I have made it to the twelve week mark. Still get swelling but not as bad unless I do too much. The different, uncomfortable feelings bother me alot and don't know if they are normal or not. The numbness on the side of my knee sometimes hurts when touched. It feels like little electric feelings. I also now am seeing and feeling some of the hardware. Two little bumps on the side of the knée cap, almost feels like a screw. Not painful though. Still have some pain and stiffness on and off, but no where near what it was for the first few months.
I also have a bruise that has never gone away. It is where I was getting a cortisone shot every visit before the surgery. Any input would be wonderful. This site has helped me get through this very stressful surgery.
Hi I am 6 weeks and getting exactly the same feelings, I've had a v smooth ride but as you say new sensations turn up all the time definitely got the 'electric' feelings as the nerve endings mend, strangest feeling when I get goose bumps in the numb area! My knee still gets hot and sore occasionally and I still ice a lot which I find invaluable. My experience of injection sites is that they'd can take literally years to go back to normal. I had a lump the size of a pea which took 4 years to completely go! I have not experienced the hardware sensations yet, my knee is still a bit puffy and I have quite fat knees too so maybe I won't get that. Although it does not hurt I still jump when I think someone else is going to touch it 
I agree this site has been invaluable for keeping me calm and informed about a very complex surgery and healing process Cheers Su
I don't have a bruise where I used to get my cortisone shots -- instead I've lost all the pigment in my skin. I've got a matching set of white circles each
about an inch across that won't even tan. In fact they're so much more noticeable when I tan. Another reason why I shouldn't have waited sooo long to get both of my knees replaced.
I'm 9 weeks out this Tuesday and I have those same nerve mending moment s when I jump out of my skin. ..my left side of right knee is still numb but at times tender also... no bruising for me though..I'm walking alot, taking care of Grandbabies but need to sit and ice when they go home....I am extremely happy with the outcome of my TKR, upset that it took me so long to finally do it...
Numbness...check. They cut some nerves. Full feeling may or may not ever return.
"Electric feelings"...check. I wrap the knee loosely in an ACE bandage at night so it doesn't rub against the sheet and blanket. May or may not ever go away.
Swollen look...check. Doc says it could be like that for a year or more. Exessive swelling means you've pushed it too much. Back off, ice, rest. But that "look" is normal.
"Popping and clicking"...check. Doc says it's normal. May or may not ever go away. His words: "You now have a mechanical device inside your body. What do you expect?"
Stiffness...check. Doc says that could last a year or more. However, the key is to get to full range of motion (zero degrees straight and greater than +120 degrees when bent). Your PT should track those measurements. After PT, have to hit the gym to rebuild leg strength. Critical.
Bumps...not a clue. Don't have those.
Well said Chico, I'm 14 weeks post op and
my consultant to me outside of knee where is numb may never regain feeling as he had to cut lot of nerves. My knee swells and gets very stiff and warm when i overdo things and i suffer the following day.....told to expect this for at least a year. This last week seen big improvement in what I can do. Take care
Hi nice to share the delight I feel with another, for obvious reasons this site is full of peeps having a hard time and like you I am doing so well and it makes me feel like an Olympian (for no good reason I know) long may it continue for both of us.... I put this operation off for about 4years and was so scared the day before I had to take a Valium I don't normally do things like that! I did have a horrific patch immediately after the operation due to pain mismanagement and losing so much blood and the thought of having the other one done was just horrific but my passage has been so smooth all that is forgotten.. Let's hope it continues good luck Cheers
Slow and easy...be patient. I was born in NYC and played hockey for 44 years. My life always moved very fast. Slowing down for the TKR was a BIG lifestyle change. Sleep a lot...sometimes 12 hours a night. Doc said that all my body's energy is going into healing my knee. Eat very healthy so you can keep up that energy. And NEVER beat yourself up by compaing your experience to others. Everyone reacts differently to this on a day to day basis but the overall, long term advice still applies. Things do NOT change day to day and the path to recovery is not a linear one. Lots of ups and downs. Be prepared and keep on keeping on. We should all be thankful that medical technology is advanced enough to do this...else we'd be in wheelchairs until we die.
Hello Suzanne - I am 12 wks post op today. I believe I have had a good recovery regarding pain levels as these have not been too bad. I take 2 x Naproxen a day - but this is more for other bits of my OA body! My bend is poor (80) but I am working on this! I dont have too much swelling but tend to get a little and a soreness if I overdo things. My biggest problem is scar tissue but this will be addressed via my physio to raise my bend. Some days I get so tired and sleep for a couple hours + 8hrs at night!!
I have always felt that I could feel the prosthesis metal but maybe thats my imagination - not as detailed as screws but a line of pressure and metal?
Good luck with your recovery.