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

sealover and bea I’m here as well, sending hugs to you both. I agree with charleygirl, keep moving your feet when you are sitting. Can you go onto your toes, then your heels in a sort of rocking movement? I agree that everything is worse when you’re on your own and in the middle of the night. I tend to sleep in two hour stretches, but am usually able to go off again fairly quickly. If I can’t then I get up, have a warm drink & a biscuit which usually works. Probably not too good for my waistline though.

I am new to all this and now have osteoarthritis in hip and both knees but hip is worse. Am seeing hip surgeon on Friday and have one friend telling me that it can all go wrong, but am working on the assumption that it goes well for most people. Any reassurance welcome ! I have read parts of this thread but as it is long, have not read it all. It is good to see so many people cheering us all on our way

Hello and welcome Applegran. You are right to work on the assumption it will go well, because it will. Sometimes it takes a few weeks to begin to feel better, but we do, and for the most part none have regrets.
Have a Quick Look through the thread and you will see , but if you have particular questions or concerns just post it here.
I was 3 years post hip surgery yesterday, and began this thread because I was nervous about the operation. I need not have been.
There is a lot of experience on here, try not to worry. It’s one of the most successful operations to have.

silverlining48 yes Zopiclone are addictive, at the mo I don't care, I break them in half and will gradually wean myself off them (down to a mere lick!). I need to be rested and have some escape from the world for a while each night. It's time they found something that isn't addictive, insomnia is very common.

Good idea to cut them in half. I bought a tablet splitter for that very purpose.

Silverlining thank you for your friendly and supportive message! It does help.

applegran hello! I think most of us have a friend who tells us of all the things that can go wrong! I know I have! Try not to take too much notice, it will be fine. I had one hip replaced in December 2023, and the other one done in November 2024. I’m more or less back to normal now, but not allowed to dig the garden for a few more months. I have back problems so need to walk with some sort of walking aid, but if it was just the hips I would be charging around like my two year old granddaughter!

Thank you Redcar! I look forward to skipping round like a spring lamb - or your granddaughter!

It will happen Applegran you will be a 👯‍♀️ quicker than you think.

Welcome aboard Applegran, as said, we are here to answer any questions you may have.

If you are asked if you want to join the (long) waiting list for surgery, if it is feasible, say you are also available if there are any cancellations.

Once on the list, we can give you hints and tips to prepare for surgery.

Hi Applegran, good to meet you. Welcome to the thread. Like Redcar, I had my new hip last November and feel I’ve made new friends on here since then. We’re here to put in our two pen’orth whenever you need us.

Redcar so glad to hear you’re practically back to normal, I’m walking pretty well, too, but after sitting for any length of time, my operated leg is very stiff, I hobble badly for a few steps and then I’m OK again. Does this happen with you?

grammargran yes, my leg gets very stiff if I sit for too long, and also during the night. It takes me a few steps to get going properly. It will probably get better in time 🤞.

After a weekend with all the family at Center Parcs I feel more positive about everything, I hope it is a permanent feeling!

Thanks Redcar, so reassuring. And that’s why I love this thread!

I suppose time is the only thing that will resolve the stiffness you hipsters appear to suffer from.

You are all doing so well.

I’m comforted that the hipsters have a bit of stiffness. I’m a “kneely” and find it’s a bit achy on occasion, particularly when I climb stairs. I am absolutely not complaining after the previous pain but I would like reassurance. I am seeing musculoskeletal GP next week. I’m hoping he will talk to me - unlike the consultant ! 😡

I have had both knees replaced, and I was in so much pain for around 6 weeks post-op, I did not notice any aches after that. I have the odd ache now, but both are "old" 2012 and 2018.

Some people can kneel a few months after surgery but not me.

Write down your questions and then I think you will feel more reassured having covered what you wanted.

I think I was very fortunate nannyt as my consultant was very chatty and happy to answer questions. Totally agree with Charley, make a note of what you want to know, it’s so easy to be distracted in the appointment. Also I always tell whoever I’m meeting I have come with a list, does no harm to warn them, so far no one has objected.

Kneeling down is interesting. It was one of my pre op questions. The answer I was given was there is no medical reason not to it’s more about general strength and flexibility to be able to get up again also that kneeling on a scar can be painful. I do kneel down, it’s fine although if it will be for long (I’m the skirting painter here) I kneel on a pad because yes, I find the scar area gets sore after a while. In the garden I use a padded kneeler and have no problem at all.

The new knee will soon be be four, I’m very pleased to have it. . Now and again I notice an ache if I’ve been generally overdoing things otherwise I forget it’s not been with me always. I hope you can get the reassurance you seek from the GP. It’s very frustrating to be with a non communicating medical professional.

Thank you Cornergran. My knee is 16 weeks old. It’s stairs that are the most noticeable thing to make it ache.

I still cannot go up and downstairs properly. Admittedly I have a stairlift at home but when I go to eg get my hearing tested I am faced with stairs . There is a good grab rail so I just go up one at a time, inelegant but safe. I sometimes come down sideways depending on the stairs and rails.

I am beyond caring what I look like, safety for me is the key.

Since the last TKR in 2018 I have fallen x3 indoors and it is a nightmare to get up.

😊finally can post some improvement…the morphine sulphate has helped last 2 nights - got 4 hour block of sleep..yay..but still needing to ‘pee’ 3 times a night..
Also the diclofenac gel is easing the swollen kneecap🙏

District nurse just came and said if the stitch end of wound site is not falling out by her next visit, in weeks time, I would have to go to hospital…I looked confused and she said she wouldn’t be able to remove..why was I told firstly had clips then changed to dissolving stitches and now have a white whisker.. how will hospital remove it …anxious again!

Charleygirl5

I still cannot go up and downstairs properly. Admittedly I have a stairlift at home but when I go to eg get my hearing tested I am faced with stairs . There is a good grab rail so I just go up one at a time, inelegant but safe. I sometimes come down sideways depending on the stairs and rails.

I am beyond caring what I look like, safety for me is the key.

Since the last TKR in 2018 I have fallen x3 indoors and it is a nightmare to get up.

Yes your safety is paramount 💐 am waddling and also looking inelegant but don’t care..just need to keep moving😊

Bea It will be uncomfortable for you to go to the hospital as a day case because they will do some ferreting around to retrieve it. They may have to make a tiny nick to find and remove it, almost painlessly.

You have fixed everything yourself except for doing the surgery. It has been disgraceful because of the amount of stress you have endured unnecessarily.

Oh Bea, why is nothing straightforward for you? Why are you so unlucky? Clips, dissolving stitches and white whiskers! Don’t worry how the hospital will remove it, that’s their worry not yours and I’m sure they’ve seen it before. What’s making me cross is that you have to wait a week to see if it will come out naturally. A week is a long time when you’re fretting by yourself.

Am 5 weeks post op and I've developed an infection in my wound so on antibiotics for that.
Wanted to ask if anyone had a pressure sore from sleeping on their back for 6weeks. I have one on my bottom , luckily the skin hasn't broken but it's very painful and I've been prescribed a barrier cream to use each night.
Fingers crossed at the end of next week being able sleep on unoperated side it will start to improve.

travelsofar that is horrendous, as if you did not have enough to think about.

I know it is still pressure, but you do not want the skin to break. All I can suggest is sleeping in an armchair, and maybe with the strategic use of a towel or a warm hot water bottle, you could slightly change your position.

Maybe in bed sleep with more pillows again to slightly change your position.

I think you need to contact the hospital about this problem.

Sorry, I have been of little use.