Re:Do your new knees become your own?

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Re: Re:Do your new knees become your own?

I am 4 years out on my first one and a year on #2. I find that I fall

more and still have the numbness on the outer side of my knee. The os

said that was normal because they cut so many nerves. I don't pay much

attention to the fact I have bionic knees but do try to protect them

and also am more unstable. I don't know if that is age or because of

the artificial knees or a combination of both. I am not old but aging.

On Dec 10, 2006, at 9:19 AM, Donna Hart wrote:

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Thanks, ! I'm feeling good about it now. I just wonder what it will feel like a year from now and the year after that. I went through what you did, though I'm 56 -- not nearly as young as you. (Keeping up with a little one must have been a challenge. I at least had my 20s, 30s and part of the 40s before this began. Still, when the doctor called me in April and said it was either narcotics or replacement surgery, I sat down and bawled my eyes out. I was surprised at my grief. As with you, it had moved very quickly. The year before, the doc thought I had at least a few years yet. But it only took me an afternoon to decide to move forward. I don't regret the surgery in the least. The hips are next. Now I'm reading all the postings by you experienced hippies out there! Warm regards, Donna Harnett <wjkh@...> wrote: Donna wrote "I'm sure we'll

be more accepting when they start feeling like they are truly our knees. I'm not there yet... Do your knees eventually feel and move naturally?" Donna, I haven't had my knees done, just my hip and I don't want you to take this the wrong way but: it's possible our protheses will never feel 'truly our own', simply because they're not - they're a good, man-made replacement. But without them, we'd probably end up in a wheelchair one day. I'm 41 and have had a type of inflammatory arthritis (very similar, but not, rheumatoid) since I was 28 and my daughter was a baby. When you have a chronic illness, you kind of go through the stages of grief (shock, anger, denial, acceptance etc). I know - I've been there!! This year I did the stages of grief again in turbo-mode, as my hip pain/damage only developed in April/May, I was told I needed a THR in August and I had it done on Nov 28. (Inflammatory arthritis can destroy joints very quickly indeed.) Before April, I thought I only had knee and elbow problems, so the hip came as a real shock to me. Just a suggestion, instead of focussing on the things that are different with your artificial knee, turn it around and say "Wow - I can cut my toenails again/go for a walk to the park/take a bath" etc, etc. Make some goals (small ones at first) and go get them Donna in NZ

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Elaine, From what I've read it here, tt seems that most of us will always have the numbness on the outside of the knees. But it sure beats the pain, doesn't it? You're wise to protect them. We can still be active, but we need to make these last a long, long time. Do be careful! Warm regards, Donna Elaine Poage <meuw@...> wrote: I am 4 years out on my first one and a year on #2. I find that I fall more and still have the numbness on the outer side of my knee. The os said that was normal because they cut so many nerves. I don't pay much attention to the fact I have bionic knees but do try to protect them and also am more unstable. I don't know if that is age

or because of the artificial knees or a combination of both. I am not old but aging.On Dec 10, 2006, at 9:19 AM, Donna Hart wrote:> Judy,> > That's right. I forgot about your scare with the infection.> > LOL...you know, I went through the same thing -- was sure the doctor > put in the wrong size knee. My physical therapist thought it was a > hilarious notion. But I was seriously concerned for awhile. Now I > accept that the artificial knees are bigger than my real ones were, > and probably no one would know that except me. I'm sure we'll be more > accepting when they start feeling like they are truly our knees. I'm > not there yet.> > How about those of you who have more time in: Do your knees eventually > feel and move naturally? Do most people continue to have spots of > numbness throughout their life?> >

Thanks!> > Regards,> > Donna> > > >> Judy wrote:>> Donna - I'm looking forward to getting back in the water again - since>> I had a little infection in the incision area on one knee, I think>> I'll wait until January, just to be sure.>>>> I read that same story about women and "special" knee replacements for>> us - When I asked my doctor about it, he said it was just hype ->> marketing. Well, whether it is or isn't, I'm sure not getting mine>> redone! But, you know when I look at my knees they definitely don't>> look the same as my knees did before - they seem bigger, especially >> on>> the outer side - and I wonder if that has something to do with the>> "fullness" feeling. When I asked my doctor if the replacements could>> be too

big (part of the question about special women's replacements) ->> he of course didn't think so.>>>> I guess I'm just impatient - I need to keep on with my exercise - and>> not overdo, which I am VERY prone to do - and see how it develops.>>>> Judy>>>> >> > Well, it has been about 7 weeks since my bilateral TKRs ->> I seem to be>> > progressing well, according to my doctor and PTs - and it's true, I>> > can bend both knees past 125 degrees, I am walking and using my>> > exercise bike, and my pain is very much diminished except at night>> > when I'm still needing vicodin. But I still have a complaint - >> (never>> >

