Knee replacement. Help!

Sooner the better- so glad you've got a date- and just enough time to do a bit of advance preparation x Bonne chance.

I hope my hip is that quick (assuming of course that's what the x-ray shows, but it is so painful, I can't imagine what else it can be.)

Fingers crossed for you Wobbly

I haven't had a knee replacement, I just had keyhole surgery to clean the damage from arthritis out. I found it hard to get out of the bath I must say. I worked out that if I took a big jug with me I could step in to the bath, soap myself all over then use the jug to pour water all over me. It works and there is no pain to cope with. I recovered fairly quickly but I still need to make sure I do not sit for too long or the knee locks. My doctor says one day I will need the knee replacement, but if I keep my weight down and do the exercises I should be able to put it off for a while. Put a pillow underneath your knee at night to ease the pressure. Good luck I hope you feel better after the operation. Positive thinking is amazing and will make a huge difference to your recovery.

Yorkshiregel - I am really sorry, but there is NOOOOO comparison between an arthroscopy (I had one 15 years ago) and a full knee prosthesis truly, really

Won't go into gory detail, but arthroscopy takes about 15 mins and includes washing out the joint and maybe take a few loose bits out. Knee replacement about 3 hours + and ... a lot of sewing, scraping, shaving, drilling and screwing, replacing of ligaments and patella, etc, etc and a 10 inch scar with 35 stitches...

Well, that has put me right off granjura
I hope mine don't get worse ....

Yorkshiregel DH just had an arthroscopy and recovered quite quickly, luckily we do have a walk-in shower too.
I hope he doesn't need a tkr either!

I kept it clean and simple ;)

I had both my knees replaced 10 years ago Jane and it was the best thing I could have done. I wasn't quite 60 at the time but I would have hated to spend my 60s hobbling about like I was.
It was 5 days in hospital each time and, although I was off work for 3 months each time, life at home got back to normal very quickly.

If you really want the gory details, I was awake through my knee replacement and got a blow by blow account from the surgeon. The actual op only takes about an hour, the prep and recovery takes almost as long. Hearing all the sawing, drilling and hammering was very odd, I would have loved to watch.

That's what I was going to ask granjura, wobblybits -
Were you awake or did you have a general anaesthetic?

I was determined to be out of it (because of above description) but both surgeon, anaesthetist and DH persuaded me to have a spinal and femoral block. The arguments were quite compelling and I have no regrets. They do give you a premed a bit like Valium so you are a bit in lala land- also had earphones with a favourite selection of music DH prepared for me. Apparently I sang along like in Karioke (sp?). I was amazed about the amount of noise from all the (see description above)- but somehow the drugs stopped me getting upset about it. The femoral tap is supposed to really help with pain relief for the next 24 hrs- didn't work in my case as it was moved when they transferred me from op table to bed- but it usually is very effective.

All surgeons will describe the op to the patient, so my post won't be a surprise to anyone. Will defo have the same for second knee.

1 hour was particularly short op- mine at 3.5 hours due to complications perhaps a bit on long side. NO I wouldn't have wanted to watch, thanks

I am not going to think about it until necessary.

Best wishes Jane10, better sooner than anticipating it for months

When I had injured knee and we only had a shower over the bath, I used a bath Board that goes across the bath like a seat, and was able to slide across the board to get in and out of the bath, and when needed sit to shower.

I really don't know what I would do without GN. The useful info from people who have 'been there' is fantastic and has already helped in that I know what to expect but it will be a good thing to have done in the end. I'm sick of creeping around like a poor old thing and DH laughing at me. Once I have crutches I may well hit him with them!!

I had a general anesthetic for my hip and a spinal block for my hip.

The only downside of the Spinal block was the discomfort having the injection into my spine, but no worse than an injection at the dentist.

The up side is that there is no recovery period after the op, I was given a cup of tea in thye recovery room and eating my evening meal an hour later.
The other big advantage is that the effects last for 24 hours or so, which means n o pain whatsoever, so less morphine.
It is safer.

The after effects of a GA are unpleasant and you will need morphine asap.

However you must be prepared to be awake and talking during the op, but I can assure you you will not feel a thing.
I found one aspect very odd. Just after they got me on the table and the green sheet in place, a foot appeared above the sheet being painted with iodine. It was not my foot !, my foot was firmly on the table.

You will have a nurse talking to you through the op and the anesthetist fussing around, plenty going on to amuse you. I took music player with me thinking I would listen to some music, but neve used it.

Hihi how do you know your foot was firmly down on the bed!?! It really must have been yours lol.

I was absolutely terrified of having the op whilst 'awake' but truly and really, that was the best advice and I would do the same without hesitation for knee numéro deux.

If you want to pm at any time, I'll answer best I can to any questions. x

I had a sedative along with the spinal block and was asleep before being taken into theatre, however I woke with a jolt and a yell and as the op was taking considerably longer than expected I was then given a mask and went off again. I went into theatre at 11:45am, came round briefly in a room on my own and then not until I was in the ward at 5pm. Despite this I was fine over all other aspects and the surgeons remarks to my GP said " in spite of this Mrs A was mobilising well the next day"

I can't remember being offered a sedative, but had I, I would not have wanted one as I prefer to be fully aware.

I have had a couple of minor ops under local and was fascinated to watch. Once they make the first incision and you realise you can't feel a thing it is fine.

I would need to listen to some music I think

Oh no sedative and was absolutely and fully awake- but the pre med is a relaxant and stops you gettting anxious and upset. Not Valium, but similar, can't remember name. They give it to you about 1 hour before.

Having had a hell of a lot of surgery in my earlier life, it does not bother me at all, so I always refuse pre-meds, less drugs the better.

Each to their own - you can keep the heroic stuff WB ;)

I can assure you it's not heroic, just doesn't bother me, it would be heroic if it did, and then I refused.