👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ Hips and knees part 6 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

bea I hope the consultant can come up with an answer to your nighttime knee pain. You must be so tired, waking up after four hours sleep!

Keep us in the loop, Bea. Best of luck!

Yesterday my left knee started to ache. The left knee is all that is left to replace so hope it to do with left hip healing!

I'm now a week on from my THR, I couldn't have believed in my wildest dreams that I would feel as good as this. I am doing the exercises, fairly easily,apart from the knee raise! I am walking about, clocked up just under 4000 steps yesterday. Had a road trip on Saturday to a favourite garden and cafe. Trips are time limited owing to needing a raised toilet seat. How long is this necessary for? I have the clips removed this coming Friday. See the consultant on 13th June, then in another 4 months. Any post pain, very well sorted with meds, is nothing compared with the pre op misery. I keep reading about needing a joint replacement card? Do any GNs know of this?

Congratulations Sealover, you really are doing well, but don’t go mad, pace yourself. I’m six months in & have done just that (gone mad) by doing a keep fit class & 2km walk on the same day.It’s taken me over a week to let go of my stick again for short intervals - I’ve learnt my lesson! I’ve never heard of a joint replacement card, what does it do?

The card would inform people you have had surgery if eg you collapsed unconscious in the street. I have never seen or heard of one.

I’ve never heard of a joint replacement card either, and certainly haven’t been given one.
sealover I was advised to use a raised toilet seat for at least 6 weeks, but it really depends on how tall you are and how long your legs are!

Surgery on Friday and today people who have had the op told me to get icepacks in advance. Any advice welcome! If a good idea can you suggest good ones to order.

Hi Applegran. I didn’t need ice at all, but you can get a pack of ice cubes from the supermarket and if you don’t need it, up use it for summer drinks. 🍷 or wait and see.
Hope all gies well on Friday, don’t forget it’s a bank holiday weekend so make sure you have phone numbers etc before you get dis charged.
I say that because I was discharged on a Good Friday, the hospital closed for Easter, ( don’t ask!) and Monday was a holiday too, and i did need to speak to someone. It was awkward. Remember to take care with co codomol as it can cause constipation.
Any probs we are always on duty over weekends so you won’t be alone.
Good luck.

Thank you silverlining

My pleasure Applegran. This time next week it will be done, you will probably be back at home recovering, without the pain in your hip.

I have been diagnosed with arthritis in both hips. The left one is worse and I am now having pain in my knee when I'm in bed. It's not sore during the day. Only when I lie down. Left hip is painful off and on during the day. Why is my knee so painful at night?

Applegran please do not spend/waste your money buying ice cubes. The cheapest bag of peas (other vegetables are available!) is better and malleable. Do not forget to cover the bag with an old towel or something.

Good luck

AGAA I would imagine that, as it is on the same side as your most painful joint, it is taking more strain. Unfortunately, nighttime is the worst for pain and niggles, and it is a case of drugs and finding the best position for the knee.

Are you on a list for a joint replacement?

Thank you Charley girl. The doctor I saw last year was reluctant to put me on the list and suggested physiotherapy and painkillers. I do exercises daily but I do think it's deteriorating.

Applegran

Surgery on Friday and today people who have had the op told me to get icepacks in advance. Any advice welcome! If a good idea can you suggest good ones to order.

The hospital provided one; it was a strap-on contraption which you could put in the freezer. I was reluctant to take NHS equipment home but the nurse said that once it had been opened and used by a patient, it would be thrown away anyway.

AGAA4

I have been diagnosed with arthritis in both hips. The left one is worse and I am now having pain in my knee when I'm in bed. It's not sore during the day. Only when I lie down. Left hip is painful off and on during the day. Why is my knee so painful at night?

Before my op I had horrible pains in my knee and down my shin for months. I used to wear a knee support which helped a bit. The shin pain was inexplicable, really.

However, the knee pain disappeared as soon as I had my THR (same leg) and the shin pain, which was intermittent and worst at night, went after a very few weeks. IIRC I was free of pain related to the hip by the end of 3 months. (Now, 10 months on, I've almost forgotten I have an artificial joint 😆)

Are you anywhere near to having a THR, or just in the initial stages of being put on the list?

AGAA4 I have arthritis in both hips and both my knees. My left side is much worse than the right and I get quite acute shin pain. I’ve taken Charleygirls advice and am using a double layer of tubigrip from toes to just below the knee. This has reduced the shin pain quite considerably. Might be worth trying.

Whereabouts on the journey to surgery are you? I’m booked to see a consultant in July so am right at the start.

I am right at the start. Just having exercises and painkillers but think I need to go on the list as it's getting worse.
Thanks MaizieD. Gives me hope for better days ahead.

AGAA4 just pullout all the stops and get on the list, you won’t regret it!

grammargran

AGAA4 just pullout all the stops and get on the list, you won’t regret it!

Thank you. I will be more insistent. I think they are putting me off.

AGAA you need to get on a list as soon as possible but some can be horrendously long. If you can, mention you would be happy to take a cancellation and be admitted at short notice.

If you have a miraculous recovery before, which I doubt, it is easier to cancel.

I will try to get an appointment with the doctor and ask him to refer me.

AGAA You may end up being referred to a physio because in some parts of the country, they do the referrals for surgery, which I do not agree with because some are not long qualified and have limited knowledge.

I was referred to a physio last year
She rang me and I told her I was doing exercises from the NHS website. She just said to carry on and they would keep me on their files for six months.
That time has well passed and I have been getting worse so I think seeing the doctor is the next step. Thanks for your help Charleygirl.