no way I can get back up without help or really pulling myself up on something. My RSD knee does not have full range of motion for the first time since my knee surgery in 2002! It does not look swollen but feels it on the inside and also feels stiff. I am going to have the pain doc look at it the next time I see him! As far as meds go, the Percocets are letting me sleep a little more than I was, but the pain is still there 100%. I was even on the computer at 3am today because the pain was so bad. The one thing that is helping and I think is the reason that I am sleeping is I am putting a heating pad on my knees and it really makes the pain feel so much better. I have to laugh because all the things being prescribed are not doing a darn thing, but heat is helping! I just do not get it! Well I am going to try and lay down again. I am getting loopy so I gotta go, take care and have a very happy and healthy New Year! LOL and Best Wishes Always!!! DawnDonna wrote: With New Years blessings having been said..I have a question now :)I know that the RSD has gone into my lower extremities and I have accepted that however I have such horrific pain in my knees both in the front and at the main tendon in the back of my knees. This keeps me from being able to bend at the knees comfortably and when I do I have to pull myself up by leaning on something. Of all of the pain I have put up with this bothers me the most.I went to my primary but unfortunately I saw his nurse practioner who though he is pleasent enough and can handle simple diagnosis has admitted he has no clue about RSD..my primary was not there when I saw Matt, so I need to contact him next week....In the meantime, has anyone else had this problem with their lower body? I can handle anything so far when it comes to my upper body but this has been the most miserable so far..Im not sure if its because I am on my feet so much more or if its because Ive had previous damage to my knees or what...but I need some relief! Any suggestions?My pain meds are a joke to be honest..I'm trying to hold out until my followup in January but Im going to end up calling Monday and making an earlier appt and begging for new meds!Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions I would sure appreciate it!!!HugsDonna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 Dawn Not much scares me at this point to be honest. It sounds exactly like what I am experiencing. I havent tried the heating pads but I did buy a bed buddy wrap that you can use on your wrists, back and probably will work on my knees. I have been using my TENS unit on my left knee all day and other than not being able to bend down I feel pretty good..I did bend once today and it felt horrible! Im going to call the pain clinic on monday since Im going to be in the area anyway. I cant deal with the tiny amounts of percocet they have given me...its past that point. I'll manage the weekend and use the heat and the meds. I dont have alot going on thats going to have me on my feet. Hope you are feeling better and have a fantastic New Years day! Hugs Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 >Hi Felice Im out of ideas at this point in regards to how to make the pain lessen. I have had knee problems all my adult life and much of my childhood but never to the extent that it is now and never that bad. I'm wearing my TENS unit on my left knee and it seems to be helping some but wearing it there means not wearing it on my arm..what I really need is 4 units all set to different areas of my upper and lower extremeties....*sigh* I'll suck it up through the weekend and call the good pain dr on monday. Hope your having a good holiday! Hugs Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 Donna - I wish I had some words of wisdom for you to help with the pain in your knees. That's actually where my RSD started.....a lateral release and medial reefing of my right knee. (Like you, I also had bad knees before the RSD) Two years (and counting) later, and I still can't bend my right knee while weight bearing on it....I'm a real drag to get stuck behind going up a staircase I think you might be onto something when you say that your knees having been bad before does lend to the discomfort now. I completely sympathize with you about the pain being horrible, though. The way I always explain it to the docs is that it feels like a large object is stabbing through my knee (typical RSD stabbing) but that I can actually feel the "ripping" while it happens. When I try and overdo it on my "good" days, there have been times I've been convinced the whole knee is literally going to rip apart. I commend you for being able to do all of the things that you do, while this spreading is going on. Hopefully on Monday the pain clinic will be able to give you something that will be more helpful with the pain. Have a wonderful New Year's and take care. Tricia Oh, by the way I'm coming out to your side of the state Tuesday to see a neurologist at Boston University. We're not supposed to have snow up here, but would you happen to know if we'll be driving into a blizzard? Mom has been officially unemployed since 4pm yesterday (which means no one in the house has a job anymore......paying the bills oughta be a little like russian roulette around here from now on) which means it'll be a family road trip (oh joy.) Was just wondering about the weather, cause if there's a chance we'll get stuck in Boston I may have to flee from the folks and head for you and Ginny Have a good one.Donna wrote: With New Years blessings having been said..I have a question now :)I know that the RSD has gone into my lower extremities and I have accepted that however I have such horrific pain in my knees both in the front and at the main tendon in the back of my knees. This keeps me from being able to bend at the knees comfortably and when I do I have to pull myself up by leaning on something. Of all of the pain I have put up with this bothers me the most.I went to my primary but unfortunately I saw his nurse practioner who though he is pleasent enough and can handle simple diagnosis has admitted he has no clue about RSD..my primary was not there when I saw Matt, so I need to contact him next week....In the meantime, has anyone else had this problem with their lower body? I can handle anything so far when it comes to my upper body but this has been the most miserable so far..Im not sure if its because I am on my feet so much more or if its because Ive had previous damage to my knees or what...but I need some relief! Any suggestions?My pain meds are a joke to be honest..I'm trying to hold out until my followup in January but Im going to end up calling Monday and making an earlier appt and begging for new meds!Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions I would sure appreciate it!!!HugsDonna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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