THanks Janis, It's been a little over 2 weeks now, and it's been HELL for me. I'm so depressed over it. I saw the doc and the physical therapist the 4th day after surgery, and they didn't schedule me for another 2 weeks. I had sooooo much pain during that time, and my legs started aching at night so bad I couldn't take it. I called the physical therapist last monday and told her about my pain. She fit me in that day, but told me outright that they were extremely understaffed, and that's why I wasn't scheduled this week. She ran through the excercises with me again, while I cried most of the time. I've begun taking Vicodin in the early morning for the extreme leg cramps. I'm being VERY good with all the exercises, but am still fairly incapacitated by all the pain, catching, poping. I have a visit with the doctor on Tuesday, and I have LOTS of questions for him. After hearing about other people's PT experience, I'm really ticked off that I was ignored for so long. I still can't do much of anything, except hobble around the house, and I seem to be getting more incapacitated. I went out to run errands one day, and paid for it dearly with even more pain. I have fibromyalgia.....which is a condition that seems to amplify alot of our pain, but I sincerely feel that that's not what's going on here. Why would they do surgery, and then schedule me for 1 post op PT visit in 20 days post op???? When my husband went in for a doc appointment last week(shoulder problem), he mentioned to the nurse how much pain and problems I was having, and she said "Oh, I'm sorry." Maybe I just haven't screamed loud enough for them. I'm trying to be reasonable, that the healing might take awhile for some of us, but then again, this just seems wrong.

Hi twotogo, I also pronate. Unfortunately, the clinic ordered me some custom orthotics and when I got them, they hurt my knees soooo much. They made the orthotics to make me have perfect feet, and they didn't work because I don't have perfect knees too. What a waste of money. Do you have orthotics or just new shoes? If your shoes/orthotics don't hurt your legs, I would keep wearing them. it may take awhile for them to help you. Here's the exercises they gave me to strengthen my knee: 1)Sit on side of bed and lift leg with 5-10# weights on them. Do about 15, several times a day. Sit on floor with legs outstretched and lift one leg at a time, holding for about 10 seconds. Do this about 10 times several times a day. (I sit in a chair with my leg on a coffee table). There's no getting down on the floor for me! There were others, but these seemed to strengthen me the most. Another important thing I learned was to try to never limp. It can really throw other parts of you out of whack. Does it help with the pain, if you walk slowly ....heal-toe, heal-toe? That helped me. I always thought pain was a signal that something was wrong, but according to my doc and physical therapist, it doesn't always mean that. And you have to work through it. When I was recovering from my knee surgery last year, I was having a heck of a time. I would get a horrible pain in my knee with each step. I finally realized that I wasn't walking right. I slowed down, started each step on my heel and followed through, and the pain disappeared almost immediately! Sorry for rambling. I hope you can get some relief. Its good that you are strengthening your knees now, in case you do have surgery......you will be ahead of the game afterwards. Good luck!

EllenP123 , I have been mulling over what to post since I read the above last week. I am sure you did not intend it to be humerus but I laughed reading that you" went to bed 49 and woke up 100". I have been struggling with horrific leg pain for over two years. I daily think holy moly how in the world do people with chronic pain function.Although I have been dealing with my leg pain for months I am not going to categorized it as chronic. My first reaction to my leg pain was to see an ortho specialist who dx the leg pain as stress fractures since I had carried over 900 pieces of granite over a two week period. Yup I counted them. The M.D. gave me a few packets of celebrex that was given to him by the pharmaceutical sales rep. I told the Doctor I am allergic to Aleeve. Alleeve makes me swell and I gained five pounds after three doses. I was smart and had removed my wedding band . It took a good week to reduce the swelling since Alleve has a long half life. Those who are allergic to aleeve are recommended not to take celebrex. I questioned the Medical Doctor who assured me I was misinformed. I took one dose on the way home since the leg pain was horrific. Within two hours I was a mess. It felt as someone was squeezing my heart. I did not need to be hospitalized but monitored . I no longer take Motrin since this is a sister NSAID of celebrex and Aleeve. My point is there are some majorly hubris doctors out there who screw up at your expense. I have had a few nights where I cry cause the leg pain is horrible. No position soothes the ache . I have tried rest, aspirin, warm soaks, ice packs, massage therapy,accupuncture and a dose of darvocet . I came across a book a few years ago about how the body is aligned in two parts. While attempting to find a position to relieve the pain I massaged my toes, foot pad, achilles tendon, tibia ,fibula, knee,thigh, hip ,butt and lower back with a tennis ball. What I figured out is that the pain is in my knee area but when I massage the upper thigh and achilles the pain goes away. A few years a go I had tennis elbow from shoveling the driveway for five hours. When I massaged the shoulder blade and my pectoral muscle the elbow pain disappeared. Pain is not simple . One must identify the source. For me the pain is due to overused muscles and menopause. I am tiny but can llft 60 pounds with ease. If you gave me 62 lbs I balk. I think for some the pain we are experiencing is the lose of estrogen so our tendons get brittle. I too went to bed feeling great and awoke with the crippling pain. What i found that works is to take care of yourself. Take breaks when doing your chores. Swim. Stay active. Place down pillows under your hip and knees at night. Take calcium with magnesium DAILY eat bananas three times a week. The potassium helps with any cramps MAssage your legs from toes to butt with a rolling pin or tennis ball. Make sure you stretch the ham strings( the rear thigh leg muscles). So after two years of several medical visits, accupuncture treatments and masseuse visits for me I figured out what works for me. Some who go into menopause never experience leg pain whereas others are crippled. I was 45 when the periods stopped. My male ob gyn said this was impossible. Sorry but not everyone is a text book case. I have had some wonderful male physicians but at this point in my life I need someone who is informed on a women's life cycle. THe key is to enjoy life. Drink the coffee if it makes you feel good. You will need to experiment with your diet , and supplements. I found that black cohosh did squat. Eating the bananas and religiously taking my calcium with Mg helps. You are not alone. Pilates helped too!!!!!! My mind is racing since I need to get my chores done. A sip of wine at night helps some. For me a little rhum took the pain down a notch. My best solution is the stretcthing and staying active. I am still in pain at times but I can manage it.

I had my first knee replacement 19 years ago. At that time, when you woke up from the surgery, your leg was in a CPM machine (continues passive motion) and I have wondered if that is still in use now? Did you have it? After the surgery, it was routine to go right to Skilled Care, in-house, for 10 days .OH! The torture! and then home. The CPM went home with you. I've forgotten all the details, but the CPM was to be used a certain number of hours a day . It was painful, but appreciated, because very few if any, would get that much exercise otherwise. It stayed hooked up on my bed, and I could put myself in and out of it by myself. I used it a lot at night, and believe it or not, I did sleep quite a bit with it on. At home, it was my choice to stay by myself. (My DH died in 1982) I preferred to rest, eat, and sleep whenever I chose to, and not have to be disturbed. Family and friends made sure I had food, and all required goodies, and came by from time to time in the early evenings. Six weeks following surgery it was physical therapy at the gym. Had the second knee done ten years later. Same routine. Ice packs? Before you have the surgery get a couple large bags of frozen peas, and put them in the freezer, ready on demand. Doctor recommended. After all these years my knees do cause pain, but without that surgery I probably would be in a wheel chair. Hang tough! maire_cate, just read your post. When I had my first one, I asked the surgeon to do both; he wouldn't, and back then no other surgeon would either. You did really well. Sue