Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Hello, everyone.LOL, I have another question.Do any of you know if smoking affects one's recovery from TLKR? I quit before the surgery and have been using Nicorete gum.I've heard that smoking makes healing much more difficult. But now, I'm wondering what it is in the smoking that is the problem? Is it all the strange chemicals that are the culprit or is it the nicoteine? If it is the nicoteine, then I'm in a world of hurt with using the nicoteine replacement gum.Yea, I worry about this. Can anyone help me out here? Opinions will be welcomed.Thanks,Sabra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 HI Sabra, Congrats on quitting! I am an ex- smoker so I know how difficult it is....This would be a good question to ask your doctor, but here's my opinion . Smoking constricts your blood vessels> making less blood flow thru>blood contains healing nutrients that travel where they need to go (mostly red blood cells that carry oxygen)> a wound has to have oxygen to live, and heal. So less oxygen means slower healing. JMO. Marguerite On Jan 7, 2008 5:29 PM, mewindsong <mewindsong@...> wrote: Hello, everyone. LOL, I have another question. Do any of you know if smoking affects one's recovery from TLKR? I quit before the surgery and have been using Nicorete gum. I've heard that smoking makes healing much more difficult. But now, I'm wondering what it is in the smoking that is the problem? Is it all the strange chemicals that are the culprit or is it the nicoteine? If it is the nicoteine, then I'm in a world of hurt with using the nicoteine replacement gum. Yea, I worry about this. Can anyone help me out here? Opinions will be welcomed. Thanks,Sabra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 The nicotine is one culprit. So if you have replaced cigs with the gum you are just prolonging your addiction to nicotine. Try alternating nicotine gum with regular sugarless gum during the day. I quit smoking two weeks before surgery but haven't stuck to it. Recovery was way too boring so I found myself smoking but have cut way down and will keep trying. Don't give up and don't worry overly much that your healing is being impeded. I don't think mine was. Deb > > > Hello, everyone. > > LOL, I have another question. > > Do any of you know if smoking affects one's recovery from TLKR? I quit > before the surgery and have been using Nicorete gum. > > I've heard that smoking makes healing much more difficult. But now, I'm > wondering what it is in the smoking that is the problem? Is it all the > strange chemicals that are the culprit or is it the nicoteine? If it is > the nicoteine, then I'm in a world of hurt with using the nicoteine > replacement gum. > > Yea, I worry about this. Can anyone help me out here? Opinions will be > welcomed. > > Thanks, > Sabra > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I am an expert at quitting smoking, I have quit lots of times. LOL I am now four years without cigs this time and I feel it will be forever with no more of those stinking things. What helped me the most was the lozenges. I was totally off cigs within a week and no more lozenges too. My lungs are now in great shape, my clothes no longer stink, my house no longer stinks, I have no more cig burns in my clothes from falling embers and man alive I found other things more important to spend my limited money on that coffin nails. PS and I have wonderful blood pressure."It came to me that every time I lose a pet they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new pet who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be an animal, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." --- cocoisland58@... wrote:From: "Deb" <cocoisland58@...>Joint Replacement Subject: Re: Smoking/Nicorete GumDate: Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:30:33 -0000The nicotine is one culprit. So if you have replaced cigs with the gum you are just prolonging your addiction to nicotine. Try alternating nicotine gum with regular sugarless gum during the day. I quit smoking two weeks before surgery but haven't stuck to it. Recovery was way too boring so I found myself smoking but have cut way down and will keep trying. Don't give up and don't worry overly much that your healing is being impeded. I don't think mine was.Deb >> > Hello, everyone.> > LOL, I have another question.> > Do any of you know if smoking affects one's recovery from TLKR? I quit> before the surgery and have been using Nicorete gum.> > I've heard that smoking makes healing much more difficult. But now, I'm> wondering what it is in the smoking that is the problem? Is it all the> strange chemicals that are the culprit or is it the nicoteine? If it is> the nicoteine, then I'm in a world of hurt with using the nicoteine> replacement gum.> > Yea, I worry about this. Can anyone help me out here? Opinions will be> welcomed.> > Thanks,> Sabra> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I quit three years ago. I joined a group that was offered through my medical plan (Kiaser). We meet weekly for six weeks. They provided a slow release nicotine patch and another drug to help with craving at a very cheap (relative $10 vs $100) price. I was successful because the had a structured plan and we were all accountable to one another during the process. One important thing to remember is that quiting involves your will so you first need to make up your mind and stick to your decision. It isn't fun but the reward is worth it. Like getting new lungs and I know joint people can relate to that. Don > > > Hello, everyone. > > LOL, I have another question. > > Do any of you know if smoking affects one's recovery from TLKR? I quit > before the surgery and have been using Nicorete gum. > > I've heard that smoking makes healing much more difficult. But now, I'm > wondering what it is in the smoking that is the problem? Is it all the > strange chemicals that are the culprit or is it the nicoteine? If it is > the nicoteine, then I'm in a world of hurt with using the nicoteine > replacement gum. > > Yea, I worry about this. Can anyone help me out here? Opinions will be > welcomed. > > Thanks, > Sabra > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I quit before my hip replacement using nic gum. I was only into the 8th week of gum when I had my surgeries so I asked my PCP if I could have gum while in the hospital. He said " sure " . They offered me a piece but it tasted so terrible that I never asked for any more during my stay. I think it goes this way: smoking: terrible (for more reasons than just bone healing) nicotine replacement product: better, esspecially for your lungs and the complications that can develop in smokers' lungs after general anesthesia. quitting nicotine completely: best, for several reasons, not all of them related to this particular surgery. FYI, I went back on the gum after I went home. My hip healed up just fine. I'm sure your knee will also. > > > Hello, everyone. > > LOL, I have another question. > > Do any of you know if smoking affects one's recovery from TLKR? I quit > before the surgery and have been using Nicorete gum. > > I've heard that smoking makes healing much more difficult. But now, I'm > wondering what it is in the smoking that is the problem? Is it all the > strange chemicals that are the culprit or is it the nicoteine? If it is > the nicoteine, then I'm in a world of hurt with using the nicoteine > replacement gum. > > Yea, I worry about this. Can anyone help me out here? Opinions will be > welcomed. > > Thanks, > Sabra > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Well said...... I was a smoker (am again... tsk, tsk, tsk!) and was told by a close friend that had surgery done in Cleveland at the Cleveland Clinic that if she didn't stop smoking 30 days prior to her surgery date they would cancel her surgery. All for the reasons you have given below. I had left carpal tunnel and right knee scoping done at the same time and used the gum to stop smoking several wks prior to my surgery and while I was recovering. My hand healed in less than a week and I removed my own loose stitches the day before I went for my follow up appt. Then I caved in again and smoked for a few wks before using the gum again prior to my hip replacement and for 2 months after. Then started smoking again. When I went for a follow up with the surgeon on April 12th and asked him how soon he could do the right carpal tunnel so that would be done while I was still recovering from the hip surgery he asked if the next day was too soon! That was perfect except for my smoking. The right hand took a LOT longer to heal and was red and swollen even when I had the stitches removed 14 days later. I had no complications with my hip surgery (no transfussions needed and only took an aspirin a day to avoid blood clotting following the hip replacement). If you aren't really ready to quit smoking, using the gum before surgery and during your recovery is the best thing you can do for yourself. It really does make a difference when you aren't robbing your body of much needed oxygen (by smoking) it needs to aid in the healing process. Using the gum just helps in keeping the craving at bay. It is true... quiting has a lot to do with you really wanting to quit. The use of the gum may indeed prolong the need and desire for nicotine but as time goes on you get to the point where you use it less and less and will ween yourself off of it if you really do want to quit. I used the gum 20 yrs. ago, when they first came out with it and it took me 9 months before I quit using it, but I had gotten to where I only used 1/2 a peice after a meal. It wasn't long after that I stopped all together. I didn't smoke for 10 yrs. and then I very foolishly started smoking again. The smoking before the last surgery and following it really knocked the props out from under me. That and having had 4 surgeries in 6 months with the worst one just 10 wks prior! I had been doing really good up until then. After that I was short of breath and it was an effort to walk down my driveway. What ever works for you (gum, drugs, support groups,etc) to keep you from smoking is worth the effort. One of these days I will end the self struggle I have with myself over this issue and guit for good. Carolyn > Smoking constricts your blood vessels> making less blood flow thru>blood > contains healing nutrients that travel where they need to go (mostly red > blood cells that carry oxygen)> a wound has to have oxygen to live, and > heal. So less oxygen means slower healing. JMO. > Marguerite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Hi , Don't fret the little things. I have been in severe pain from my knees since early childhood. I had my double TKR a year ago September. It took over a year for the FULL recovery, but I can honestly say that now I'm in less discomfort than I ever dreamed possible. It's been over a week since I even took a Tylenol for my knees. This is even with the weather changes of 20-degrees to 60 degrees in 2 days. Hang in there. It's a tough ride but well worth the trip. Regards, Alan in NJ > > > Hello, everyone. > > LOL, I have another question. > > Do any of you know if smoking affects one's recovery from TLKR? I quit > before the surgery and have been using Nicorete gum. > > I've heard that smoking makes healing much more difficult. But now, I'm > wondering what it is in the smoking that is the problem? Is it all the > strange chemicals that are the culprit or is it the nicoteine? If it is > the nicoteine, then I'm in a world of hurt with using the nicoteine > replacement gum. > > Yea, I worry about this. Can anyone help me out here? Opinions will be > welcomed. > > Thanks, > Sabra > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I should have mentioned. If you are a smoker or a recent ex-smoker you may want to consider an epidural or spinal anesthetic over a general wherein they intubate you. A general is hard on the lungs and that is not a good idea. I requested and then firmly requested an epidural. I got it, it was great and no side effects nor after effects. Deb > > > Hello, everyone. > > LOL, I have another question. > > Do any of you know if smoking affects one's recovery from TLKR? I quit > before the surgery and have been using Nicorete gum. > > I've heard that smoking makes healing much more difficult. But now, I'm > wondering what it is in the smoking that is the problem? Is it all the > strange chemicals that are the culprit or is it the nicoteine? If it is > the nicoteine, then I'm in a world of hurt with using the nicoteine > replacement gum. > > Yea, I worry about this. Can anyone help me out here? Opinions will be > welcomed. > > Thanks, > Sabra > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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