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Hot Tub / Scar Sensitivity

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Skeet

supremo
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Someone mentioned about how great the hot tub is. I tried it tonight and for the first time since surgery my whole leg felt great. The water took all the weight off it and the warmth was soothing. I had been having trouble relaxing my leg and this really did the trick. I recommend it if you have access. If not, maybe just soaking in a hot bath would be pretty good, too. Make sure your doctor okays it first. It was such a welcome relief.

I am going nuts with my scar sensitivity. I cannot stand anything touching it and it is so sensitive and has frequent burning sensation from nerves. How long can I expect this to last?? I'd rather have the pain in my knee!

Skeet
 
I found that putting a strip of adhesive tape down the length of the scar helps. It is especially helpful if you are wearing long pants. I was really surprised as to how sensitive it is. Not really painful. Just irritating. A lot of the area is still numb so I imagine it will get to be more of a challenge as the feeling comes back. But hey, healing is a good thing.
 
My scar is so sensitive. I hate touching it....I hate rubbing vitamin E oil on it but I do. It gives me the creepies....feels like I'm touching my knee and someone elses at the same time.

I had 22 staples.....is that pretty normal for TKR?
 
I had 39 staples. I would assume the length of the cut and number of staples depends on the size of the individual. I'm 6'2". The Dr. did tell me he was ordering me a knee made for an ox.
Yours scar does sound extremely sensitive. I guess mine is still too numb to bother me to much.
 
Whoa...you did have a lot of staples!!! I'm a tall female - almost 6 feet tall. When I got my staples removed, I asked another patient (male) how many he had, he had 22 also. I suppose the amount of staples could depend on the Surgeon, too.


I just went to my work office for the first time (I'm 4 weeks out).....was shocked at the swelling that happened in that short hour....will have to take a stool and pillow from now on!
 
I didn't have staples, I had steri strips. Having bilateral TKR I have two for comparison. The scar on my left knee looks and feels great, the right one has recently become thick and raised from the knee cap up the thigh and is sensitive.
At my last visit to my surgery center, I was given new exercises and the physical therapist advise that I should massage the scars twice daily. She said that it should be "skin to skin", no ointments or lotions and it should create a "friction". I believe it is meant to increase blood flow to aid in healing. I admit I have not been religious at it, but I am going to be more diligent about it now! I hope I haven't waited too long. At 10 weeks post op, I still have a lot of stiffness in both knees. I go to physical therapy 3 times a week and they work me really good, but the next day I am really sore and feel like I need to rest all day! I have not gone back to work. My job requires me to spend random periods of time on my feet, and with all the other aches and pains I would not be as productive as I would like to be. I think with two new knees, it has changed the way I walk so much that my hips and back are really having a difficult time adjusting.
It is time to do my exercises and "rub" my scars. Hope this helps a bit.
 
The weirdo scar thing, we are all in the same boat. It is like having novacanine around your knee. I hate wearing long pants, like dress slacks for work. I wear long tshirts around the house and light weight cotton (like tshirt fabric) pants to go to PT. Sometimes I can't even stand the blanket in bed or sheet to touch it. So I know exactly what you guys are all talking about. It does feel really strange to put cocoa butter on too and shaving your leg around it, that is really weird, lucky for the guys you don't have to deal with that. I had 23 staples, it has healed great, I have one small puffed up spot, but not too bad. My PT always massages my scar and I didn't think about it, just thought he was doing my knee but maybe Blondie's PT has a point. I think I will try it to get rid of that one spot. I will say though after 5 weeks, I do have improvement, it is not as numb or sensitive as it was even last week so it does get better. Thank goodness, because it is my left leg which is against my husband when we sleep and I can't even stand the poor guy brushing up against me. I know he will be happy when this is all over with for so many reasons.
 
Hi Skeet. I had mentioned how the hot tub worked great for me a while back. Im almost discomfort free now about 10 weeks post op. Glad it worked for you. I seem to be able to stretch a degree or two more in the spa also. But I also use the ICE after PT... heat for relaxation, ICE for the swelling after PT and doing daily chores.
Godspeed,
Chuck

PS: Going to Dr in the morning...I wonder if he will release me from PT??? Sometimes I think Im ready to stop PT, othertimes, I enjoy it.
 
