New here and very happy I found you

[kathy59]

I have spent a good part of my day reading through this forum and am very encouraged by all your stories plus the support you give each other. I have found answers to so many of my concerns here.

I had RTKR March 26. I have my good and bad days but am learning to take it easy and let recovery take its time. This is not easy for someone who has always done the extra to get ahead. There is no mind over matter here, my knee is in charge.

I am experiencing one odd thing that I have not read about. My skin on the knee gets very sensitive to touch. Like I must roll up my pant leg, I cannot tolerate jeans for long, sometimes a bed sheet to too much. Any suggestions for easing this?

 

[MissJ]

Congratulations on finding Bonesmart, Kathy! Some of the moderators will find you soon. You've already learned the most important lesson: The knee is in charge; rushing things does not really put you ahead.

As for the sensitivity - My only suggestion is roll up your pant leg, wear shorts, etc. Are you having to wear TED hose? The skin around my own incisisions (I had BTKR) is peeling and very shiny and sensitive - probably related to swelling after the surgery. I've started using lotion at night, but even that feels funky - the nerves are just jumpy as they recover, I think.

Good luck with your recovery!
j

 

[Florida 1]

I know sometimes it felt like anything touching the incision was like sandpaper scrubbing against it! Occasionally I still have days where one or the other feels like that and I have to load up on the lotion if I have to wear long pants. If you can't wear shorts or a skirt, I think some people said they've wrapped the knee in saran wrap (do I have this right?) in order to sleep at night. Also, are you rubbing vitamin E oil into it once or twice a day? If not, you may try it.

 

[maryo52]

Kathy, yes there are others on here who have reported the same kind of thing. Josephine?

 

[amab]

Saw a video on line early in my research this year. A man demonstrated wrapping his knee with plastic wrap. He had similar sensitivity you described. Used it to sleep at night. Florida1's post is right on.

 

[trailspud]

... I am experiencing one odd thing that I have not read about. My skin on the knee gets very sensitive to touch. Like I must roll up my pant leg, I cannot tolerate jeans for long, sometimes a bed sheet to too much. Any suggestions for easing this?

This is very common. I had it really bad for my 1st TKR and it's starting again now. My surgeon's PA suggested for me to get a variety of textures and run them softly over the newly recharging nerves (soft cloth, fingers, rougher cloth, etc.). I had been doing everything to avoid touching the skin, but once I did what was suggested, the more severe surface pain diminished fairly soon. It was still painful for awhile, and wearing long pants to work was quite annoying, but I think the strategy worked to recharge the nerves a bit quicker.

 

[kathy59]

Thanks everyone. I use a lot of vitamin E oil on and around my stitches and they are healing well. Plastic wrap - that sounds logical, particularly to be able to get some sleep. I just tried some cortizone cream on the skin (not the stitches). Hoping that calms things down a little. Desensitizing it with fabrics also sounds good. Since I cannot do much else, I have plenty of time to try all of these.

 

[Josephine]

I saw that YT about the wrap. Jolly good idea but do make sure it's not too tight!

I just tried some cortizone cream on the skin

I really wouldn't recommend hydrocortisone cream without it being specifically prescribed. But the sensation certainly is very common. It will probably abate over time but some people have it for quite a while. Sometimes the massage with a perfume free emollient cream will help with the desensitization.

 

[60mom]

I was having problems around 10 wks I think, it just started hurting and being irritated to anything that touched it. It surprised me that it took so long to start. My brother-in-law couldn't stand anything on his from the very beginning. My daughter kept telling me to try Vaseline and finally I listened. Go figure it worked, lol. I had tried Vit. E and other things but didn't help. I still use it as my scar feels tight if I don't. I can finally wear my jeans and it doesn't hurt anymore.

 

[Director]

I had the same nerve sensitivity. It just finally eased up around 8 weeks out. In order to sleep I wrapped mine in an ace bandage and it helped.