satisfied!) - and that is the feeling in both knees that is hard to>> > describe but is a kind of stiffness or "full" feeling when I move.>> > And what bothers me is that my doctor said that at this point in my>> > recovery I am at about 70% of where I will eventually be - and the>> > stiff/full feeling in my knees might never go away.>> >>> > So, you folks who are farther along in this process than me - do you>> > still have pain/fullness/numbness or other problems? If so, do you>> > eventually learn to just ignore it, or does it still bother you? (By>> > the way, though I call it "fullness", my knees aren't really at all>> > obviously swollen.)>> >>> > Thanks,>> >>> > Judy>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >

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Donna, You mention that you felt your knee was large after the surgery. Here what happened to me.1/9/06 I had my RTK done I always thought the knee looked larger. I have had nothing but problems with my right knee.. On July 24 I had my left knee done. After the surgery my OS told me that he put in a smaller joint than the first one.My left knee is doing just great. I still have some pain every once in a while but nothing I can't handle. You can see the difference between the knees.Shirley Re: Re:Do your new knees become your own?I am 4 years out on my first one and a year on #2. I find that I fall more and still have the numbness on the outer side of my knee. The os said that was normal because they cut so many nerves. I don't pay much attention to the fact I have bionic knees but do try to protect them and also am more unstable. I don't know if that is age or because of the artificial knees or a combination of both. I am not old but aging.On Dec 10, 2006, at 9:19 AM, Donna Hart wrote:> Judy,> > That's right. I forgot about your scare with the infection.> > LOL...you know, I went through the same thing -- was sure the doctor > put in the wrong size knee. My

physical therapist thought it was a > hilarious notion. But I was seriously concerned for awhile. Now I > accept that the artificial knees are bigger than my real ones were, > and probably no one would know that except me. I'm sure we'll be more > accepting when they start feeling like they are truly our knees. I'm > not there yet.> > How about those of you who have more time in: Do your knees eventually > feel and move naturally? Do most people continue to have spots of > numbness throughout their life?> > Thanks!> > Regards,> > Donna> > > >> Judy <jdytart@...> wrote:>> Donna - I'm looking forward to getting back in the water again - since>> I had a little infection in the incision area on one knee, I think>> I'll wait until

January, just to be sure.>>>> I read that same story about women and "special" knee replacements for>> us - When I asked my doctor about it, he said it was just hype ->> marketing. Well, whether it is or isn't, I'm sure not getting mine>> redone! But, you know when I look at my knees they definitely don't>> look the same as my knees did before - they seem bigger, especially >> on>> the outer side - and I wonder if that has something to do with the>> "fullness" feeling. When I asked my doctor if the replacements could>> be too big (part of the question about special women's replacements) ->> he of course didn't think so.>>>> I guess I'm just impatient - I need to keep on with my exercise - and>> not overdo, which I am VERY prone to do - and see how it develops.>>>> Judy>>>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> Well, ithas been about 7 weeks since my bilateral TKRs -</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>I seem to

be</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>progressing well, according to my doctor and PTs - and it's true, I</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> can bendboth knees past 125 degrees, I am walking and using my</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> exercisebike, and my pain is very much diminished except at

night</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> when I'mstill needing vicodin. But I still have a complaint - (never</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>satisfied!) - and that is the feeling in both knees that is hard to</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> describebut is a kind of stiffness or "full" feeling when I move.

</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> And whatbothers me is that my doctor said that at this point in my</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> recovery Iam at about 70% of where I will eventually be - and the</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> stiff/fullfeeling in my knees might never go

away.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> So, youfolks who are farther along in this process than me - do you</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> still havepain/fullness/numbness or other problems? If so, do

you</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> eventuallylearn to just ignore it, or does it still bother you? (By</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> the way,though I call it "fullness", my knees aren't really at all</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>

obviouslyswollen.)</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> Thanks,</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>

Judy</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>

</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>---------------------------------</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> Everyoneis raving about the all-new

beta.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>></x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt></excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>Check out</x-tad-smaller><color><param>0000,0000,EEEE</param><x-tad-smaller>theall-new beta</x-tad-smaller></color><x-tad-smaller> - Fireup a more powerful email and get things done

faster.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>FFFF,FFFF,FFFF</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller></color> </bold></excerpt><fontfamily><param>Lucida Sans</param><smaller>TheWill of God will never take you to where the Graceof God will not protect you.</smaller></fontfamily><bold></bold>

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,

I really appreciate your good advice - Yes, what can I do now that I

couldn't do before? Go up and down stairs without pain; move without

cringing in anticipation, for starters... I know it's really too

early, but I expect to be able to take long walks again, even in rough

terrain, without pain - and just to be able to walk around my

neighborhood, or go shopping, without planning the easiest walking

route, how close I can park to the store, etc.

