Knee replacement foreign body

[budafli]

Hi all
At what stage did people accept their new knee? I still feel like I have a foreign body on the inside. Its hard to describe more than that.
Also maybe some of the pain I have been having and attributing to the TKR has not been that at all. I have now been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Some of us have more luck than others. This is not a pity party, Im so over them years ago but sometimes feel life isn't always fair and who said it woud be. Have a grand day in your recovery journey wherever youre at today and remember this is exctly where you are meant to be. While others can give feedback this is a personal journey and we are all different so dont measure yourself by someone elses recovery time frame. Be good to yourself
Budafli

 

[Judles]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

And YOU need to be good to YOURSELF,bud!

 

[JudyS]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Hi Budafli
I am a hippy and never felt I had anything foreign inside me. I hope you achieve this soon.
Good to hear frfom you
judy

 

[backbay38]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Budafli -- I never felt like I had anything foreign in my leg. From the moment I stood up at the hospital on the afternoon of the operation and walked a few steps in the room -- it felt totally normal. Like my knee the way it used to be. It was extremely surprising because I had wondered about that "foreign body" sense. But I never had it. Perhaps because the pain control in the hospital was so good that I never had any? But it was like in that first moment my brain began to laugh and smile (and so did the rest of me) and I was OK. I am now almost 8 weeks out and lots of time I don't even think about my knee. Or if I do it's more like I used to think about it after earlier surgeries for ACL repair and mensiscus tear/trim. Just rehabing. Like I've done so often before.. Weird.
Maybe if you stop thinking about it and just walk and do the exercises and focus on the whole foot/leg combination moving correctly -- not just the one part -- you'll forget too?
Stephani

 

[backbay38]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Just re-read about the fibromyalgia. From day one and for about 2 weeks my surgeon gave me Celebrex (1 and day) and 2 Lyrica a day. Lyrica is an anti-inflamatory which is approved for fibroyalgia and also for seizures. With that combination plus 2 aspirin a day as a blood thinner I had no pain at all -- just mild discomfort from time to time. I had to remember to take Tylenol at first and then I took it ony for PT. You might ask your doctor about the Lyrica.....or Google it.

 

[Jamie]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Budafli, although I never experienced what you're going through with a "foreign body" feeling in your knee, I know people who have that sensation. The best I can tell you is that it will go away eventually....probably at that point when you are more focused on your life instead of your new joint. And adding in the fibromyalgia...right now you ARE forced to focus on all your body parts. Your post was wonderful and inspirational. The more you can hold to that thought that each of us is different and recovers in a unique way, the better you should feel. Best of luck to you....I'm so sorry you've had a double whammy here. (((HUGS))))

 

[DAB]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

i can totally relate to your knee feeling like a foreign body. My knee also feels like it isn't mine but it seems to be getting fractionally better every week. I'm 5 mo post Op.

 

[Linda2]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

My knee still feels like it isn't original issue, but it isn't, so I don't fret about it much. It feels a bit too big or something. It's been seven and half months for me.

 

[1jt@atime]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

The only time my two knees feel foreign is in the water when it feels like the two bones are seperating from one another. One knee is worse then the other. It's a very strange feeling. Karen

 

[NancyAK]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Hearing it referred to as a foreign body is so correct for me. I am close to 5 months BTKR and every step bothers me. I have a desk job and every time I get up I have to stand for a bit before I can move. My calf muscles are stressed with each step also. I have to really think when I walk so I don't waddle like a duck. I am taking tiny baby steps getting better. I can't wait for the day when they feel like mine. I am also hoping they get quieter. In the morning when I first get up they clunk a lot.
I guess we just have to be patient and know that in time they will get better... or at least be better than what we started with. Hang in there. Nancy

 

[kangaroo]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Maybe you need to name them....things which we name become more connected to us. My flute is called felicity....Judy (or Judles) has a chair called constance....

 

[NancyAK]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Yeah... mine are called "Frank" & "Stein"

 

[kangaroo]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Bravo, and a sense of humour helps too

 

[Jayne]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Budafli,
I was thinking about this the other day considering my surgery is in 2 1/2 months. I told myself that at least I would be bettering myself. My surgeon did say that people worry about the pain because they think it is something else. My best friend had hers done and she seems to be just great and that was a year ago.
Jayne

 

[Judles]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

That's so good that you have a best friend
To compare notes with! You can name your
Knee Tarzan!

 

[Jamie]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Great name, Judles!!! LOL It's always good to have a close friend and a new knee you can talk to by name.

 

[execk2]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Last night (almost 5 months now) I had an itch on my knee while sleeping and my leg was bent a little. As I reached to my knee I scratched lightly and felt for the first time a rectangular thing on my knee.......aghast... I asked my wife to feel it....what is that? First time I felt the actual thing. I guess it means that the swelling is going down a bit.

 

[caz9537]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Hi everyone. Interested to read about the foreign body as that's how I'm feeling. I had mine done 3 weeks ago. Its OK, but feels very odd and my skin is so tight around the knee. Have just started the physio in earnest but getting appointments is not easy here (Wales, UK). I am concentrating on the little improvements that happen - like getting in and out of the car without assistance, being able to put on the dreaded DVT stockings on my own and sit on a dining chair for longer periods.

 

[Judles]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Welcome,Caz! Hope you feel better & stronger every day!Give yourself
More time!!!

 

[Jamie]

Re: ~~~Knee replacement foreign body~~~

Hi everyone. Interested to read about the foreign body as that's how I'm feeling. I had mine done 3 weeks ago. Its OK, but feels very odd and my skin is so tight around the knee. Have just started the physio in earnest but getting appointments is not easy here (Wales, UK). I am concentrating on the little improvements that happen - like getting in and out of the car without assistance, being able to put on the dreaded DVT stockings on my own and sit on a dining chair for longer periods.

Hi, Caz! So glad you joined us here on the forum. That tightness in the skin you're feeling is more than likely due to tissue swelling inside your knee. That is VERY common and can go on for a while. Be sure to take your pain meds on schedule (they have anti-inflammants in them) and elevate your knee above your hips with good ice packs frequently throughout the day and night. I used two of the large gel packs at a time wrapped around my knee (I wrapped them in a towel so as not to damage my skin!!). I was never a fan of icing before (always used heat), but after knee surgery, it REALLY feels good!!! And it will help with that swelling.

You are still really early in the recovery process, so don't get discouraged. Post here any time you have a question or concern.....or just to pop in and tell us a milestone you've reached. We LOVE the good stories!!