Knee replacement. Help!

Well spotted oldgoat. Its quite hard to sleep (well I find it hard) on your back all the time.
I'm 4 weeks post discharge today and Elrel is a week or so after me. I'm lucky as I have DH to help if required but I think Elrel manages more or less on her own but with visits from DS and DGDs.
Two weeks to go till my appt with consultant and possibility of driving again. It will be nice to feel a bit more independent again.
My knee still doesn't bend all that much but I'm more relaxed about it having been reading up about long term results. Still doing my exercises though.

Hope that your knee isn't too painful elrel. I saw that you'd posted on another thread at 2.30 this morning. Is it keeping you awake?

After 10 years I think most of my numb spots have disappeared, although I might still be able to find one or two. I was told to use a skin lotion on mine once the stitches were out.

Don't worry I won't be applying anything right now but I can see the point of the Bio oil so ordered it with an eye to the future. I can bend up to about 70 degrees. My knee swells up every time I exercise and I bruise too. I do think that my sensitive skin plays a part.

Jane if your knee is not 100% healed please do not massage it or apply any oil.

It was also suggested that I buy bio oil but like you Jane I was none too keen to touch the scar but as I could bend to 110 degrees I did not see the fuss so I did not bother. I only touch my scar with the sponge when showering.

The vast majority of patients end up with an area of numbness which is unlikely to recover.

Gosh I'd love to dump my de comp stockings but I've been told to keep wearing them day and night for 6 weeks. 2 more weeks for me. Groan.
I've ordered some Bio oil. I looked at the online reviews and it looked very good.
When I asked the physio why my knee was so stiff she just said ' Everybody's different'. I'm all bruised again after physio today.
Enjoy your DGDs visit. They really cheer you up don't they. My wee DGSs were round yesterday and they are so funny.

My loaned tray trolley was delivered today, I love it! Far fewer 'Mrs Overall' trips to and from the kitchen. Odd that the SW who arranged for perch stool, baths aid etc. didn't ask whether I wanted one. I was all ready to get one from Argos when the cheery district nurse said she'd get one sent to me.

I'd not heard of bio oil either!
Wobbly - thank you for information about scar and massage, I'll look at the online videos. A scourer, hmm!
I know what you mean, Jane, I ask so many questions, trouble is answers often vary with each person who deals with me! Especially re de-comp socks. The surgeon said I'd could stop wearing them today but I think I'll wear them to knee class tomorrow and see what the hospital physio says. I'm almost used to them now.

I suppose I'd find it hard to trust them not to make it worse. I want to know the anatomy and physiology and what exactly is preventing the bending.

No really - it was a doddle!

Oooh I'd be too scared for that. I'm such a sissy!

A friend of mine was unable to bend or straighten his knee after replacement surgery and they took him in, gave him a wee whiff of anaesthetic and manipulated it - and bingo! - all fine.

I've heard that Bio oil is the best stuff. I'll get some in case one day I can bring myself to use it! Seriously my scar isn't completely healed yet so I'm absolutely not mucking about with it yet.
I dream of hydrotherapy. The physio said today that the frosty damp weather isn't doing my knee any good.

Bio oil is brilliant - my knee scar is scarcely visible - I have been left with some numbness on the outside of the knee - it felt a bit alien but I m used to it now. Good luck.

It would be impossible for me to do that. Its still so raw. Just back from physio and no mention of anything scar related. Knee still extremely stiff. Virtually no improvement in bending despite my best and very painful efforts. Still very swollen and swells up even more after I do my exercises.
The best I can say is that I'm not in pain I just walk very slowly and hip hitch. Not great in the long run. Due to see consultant in 2 weeks.

If it is sensitive that is another reason to massage it, that will reduce the sensitivity, this may shock you but my physio suggested using a scouring pad, I gently massaged mine with a green scouring pad, worked for me (cleanest knees I've ever had). But be guided physio.

Oh no! Another thing to worry about. I can't bring myself to even touch my Frankenstein scar other than to pat it dry after a shower. Its actually very sensitive. After a bending session it is so sensitive that I have to roll my trouser leg up and leave it uncovered. I can see why wobbly suggested shorts! I've never been told anything about massaging the scar. I'll ask today at physio but might be too depressed to remember. My knee just plain won't bend much! Four weeks on I had hoped for more improvement. However I keep telling myself how much better I am in all sorts of other ways.

