Knee replacement. Help!

Just clunked as far as the room next door. The man there came in for a new hip. He has previously had a new knee - and TWO new shoulders. I didn't even know you could.
He was very encouraging!

Yikes scary Charleygirl!

Mine was my right also and the first day I drove I had to do an emergency stop, the first since I passed my test. Sod's law was at work.

You will not be allowed to drive until you can bend the knee to at least 90 degrees. A driverless car would suit me fine.

Its my right knee and I do drive. However, I'm not allowed to for another 4 weeks and I really hope things will be better by then. Fingers crossed!

Which knee is it and do you drive?

Thanks Charleygirl. The shower ordered seems large.
I don't think my knee problem will lead to manipulation under GA mainly because I wouldn't allow it! I get around OK. I'm practising all sorts of stretching and bending off and on all day. Just hope that works. It should (she said feeling positive!)

Jane10 at least some good has come out of it if the bath is going and a shower will be fitted. A pity that he did not think about this beforehand but better late than never.

I did that after I broke my ankle and it was like the sinking of the Titanic whenever I had a bath and it was so difficult to get out that I knew that I had to do something.

Please make sure that he buys what I would call a "double" and there is space for a stool and one can turn around in it. I could not live without my stool.

The long term solution to your lack of flexion is manipulation under a GA but it is still very early in the game to think about that. Trying to reduce the swelling by keeping the leg elevated when sitting and applying ice is the only way to go I think. Good luck.

That must have been grim Charleygirl.
I couldn't get into (or out of) a bath before the op and certainly can't now! I struggle onto a bath board and shower that way but its not a great experience. One good thing about this is that DH is sufficiently appalled at my struggles that he's agreed to have a walk in shower installed instead of the bath. Phew!
I'll persevere with trying to bend knee -paracetamol first of course. However, SiL has just commented on how much better I'm moving these days which was a boost. I suppose its easy to lose sight of small steps to progress.

Elrel that is why we are here. At least it will be more peaceful in a single room. When I had my knee replaced I was in an old fashioned Nightingale ward and 2am was like 12mid day.

It's so lovely to feel in the company of other people going through similar experiences! Although NHS I have been put in a private ward so don't get to chat to anyone except of course staff and visitors.

annsixty have you tried lying on your operated side? I found I could not lie on the other side for months after surgery.

Jane10 re the lack of flexion- have you tried, now that the clips are out, taking your painkillers about an hour before and then having a hot bath, trying to bend your knee there? More importantly, can you get in and out safely?!

3 months on I hit plateaux all the time. I am very mobile once I get going but I can't settle at night. No matter how I lie It is
painful. I am very very stiff every morning but the huge bonus for me is that once I loosen up I can walk without pain.

I had my fourth physio session yesterday which wasn't too bad, but today my knee hurts like hell. I seem to have hit a plateau and am a bit fed up with my lack of progress.

I was awake at the same time as you Elrel! I just get up as its so boring just lying in bed on my back. I'm really pretty mobile these days. Only take the occasional paracetamol. However, my knee really doesn't want to bend much. Physio manipulated it yesterday and was forcing it to bend. All my muscles were protesting. It did bend a few degrees more but shortly after stiffened up like concrete. 10 times worse than before the forced bending. Och!

Another day almost here, stars outside, only one to hour to official morning here. Have a good day, everyone!

Elrel my stockings only come up to just below my knees. No problem with blisters luckily. My big swollen knee looks awful on top of what now looks like my skinny calf.
Am very glad not to have to do those injections. I asked at the hospital why they should be stuck into my fat tum. No real answer though. It must find its way through all that fat (in my case)!
Oh well. Feeling very stiff after lying on my back all night. Physio at 9.00am. Oh well, another day...

I thought I had better do an injection this evening - still have a sore patch there but no bruise!

Deedaa - DH must have been pleased to stop! At least tonight my puny hands removed the needle cover.
Not much bruising, I've had them for a week now, more a scattering of pinpricks.
Charleygirl: I was not happy to see the blisters. So far they are intact and slightly reducing. Fat thighs are the problem ...

I could not dream of thinking of injecting for 2 years! That must have been awful for him.

My husband was doing the injections everyday for two years when he was on chemo. His stomach got very bruised and lumpy and he was very pleased when the consultant said he could probably stop.

After I broke my ankle my leg was in a plaster for 7 weeks and I self injected but my tum was black and blue and a bit sore.

I was offered the injections when my leg was in plaster - they are offered to anyone over the age of 60 I think.
The physio was not very pleased today when I said I had not used any since having the plaster removed.
The do cause bruises!

Elrel the stockings were removed by the night nurse within 12 hours of surgery before blisters formed. You cannot afford to let the blisters become infected.

Bad luck Elrel. My bruising is better but still looks pretty awful as it fades.
We do the plastic bag trick with the stockings too. It works well.
I'm walking a lot better despite stiff knee and think I'm only using the stick for psychological purposes (that's fine by me though).

Granarchist Have angina, need injections to lessen risk of DVTs, also need, for up to 6 weeks, compression stockings which have given me nasty blisters.
Back on morphine today as bad pain and bruise on upper thigh. 'Tourniquet bruise' from op I believe, only developed yesterday.