Total Knee Replacement

[Guest guest]

Hi Leigh Ann,

Don't do too much for your mother after the first couple of

weeks. Gradually let her do more and more.

Sometimes people who care very much can do too much for their

loved ones.

But: Do help her to do the exercises as she has been prescribed.

They hurt, but are important. Some painkillers before the

exercises helps. But the main thing is to have someone

encourageing you and keeping you honest! I will be for ever

grateful for the people who encouraged me with them.

Don't be surprised if she hits a low patch about 6 weeks and

again at about 12 weeks. I did, and I have seen others do the

same thing. If she knows others go through the same it could be

helpful.

Good luck to your mum. It is a magic operation when successful.

Aussie Margaret

Total Knee Replacement

> Hi!

> My name is Leigh Ann. My mother had TKR yesterday. She is

awake and

> alert. She knows that she has a long road ahead of her. I was

> wondering if there are any tips or advice to help her through

the next

> few months. Thanks!

>

> Leigh Ann

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Susie,

I can totally understand the pain of arthritis as I have it in my

knee. My mom has to go back to the OR in the morning because of some

excess bleeding. Her white blood count has been elevated and they

are worried about infection. She is not looking forward to this

procedure, but wants to get on with her recovery. She could be going

to rehab later this week-we are not sure. Thanks for your words of

advice. I appreciate it.

Leigh Ann

> Hi Leigh Ann,

> I think its great that you asking how to help your Mom ,I have a

daughter and a son and they don't understand about arthritis I had my

Hip replacement done five years ago and a Knee replacement done three

years ago they could not understand way I was still in pain and I

still couldn't walked good well I had a spine x ray and found out I

have bad arthritis in my spine and thats way I can't walked good or

move fast . All I can say is be Patience and help her but let her do

stuff for herself if she feels up to it . Don't put her in a Nurses

Home I was put in one after both operations and thats the worst place

to be put in and I was in a wheel chair in both places for two weeks

and thats not good .Well you have a nice day.

> Susie

>

>

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

> Hi!

> My name is Leigh Ann. My mother had TKR yesterday. She is awake

and

> alert. She knows that she has a long road ahead of her. I was

> wondering if there are any tips or advice to help her through the

next

> few months. Thanks!

>

> Leigh Ann

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi all, It's been a few since I posted, but just wanted to let you all know that I had total left knee replacement last Thursday (the 17th) and was out of the hospital on the 20th!! I have been feeling fine, soreness around wound, but otherwise....I'm totally amazed how straighfoward and relatively simple this has been...I tried hopping aroundf with one crutch for a day....but found that I could put weight on it and get around okay without it for short periods of time...and have progressed to the point (it's Tuesday the 22nd) where I didn't even think about the crutch at all and have just been going about my day...(shower, laundry, light cleaning....etc.) I do use the "ICEMAN" circulating ice pack at night, and if it gets particularly sore...I get right off it and ice it....but, I totally reccomend anyone thinking of having it done to do it....rehab is not that difficult, and I know the end result will be mobility that I have missed for a few years....I am 43/f with

RA-lupus...this knee has always been one of my worst major joints....I also recommend New England Baptist Hospital for anyone in the area....they are tremendous, and even offered "room service menu" for NO additional cost at all!!!! Amazing!! (so much for my hospital food diet though!!!) Best to you all! Jack McGuire <jackmcguire_2000@...> wrote: Harold, thanks for the aspirin info - it's always a relief to get the straight scoop from an authoritative source. I must admit that I'm one of those described who took the warnings on Vioxx and Celebrex as reason to stay away from aspirin. Too bad the aspirin bottle didn't warn me about Vioxx!! I am going to start taking daily aspirin with

confidence that it's a good thing! Thanks for taking time to post... Jack McGuire - Carlsbad CA 20 mg MTX weekly w/ daily folic acid - 2 yrs - doing well FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

[Guest guest]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, !

> Harold, thanks for the aspirin info - it's always a relief to get the

straight

scoop from an authoritative source.

>

> I must admit that I'm one of those described who took the warnings on

Vioxx and Celebrex as reason to stay away from aspirin. Too bad the aspirin

bottle didn't warn me about Vioxx!!

>

> I am going to start taking daily aspirin with confidence that it's a good

thing!

Thanks for taking time to post...

