Total Knee Replacement

Oh you poor thing! Take heart - there will be people on this site who can tell you about all this from their experience. My neighbour had one and was surprised at how difficult things were to start with and she too felt quite low - but she is now delighted with the result and walks miles every day.

You just need to get over this initial recovery period, which I know can be painful and frustrating. But better times are round the corner. There are many people who have had two new knees; and they would not have gone back for more if it had not been worth it!

Take heart; enjoy your angel; and be assured that every day will bring little improvements.

I am having a new hip on Tuesday, so we will be able to commiserate with each other!

If you do a search on this site you will find lots of entries with experiences from people who have also had new knees - I am sure you will find that helpful.

Good luck.

Poor you, Pompa. I can't help you with knees but had a great success with my hip. It's early days yet, but things will improve. Take heart! Good luck to Mrs Pompa too.

Be patient Pompa. It just takes time.

I hope you feel better soon. It'll take time but I'm sure things will improve. Tell your wife you love her and thank her for your care. Have a cuddle. Sometimes having to lean on our partners make us realise how much we mean to each other.

Mishap, good luck with your hip. I had a hip replaced 8 years ago, brilliant, did take a few months to get totally discomfort free (note I say discomfort rather than pain). For the first couple of weeks the exercises need a bit of dedication, but the end result was perfect, rarely notice it now. Before I had my hip replaced I was in a lot of pain and could not walk without sticks. My knee was nowhere near as bad, but the Doc said it needed replacing and would not get any better, so I seem to have gone significantly backwards atm.

One of the most frustrating exercises is trying lift my leg off the bed, it might as well be glued to the bed. (sure I had the same problem with my hip, so be warned Mishap - it did come after a while)

I'm sure time will sort everything out, I will have a look back through the forum for experiences.

pompa I had both my knees done 8 years ago. The best thing I've ever done. I gather that a hip is easier to get over than a hip, but honestly you'll be back to normal very soon. I didn't think I'd ever be able to do the exercises, but keep at it and everything will begin to work again. Good luck!

Pompa you are so fortunate with a wife to help you. I had a knee replacement almost 2 years ago and had to manage on my own. The easiest way to get your "dead" leg out of bed is to buy a crepe bandage, tie a knot at one end, put that around your foot to help lift the leg in and out of bed.

You must do the exercises or you will find that the operated knee will continue to give way. I still do quads exercises to make sure that the muscles stay strong.

I found my knee to be extremely painful for around 5 weeks and then all of a sudden the pain became manageable. I was driving around 6 weeks post op but I was still using crutches then but everybody is different.

Good luck

Your poor thing- and brave. I am due for one soon, and to be honest- I am absolutely terrified. Thinking of you- it will take a lot of hard work, but you'll get better soon. Take care.

Pompa I'm sure your wife is just glad to get you home safe and sound and is happy to help you recover. My husband took a week off work to help me when I had my hip replaced and was a godsend I know I would of struggled but he fed me, nagged me to exercise, helped me get my knickers on haha and gave me a hug when I wept with frustration so lean on her she won't mind.
Exercise is the key to your recovery and you will improve day by day, I used a plastic carrier bag under my leg to slide it up and down or to the edge of the bed it really helped me.

pompa. I had a total knee replacement at the end of April, and it has been so successful! Just keep up with the exercises, be determined and I am sure you will be OK. And don't try to be brave and stint on the medication either.

One more thing - my hospital gave a me a superb ice pack, with Velcro straps so it didn't slip off. i can't recommend it too highly for easing pain and swelling. These packs are available on Amazon if you don't have a generous hospital!

Good luck.

Thanks for all the helpful and encouraging posts. Really appreciated.
The hospital did give me a velcro ice pack, will be using it shortly.

One very positive thing was the anaesthetic. I have had a lot of major surgery and always under general aesthetic, this time it was a spinal block so stayed fully awake all through, brilliant, no after effects, was eating roast beef with all the trimmings just 2 hours after the op. Having the initial injection was a little uncomfortable, but once the block had kicked in, nothing. In fact it was a bit surreal seeing a foot being held up and painted with iodine when my foot was still n the bed - whose foot was it ???

