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

It was almost a year ago that my knee really started to deteriorate. I’d gone on the great greyhound walk in September and saw a video of myself walking and was horrified at how strangely I was walking. Since then I’ve been to see an osteopath twice, my GP and a physio twice. I’ve said to all of them how come I can walk around the house reasonably well but as soon as I step foot outside I really struggle to walk normally. None of them came up with an explanation until I saw the physio for the second time and she pointed out that my bad leg was bent. Now, I know I should have realised that but I don’t actually see myself walking ( other than on that video but that was me at a distance, not close up). And that’s obviously why any sort of knee support just causes me more pain because it’s actually straightening my knee. I wish now I’d taken up my GP’s offer of a steroid injection because, although it probably wouldn’t’ve helped it might just have made it easier for me todo more walking when Istay at my partners next month. I know it sounds really stupid of me, but Ijust didn’t realise that my leg was at an angle ( I do have one leg slightly longer than the other which I thought was exacerbating the problem). I think if I’d realised I would have sought help sooner.

I have had a call today from the hospital and my knee will be done on the 20th. Two weeks away. I wasn’t expecting it to be so soon. Cripes. Any advice? Where do I buy the grabby things mentioned before and raised toilet seat please?

How long has the whole process taken? I’m hoping to have a hospital consultation in October.

Went to see dr and she referred me to consultant and sent me for an xray. Appointment with consultant came through within days at private hospital but on nhs. X ray showed quite bad degeneration and when I saw consultant the following week he offered partial replacement but said waiting list was 6-9 months. The following week I had a call offering surgery today but I wasn’t prepared for it to be so soon so deferred and then had another call today offering the 20th and I accepted. I’m amazed at the speed of it all. I know 2 people who’ve had hip/knee done privately on NHS.

My x ray showed mild to moderate arthritis but I’m really struggling to walk. Contact from the hospital has been very erratic. Letters that I should have had never got here.

surfsup you should not have to buy the raised loo seat unless you have more than one loo, because only one will be supplied by the NHS.

It may be easiest to buy the picker upper from Amazon. As you said you do not have much time.

Who is going to clean your house afterwards? Have you organised a few microwave dishes for the first few days when I doubt you will feel like cooking much.

How is food going to be delivered?

Do you have a garden and if so who cuts the grass?

These are random thoughts flitting through my head.

A lot depends on whether you live alone or have help.

Come back if you think of anything else. My mind has gone blank.

Without being much help I’ll be following your progress with interest surfsup. I’m a bit overwhelmed when it comes to working out how to prepare for a knee op. Are you having a partial?

Wear dresses or skirts and nighties rather than trousers, pjs, easier to dress, also access the knee. I bang on about long handled shoe horns but am still using mine 3 years post op, purely for ease. Sensible slippers with backs, not slip ons.
Still use picker upper fur litter but also useful for picking up the apples which fall continuously from our 3 trees.
If you have stairs use an across body bag to take things up and down safely.
I am on my way out but suggest you wander through the many posts if you have inclination as there’s lots to find on there. Otherwise specifically questions will be answered by those who know.
Have a good day all x

Remove rugs which are trip hazards. Move items within easy reach so you do not have to stand on even one step of a mini ladder to reach it.

You may need an extra couple of pillows in bed for comfort. As silverlining said, ask specific questions.

Hi everyone,

I am due a LTHR shortly. I have some big concerns.

* Unlike many people I do not have severe pain in my hip even though X-ray showed bone on bone. Surgeon I saw asked if I took alot of pain killers and was surprised when I said I seldom did, its stiffness, aching and lack of mobility causing problems of many years standing. My left leg has noticeably (to me) shortened.

* My younger daughter has been diagnosed with quite severe Ehlers Danlos syndrome with reverse cervical lordosis in her neck causing numbness in her limbs, following an MRI scan we paid for as we thought she had MS and the waiting time was several months. Her shoulder joint and ribs often partially displace themselves and she has to pop them back. I have some aspects of it myself I suspect, as I have very lax ligaments and tendons and can still put my palms flat on the floor without bending my knees at 70 this month. My son has some aspects too but not eldest daughter. This makes hip dislocation far more likely.

* Reading today in the Telegraph about cobalt hardware causing acute poisoning in some people who have this implant. Many recalls are likely. I’m allergic to nickel.

* I suspect I will not be able to get upstairs as they are very steep but there is no room downstairs for an extra bed. How on earth do other people manage. DH’s response to everything is “it will be fine”.

