Isn't human nature strange?

Barmyoldbat. When you have had your knee replacement please tell us about it. I am thinking of getting one done next year.

Possibly the time has come to realize that we all enjoy life more if we have positive people around us.

If you find yourself getting accosted by one of these people again cut them short saying 'So pleased you have met an exception to the rule!' and move on to whatever you were about to do.

Not had any replacement parts done yet, but feel like I could with a brain transplant at time. But I am going to a knee replacement done in the next few weeks and I shall fully enjoy the summer recovering by lying in my deckchair and taking walks to the nearest tea shop. I haven't told my friend, doom and gloom, as she is a going away for two months and it will all be done dusted when she gets back (I hope). Just be frank with people and say I really don't want to hear this! And walk away. You operation, your recovery pace.

Kupari MrA had a hip replacement nearly 2 years ago and although he wasn't subjected to comments like that from other people, he kept looking at the booklet he was given which said things like 'after a week you should be able to walk 100 yards' etc and measuring his progress and fretting when he didn't measure up.
In fact he found the first 6 weeks much harder than anticipated, partly because of people saying to him before the op that he would be fit in no time.
But 6 months later he was doing all the things he wanted to - sailing, walking, cycling, tennis, dancing.
I think the thing is to do as much exercise as you can, without straining things.
Good luck, you will be fine

I have 2 friends who have had replacements knees. One was dancing again after 5 weeks, the other is still using a stick after 4 months.
We are all individuals and recovery rates will vary considerably depending on things like general health, age, fitness, previous lifestyle, weight, quality of the surgery and how fast you push yourself. Rushing to "get back to normal" is not always a good thing.
Take your time, enjoy the slower pace of life and ignore the ignorant.

I remember that "my word you do look queer" song. Which makes me feel ancient.

Stanley Holloway even!

This has reminded me of a song of yore something to the effect of 'my word, you do look queer'. Think it was sung by a name like Ronald Shiner but not certain. Theme was like this regarding all the Jonas when a guy came out of hospital until he encountered a positive person who complimented him which turned the gloom on its head so.......nothing new!

You are doing splendidly. Well done. The first time I went outside and walked a hundred yards post op my husband immediately assumed that because I had walked a short distance I would be very well able to make the dinner!! I wasn't!! I soon told him but his cooking was so awful I had to get plenty of carry outs! Lol

Sound advice Nannarose.

You're doing really well. Don't forget that, email it, text it, gransnet it

Go out at a different time of day, or with someone.

And have a slick (polite?) phrase to shut them up before they start. This is your new beginning, enjoy it.

Well done to you Kupari45! As a fellow Hippie (Nov 16) I know exactly where you're coming from. Here we are just out of major surgery and psyching ourselves up to venture outside the front door to be met by unhelpful remarks! I was lucky not to get similar comments from friends and neighbours. However I do recall a close friend ( glass half empty person ) commenting on how badly I was limping before the op, when in fact I thought I was walking just fine! Her negative comnents really annoyed me, especially when by nature you are positive yourself. Keep up the good work, little and often, try to push the boundaries a little each day. Its worth persevering, best thing ive done by a mile, got my life back!

I have had one hip and one knee replaced and on the pathway to a second hip replacement. I think I must have already met with every variety of remark that can be made. All should be ignored. Good luck and happy travelling.

It certainly does baffle me too! Why is there that need to say such things? Is it their ego? Don't know but would love to get in their head at the time they decide to make such remarks just to find out why??? Sounds like you are doing very well! Have a lovely day...

The trouble is that people have very faulty memories! I've been widowed twice and was told both times by quite a few people that they were very shocked because they 'only saw him a fortnight ago looking really well' whereas, in both cases DH was in hospital/hospice and had been for some time. Bizarre! I just smiled and nodded, but I felt like giving them a good slap, if not worse! I can only put it down to bad memory, a measure of insensitivity and a certain amount of primitive denial of anything unpleasant. Your recovery - you know best! All good wishes.

Best wishes kupari45, you appear to be doing fine - slowly but surely as my old Gran used to say! As many Grans point out trying to rush any recovery after surgery often undoes all the previous hard work and you are worse off than before.

Thank you , you have really helped me by this post as I am embarking down the hip replacement route (x-ray next Tuesday) and by posting your query it has answered many of my concerns. If I am able to do what you can after two weeks I will be so happy.
Thanks to you all for positive advice and reassurance!

I have had both knees done. It was a full year before I was walking pain free after the first, 3 months for the second. Everyone is different, just ignore the things other people tell you. You sound as if you are doing very well. Glad you are feeling better today. Onwards and upwards!

People love a chance to dust off their anecdotes. It isn't really about you at all! I'm sure you're recovering just fine. Keep it up, amd enjoy whatever you can!

Honestly ignore it, I had a hip replacement two years ago ( I fell over and broke mine) have a nice steel one now.
I hobbled about like you did my exercises etc. And got through it ok.
Just smile and grit your teeth, you will get there.

Thank you so much for your messages of encouragement. Yesterday I felt a bit down (not like me ). Then O.H. came back from village shop to tell me that one of our neighbours had remarked on how shaky I looked on my pins. Just what you need!
Feeling more positive this morning. A friend is taking me to the garden centre for tea and cake this afternoon so I'm looking forward to seeing her.
Makeup on this morning.!!

Tell them your physio said that people who rush things are storing up trouble for themselves later.

Kupari45, Sounds to me as though you are doing pretty darn well. Congratulations. Comparisons are odious and it certainly seems as though your attitude and fortitude are serving you greatly. Try to ignore the negative people. Difficult in a small village I imagine but.....hey......so far so good and.....aren't you doing well. Bravo and good luck. I've only ever seen good results with these surgeries and hope it turns out to be the same for you.

This reminds me of a recent thread about "toppers" ie people who always have to go one better (or worse) . ! You're doing fine , try to ignore them . I hope you are soon feeling the benefits of the operation.

You're doing fine. I had my hip operation five weeks ago, down to one stick, but walking slowly is so boring. If anyone else tells me to do the exercises I might whack them with my stick. So far, I'm delighted and feeling better daily. Thrilled the pain is so much better.

shoulder - not "should"...