“Leg”

It’s great to hear your knee is healing well overall! However, the sensations you’re describing—numbness, swelling, and the "dead weight" feeling—can be relatively common after major knee surgery, especially with plates and screws involved. Here are a few considerations:
What’s Normal Post-Surgery?
Numbness and Swelling:
These sensations can occur due to nerve irritation or compression during surgery, as well as post-operative swelling.
Nerves near the knee joint can be sensitive and take time to recover. This may cause numbness or a “weird” feeling down the leg, ankle, and toes.
Swelling in the knee can also lead to fluid retention around the lower leg and ankle, causing these areas to feel swollen or heavy.
Difficulty Bending Your Knee:
Limited bending at this stage is very normal due to pain, swelling, and the early stages of healing.
Full range of motion will improve over time, often with physical therapy.
"Dead Weight" Feeling:
This may be related to a combination of swelling, muscle weakness (as the muscles haven’t been active), and the body's reaction to surgical trauma.
When to Be Concerned
While these symptoms can be normal, you should contact your doctor if you experience:
Increased swelling, redness, or warmth around the knee, calf, or ankle (could indicate an infection or blood clot).
Severe numbness or inability to move toes/ankle.
Sharp or worsening pain in your calf (a sign of a blood clot).
Fever or chills.
Tips for Recovery
Keep swelling down: Elevate your leg above heart level, and use ice packs (if approved by your doctor) to reduce inflammation.
Ankle pumps: Gently move your toes and ankles up and down (if your surgeon allows this) to improve circulation and prevent stiffness.
Follow your doctor’s weight-bearing guidelines: It’s great that you’re being cautious with the walker—avoid putting unnecessary weight on the leg until cleared.
This stage can feel frustrating, but these symptoms are often part of the healing process. If anything feels off or worsens, though, don’t hesitate to check in with your surgeon! How has your pain level been so far?

It's possible that there was some nerve irritation at the time of surgery or even post-op swelling causing pressure against the nerves and decreasing their functions. It should be improving though with time and the more you use the affected limb things should start to feel better. If things persist longer than a couple of months I would definitely be following up with my surgeon; though you should have PT that can help you in the immediate short term to discern what's normal and what's not.

You will need to continue with the exercises that were provided post-surgery. Elevation of your leg higher than your heart can assist with the decreasing the fluid retention from limited mobility. Please seek assistance from a licensed PT in your area for a thorough assessment and treatment recommendation.

I understand your concerns about your recovery after knee surgery. While some of the symptoms you describe can be common after this type of surgery, it's important to seek in person professional medical advice from your doctor or physical therapist to ensure everything is healing properly. Here's some information to help you understand what you're experiencing: Numbness and swelling: - Numbness in the ankle and toes after knee surgery is not uncommon. This is usually due to temporary nerve irritation or compression from swelling. It should gradually improve over the next few weeks, but if it worsens or persists, consult your doctor. - Swelling is also a normal part of the healing process, especially in the ankle and toes due to gravity. Using elevation, compression stockings, and ice packs can help manage swelling. However, if the swelling is sudden, severe, or accompanied by redness or pain, contact your doctor immediately. Limited knee bend and dead weight feeling: - Limited knee bend is expected after surgery, as tissues need time to heal and regain flexibility. Your physical therapist will guide you through safe exercises to gradually increase your range of motion. - Feeling like your leg is a dead weight can be due to muscle weakness or at times from something we call as 'Muscle shut off phase' where muscles does not respond temporarily due to the injury/surgery it went through. Again, physical therapy will help you regain strength and control. Using a walker: - Using a walker to avoid putting weight on your leg is appropriate following surgery. Your doctor or physical therapist will advise you on when it's safe to start putting weight on your leg and gradually transition to crutches or walking without any assistive devices. In most cases involving LE fracture or surgery following it (ORIF), a 6-week non-weight-bearing phase is advised. Remember: - Every recovery is different. Don't compare your progress to others who have had the same surgery. - Focus on following your doctor's and physical therapist's instructions. - Don't hesitate to ask questions or voice any concerns you have. Here are some additional tips for your recovery: - Ice your knee for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. - Elevate your leg above your heart as much as possible. - Wear compression stockings as recommended by your doctor. - Eat a healthy diet to support healing. - Get plenty of rest. I hope this information helps! Please prioritize seeking In Person professional medical advice for personalized guidance and a comprehensive assessment of your situation.

Yes it is normal. It will be a year or more before the leg starts feeling "normal" again. You will have these types of sensations for a long time. Stick to the process and you should be fine!

During the initial phases of surgery, swelling is very common. I would recommend elevating the leg more frequently, especially later in the day. The swelling should continue to improve but if you experience any increase in swelling, redness, or pain in the knee I would recommend following up with your surgeon.