Any suggestions from anyone will be most welcome.

If it is a straight staircase, have you thought of fitting a stairlift? I did after the # dislocation of an ankle in 2009, when I was non-weight bearing, and it was a boon when I had my knees replaced years later. They used to cost £2K but get professional advice from a physio or OT before you spend any money.

Oh yes pillows will help stabilise you as you will need to steep on your back for a few weeks, one behind your back to stop you rolling over helps. Something to help lift the leg onto the bed is useful, a dressing gown cord or a long piece of material. A stool by the bed if it’s high.
The 6 weeks of self injections are a necessary bind too.
Different surgeons each have their own ‘rules’ strangely.
I was allowed to not use the stockings, a relief. While others insist they are worn.
It’s all coming back to me but those with more recent knees and hips will remember more easily.

Being Scottish I do not believe in spending money when there is usually a cheap option. Please just ask.

Thank you all. I’ll come back tomorrow as not well today - migraine.

surfsup

Thank you all. I’ll come back tomorrow as not well today - migraine.

I bought grabbers/ picker ups from B&M 3.99 each and I now have 5 of them …so useful..
You should receive medequip aids on discharge of hospital..raised toilet seat which I call my throne…perch seat for kitchen, trolley if needed and I’ve 2 chair commodes… I live alone and also had a hospital bed in my lounge for couple of weeks….I initially hated when all these aids came into my small home and joked about it being a nursing home for 1 🙃
But little did I realise how much support and assistance I needed… to date, the only aid I’ve had collected is the bed…
Hope your migraine resolves quickly..pre op stress made me severely anxious …

glammagran my right THR is a titanium rod with ceramic head …you can query with your consultant what metals he/she uses..

Surfsup, check what you will be given post op to help you. It seems to vary between hospitals. I was given a raised toilet seat and two sticks, the rest I bought for myself. It’s all in the loft just in case it’s needed again. The sticks were returned but understandably. they didn’t want the toilet seat.

Thank you all for your advice and tips.

I had a shingle jab in Thursday and my arm is still sore and I’ve not felt well since.

When the secretary rang on Friday to offer me the date she said she will posting me all the details. I just wondered if, with it being performed in a private hospital, whether they will provide the aids same as the NHS. I’ll see what’s in the info when it arrives. It’s 2 weeks today so I have plenty of time to get ready.

I had my nhs op in a private hospital and all I was given were two sticks and toilet seat.

Suggest you ring the dept at the hospital and ask. It is unlikely to be in the letter you are being sent.

glammagran I have had both hips replaced in the last 2 years. After each operation I stayed with one of my daughters, who had a bedroom and en-suite shower room in the loft. Her stairs are steep but I managed them quite well, to begin with I came down in the morning then went up in the evening. After about 3 weeks I increased the number of times I went up and down them. My granddaughters carried my bag/phone/books up and down stairs for me.

Different hospitals provide different equipment post operation, I was provided with a raised toilet seat and a pair of crutches. I had to buy anything else I needed, fortunately most of the equipment is quite cheap to buy from Amazon.
Tell the hospital about your allergy to nickel.

I hope all goes well for you.

Yes I will ring and ask what I need to provide myself. After watching a few videos online it seems these ice cuffs for the knee are very good but they’re quite expensive. Has anyone had experience using one?

My neighbour had one, I think it helped her but a pkt of peas or one of those things which you can warm up or freeze woukd work just as well.
If they are expensive it’s unlikely you will get given one by the hospital but doesn’t hurt to ask,

I’m having a little celebration as my surgeon has assured me that I won’t have to wear the dreaded DVT socks. Have also got myself a folding litter picker and a friend is making a cross body bag for it so I can keep it with me.

Must get back to work though as friends are coming to look after me for the first few days and I feel that I must have the kitchen cupboards and spare bedroom in good order.

You end up with a very damp leg when using peas. Also when you refreeze them they all stick together so I drop mine on the floor a few times to loosen them up. When I do get a TKR I’m definitely going to get an ice cuff; in fact I keep meaning to get one now. The thing that was putting me off was that I’ve changed my freezer and the new one is much smaller and they seem pretty big; not sure if I’ve got enough room. I do have a gel wrap that can be frozen or heated up but it doesn’t cover much of an area and, being flat I have to mould it to the shape of my knee. I wouldn’t want to do that over stitches.