Elrel. I had some numbness after my TKR, some of the nerves get slight damage during all the pushing and pulling and will heal over a few weeks or possibly months, but it will get back to normal. I was told to massage my scar with anything that allowed me to massage it without friction, it is the massage that softens the scar, rather than what you massage it with, you need to break up the scar tissue. There are many online site that show how to massage a scar to soften it.

Thanks, Jane, was just worrying that mine is now numb down one side! A little less hot today.
Had my first hydrotherapy session. Felt good though exhausted afterwards. Physio from Spain recommended rose hip oil to soften scar, is surprised we don't use it here. Almond oil suggested as an alternative. I've ordered rosehip from Holland and Barrett.
I got home just before for The Archers and seem to have mainly been dozing since. Bed calls! Another GD coming tomorrow morning which I appreciate,

My surgeon told me not to worry if my knee felt hot. He said it was all the blood vessels sorting themselves out. My knee hasn't actually been that hot. Very swollen though and numb down the side. Also par for the course apparently.
How nice to have your GD to stay. Good luck at physio.
Its soooo cold and damp today that my knee is extra stiff and achey. I haven't pushed it with the bending exercises today as I've been walking a lot. Will resume specific bending exercises tomorrow. Groan!

Lovely to have GD with me all weekend, went home this morning. No college today as only those who failed maths and/or English have classes on Mondays!
Different district nurse checked everything this morning, BP being checked again soon. She said all ok.
Podiatrist came to pamper feet this afternoon. Thought knee was rather swollen and red, felt hot. I was a bit worried but it's not hot now. Anyway I'll be on the hospital two afternoons this week so should be able to get advice if I need it. I think I may have overdone a knee exercise!
I'll let you know how the hydrotherapy goes!

I suppose so but I didn't think my knee would be so stiff. Early days though. I'd love some hydrotherapy. I really think that being in warm water would really help my stiff muscles and ligaments. I remember Granjura suggesting an inflatable jacuzzi. I'd love that now. I asked the physio if I should do some sort of warm up but she said no and started pushing and pulling my knee.
I find myself making some very odd noises these days to get me through various activities! Blowing and growling and, at times, swearing! Sorry.

Jane - I woke up this morning feeling comparatively normal or, at least, nearly back to being me! Had had 8 hours sleep with only one break, leg easier to get out of bed and a general impression of improvement. GD came this morning, here until Sunday afternoon which is lovely. She tells me about her pregnancy, I tell her about my knee!
I'm not planning any outings yet except for a few steps to the recycling wheelie. From Thursday I have 4x 1 hour knee classes and my lovely daughter has found hydrotherapy for me on Tuesday. It is a private firm using the hospital pool for some sessions. I've told her it can be my Christmas present!
Kind neighbour brought me a long shoehorn before I went in, I mentioned the tray trolley to the District Nurse and she said I can be lent one. She was a fount of information generally, answered all my little niggling queries and is back on Monday to check my blood. The dreaded staple removal was bearable, the nurse kind, calm and patient. I was breathing out noisily as long ago I was told (correctly IMHO) that exhaling makes the prick of an injection less painful. I was doing steam train imitations right through as I tried to remember to relax the leg. Should never have given up yoga!
As you say, tiny steps. I too did a big shop yesterday, but mine was online! Enjoy your lunch tomorrow. Isn't it good to be post-op?!

How are you getting on Elrel? Tomorrow marks my third week since I left hospital. I remember henetha saying she went to town on the bus three weeks after the op. I couldn't face that but I did do the big shop with DH today. A long walk in these huge shops. Out for lunch tomorrow (3 flights of stairs!) So it goes on in tiny steps.

Well done with the self injections Elrel. I'm so glad I didn't have to do them.
I found Amazon to be a great source of useful stuff. Various GNers suggested stuff which I duly got. Have you got a long shoe horn btw? Very cheap but very useful.
Good luck with clip removal. I dreaded it but it was OK. The nurse put some butterfly stitches over 'just in case' which freaked me! Anyway its all healing fine and the DGSs love to gasp at Gran's Frankenstein knee!
Just my new set of exercises to do today then tidy house for a friend coming this afternoon.