Thanks again for your good attitude,

Judy

-- In Joint Replacement , Harnett

<wjkh@...> wrote:

>

> Donna wrote " I'm sure we'll be more accepting when they start

feeling like

> they are truly our knees. I'm not there yet...

> Do your knees eventually feel and move naturally? "

>

> Donna,

>

> I haven't had my knees done, just my hip and I don't want you to

take this

> the wrong way but: it's possible our protheses will never feel

'truly our

> own', simply because they're not - they're a good, man-made

replacement. But

> without them, we'd probably end up in a wheelchair one day.

>

> I'm 41 and have had a type of inflammatory arthritis (very similar,

but not,

> rheumatoid) since I was 28 and my daughter was a baby. When you have a

> chronic illness, you kind of go through the stages of grief (shock,

anger,

> denial, acceptance etc). I know - I've been there!! This year I did the

> stages of grief again in turbo-mode, as my hip pain/damage only

developed in

> April/May, I was told I needed a THR in August and I had it done on

Nov 28.

> (Inflammatory arthritis can destroy joints very quickly indeed.)

> Before April, I thought I only had knee and elbow problems, so the

hip came

> as a real shock to me.

>

> Just a suggestion, instead of focussing on the things that are different

> with your artificial knee, turn it around and say " Wow - I can cut my

> toenails again/go for a walk to the park/take a bath " etc, etc. Make

some

> goals (small ones at first) and go get them Donna

>

> in NZ

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna, I had a Hip replacement done 6 years ago and a knee replacement done five years ago My leg that I had the Hip and Knee done on the right side my leg feels numb but my feet feel the same way I have Arthritis in both my feet so I have a hard time walking I have to use a cane or I have a walker on wheels that is the best thing I ever had . I try not to let it bother me but did you ever notice that the fake knee cracks sometime . Well you take care and have a nice day. SusieDonna Hart <ohdonna_68@...> wrote: Judy, That's right. I forgot about your scare with the infection. LOL...you know, I went through the same thing -- was sure the doctor put in the wrong size knee. My physical therapist thought it was a hilarious notion. But I was seriously concerned for awhile. Now I accept that the artificial knees are bigger than my real ones were, and probably no one would know that except me. I'm sure we'll be more accepting when they start feeling like they are truly our knees. I'm not there yet. How about those of you who have more time in: Do your knees eventually feel

and move naturally? Do most people continue to have spots of numbness throughout their life? Thanks! Regards, Donna Judy <jdytartsbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote: Donna - I'm looking forward to getting back in the water again - sinceI had a little infection in the incision area on one knee, I thinkI'll wait until January, just to be sure.I read that same story about women and "special" knee replacements forus - When I asked my doctor about it, he said it was just hype -marketing. Well, whether it is or isn't, I'm sure not getting mineredone! But, you know when I look at my knees they definitely don'tlook the same as my knees did before - they

seem bigger, especially onthe outer side - and I wonder if that has something to do with the"fullness" feeling. When I asked my doctor if the replacements couldbe too big (part of the question about special women's replacements) -he of course didn't think so.I guess I'm just impatient - I need to keep on with my exercise - andnot overdo, which I am VERY prone to do - and see how it develops.Judy> Well, it has been about 7 weeks since my bilateral TKRs -I seem to be> progressing well, according to my doctor and PTs - and it's true, I> can bend both knees past 125 degrees, I am walking and using my> exercise bike, and my pain is very much diminished except at night> when I'm still needing vicodin. But I still have a complaint - (never> satisfied!) - and that is the feeling in both knees that is hard to>

describe but is a kind of stiffness or "full" feeling when I move. > And what bothers me is that my doctor said that at this point in my> recovery I am at about 70% of where I will eventually be - and the> stiff/full feeling in my knees might never go away.> > So, you folks who are farther along in this process than me - do you> still have pain/fullness/numbness or other problems? If so, do you> eventually learn to just ignore it, or does it still bother you? (By> the way, though I call it "fullness", my knees aren't really at all> obviously swollen.)> > Thanks,> > Judy> > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Everyone is raving about the all-new beta.> Check out the all-new beta - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.