Post op numbness

[lfoley]

Hey everyone! I'm new here and so glad I found this site!!

 My knee's been dislocating since I was 13 (24 now) and this is the first time I've been able to look up what's wrong with me eventhough I'm an avid "googler" (Even the thought of anything to do with knees would make me cringe, I'm a weird-o) Anyway, I had TTT surgery last Wednesday (I don't know much about it or any medical terms because of the total un-willingness to learn about knee problems..) had to have it because supossedly my knee keeps dislocating because my patellar tendon isn't straight. Anyway, surgery wasn't bad. I wanted to die for a little bit but now I'm pretty mellow, almost off the tylenol + codine and ready to get going with this. Problem is two things: first, part of my leg is numb, not the whole leg, but the skin is numb to the touch and it's a little weird. Second is that I can't drop my leg to the ground to be able to get up on my crutches. It feels like it weighs 100 lbs and as much as I'd like to, I just can't do it. My OS is on vacation this week (lucky guy) and I'm not booked in with another OS for follow-up until Thurs. I'd love it if anyone here had any insight to this problem and any remedies to get me up on my crutches (it's been almost a year since I've been on them, I almost miss them! That and I'm dying to get out of my bed!)

Thanks a million for any responses and for everyone's posts on here, I'm so glad I can FINALLY read up on this and get over the phobia!

Lindsay

[AGOERTZEN]

1. Post op numbness is normal so don't worry. Some of it you may regain over time and some perhaps not. Either way it is normal especially this early in recovery. Did you have a femoral nerve block? Did they freeze your whole let prior to the surgery? That can also have lingering affects but nothing to be concerned about.

2. As for your leg being heavy...that too is normal. Your body has been through allot and your muscles have experienced trauma...they often will put a turnoqit (sp?) on your leg to decrease the blood flow to the area that can make it very sore and cause discomfort with the muscles...don't worry...you will be up and at 'em in no time. One trick I found was to turn your crutch around, hook your foot into the arm part and use it to lever it to the floor. BE CAREFUL THOUGH...try it on the bed first...

By all means please follow up with your OS when he returns from holidays just to rule out anything serious. I think however you will find that it is all normal andyou are doing great.

This is a fantastic site that has helped me greatly over the years in listening to stories, advice and reassurance...
Enjoy

[L. Thomas.net]

I had numbness after ACLr and also after TKA.  Both surgeries OS warned that there would be some numbness.  It is a wierd feeling isn't it?  Just watch if you shave your legs.  I got the feeling back but it took about 1-2 years after ACLr.  I actually have almost all of it back and it has only been 3 1/2 months since TKA.

[trainwreck]

Hi.  I am currently four days post-op and my leg feels like it weighs about a ton.  I know that feeling will go away but not until it is  good and ready.  I developed severe numbness many years ago following a grueling surgery and unfortunately it has never gone away.  It has gotten better but shaving my leg make me feel like I could puke.  Initially I could not even stand the feel of fabric on that knee but that sensations is much better.  My wonderful OS said that feeling was due to nerve damage.  The best treatment was neurontin and goold ole desensitising.  It is icky but no way around it for me.

I hope it gets better for you soon.  It is not a fun process but worth the journey.  The price we pay to be able to walk hopefully pain free.  None of us will ever take our knees for granted!!

[AGOERTZEN]

I also found after my 1st HTO that accupuncture helped to regererate my nerves and also helped with the pain too! I still had nerve damage even 4 years later which after my second HTO on March 20th I have allot more...some will come back I'm sure and some will not...small price to pay I figure...although don't ever ask me to wear nylons...just feels creepy. lol

A

[lfoley]

Thank you everyone for replying to this! You all set my mind at ease. I'm 8 days post-op and the numbness is slowly starting to go away, but thanks for the accupuncture tip, if it's still lingering, I'll definetly give it a try. I still have a bit of the "blood rush" feeling when I put my leg down but it's improving. I'm so frustrated that my doc didn't mention it AT ALL, I thought my leg was going to fall off before I found this website.

This site is fantastic! Everyone who contributes to this should be commended, you help each other out so much!

Thanks again!

Lindsay

[jathib]

Don't be surprised if you don't get all your feeling back. I haven't felt parts of my knee since my first surgery 34 years ago. I've long since gotten over it though.