January 3rd TKR. How are you Molly and anyone else with a new tkr?

[pooch120]

Hi everyone,
Thanks to all of you for the responses and helpful info.  I plan on calling my surgeon tomorrow to tell her of all my fears before surgery.  It's so tough to spend the time with a surgeon that you feel you need before any of these surgeries, isn't it?  They all seem to be so busy and rushing you through the appointments that the only outlet is coming to these sites.  At least here you get to speak to others going through the same things.  I find it very helpful.
In response to Jan- the feeling that your knee is too big.  I thought the same thing and even now- 6 months later, I'm not convinced that it isn't.  If I keep having problems I may ask them to check that.  As for it feeling like your own mine has gotten better but I don't think it will ever feel like my other one just because it doesn't bend right.  I also had the problem with straightening it out, but that did improve a lot, I can get it almost totally straight now.
    Thank you all, keep in touch, Margaret

[Jan_L.]

Hello Margaret,

I erased my earlier post in which I listed a link to an article in an orthopedic journal that mentioned doing a MUA within 3 months.

I spoke with my OS today and I asked him what is the cut off for doing a MUA.  He said that normally they like to do them within 3 months but he has personally has done one as late as 7 months and had a good outcome.  He said that the risk factor goes up the longer you wait.   Several people here have been helped by having a MUA after their TKR. 

What is your ROM?

Jan

[Mitidai]

Margaret,

Thanks for your input about the knee being too big.  I guess I
wiill have to get used to that feeling, but like you I think I'm
going to mention it.  It just really feels wierd and sometimes it
gets on my nerves.  Especially when I bend my knee.  I'm
supposed to work on bending my knee but when it feels like somethings going to pop out because there's no room in there
 it's hard to do.

Hope everybody keeps "coming along".  It's a long uphill
battle in physical therapy but I'm sure it will be worth it.

JAN Y

[Jan_L.]

Hello Jan Y,

I have had limited time to post lately so I just responded to Margaret because her posts needed a timely response.  To answer your question, yes implants come in a variety of sizes and therefore it is possible (but not likely)  that your OS could have  put the wrong size implant in your knee. 

One of the reasons a person can end up with a stiff knee is because the wrong size implant was used.  I have seen post from a couple people that indicated that they had a poor outcome and had to have a revision and their new OS told them that the implant used was the wrong size.  If you search medical journals articles regarding "stiff knee" and "arthrofibrosis" it  often list having the wrong size implant as one of the possible causes.

I think you would have to be examined by an OS to find out for sure if you have the wrong size implant in your knee. 

 What is your ROM? 

It is normal for your post-op knee to feel very tight.


Jan

[mollyCT]

Yikes!  Indian Mom and Margaret sure have issues.  Sounds like Indian Mom is on the right path now.  Jan L you are so helpful to so many people. 

Sounds like Jan Y is on the same path as me.  Whenever I'd see a person's knee who had a TKR before I had mine, I always thought their knee looked oversized.  At 3 weeks post op, mine is still swollen and looks bigger than the left but Jan Y, it doesn't  FEEL big inside the way you describe yours feeling. . I wondered about size right before I had the surgery cause I'm 5 ' tall and I realized of course they must come in a multitude of sizes.  Surely I wouldn't have the same as someone who's 6' tall .  I feel confident my OS is the best person that could have done my TKR. That's a blessed feeling.

My knee is feeling less tight.  The home PT showed me how to do this massage thing with the incision and to the patella that seems to loosen up the skin and help how it feels.  The bottom half of the incision is still pretty tight.  I started putting Vit E oil on it to help the healing process. 

I start outpatient PT at 8 tomorrow morning.  I'm going at this time so my husband can drive me before he goes into work at 9:30.  I hope the PT is kind and encouraging and motivating.  I know it has to come from me but I think a good PT is key also.  Jan Y, how are you making out with transportation to your PT?

My home PT said my degrees went from 10 to 95.  The goal is to get them to be 0 to 110.  Can others share their #'s?  My PT said it has to be 110 to drive safely.

I'm using tylenol arthritis for pain and it seems to be OK.  I could use something stronger before I do my exercise.  Maybe I'll call OS tomorrow.  I have to do 1/2 hour of exercise on my own 3x a day.  I've been slacking but I know I can't. 

I feel very fortunate when I read of the problems some of you are  having.  My best to everyone.  One day at a time.

[Mitidai]

Hi Molly,

Haven't been on this site for a few days.  Glad to know you are doing well.

My knee is feeling less tight so I'm hopeful the tightness will go away.
I do have a numb spot in one area and my pt said that is because they
have to cut through nerves to replace your knee and sometimes that
happens.  Hopefully that too will improve.

My knee bends now at 120 which my pt said is really good.  When they
measure me they really have me bend though until it is quite painful.
120 is pretty painful but that too should get better.  I return to work
Monday.  After six weeks off that will certainly be a change.  I was
kind of enjoying being home.

