Knee replacement. Help!

Picking up a spider, now that would warrant a VC.

Most worried about general anaesthetic - angina and overweight. 3 hours? Oh dear! And I'm worried about the stomach self injections afterwards. Not too sure how I'll cope with a pair of full length compression stockings either! Washing will be interesting, apparently in hospital they give you wipes.
Jane, mine is the day after yours, not in ROH, are you?!
I've just unearthed a couple of skirts. Have some loose trousers too, boat shoes to wear as slippers.
Really we're fortunate to live in a time and place where knee replacement is possible.

No not in ROH. What stomach self injections? Eek!

I did not have the compression stockings at all thank goodness. The injections are to prevent DVT's which is what the stockings did. They are no big deal Jane you will be shown how to to them, it is very simple and painless, I did them for 12 days at home, it seems to vary. The syringes are pre filled and very easy to use. You are given a small container to dispose of them which you take to a pharmacy or your surgery when you have finished ther course. Don't worry so much you will be fine!!!

Good Morning All,

My DH is currently waiting for his knee op appointment as we I write this. He is 59 and is in constant agony and can't wait to get his life back. It's encouraging to read all the comments to see that it really has made the difference to everybody's lives.

Henetha is either " on the table" or waiting as we speak.. Hope all goes well with her

Gosh yes. Good luck Henetha!

I did have an injection in my stomach before the ops, but never after. Whilst in hospital I had a compression device that massaged my legs 24/7 to prevent DVT. The stockings are no problem, you can take them off to wash/shower etc. it helps if you have someone to help put them on, but you can get stocking pullers that enable you to do it yourself (must get mine out of the loft today)

I was prescribed the injections too as I have a plaster cast on my leg and apparently there is an increased risk of clotting. They are simple to do - however, did you find your abdomen ended up like a map of the world with bruising annsixty?

henetha

No "Jamila* I had no bruising but that may have been that there was no blood left after the very extensive bruising from knee to buttock at the back of my operated on leg.

I just wonder if I need these injections for a full six weeks then.
Thanks annsixty

Oh no. Even more to worry about. Luckily I'm very good at worrying.

Jabe - please stop worrying. In my case I had a spinal block, was out of hospital after 3 days, no crutches after 4th day, a stick for a couple of further days and was doing my usual morning walk to the newspaper shop - a quarter of a mile - after 5 days. I had 4 physio sessions, all that was necessary, and as for the stomach jabs, only three and you can't even feel them. The bruising was wonderfully spectacular though - from bum to toes, purple, green, yellow... .

The single most important thing you can do is the exercises. Every single one every single day for at least 3 months, no matter how boring and how you feel. By three months I had completely forgotten I had a lump of metal in my knee.

OK - it might not be that easy for everyone, but my experience was pretty similar to several friends who had this done. The only 'bad' story was of one friend who confesses she didn't do her exercises so essentially had wasted the operation.

Come on Ladies, stop trying to scare Jane. Jane, you have nothing to worry about, as you are going into a private hospital, they will pander to your every need, bit like being a man when married .

If you have to do anything yourself after the op, they will ensure you are well practised and ok with it before you leave. I bet you will be up and about again after a few days. Even on crutches I was walking the mile down to the day care center I worked at most days (via the coffee shop)
Another advantage of a private hospital is that, should you have any question, the nurses are easy to get hold of.

Gosh that sounds terrific whoputthecatout. I really hope things go as well for me. I'm doing the exercises already and plan to do exactly as I'm told!

The anti-coagulant injections after my hip replacement left me with a spectacular abdomen, but didn't go on for anything like six weeks. Two weeks, I think.

I only had two injections afterwards and was given the choice of stomach or arm. I had hardly any bruising other than just around the scar. 5 Once weekly physio sessions and carried out exactly what exercises I was told to do.
To be honest and I know everyone is different, I was cooking and cleaning (other than heavy stuff) after the first week and used a stick for only about 4 weeks.Sometimes it doesn't pay to think about things too much but wait and see how it goes.

I had some promising news about my x-ray. Popped into doctors to make sure the results were back, they are and there was a note that the doctor wanted to see me. So I guess the x-ray must show something.

I didn't do as well as ginny but was cooking sitting down after a couple of weeks and walking well without crutches after 5 although I still get some pain and discomfort after 8 weeks,but I am 79, that may be the difference.

whoputthecat out - wow , well done but I have to say you were very very lucky. Most of us could only dream of such a speedy recovery.

Keep us informed Wobblybits.

I see the Doc next Tuesday morning, will tell all then.

They have you on your feet within 24 hours. Means you can walk to the loo (Hurray!) On the fourth day they taught us to climb stairs so we would be ready to go home. I had to do the anti coagulant injections for two weeks each time. DH had to have the injections while he was on chemotherapy - every day for two years! You can imagine what his stomach looked like!

Any news of Hennetha? Just wondering how she's doing.

Jane, you may have internet access in your hospital, so take your laptop with you.