Knees...

Jura 2, I take turmeric mixed with yogurt and black pepper.
I’ve just missed 4 days and am can feel my fingers in the morning. Could be all in the mind but I’m convinced .
I have been led to believe, mainly by Michael Mosley that the supplements don’t give you the same benefits. Have you heard differently.

Good luck, jura. Hope it all goes well.

Good luck jura, soon be on road to recovery.

Thanks all. Pamela- I take both turmeric capsules AND most importantly, the turmeric extract - Curcumin from Holland and Barret.

all went well - back in the room - pheew.

All the best for a good recovery jura.

I agree with iam and others who recommend exercise to strengthen the supporting muscles and ligaments.
I’ve certainly felt the benefit of doing Pilates.

oh I did- for last 4 weeks been doing leg raises, etc- and it is really helping.

So after a really nightmare first night, climbing up the walls in pain- the doc realised a drain had been put into a nerve that sent my back, thigh, knee and calf into painful spasm - they took it out (ouchie) and it was like a miracle - phhhheeeew. 2 hours on the kinetec machine (do they use those in UK? Like a splint in 2 halves that forces your knee up and down at increasing degrees- got twice to 95 today- so they are sending me home tomorrow. Lots ot walking to x-ray and up and down stairs- pooped and a bit sore- but ok. Allowed to sleep on my side with cushion between legs - just canno sleep on my back. Night night - bonne nuit.

let the bending and extending battle commence
Physio booked for 2 home visits next week, then 2 x a week at her place for next 6 weeks and lots or work at home.

Been snowing like crazy but hopefully Spring round corner.

Advice from OH - always have such ops, hips, etc, at the beginning of Spring if you can choose. It improves mood, confidence, etc, etc.

Check out the Bonesmart forum. Lots of practical advice and experiences to learn from. I only wish I'd known about it before embarking on physio after my knee replacement!! Too much physio too soon led to me developing inflammation and adhesions. I had to have a manipulation under anaesthetic as a result! After that I was put on a CPM overnight but that was all. Following that I had minimal physio (2 sessions only) which focused on practicalities such as gait and stairs. The research shows that at 6 months there is no difference in outcome between those that did lots of physio and those that did none. Counterintuitive I know but having the experience I had I'm not going to do any more exercise than mobilising and walking after my next TKR.

Home Sweet Home ... and no pain, what a difference to last time (so much damage due to accident in .. 1970).

Thanks for the bonesmart link, will have a look. I suppose there is physio and physio ... 'My' wonderful, sensitive, kind but firm physion is visiting me at home twice next week- and the kinetec machine is arriving on Monday for 2 x 1 hr session each day. But will be very careful to massage scar and area several times daily and watch out for any inflammation or adverse reaction. x

Aaargh! Don't massage your scar. Let it heal completely before you faff around with a healing wound!!
Let Bonesmart be your guide.

merlot I am wearing one of those at the moment on my knee (it has a hole in it at the front to allow for movement I think).
I think I'll try wearing it lower down the leg as one knee is very painful at the moment - after rushing around town one day a few weeks ago, the back of my knee seemed to go into a spasm and the front keeps clicking in and out quite painfully.
I suppose I should go and see the GP.

of course Jane only when fully healed- massage and keep moving the patella.

Bio oil is nice and smells lovely.

I've never had problems with my knees, but I sympathize with all of you that have had pain or surgery. I don't mean to make light of your pain in any with this cartoon...I just think it is cute.

doing it as we speak MG lol- yes, saw this the other day and it did make me laugh. Thanks.

Totally open to Bonesmart Jane- but I trust 'my' surgeon, physio and personal assistant (aka OH). We are all different and for me, mobilisation is truly the way forwards, with kinetec machine and lots of hard work.

BTW is it possible to hire Kinetec machines in the UK?

Mine arrived yesterday and I do 4 x 30 mins a day- up to 95 degrees now- and been doing other knee too (from 2 years ago, at 120 - hoping over next 4 weeks I'll get to 130 for both- which would mean cycling and skiing would be real possibilities in a few months (well next winter for the skiing bit - although it is snowing like crazy now).

Pheeeeew - just shows we are allo different, a even for one person, the situation from knee to knee can be vastly different- as said, the first one done 2 years ago was carrying 47 years of extreme damage - this one was just cream crackered for doing the work for 2). It took me 2 months last time to seen the light at the end of the tunnel - I can see it this time after just a week- and can walk up stairs normally with the crutches. Amazing.

These machines are rarely used here. Check the research on them.

Of course I have- and they have those pro and those against.
I have no hesitation and trust both physios, 'my' surgeon and OH - more than the internet.

The guy who delivered it and adjusted it for my leg/size- said he had to have an operation to release adhesions and all sorts of problems after his first- and blames it on lack of mobility at the start.

As said, we are all different, and even our 2 knees are very different depending on past injuries, etc. Perhaps one of the reasons they are not used much in UK is because it would add significantly to cost (I paid about 420£ for 1 month of use, with delivery and adjustments).

100 degrees today- it took me 2 months last time- so pretty chuffed.

Check the Mayo clinic and NICE guidance. However, it's up to you. As I said I was put in one overnight after my op. The hospital obviously had one but the staff had never seen it used as the consultants had all stopped recommending them in the light of modern thinking.

BBbevan Just to add to your post about Rosehip tablets.
I have used them 3 times with success. Each time it takes about 4 weeks and then the pain decreases until in a year or two it comes back and I start again.

I found it on the Osteoarthritis research web site. All natural methods have been tested to see if they ease pain and that was the one that appealed to me. It is the inside of the rosehip stone and the juice is not the same product.

If you have money in Germany you can pay to have your carteledge removed and new carteledge grown in a lab and then replaced. The son of an electronics shop in town did his knees in, lifting and delivering washing machines etc. He was off work -or just sitting about for 6 months and now has two new knees. - but his own.

Overnight??? it is supposed to be used for 30 minutes 3 or 4 times day!

As said, trust my docs and physios.

Jura each country to its own. The CPM machine was used in the 60's and 70's and yes, they were used for many hours at a time. As others have said, research has moved on and they are rarely used in this country now.

Somehow I missed this thread! I'm so glad your op went well Jura, I'm having my second knee replaced at the end of May. NHS this time but the with same surgeon and much quicker than I'd anticipated. I could have had it done this month(!) but wanted to delay to avoid cancelling a holiday.

Last time I'd asked about the possibility of a machine to do the bending for me and was told not to be so lazy! I didn't know they actually existed! 130 degree bend is very good though, mine was 120 when I was discharged but is more now I think as I can now just about cycle.

Thanks NfkD - and courage for number 2.

As they had to take the drain early after the op as it was in nerve (ouch) - quite a bit of fluids in there and massive bruise behind knee. The only thing stopping me now, is that swelling and the stitches- coming off on Wednesday.

110 Degrees so far- it took me nearly 2 months with the other.

Machine must not be used passively- it is set at minus 10 for extension- and I have to work it with muscles to push knee down to regain extension- and at the top- it helps push the bend just beyond what you'd be able to achieve otherwise.

I suspect the reason why they are not used in UK is because it would significantly add to cost. Mine is partly covered by insurance- but I am very happy to pay the rest- and use it for 30 mins only, 3 or 4 times a day- as well as other exercises of course.