>

> Jack McGuire - Carlsbad CA

> 20 mg MTX weekly w/ daily folic acid - 2 yrs - doing well

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your post as I get a total knee replacement on January 19

and I was a little worryed about it you made it sound easy i just

hope mine goes as well as yours

Sherrie-

-- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , NKM <nkm2362@y...> wrote:

>

> Hi all,

> It's been a few since I posted, but just wanted to let you all

know that I had total left knee replacement last Thursday (the 17th)

and was out of the hospital on the 20th!! I have been feeling fine,

soreness around wound, but otherwise....I'm totally amazed how

straighfoward and relatively simple this has been...I tried hopping

aroundf with one crutch for a day....but found that I could put

weight on it and get around okay without it for short periods of

time...and have progressed to the point (it's Tuesday the 22nd)

where I didn't even think about the crutch at all and have just been

going about my day...(shower, laundry, light cleaning....etc.) I do

use the " ICEMAN " circulating ice pack at night, and if it gets

particularly sore...I get right off it and ice it....but, I totally

reccomend anyone thinking of having it done to do it....rehab is not

that difficult, and I know the end result will be mobility that I

have missed for a few years....I am 43/f with RA-lupus...this knee

> has always been one of my worst major joints....I also recommend

New England Baptist Hospital for anyone in the area....they are

tremendous, and even offered " room service menu " for NO additional

cost at all!!!! Amazing!! (so much for my hospital food diet

though!!!)

> Best to you all!

>

>

> Jack McGuire <jackmcguire_2000@y...> wrote:

> Harold, thanks for the aspirin info - it's always a relief

to get the straight scoop from an authoritative source.

>

> I must admit that I'm one of those described who took the

warnings on Vioxx and Celebrex as reason to stay away from aspirin.

Too bad the aspirin bottle didn't warn me about Vioxx!!

>

> I am going to start taking daily aspirin with confidence that

it's a good thing! Thanks for taking time to post...

>

> Jack McGuire - Carlsbad CA

> 20 mg MTX weekly w/ daily folic acid - 2 yrs - doing well

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sherrie, I hope so too! I did have orthoscopic surgery 2 yrs ago to try and get more time, but it was pretty bad and I knew then that this was inevitable. I have had alot of trouble with it since last winter,and finally decided at the end of last spring to get this taken care of. They medicate you pretty well in the hospital with the "happy pump" and that definitely helps, also, the MORE time you get on the CPM ( calibrated passive motion??) machine...the better. It keeps the muscles from getting stiff (and painful) and it really is not painful to do as long as you are medicated and ice it. The first day depending on what time you get settled in I would say they may or may not put you on it for 2 hours...but the next day the goal is 2 hours/ 3 times a day...believe me...it really made a difference. If you have ANY questions, or just want to talk...feel free to contact me at my screen name (NKM2362@...) I'd be

happy to share any info I have and just lend an ear...Take care Be well and happy all. Happy Thanksgiving!! Sherrie <scorn720@...> wrote: Thanks for your post as I get a total knee replacement on January 19 and I was a little worryed about it you made it sound easy i just hope mine goes as well as yours Sherrie> Harold, thanks for the aspirin info - it's always a relief to get the straight scoop from an authoritative source. > > I must admit that I'm one of those described who took the warnings on Vioxx and Celebrex as reason to stay away from aspirin. Too bad the aspirin bottle didn't warn me about Vioxx!! > > I am going to start taking daily aspirin with confidence that it's a good thing! Thanks for taking time to post...> > Jack McGuire - Carlsbad CA> 20 mg MTX weekly w/ daily folic acid - 2 yrs - doing well> > >

> ---------------------------------> FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. > >

[Guest guest]

Hi,

There are a lot of things to consider before having a TKR, and your

surgeon is the best one to consult regarding whther or not it is

necessary...But if you've already had arthoscopy, & it hasn't helped,

or if it only helped a little, well, it sounds like you're dealing with

bone-on-bone pain, & shots & scoping are not a long term solution.

Has your doctor done an MRI? or have they only done XRays?,,,because

XRays only show part of the problem...An MRI shows everything..

There are a lot of questions that I would ask you regarding the cause

of your pain,,,arthritis? An old injury? Your age?...Personally, I

injured my knee when I was 25 years old (1980)and my cartilage was

removed, so I lived with bone on bone pain for 25 years, and I knew

that I would have to eventually have a TKR, but I was holding off as

long as I could...But it finally came down to a quality of life issue,

and last fall I found a wonderful OS who did Xrays, gave me a cortisone

shot & then scheduled an MRI...After looking at the MRI, we discussed

scoping, but we both agreed that a TKR would be best, even though I'm

only 50 y/o now...