The taught me how to support the weak leg with my good leg to get in/out of bed, that seems to be working ok atm (and I usually have my good leg handy !)

I'm sure that once the bruising and tenderness caused by the bashing the knee has taken has eased the exercises etc will get easier and more effective.

I don't know how a surgeon could work with all the noise from the builders that were sawing and hammering in the theatre, who else could have been making all that racket.

Good to hear you sounding more positive today pompa. Keep up the good work!

Keep your chin up

It's early days yet, pompa. Time, and plenty of physiotherapy, will hopefully work wonders. I had full knee replacement in 2008 and it was hugely successful. I've still got evidence of damaged veins, but it doesn't cause me any trouble.
Wishing you the very best of luck for a complete recovery and then years of pain free knees!

Managed a SS&S this morning, walked about 150 yds, knackered. Deserves tea & cake this afternoon .

My hospital had free internet access, that was great, probably spoke to my wife more that had I been at home, she was happy to come in each day, but it is a long trip and she does not drive, managed to pursued her that Skype would be fine on one day when the weather was awful. Also spoke the children and G'chhildren. My Grandson is going to teach me to play football when I get better.

I had a spinal block for my 2nd knee pompa wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped as it turned out that the morphine they gave me afterwards made me just as sick as a general anaesthetic would have done. Quite a surreal experience though. Our hospital had those builders in too - seemed to be right in the theatre

This is not criticism but I read this last night and was shocked, i had a total knee replacement 2 years ago, was in Hospital for a week then in convalescent Hospital for 6 weeks, I didn't get home until i could bend my knee to 90°, walk up and down stairs, shower by myself, and walk a minimum of 500mts with one crutch.
I had 2 hours of physiotherapy every day, plus occupational therapy, had to be able to dress myself including socks and shoes.
Then physio 3 times a week when i got home.

I would have hated to have been sent home so early, even with assistance at home, can I ask how much physio you are having?
I am in Belguim by the way.

I was taught physio before discharge and that was that! I could bend my knee to 90 degrees + the day after surgery so I did not have a problem there. My problem was coping at home on my own and the pain.

Crikey felice I wouldn't of wanted to be away from home for 7wks , it certainly doesn't work like that in the UK unless you pay privately.. I was home in 4days after my hip op and the only physio I got was what I did myself with the help of sheeted excercises.
Before dishcharge you have to be able to manage a flight of stairs and are given a toilet raiser, sock puter oner and a grabber stick thats it.

Was your treatment in a private hospital?

Meant to add I did fine and was back at work in 6wks and driving.

No, state Hospital, my other knee is pretty knackered so i know i took a bit longer but the shortest stay i know off here is 4 weeks.
A friend had a hip op recently he was out in 8 days, and back referreeing football matches in a month.
Each person is asessed seperately, and the home physio i had chosen in advance had been to my apartment and told the doctor what he thought i would need to be able to do.
The convalescent hospital was really nice, in the country, nice rooms with TV,WIFI, ensuite etc. you could either eat in the dining room on your floor or if you had friends visiting eat in the restaurant/cafe with them, they paid for theirs but yours was free. The cafe closed at 10pm and a few of us would go down in the evenings, have a beer or a glass of wine and play dominos. You could have a glass of beer or wine with your meals depending on you health issues. The food is different in belgian hospitals, everyone has the same food, no menu as such, but the quality is really good, steak on saturday, cooked as you like it.
I have been in 5 different hospitals here so it is a National system.
less cost but better quality, and no waste, if you have allergies or religious needs they are catered for of course.The lunchtime main meal in the cafe was the same as the patients.

The small town the convalescent hospital is in had all the pavements lowered ramps to cafes and shops and the little supermarket near the hospital had extra wide aisles so patients could shop, the hospital also dealt with stroke and brain injury. So occupational therapy was important, and as i am sure it was a large employer for the area there was alot of help around.
This is also a State hospital.

Good heavens felice - that really is 5 * treatment. Over here, your bum does not touch the bed before they are sending you home!!