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

Parksey Have you considered practical things like how your house will be cleaned if you do not have a cleaner?

How will you change the bedding?

Who will provide a hot meal? Have you started to stock up on dishes to pop in the microwave?

How are you going to wash your clothes?

Ditto if you do not have a dishwasher?

These are not queries to make you decide you are fine as you are!

parksey, I’m sure your operation will go well and you will be fine afterwards. As others have said, you will be sore afterwards,but you will be given strong painkillers to enable you to get up and start walking about. Most people can give them up after a surprisingly short time. Sleeping on your back can be a nuisance, but I got used to it and often sleep on my back now out of choice! Like grammargran I’m almost six months on from my (2nd) hip replacement, I had the first one in December 2023 and am enjoying walking pain free .

Parksey, just shut your eyes and go for it! What are you panicking about? The op itself or the aftermath? If it’s the op itself, just lie back and drop off, you won’t feel a thing. Afterwards, it is sore and awkward for a week or two - it’s major surgery after all - and trying to get to sleep on your back for six weeks is pretty annoying BUT it will and does pass. The joy of a hip that doesn’t make you wince with the smallest movement is joy untold. I’m nearly six months in with my new one and am so pleased it’s done and dusted. My advice pre-op would be to try to keep moving as much as possible and stay as fit as you can. Afterwards, do the exercises ……. Good luck and do stay in touch on here!

Welcome parksey. Congrats on having a date for your hip hop op. You must know that while you have coped for 10 years this isn’t going to get better, but worse. Just think you will be virtually pain free by the end of this month.
You will be fine. We have all been in your situation and are here to answer questions and give support so don’t hesitate.
When I was discharged the day after my new hip I got home and went straight up the stairs at some pace, to the bathroom ( they had stupidly given me something to ‘make me go’). I had t o move fast, and did.

Have you had a day totally pain free recently ?
That’s what you are aiming for ! The post op pain is managed by medication and only lasts a short time
I had a few days of pain , but I was still up and down stairs and walking within two days , this was about 7 years ago , I am so glad I had it done

Hi, I am having a total right hip replacement on the 22nd if may in the UK. I seem to have go e into total panic mode and am finding it difficult to think practically. What advice would people give pre op. I keep having moments where I think I won't have the surgery as I have managed for the last 10 years! People say you will be fine...but I certainly don't feel this way at the moment. Any advice or reassurance greatly received.

strongcoffee I have had both knees replaced at different times, and trying to sleep wasn't easy.

There is no set way to sleep, and thankfully, you do not have to sleep on your back for six weeks like a hip replacement. For me, lying on one side with a pillow between my legs and one behind me was the most comfortable. It is up to you which side to choose.

A no-no is lying on your back with a pillow lengthwise behind one or both legs because that can cause a deep vein thrombosis.

It is very early days, so please take the pain relief, rest and elevate.

Thanks silverlining. I’m glad you understood my post
I’m going back to hospital this afternoon to have my dressing changed so I’ll ask them

I understand

Welcome Strongcoffee, and congratulations on your new knee.

I had a new hip and had to lay on my back for 6 weeks. Not sure about knees but Woukd imagine its the same but someone will come along shortly to put you right. That’s the joy of our thread so much kindness and knowledge out there.
I woukd suggest you put cushions, pillows etc round you to stop you turning over in your sleep and what I did was get some sleeping pills. Pfenerghan, 10 or 20 mg. I used the 10 mg and gp prescribed but you can buy over the counter. They are not addictive and do work for me.

Or you might ring the hospital ward to check.

Ps re reading this it could be misunderstood- I mean to sleep, not anything else

Hi all I had a total knee replacement op at the weekend and I’m now at home but I struggle to find a comfortable position in bed I was awake last night on and off as I couldn’t settle and was worrying I’d do my knee damage. Can anyone advise me - do I lie on my back? can I lie on my side or what? Ps I've looked in my booklet the hospital gave me and I can’t see anything on sleeping positions. Thanks

I think I overdid things today with my walking due to the gorgeous weather. Just wanted to keep walking and be outside.
Now I'm paying for it as my leg is very painful this evening and I have resorted to painkillers that i had stopped completely 2 weeks ago.
Planning on have a rest day tomorrow as I want too walk to one of my social groups Friday morning but may get the bus home..

I had intended to have a lazy day, but have been busy carrying out lots of little tasks, but still haven’t washed my summer anorak- maybe tomorrow!
I did find time to sit in the garden with an ice cream, but got very hot so have come indoors.
Having sorted out my hips, I now have arthritis in my right ankle! I’m doing exercises for it which seem to help. I don’t fancy more surgery!

All I can say is I’m lounging in the garden, feet up, the only sound is the (very loud) twittering of the birds, hardly a leaf is moving under a deep blue cloudless sky. I’m sure I should be walking but heigh ho, perhaps not yet. Hope you’re all being as lazy as me, please ………

I am bumping this up in case somebody is looking for us.

I hope this gorgeous sunshine is everywhere in the country.

My house and garden are in a decent state, which is a rarity.

A Baker's cyst is usually removed, but that should be minor.

Most people can live happily without surgery, but if you were one of the unlucky ones, you would not be happy.

Thank you silverlining. It's a relief to finally know what's amiss and that it's not connected to my knee replacement. I was worried that I'd need further surgery, but I can look to the future hopefully pain free. This lovely warm weather certainly helps, as the cold makes my knee feel tight.

I'm not sure if this is housemaids knee grammargran, although I have heard of it.

Scotty16 would that be the same as housemaid’s knee brought up-to-date?

Just had a quick consult with dr google. Have a look yourself, you will be fine in a few weeks according to what I saw

A friend had a bakers cyst some years ago. I had never heard if them til then.
It was quite painful but it’s been fine for some time. Have you googled ? I don’t think it’s anything frightening.
At least it’s nothing to do with your knee operation.

I posted a few weeks ago about pains in my knee, 4 years after a total knee replacement. I saw the physio today and he told me I have a Bakers cyst. He has given me some exercises to help. I was wondering if anyone else has had this, and has it improved with time? Many thanks.

I haven’t done any washing today, but will wash my anorak tomorrow morning, it’s a lightweight one so should dry quickly. I’ll find more things to wash later in the week!

Warm days are forecast til the weekend Charley. . Plenty of time to do the rest of your washing. I have done one lot but am wandering round looking for more. I just can’t let a sunny day go without putting a wash load on. I thought about jackets, but might not be dry by this evening as it’s already 3 pm.
There’s always tomorrow…..

In my part of London, it feels warmer outside than in!

I have washed everything in sight today. I had to go out earlier, so I have not managed cardigans and jumpers, but with luck, there will be more warm, pleasant days.