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

grammargran Since I discovered how to get GN to inform me of this thread, it has never let me down, so I do not understand the inconsistency.

Neither do I, *Charleygirl". (Big sigh .....)

Someone I know is having a hip replacement soon. But they are grossly overweight. I know that we all struggle with our weight because of our reduced mobility but he is overweight because they go out for huge meals several times a week. Do they not make a point of getting patients to get down to a better weight prior to the operation if possible? I need to phone around to find out about the result of my knee x ray as I’m not sure if I have to speak to my GP or the hospital. I was so stressed when I had it done that I forgot to ask. I’m currently trying to declutter ( my partner has taken the dog on holiday so I have the house to myself). I’m worrying about the fact that my toilet is very close to the washbasin in the bathroom. I assume that, if I put a raised toilet seat on the toilet I will need to keep my knee straight for a while and that won’t be possible.

maybee I think in some areas patients are encouraged to lose weight prior to joint replacement surgery. A friend living in Kent had to lose weight before she could have a hip replacement.

I phoned the hospital today as I was expecting to hear from them after my knee x Rays. But it seems I have to make an appointment with my GP. What will my GP know about knees?? Surely it’s a consultant I need to speak to who will explain to me just how bad my knees are?

MayBe70, the report sent to the doctor will explain to him what has been picked up on the X-ray and he will pass this information on to you. Alternatively, if you have the NHS app installed and look up Test Results in your Health Record, it should be on that for you to read for yourself.

Please try to find out which grade it is, because you do not want bone-on-bone, which is what grade 4 is.

I was told your BMI had to be under 35 because of the surgery table size and which robotics are used…. Fortunately I was @32 then I did lose a couple of lbs but also as I’ve lost some height due to spinal issues, my BMI is recorded as high😔

Physiotherapist recommended I get post op bloods checked a few weeks ago as having new groin pain…am still having pain and still waiting on GP surgery to respond to this request so have resubmitted another one ..you have to keep pestering them don’t you🙅🏻‍♀️

I’m awaiting a call from my doctor ( whoever that is these days) and I have said I want a face to face consultation because I want to discuss all of my options given that I’m struggling to leave the house these days. I’m probably jumping to conclusions that it’s going to be an uphill battle to get help, but the surgery has changed beyond all recognition since the pandemic.

I could not agree more. My surgery says they are overworked but there is rarely anybody around except the receptionist. My GP wanted a telephone appointment so we could discuss my rash over the phone. She was working from home which did not help.

I think you are entitled to a face-to-face, so good luck.

Our surgery has changed 100% since Covid and not for the better. I don’t understand why it’s so hard to get an appointment now when it was straightforward before lockdown. Maybee I hope you get an appointment to discuss options soon. Then when you know more phone the secretary to check if there have been any cancellations to bring your operation a bit closer.

I’m not in any rush to get it operated on as I want to do as many pre op exercises as possible and get my house adapted. I just want to know exactly what’s happening inside my knee. I can ignore pain if I know that it’s safe to do so but I feel as if my knee is going to snap sometimes. It’s the suddenness and unpredictability of it that I struggle with. And the fact that lack of exercise must be damaging my overall health. I’m prepared to do everything to avoid a TKR if that’s at all possible but I need some expert guidance. I always thought my osteopath could help as he has in the past so it was a terrible disappointment when he couldn’t help me this time. My surgery is so impersonal compared to how it used to be.

You know how you feel but if you are not going out due to pain, things won’t get any better so leave it too long.

Our surgery used to be brilliant and I couldn't fault it, but since a change of location and covid it's become unrecognisable. One telephone line is the only means of communication other than snail mail, than, when you do get through, triage by "trained health navigators" to put you on the right "pathways" to appropriate "medical practitioners" within the next six weeks .......

I can rarely get through on the phone, so when I had the car, I hopped in it. Now it would be a tenner each way by minicab. I am "doing a naughty" and waiting until my repeat prescription is in my grubby hands, and I will then change to one closer.

Mine is similar to grammargran as I had my ear examined and also a nasty rash at different times, over the phone. To add insult to injury by GP was working from home. I did not think it was allowed to transfer "notes" onto a computer outside the surgery.

Has anyone used an electronic infra red knee massager on their knees? My osteopath used something similar and I was thinking about getting one.

No MayBee I haven't. I would think a decent one would be expensive. Did you ask your physio for advice? Have you googled it?

They aren’t very expensive. Can’t really ask my osteopath because I’m not seeing him any more and he’d just want me to use the machine he’s got.Can’t see anything about them on the versus arthritis site. I do have an infra red sauna blanket which I love using but I’ve got too much clutter in my house to use it at the moment.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

I’ve waited in for days for a call from the surgery. Today I phoned them. They can give me an online appointment in 7 days or a surgery appointment a week on Friday. No only that but the receptionist called me ‘my love’ which I hate! When I worked for them I called patients by their surname ( even though I knew most of them by their first name anyway). If I hadn’t phoned them I would still be waiting in for a call from the GP. I’m so angry I’m shaking given that I’ve done everything possible to avoid having a TKR which would save them money. This isn’t the caring surgery I worked for years ago.

With you there, MayBee70, I hate being called that as well, it’s so patronising. Strangely, it doesn’t bother my DH at all when it happens to him!

I could not agree more. I am on Nextdoor, and it's worse there, as I'm called "dear". My reply is I am not your dear.

I’m taking my daughter with me for the appointment. And I’m going to make a concise list of what I want to know and what I expect to happen next. I want a physio referral for starters.

I am sure you will get a physio appt without too much of a problem.