hi everyone. I am 3.5 weeks post tkr surgery. I think I am doing quite well generally. My concern is the surrounding area of my knee is extremely sensitive and painful to the touch. It's also reddish and warm but not hot. No infection as far as I can determine. The sensitivity does not seem to improve. Is this sensitivity normal? Anyone else experience this? The outer side is numb and I understand that is normal. Thanks in advance!
All normal. Decreases over time. I'm almost 16 months and it's still a bit sensitive to kneel on and feels a tiny bit warm sometimes. Welcome to the club.
Thank you Chico. Was just looking for reassurance which you provided!
Hi, Gynna. Same here at 7 weeks but is improving. I massage it several time a day with Vitamin E oil, a tip I actually picked up on the forum. At my 6 week check up the doctor said yep, it's still warm- keep doing what you're doing-that's normal and it will get better! At first I couldn't even stand clothing rubbing against it and was in shorts almost all of the time. Grateful it was summer. Can wear some long pants now. Learning everything just gets better with time. Best wishes to you.
I'm at 4 months and can finally sleep without something over my knee and it had to be something very soft. The sheets still have to be the soft ones. My doctor says "this is a year long recovery so you're just a youngster in your recovery.
Hi Duckfan. My issues aren't as bad as some others. Problem for me is the blanket when I sleep. I'm fine with just a sheet over me but the extra weight of even a light blanket bothers my knee. Any tips? Sounds like you had similar issues.
Ditto to what everyone said. I've lived in basketball shorts for 8 weeks. Just starting to wear pants for a short while. No blankets.
To prevent irritation at the incision site from clothes and sheets, wrap the knee loosely with an ACE (elastic) sports bandage or use a knee compression sleeve one size larger than normal so that it fits loosely. Problem solved.
Yes, it is normal!
Duvet. Two pillows either side of legs to hold it away if need be. Light jersey material joggers or similar .more ideas!
Was thinking about an ace bandage. Great idea. Thanks. You are just a wealth of information & problem solver, Chico Marx. 😄
Thanks
Hi gynna, as you can already see - yes, we're all going through it. I've found it interesting that my first knee TKR was so much more painful and skin more sensitive than the 2nd. I did get an infection with the first one though.
I had that pain with second tkr. Drove me crazy!!! Discovered that wrapping as Chico says, did the trick. Best night's sleep in weeks. Those loose nerve endings are going haywire as they begin to find their way across. Good luck.
I read on this forum awhile back of someone who fashioned a cage for the knee out of a cardboard box. She did it to keep her husband and her cats from bumping her knee. It would keep the covers off though.