I had my TKR in February, and I have to say that I'm thrilled!!!...The

rehab hurts & is an ongoing process & a lot of work, but I can now walk

without a limp, sit without pain, climb ladders & ride a bicycle

without pain & I have much more motion in my knee than I've had in

years.

So I guess that to answer your request for reassurance, I would have to

say that if you & your Doctor decide that a TKR is necessary, then I

would say go for it. I haven't met anyone yet who has had one who has

regretted it.

Best wishes,

Bob

>

> i have been suffering with knee pain for over a year now i have been

> thru all the routine procedures from shots to arthroscopy i am

> contemplating replacement may be i just need a little reassurance

from

> other people with the same problem

>

[Guest guest]

I had my last one don in February. On my first knee I went the shots

route to no avail. The results of the surgery are so freeing and you

wonder why you had to wait so long. I would always take my pain meds

about 30-60 min before therapy and that was a big help. I didn't find

therapy bad at all. I have at least a 139 degree bend and walk normal.

I would encourage you to go ahead. Do as your doctor says and I think

you will find recovery and the final result well worth it.

On Aug 13, 2006, at 5:34 AM, know_jack wrote:

> Hi,

>

> There are a lot of things to consider before having a TKR, and your

> surgeon is the best one to consult regarding whther or not it is

> necessary...But if you've already had arthoscopy, & it hasn't helped,

> or if it only helped a little, well, it sounds like you're dealing

> with

> bone-on-bone pain, & shots & scoping are not a long term solution.

>

> Has your doctor done an MRI? or have they only done XRays?,,,because

> XRays only show part of the problem...An MRI shows everything..

>

> There are a lot of questions that I would ask you regarding the cause

> of your pain,,,arthritis? An old injury? Your age?...Personally, I

> injured my knee when I was 25 years old (1980)and my cartilage was

> removed, so I lived with bone on bone pain for 25 years, and I knew

> that I would have to eventually have a TKR, but I was holding off as

> long as I could...But it finally came down to a quality of life issue,

> and last fall I found a wonderful OS who did Xrays, gave me a

> cortisone

> shot & then scheduled an MRI...After looking at the MRI, we discussed

> scoping, but we both agreed that a TKR would be best, even though I'm

> only 50 y/o now...

>

> I had my TKR in February, and I have to say that I'm thrilled!!!...The

> rehab hurts & is an ongoing process & a lot of work, but I can now

> walk

> without a limp, sit without pain, climb ladders & ride a bicycle

> without pain & I have much more motion in my knee than I've had in

> years.

>

> So I guess that to answer your request for reassurance, I would have

> to

> say that if you & your Doctor decide that a TKR is necessary, then I

> would say go for it. I haven't met anyone yet who has had one who has

> regretted it.

>

> Best wishes,

>

> Bob

>

>

> >

> > i have been suffering with knee pain for over a year now i have been

> > thru all the routine procedures from shots to arthroscopy i am

> > contemplating replacement may be i just need a little reassurance

> from

> > other people with the same problem

> >

>

>

" Relying on God has to begin every day as if nothing had yet been done. "

[Guest guest]

Eleanor -- I think you've found the solution. And it's so much cheaper than surgery, and there's no recovery time!

Ann

Re: total knee replacement

Bob, you made my morning! I was really laughing. I am an OTR truck driver and have no less than 2 rolls on the truck at all times. I can't tell you the things I have done with it for quick AND permanent fixes. Maybe I should just run a strip down the front and back of my leg and pull up tight and tape to my upper back and stomach. Then run a couple of pieces around my waist to hold it and that will correct the 1/2 too long R leg! AND I shouldn't have to worry about the hurt trying to get it off as it sticks so well that I may only need to replace it once or twice the rest of my life! LOLOL. Excuse me now while I go call my husband to tell him I think we have found a fix and then a quick call to our Co. Safety Dept. to say I will be back next week. Duct tape...Never leave home without it! Eleanor

I think mine will last longer than average because my OS skipped the cement and went right to duct tape. Bob

[Guest guest]

Sure,

But I have to warn you Eleanor, that if you ever get outta the truck

long enough to expose yourself to the sun(that big yellow thing in

the sky)then you are gonna have some very weird tan lines...

Bob

>

> I think mine will last longer than average because my OS skipped

the

> cement and went right to duct tape.

> Bob

>