Skeet...massage the scar, it forms scar tissue under the skin, that the PT said causes discomfort. Massage it with a lotion across the scar, not along the lenght of it. Just wanted to tell you what my PT suggested. For once Im following my \Dr and PT orders...its working....Im feeling alot better and ready to start doing alot more.
Chuck
PS::: Ice it too, they drilled that into my head from the start!
 
Thanks, Chuck. My PT also told me to massage it with lotion or oil crosswise to minimize scar tissue. How long does the sensitivity last? It burns sometimes like it is nerves under the skin. Pain meds don't even touch this type of discomfort.

Thanks for the tip on the spa, too. It is easy to work the ROM there and then I took a nice hot shower and finished with a pain med and some ice, then bed. I slept pretty well, too!
 
Kath....the shaving thing IS so weird, isn't it? I don't like it!!!!!....it almost nauseats me!...it's a weird, numb, pain.....hard to describe, but I surely hope it doesn't stay this way forever!!

whining over....
carry on....
 
Do you have to rub hard or just lightly rub the lotion on it? The top 2-3 inches over my thigh seem to be the most sensitive. I have a tendency to scar heavily so I'd like to get in front of this.
 
Skeet, I really never had a problem with the scar discomfort. It was and still is just a bit numb around the area and it "itches" sometimes. I guess thats from the healing process. I have started using moist heat a PT before my exercises for about 10 minutes. I conclude my day with the hot tub and I must admit Im feeling alot better. Im drinking alot of water and eating bananas for the potassium content so the muscles dont seem to cramp like they used to. LOL, today I am going to my Dr, hopefully I can get released from PT. When I get home from the Dr, Im going to work in the yard and rake leaves! PS: Im getting by without pain pills now, but I do have them just incase I have a bad day. I never thought Id feel this good. I will give you an update tonight after the Dr. and PT. I will ask my Dr about the scar pain and see what he says for you. Remember----NO PAIN, NO GAIN! LOL.....Godspeed in your recovery,
Chuck
 
Ahh all this hot tub talk sounds so good, I wonder if I can get my husband to buy one for me before March?
 
Pattipoo,
If it stays this way forever, I may be looking like Big Foot because it grosses me out too!
but you can't go around with a hairy knee that's even grosser yet. I guess we just have to grin and bear it. I will keep you posted, hopefully it gets better. If you see some lady out and about with a big old left hairy knee or 2 hairy knees after March, it may be me.
 
Skeet, spoke to mr Dr today. I AM RELEASED FROM PT!!!!! amen!! He said keep on doing what your doing and I will see you in 3 months. I mentioned I had spoken to a friend with a painful feeling in the area of the scar. Of course I didnt mention your name. He said there is a medical sindrome similar to shingles pain that affects some people with deep scars. He said there is a medicine for it and that SCAR MASSAGE helps. So maybe you should talk to your Dr if it gets too painful. My Dr said some people cant even put a blanket or a pair of pants over the scar it hurts so bad. Anyway, Im so darn happy where Im at now but Im gonna miss the people at PT. TKR was 11/20/07, turned loose on 2/11/08. I will continue my PT at home and now Im gonna go rake some leaves!
PS: He said the spa is a great form of aqua therapy but everyone should check with their Dr first....the normal disclaimer I guess, lol.

Godspeed,
Chuck...
Lemme know how your doing.
 
PS: Im going to post my story of progress under a new Post later on...Josephine, is it ok to exchange email addresses with people here?
 
Thanks, Chuck. I'm released from PT at 7 weeks PO, but still going to go a couple of times more just because I want to. My PT has her own office with nice music, water fountains, a sweet lab to pet, etc. Nice ambience!

Thanks for the information on the scar pain. I can stand stuff on it, it just weirds me out. I do massage it, but that is creepy, too.

And for those talkinga about shaving... it gets better over time based on previous knee surgeries (this was my 6th). But it takes time. I still have a few numb spots that may never get normal again.

Good to know we aren't alone!!

Skeet
 
Skeet, well pretty good news on the shaving thing, takes time to get adjusted to it, I am one of those girls that likes really smooth legs, so I shave every day, have to admit it has been more like every other or so since surgery.

Chuck, congratulations on finishing PT! That is great. Raking leaves actually sounds like so much fun right now.

The best to you, please come back and update us on your recovery. It is so nice to know what we can look forward too.
 
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