Take care everyone.
JAN

[cathy53]

Hi Jan, I'm 11 weeks post-op TKR and the thing that has bothered me the most is that I also can feel the replacement.  Like you say it is a terrible and creepy feeling. I mostly feel it right below my knee cap and a little bit to the right of center of the knee cap. The good news is that at 11 weeks I don't feel it quite as often as in the earlier days. When my knee is swollen more than normal is when that feeling gets worse. PT says it if from the swelling my OS says because of my prior sugery of medical meniscectomy and double chondroplasty performed in 2002 it might just be feeling of fullness taking up space of areas of degeneration.

I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone with this uncomfortable feeling.

[mollyCT]

Hi Jan Y and all,

I have a large numb area of the skin on the right side of my knee too and assumed it was normal from the knee being cut during surgery.

I did have a scare the last two days because I over used my knee.  I had significant increased pain and swelling.  I had not had this since right after my surgery Jan 3.  My spirits were crushed because I felt the miracle of my successful TKR had ended and I was again doomed to a life of pain, immobility and deformity.  (like I had before my TKR)  Read my posts on "Feb 13 having TKR". 

I'm on Paradise Island in the Bahamas very unexpectedly for a dream vacation week and had been walking on the beach alot since Saturday and rode a bike into the town.  Since I've had this episode, I'm pampering my knee, icing it, taking tylenol arthritis, not going for walks, biking or overusing it.  It was like a dream to be able to be normal again.  I'm feeling better tonight and will continue to give TLC to my precious new knee.

I fly home on Saturday and see my OS on Monday for my first visit with him since surgery (6 week post op visit)  I'll also go to PT after a week off.

Cathy53, it helps to hear from you and how you are at 11 weeks.  Me and Jan Y are at 5.5 weeks.   Just youngsters on this journey.

Jan, I have two more weeks till I go back to work Feb 28 and I agree it is nice to have been home. I hope your return to work goes well.  Last Friday at my last PT appointment I think I could get to 100 and she could push me to 110. 

God bless you all on your journey for pain free lives and good mobility.    

[Mitidai]

Molly,

I envy you being in the Bahamas.  I'm in cold snowy Iowa right now.  We've had a mild winter but it's turning colder and snowier again. 

My os today told me the numb spot on my knee will go away with time and that the knee is tight feeling becusae it's like a new car and has to be broken in.  None the less the numbness and tight feeling are so much better then arthritis pain.

I finished up pt today and they switched me to a home program.  Got my note to go back to work Monday but he put restrictions on standing for two weeks which will help alot.

Hope everyone is doing okay and will be ready to go by spring and enjoy our new knees.

JAN Y

[mollyCT]

Got home to CT from the Bahamas at midnight last night.  Today at noon there is 24.5 " snow on the deck.  I guess that's how it is in snowy Iowa also.  Good luck tomorrow at work Jan Y.  I'm anxious to get my flexion and extension #'s at PT tomorrow and see my OS.  Night to all.

[judyjfla]

Hi!
  I had my right TKR on 1/10/2006 and wondered if anyone else had a "pinching" feeling when bending it around 20-30 degrees?  It feels like a slipping and pince each time it bends.  Id this something that will go away when everything around it muscle and ligament wise tightens up from exercise?  Also, does antone else have a very tight muscle above one the outside of their knee? I feel it the most when driving an trying to get relief is a bear!

JudyJFLA

[rozzzie]

Judy,  Yes I had the pinching feeling mine started at about 45^o, and went to the end. Mine felt like the new joint was pinching the hamstring tendons. It took 5 or 6 weeks to go completely away, though it did get better little by little. My PT said that it was common and would go away.  If you feel it most when driving maybe you have your knee twisted just a tad and it does not like that yet.

Hope you continue to improve and the pinching goes away.  If you're still in PT ask him/her about it.

HUGs

Rozzzie

[Mitidai]

Hi everyone,

I don't have the pinching feeling.  I still have the tight feeling which just drives me nuts.  But the good news is that I went two days without and now it's back.  That gives me hope that it will eventually go away.  I'm now 8 weeks post op today.  Had my tkr January 3rd and it has been one long recovery.  Sometimes I get a little discouraged but my pt told me it takes a long time to get back to normal so just have to keep remind myself of that.  Hope everybody else is coming along.

Take care,
JAN Y

[rozzzie]

Jan Y,  It is a long recovery. I'm 12 weeks post op and feel great, but I do tire easily when i do to much.  It ca take 6 -12 months to get back to 100%. 8 weeks is not a long time for  TKR, or any surgery.

Hang in there.  It will get better.

Rozzzie

[mollyCT]

Hi Rozzie, Jan Y and Judyjfla,

Today was my first day back at work (8 weeks since Jan 3).  It felt good to be able to go up and down stairs with my peers.  Before my tkr I couldn't do that and would always be the only one to use the elevator. 

I don't have a pinching feeling like you all mention.  I wish my flexsion and extension were a little bit more than they were.  My operative knee looks bigger than my 'good' knee.  I have little bumps under my skin in the back of my knee that drive me crazy.

All in all, I am so grateful for my good outcome thusfar.  My continued best to you all.