not a part of me

[DAB]

I'm a little worried about the feeling I'm having about my new knee. Does anyone feel like it not a part of you? I'm seven weeks post op and everyone tells me I'm doing great. My ROM is 115 and -1 and I'm walking around without any real pain. Thats the good. The bad is this dam swelling is driving me crazy. Also when I walk around on my new Knee it just doesn't feel natural!! I hate the feeling of it right now. It feels like I'm walking around on some kind of stump or something. Tell me I'm not the only one that is experencing this and tell me it will go away and feel some what normal again. Please

 

[laurelb]

You are not alone in this feeling. I had mine (rt tkr) 7/29 and I was always saying it felt like I was walking on a "piece of lumber". The good news is it is decreasing, as is the numbness. Each week for the past 2 weeks, it has been better. It is like tiny baby steps, but it is happening. Prior to that I so regretted the surgery. I am still not loving it, but that feeling has improved. So hang in there....I am impatient too, but it will get better. Just not tomorrow.

 

[Doug]

DAB, I hate to say it but you are way too early in the recovery process to get too worried. In fact, you are in what some of us called the "dark ages"..Where you start thinking "what is this thing and what have I let them do to me".
You really need to concentrate on working hard in therapy and letting your body heal. You've had a lot of work done on you and now you need to let things settle in.
You will really start feeling improvement around the four month time. Then the six month.
My Dr. told me that he used to say it takes one year to get over. He had changed it to 1 1/2 years.

 

[DAB]

OH man did you hit the nail on the head with the statement "what is this thing and what have I let them do to me"!!! I guess I'm following all the stages right down the line. It's weard knowing why you feel one way but not being able to change it. ( does that make sense?) Just reassure me that in six months to a year from now my knee will feel like a part of me and that the stump feeling will be gone and it will feel somewhat natural.

 

[Doug]

DAB,
Part of the recovery and what you can do kind of depends on how bad it was prior to surgery.
My right leg was bowed out. After the TKR, it is straight but so the surrounding tissue, tendons, etc., are being pulled differently.
In a month or so, if you work hard, you will start getting little surprises. You might cross your legs. I used to adjust my gait as I approached a step up. Now I take it with either leg. It will come. As for now, just recover from the operation.

 

[DAB]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to have to force myself to be patient, and continue to work my tail off with the PT.
Thanks again

 

[Linda2]

There is a HUGE difference between seven weeks and 15 weeks where I am now. While my knee still doesn't feel "normal", I no longer wish I hadn't done it. I'm almost four months out, and I don't feel so much like an invalid any more. I'm looking forward to that six month mark, Doug!

 

[Doug]

Most importantly, you have to work to get the prize!!!! Don't sluff off now..

 

[Linda2]

I've been working very hard. My range is now 0 extension and 140 flexion. Still working on the strengthening.

 

[Josephine]

Promise - hand on heart - this time next year you'll think of this thread and laugh out loud! Just takes time, that's all.

 

[Rowdy66]

My new knees never felt any different than the old real ones except they didn't hurt anymore and even right after the surgery when there was still some pain it was a different kind of pain, not as intense and I always knew it was going to get better. Wish you luck, I can see from the other responses that you are not alone in your feelings. Doug is absolutely right, it takes a lot of work to get where you want to be but boy!!!! IS IT EVER WORTH IT. Rowdy