Knee replacement. Help!

Jane you have had an overload of information- all I can do is wish you the very best of luck and we are here if you need any advice. You are lucky not having stairs indoors- obviously you will have to learn to negotiate them but it is not a priority. Can you elevate the operated leg when you come home? I used an old wicker box and added 3 pillows.

Ah, yes forgot about the prunes etc. I took dried figs and licorice into hospital with me, spinal block is not as bad as a general, after a long general i have been in serious distress, even with suppositories and enema.

I'm on it Annsixty I'm always drinking lots of water and love fruit. Thanks for the tip off though I'll increase the apricot and prune order

Now this really is the last thing but don't forget you will be very constipated whilst on the meds. You need lots of water, fresh fruit, prunes and dried apricots and you will be fine. If you don't you will suffer the indignity of suppositories or an enema.?

Thanks lena80. Still grazing Wobblybits?

I can't help much but want to wish good luck

Recovery from knee ops seems quite variable. I remember that I was disappointed that I was not getting as much flexion as others at the time. But the recovery crept up on me and now I have equal flexion in both knees. Be patient and your new knee will be pain free and work well.

That was to Elrel as well,sorry.

Jane that story is truly inspiring BUT do not be disappointed or feel bad if you are not the same. I have been told by most people that I have made a very good recovery but I still take pain killers some nights when I have been busy and I was using a stick at 5/6 weeks if I was walking far. I still have cabin fever as we have no car and I can't leave my H for !ong. You will get there in your own time. Just be realistic and patient. Everyone is different.

Don't know if I was particularly lucky Elred. I was quite a gym bunny until the knee got too bad, so maybe that helped. I was 72 when I had the op and my experience seems to have been fairly typical among friends and others I know who had TKRs, though I seemed to have much more bruising than most. Maybe the bruising coming out so vividly actually helped by dispersing the swelling quicker. It was certainly spectacular and I didn't find I needed any pain killers either after the first 48 hours.

LOL. you don't know how near the truth that is.

......."poor pasture" - I have a vision of you on hands and knees grazing!

When you walk badly due to a painful knee or hip, your other lower joints suffer as well. My left knee is also very painful ATM , but i am sure that it is due to my poor pasture as that knee has been replaced.

Blimey Elrel a 3 legged cousin. Jake the peg, with the extra leg maybe?
Actually my other leg isn't that great just now. Its taking a lot of the strain right now and I'm feeling the same sorts of pain that the bad knee started off with.

Whoputthecatout - you must have been a very fit and active person before your op. A cousin, 70+ is like that and has had 3 successful TKRs. Wish my physical condition was more like his!

Jane, I tried 'conservation' - painkillers and exercises. The consultant wasn't at all surprised that I asked to see him again and change my mind a couple of months later. The big thing I'm told by both professionals and people who've had a new knee is that we must do the exercises, both pre-op and post-op.
I've been assured that leaving the house and walking will become a normal part of my life again instead of a teethgritting trial when I force myself to go out.Walking holidays and dancing have been mentioned, along with running but painfree walking will suffice!

How is the other knee Jane?

You will have a life again soon. We are planning to get back to dancing in the spring. I did try two sticks today, and that helped.

Yup. Its so BORING! I seem to have been stuck inside for weeks. I want my life back. Mind you this really makes me appreciate what I had and hope to have again.

ATM, the grinding pain I can sort of cope with (thanks to c-codomol * ibuprofen) what is getting to me is spending most of my day in this chair because I can't walk more than a few paces. I'n even bored with GN, been on it for days now, practised my new ukulele pieces, read my book, watched Tv --- BORED. Ok I know i shouldn't complain, plenty have real things to moan about.

I don't know if it is a grinding pain. There seems to be flare ups of deep aches in both upper and lower limbs and if I walk too far (or much at all) my knee swells up and can't be bent much at all. There can be hell to play for hours after with shooting pains and nagging aches after any exertion. I seem to limp all the time and its as if my leg has somehow shrunk. Its crept on like this so I actually can't imagine how 'better' it will feel. Sadly my other knee is beginning to display the same symptoms. Just reading this pathetic description makes me realise that I just plain have to get on with it. What was I thinking trying to get by on exercises and icing?! What a dafty (as my son would say!)

tbh- if you are in hospital for 4 to 5 days after a knee replacement- having WiFi access is the least of your requirements- truly. Doing the physio and exercises takes all your time and energy.

Jane please stop worrying. I agree with ann the grinding pain was horrendous- I now have that in my left knee but not in my right.

Take wet wipes with you, you will need them. My ward was the old fashioned Nightingale ward and there was no way that I could have walked to the loo.

The days are flying past, it will soon be over, please stop worrying- you can only get better.

Well thank you Jane 8 weeks now and I am fine,as you will be. I am so happy without that grinding pain.

I don't have a laptop. Just use my mob if I can't get to my PC. I remember reading annsixty's post op posts and worrying about you! I am a very experienced worrier. I hope my mental waves of good wishes got to you at the time.