partial knee replacement

suegibb

Hi all hope everyone is not too bad this evening.
I've used the forum on and off for years. I can't begin to say how the folks on here helped me when I had a partial (or half) knee repacement about 4 years ago. I went through post op hell in hospital when an anaesthetic thing in my groin stipped me weeing, my leg was so swollen I couldn't get out of bed, I developed a pressure sore on my heel then the darn thing wouldn't bend as they wanted, for weeks and weeks. They threatened to take me back to theatre to bend it, but hydrotherapy and a friend's jaccuzzi eventually meant I can now bend it about 90 %.I was so so so depressed and the folk on here were friends that saved me.
Now my dilemma is the other knee is bone on bone and needs replacing. What shall I do ? My consultant said I could havea total knee but at 53 I can see the logic in a partial- they are easier to redo later and half my knee has ok bone. But I walk badly and now my back is agony some days. I was interested in the chiropractic thread because I've had that and she helped-but at £35 a time I can't keep going.
I have never met anyone who has had a partial knee-lots of total knees and they seem to mostly do well. The first day post op the physio told me half knees have more problems than full (thanks). You can see why I'm reluctant to go back in for surgery but I am in pain !! I am so scared and worried yet I wonder if my quality of life could be so improved? Can anyone say to me "go for it?"
Love
SueX

suegibb

PS can I also say the partial knee is still not very comfortable and some days is even painful.
Sue

tjt6768

Hi Sue, not had either done, but from what I have read the TKR do sound like they give a whole new lease of life to many.. My knees have hurt for many years and at some point in the future TKR may be the way forward for me too, I would definately go for it myself..
I hope that you are ok this morning and not suffering too much..

Be well

elnafinn

Hi Sue

I cannot say to you "go for it" well I could but that would not be what anyone should say! You have to really want the operation performed yourself. I was offered a partial some years ago, but backed off and in the end had a TKR as I my knee had deteriorated so much that a partial was no longer an option. I hope you can make up your mind up soon and in the meantime I hope the pain is not too bad for you. I have had both knees done, one in 2008 and one in 2010, both in the January and both were very successful ..... in the end. I was 60 years old at the end of December.

Luv
Elna x

bertyboy

hi Sue it really does have to be your decision , its alway hard having more ops when things have been hard and recovery slower , but if it gives relief in the end its got to be worth it , talk to your consultant about your concerns it might help x

suegibb

Thank you all for your input, thoughts and concern. I agree talking to the consultant properly is a good step, but it's always so busy when you go to clinic my brain goes to mush. Thought of a one off private consultation-it may be worth the money in the end.
Elna do you have any thoughts on if your replacements would ever need reviewing? Us being such young things :roll: chances are another op may be needed before we shuffle off?? In our mid or late 70's ? Or am I being too silly and worrying when I might get 15 or more better years than now?
Sorry to go on, just these brains on here are the best ones to pick.

Hope everyone is ok today
SuexXx

elnafinn

suegibb wrote:

Elna do you have any thoughts on if your replacements would ever need reviewing? Us being such young things :roll: chances are another op may be needed before we shuffle off?? In our mid or late 70's ? Or am I being too silly and worrying when I might get 15 or more better years than now?Hope everyone is ok today. SuexXx

Hi Sue

I am fully aware that my replacements may need reviewing, unfortunately. That was drummed into me by the surgeon who made me wait as long as I possibly could! He told me that a replacement would never be as good as the one I was born with and that it would take about a year to get over the op as it was a major operation. Also once the replacement was there, I could not change my mind, like taking a dress back to M&S!

I just got to the stage where I wanted to be able to walk without pain, go on long walks etc now! I do not know what is around the corner for me, so to my way of thinking I wanted my life back now and not wait until later because who knows, I may not be here "later". The life of a replacement is given at 10 - 15 years but some people have them for much longer than that. I do not think about that at all really now, I just live for now and a year or so into the future!

Luv
Elna x

suegibb

thank you -- those are my husband's words to the letter!!

Yes you are right and your reply made me cry-not in a bad way- I wish I was having the op on monday then Tuesday would be starting of recovery.
I have a common sense head and a scared head, as I'm sure do lots of us.
Thank you thank you.

We were burgled in the week the slugs were in and out in minutes just took my son's high performance car, bashed in the front door, got his keys and went -I was only out for 30 mins. I have two dogs and thank God they weren't hurt or left to run off . It has left me depressed and the arthritis then seems so much more difficult to deal with.
A bottle of wine is in order tonight but it makes my knee sore in the morning :roll:
Suexx

caterina57

Hi Sue,
Sorry to hear of the terrible time you have had - the burglary and the decision re your knee. Try to relax and your sensible head will help you through. Enjoy your wine tonight, usually when I have wine it makes my head sore the following morning LOL!

Cath

dreamdaisy

If an orthopaedic surgeon gave me the opportunity to improve the quality of my life he probably wouldn't be able to do the op because I would have bitten off his hand in my enthusiasm. I have the wrong sort of arthritis, too many affected joints and the wrong sort of damage but both knees give me hell all day every day and have done so since 2003 - my hard luck, yes?

Of course we cannot tell you what to do, you have to sit and make a list of the pros and cons and then make your decision based on whichever list is the longer. Only you can determine what you can put up with, but the fact that your first op was not that easy to recover from does not mean that the second will be the same. My first open synovectomy led to a hellish recovery, the second was easier and my third (closed, on the opposite joint) left me feeling almost cheated because I barely noticed anything was wrong! I wish you well with whatever you decide. DD

barbara12

Hi Sue
Sorry I cant help with any advice, I just want to wish you well, and whatever decision you make will be right for you.
I am in the process of deciding to have my hips replaced, so I do understand how hard it is.
Please let us know what you decide, and I am so sorry you were burgled, like you say on top of everything else, you will feel more vulnerable.
Good Luck
Barbara x

suegibb

thanks again for the replies and all the kind words.
I'm sorry DD you have such a horrible painful time and I don't think it's hard luck, I think I wish I had a magic wand and I could help you and us all, but perhaps we wouldn't have this forum then!
I do understand that you would have an end to your pain-gats me mad when you hear that pain can be controlled these days--oh yes if you are unconscious or have vile side effects from the pain relief.
If my first op had gone well the second would have been done by now but I think that my right knee is so bad I may not have a choice in the months to come-the pain will make the choice.
Eeeee aint life grand??
If I could find who took my son's car and frightened me so badly then he or she would need a consultant and some pain relief!!!
Love and thanks to you all and it's good to know you are all out there
SuexXXxxXXxxXX

skezier

Hi Sue,

I am another one who can't help you. I am certain though that when it comes to it you will know what to go for and some replacements last a lot longer than they say as well flower.

Its such a hard decision and you really could do with talking it through with your consultant...could you do it by phone do you think? Sometimes they are ok to get back to you and that way he would have to have time?

Wishing you huge luck with what ever you go for and please keep us posted. ((( ))) and fingers crossed you can work it through and know what to go for. Cris x

suegibb

Thanks
The thread from the lady scared about tkr has helped me . Good to know we're not alone despite not wishing this pain and immobility on anyone else.
(except our burglars)
I am sure I will make the choice to go and get my knee done soon.
Meanwhile I'll be back maybe pickin' the brains on here again ha ha.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

tjt6768

Hi Sue, sorry to hear about you being burgled, we have been through that too, it is a horrible thing eh?
I know some big lads with hammers and a van, could send em round if ya like

I know it is not easy but the way you have to look at this is that the things stolen are just that, things.. They can be replaced...
At least you or your family were not hurt..

Hope that you are ok tonight..