Knee replacement. Help!

The questionnaire was for my knee op about 2 tears ago. When I had the hip op, 8 years ago, they sent a care worker along to check and measure up.

They offered an online booking system, where you could choose the hospital, surgeon and date.

Our NHS trust does seem quite good (not that I have any other experience) Colchester hospital has come in for criticism, but I have nothing but praise for it.

Having said all this, I am crossing my fingers that they are still as efficient.

I've had to fill in copious questionnaires including one from an OT asking the width of our bath. Couldn't answer as it varies so much along the length. Its sort of oval within a rectangular outer side.
Loads of other very detailed stuff from a post op care at home point of view too. I wonder if they'll have to alert social services to look after me.
DH was on a club outing today and met a GP and a surgeon. Both said that for Gods sake I must have a general anaesthetic. Bit worrying but they've not had a tkr and you lot actually have. Will await preop assessment.

I'm amazed about this comment about GA. All the doctors I discussed this with (and for all sorts of reasons we meet very many) advised a spinal with femoral block- as t
he side and long term effects are pratically zilch.

Bravo the NHS for ensuring patients are well prepared for the return home - bravo. BTW you will be much better in an armchair than a settee afterwards so you can push on both arms.

Advice overload, your surgeon/anaesthetist will advise you.

I had my first replacement under GA it was OK apart from throwing up when I came round. When I had the second one the anaesthetist came to see me and said he always used a spinal block. I was completely appalled - but he was very lovely so I went along with it. It was absolutely fine. I was a bit worried when they started as I could still feel my toes, but I never felt a thing and slept through most of it. Spent half an hour chatting while the spinal block wore off before we had to switch the morphine on. Definitely the way to go if you hate the whole GA thing.

I've had 8 or more ops under GA, hate the after effects, several under local and one with a spinal block. The spinal block was by far the best as far as recovery goes and lack of any sensation during the op.

Pre-op tomorrow!

Good luck Eirel

Very best wishes for it all Elrel!

And Bonne Chance from moi x

Elrel ...... good luck. Break a leg

Elrel good luck.

Pre-op was ok so still scheduled for Thursday 27th! Touched at so many kind good wishes, many thanks!

Great news- do your strengthening exercises every day (simple leg raises from chair, for instance).

Got a physio appointment for 7th Nov, so not too bad, 3 weeks.

Grandjura - doing one right now!!

Elrel my pre op is on Thursday. Op itself on 26th. We can do our exercises together as we check on the latest GN posts. Did anyone hear from Henetha yet? Nearly 2 weeks since her op.

I've been doing leg raises so much that I'm at risk of developing a huge right leg like one of those lobsters with one huge claw!

hihi- good idea to work with both knees indeed ;)

The very best of luck Elrel and Jane

Jane - good idea! I'm not doing enough though I straighten my leg a lot, even on the bus stop bench! The consultant said to swim or walk in water, months ago. I went to the local baths to find it closed due to an 'accident'. It never re-opened.
Charley - thank you!

Almost impossible, and in most cases counter-productive to do 'froggy legs' so get a float so you can swim with up and down legs. I use short and wide physiotherapy flippers (you can find at Decathlon for instance) - so I trained myself to swim breaststroke with arms, but up and down (crawl) legs - it takes a bit of getting used to- but using the flippers make the leg movements stronger and keep you afloat.

Very lucky to have found a new pool in France with water at 29C where they allow the use of flippers in two lanes- really helps.

I agree about the up and down legs in breaststroke gj. That's how I do it. No knee replacement yet but I gather the proper way is not good for the knees. It's quite slow moving but that doesn't bother me. I also do a lot of backstroke and, at times, just walking up and down the pool. Obviously the pool is the same depth throughout.

Re knee exercises at home pre op you should spend 5 minutes every couple of hours. Post op it is longer but hourly. Post op there are more exercises to do.

Pre op assessment visit today. Very comprehensive. Staff very helpful and keen to give as much info as humanly possible -slightly too much for me. So its all set for next week!