Stiff Quad

[bluegrassanne]

I had TKR on May 18th on my right knee. I have recovered well. My biggest complaint is the quad muscle that runs down the right side of the knee. It is still extremely stiff or numb, I'm not sure which. When I lay on that side I feel like there is a ridge going down my leg. My doctor's PA said it was due to the surgery. It has improved somewhat, but I was wondering if anyone else had this issue?

 

[FrogFeathers]

On my left knee- the left side of my scar, about three inches out from the scar and it runs the length of said scar- is totally numb. If I press on it, I get an odd tingly-not-quite-pain sensation. Its something normal that happens after surgery.

I had gall bladder surgery 20 years ago and the scar is about 8 inches long and runs the angle of my ribs. It STILL has numbness below it (and weirdly, when my new knee scar itches, it does too, like it hates to be left out of the "fun").

My knee doc told me it could be permanent or it could be temporary- everyone is different. Seeing as I have scar tissue issues anyway, I suspect mine will stay numb and weird-feeling forever.

 

[loggon]

blue

I have the same problem with the stiffness on the right side of knee and sometimes around the knee. But most
on the right side. I am 10 weeks post op and it is going away some.

The numbness went away with in a few weeks for me.
I do know some who still have it.

But they say all the stiffness will go away in time that alot of it is because of the swelling.

Hope so because it is interferring with my rom.

Good luck and post you will have many different answers to your question as each of us heal diff.

 

[Josephine]

It's numb, honey, and perfectly normal.

If you want to know the detail, there are small nerves that runs across the front of the joint that just cannot be avoided when the boss makes his first incision.

This was my area of numbness at 9 weeks but it's gradually dissipating all the time. General opinion is that it takes anything from 6 to 12 months to recovery completely and in some, a small patch of numbness remains forever. I'm at 12 weeks now and mine is already much smaller.

Of course, then there is the pain and swelling which need attention - exercise, rest, elevation, ice and medication. Make sure you're controlling your pain well as that will also reduce the swelling, believe it or not. And reducing the swelling will reduce the stiffness, etc., etc., etc. "Everything is connected to everything else"!

 

[Jamie]

I'm at 15 months and I still have some slight numbness on the front of my knee just to the outside of the scar. It keeps getting better, but is very slow to return all the feeling. I believe it will eventually come, though, because each month show slight changes for the better.

 

[Jamie]

Oh....and welcome to the forum, Bluegrassanne! We're glad you found us.

 

[Josephine]

What a weird looking knee that top one is, isn't it? Artist must have been having an off day!

(I know - bottom one isn't so beautious either! :hehe: )

 

[Texas]

Hi welcome. Yes mine is still numb, feels funny, Dr said it will go away....Just something the get thru. You are not alone....nerves are still healing I presume.......please post anytime.....Feel better soon..........

 

[bluegrassanne]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I guess I just need to be patient. Other than the numbness I am really doing well. I went back to work today (sit-down job) and have been pain free for about a week. I am using a cane to avoid limping but get around well without it. Maybe I need to elevate more and ice more.

 

[beth1954]

Josephine:

That is really a strange knee. It's hard to tell which angle it is at!

Yours looks much better!

 

[Jamie]

Sometimes with the limping, you have to retrain your body and mind. When you have limped for an extended period of time, that gait just feels right. Concentrate on trying to walk normally (heel, toe, body upright) for short periods without your cane and eventually you can retrain yourself to a normal gait.

But.....now that I go back and read that your surgery was LESS than a MONTH ago....hon, you're doing just fine. Using a cane is actually way ahead of where I was at your point in recovery. Use the cane, work on getting your leg muscles stronger and I'm betting the limp will take care of itself.

You had MAJOR surgery!!! It takes a while to heal - months....a year.....more time than most people think to get completely back to normal.

 

[Gringo]

Well, I wasn't even going to mention it, but have any of you guys had these little electric shock feelings in your knee? This last PT, well, the one before last, used a little electric gizmo on me, he attached a couple electrodes and it ran a current through the knee until the quad muscle contracted.

That hasn't been done since a week ago. BUT while riding in the truck on Friday, and then again while kayaking Saturday, it suddenly felt almost like that machine was still zapping me. It was not as intense, and not exactly in the same place, but it was that kind of electrical shock tingling. It was on the inside of my knee.

Anyone else experience that feeling? It was strong enough to be quite startling. I mentioned it to my wife, even. I don't normally whine to her about the small stuff.

 

[Jamie]

I had zingers like that and believe it was the nerves waking back up and getting reattached. It lasted probably 6 months....kind of came and went. But I don't have it any more and I do have most of my feeling back all around my knee. Just a couple of small areas are still working on getting full feeling back.

 

[Josephine]

Mine must still be snoozing!

 

[ship4]

Gringo,
It is the nerve reconnecting. It at time will feel like a hot poker or a knife in there..... Then you start getting your feeling back.
Best,

 

[Jamie]

I experienced it and I remember most of the Winter Knees of 2008 talked about it in some old threads.

 

[FrogFeathers]

Well, I wasn't even going to mention it, but have any of you guys had these little electric shock feelings in your knee? This last PT, well, the one before last, used a little electric gizmo on me, he attached a couple electrodes and it ran a current through the knee until the quad muscle contracted.

That hasn't been done since a week ago. BUT while riding in the truck on Friday, and then again while kayaking Saturday, it suddenly felt almost like that machine was still zapping me. It was not as intense, and not exactly in the same place, but it was that kind of electrical shock tingling. It was on the inside of my knee.

Anyone else experience that feeling? It was strong enough to be quite startling. I mentioned it to my wife, even. I don't normally whine to her about the small stuff.

Yes... and it seems to get worse when the weather is changing. In the last week, we went from cool, sunny weather to hot, humid and thunderstorms. My knee has been driving me mad!

I had zingers like that and believe it was the nerves waking back up and getting reattached. It lasted probably 6 months....kind of came and went. But I don't have it any more and I do have most of my feeling back all around my knee. Just a couple of small areas are still working on getting full feeling back.

Gringo,
It is the nerve reconnecting. It at time will feel like a hot poker or a knife in there..... Then you start getting your feeling back.
Best,

And I am so bloody happy to find out that its normal! I was contemplating calling my doctor- but not wanting to as it wasn't really interfering in my life- just annoying and distracting.

 

[Linda2]

I've had those too. I still have residual numbness, but nothing I can't live with.