One of my Knee Replacements Needs Replacing :-(

lindalegs

Hi Chris,

The courage and hugs are what I need just now .....must admit to have swings of emotion and suddenly I find I'm in tears, but then it's all part of the acceptance procedure .... I have since been and had my haircut so I'm back to normal now. I'm also going out to my art class this afternoon and then a friend and I are going to dinner tonight .....so I'm not letting it stop me .....................................yet

Hi Tony,

Don't worry my hubby has a vested interest in my derrière and is taking care of it .................and watching an operation on yourself, I agree, you are sooooooooooooo wierd

Hi DD

I've been having pain and problems with it for a while now so the writing was on the wall ..............I may need a push to get me through those hoops, but they're not giving me any choice I've been told it has to be done. I shall be fine once I'm through the other side.

Hi Elizabeth,

That's a good idea, I shall take my MP3 player to drown out the noises :shock: :shock:

Hi Cris,

Thanks for that and I shall send down the M&M right away.

The name of the anaesthetic will be useful .....it just worries me they might give it me in a horse size injection :shock:

Hi Julie,

I know I'm not alone in my fear, so that's why all these positive posts help. From what I understand they can sometimes do a nasal anaesthetic but I don't know anything other than that .....maybe that's what you'll be having.

elnafinn

Dear Linda

I am sorry to read that you will shortly be going for another op on one of your knees. I suppose it is in the back of everyone's mind who has had a TKR(s) every now and again that a replacement may well be needed as we are told they only have a certain shelf life. I think about it even now when I get the odd twinge, pain and it is a reminder that they are replacements.

I cannot help you with having the op minus GA because I have always been able to chose that option and so far I have never suffered sickness etc afterwards.

I like you was told by my consultant that any further replacement may not be as successful as the original one.

I so wish you well with it all, Linda. I can understand how you are feeling about it all, but knowing you, you will be a woman with a mission and be as determined as possible for it to work for you second time around too. Do keep us informed. You have such a good sense of humour, that in itself, will go a long way in helping you recover after the op.

Love and hugs
Elna x

kathbee

Hi Linda

So sorry to hear your news.

No wonder you are shocked and emotional, anyone would be.

Be assured regarding the anaesthetic versus the spinal block. I had the spinal block for my THR just over a yr ago and it was much better than being put to sleep, for me anyway. I am always sick after the anaesthetic and takes me ages to come round. To hear the surgeon chatting away with his colleagues was very different. In fact the first thing he said was ' lot of damage for a little lady'.
I had a thin blue curtain shielding me from the goings on which they had wrapped around my middle and then pulled it up and clipped it to a rail above me. All very well organised I have to say.

Someone having the same op as me had asked if she could look at the old hip they took away, but I wasnt that brave as I thought what if I faint off, and cause them more probs than ever.

Hope all goes well for you Linda, must say I am surprised at the replacement of a replacement.

Will be looking for your next post re when etc.

Love Kath x

stickywicket

lindalegs wrote:

what can I expect from my new prosthesis?

Expect great things, Legs.

My knees were first replaced in ’81. Two years ago I saw the ankle guy as that was where my pain was. He X-rayed everything below the belt, got very excited, called his mates in and, briefly I got another knee very soon after that. The ankle, it seemed, had, over the years, done a perfect DIY job of fusing itself together (“I couldn’t have done a better job myself” Mr FootOrtho admitted, modestly) but the knee had jumped ship.

I’d to do even more quads than usual to strengthen the leg muscles before the op and this paid off because I could still do them, and walk, the day after the op. He did a bit of embroidery with my tendons while he was at it so, for about a month, I’d to wear an ankle to groin ‘splint’ when walking to protect it. It was a big, clumsy thing and I looked like I was about to open the batting but the end result was I can now get more bend than ever I did with the first replacement. I was out of hospital within a week, albeit armed with 6 weeks worth of antibiotics as I had a minor infection.

The implant’s now much longer than the previous one and apparently carries an ongoing bigger risk of infection but I’ve had no problems at all with it. We’ve become very attached to each other and as/when/if the other one gives up the ghost I won’t hesitate to get it done too.

If you’ve any questions I might be able to help with please don’t hesitate to ask, Legs.

skezier

Hi Legs,

Ta for the M and M..... much needed

Sticky has been there flower so you know now the knee out come is good!

leaving you a ever filling bucket of courage and a hug bucket for when you have it all crash in on you. Legs that will stop and your going to be fine.

Will get the name but like an idiot I forgot to ask ... it will be on one of my bills so bare with me while I wake the eyes up and go look for It.

Another (((((((((( ))))))))))) and so many hopes you wont have to wait too long. Cris xx

elainebadknee

Linda

Was sorry to read this but the big plus is youre getting prompt treatment to rectify it which is good but not what you expected so soon huh?

I hope you have the op as soon as is possible and recover well again and that this one outlives its predecessor...

Elainex

lindalegs

Hi Elna,

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I think when you have your first joint replacements you imagine that you're going to be the one who makes medical history and they last forever :roll: .....but the reality is very different of course. Hubby reckons my old titanium joints might get quite a bit for scrap value on eBay and we'll be able to go on holiday with the proceeds

Hi Kath,

Yours is another very positive post about spinal blocks which is so good to read .....and I must admit that after the GA last time I was queasy for days so that's another bonus of being awake. Sounds a bit like they were looking up your skirt with the makeshift curtain hope you had your paper knickers on :oops:

Hi Sticky,

Does your Username come from your ankle-to-groin splint? Must say your first TKR lasted a long time - lucky you This is brilliant news and there are a lot of similarities to my situation. My right ankle has fused itself, also in a good position and I tend to get more ankle pain than knee pain which I'm told is referred - though they won't know properly till after the revision. Three questions: 1) Do you know how much longer your new implant is? 2) How long did your op take? 3) Were you awake?
I'm hoping that I end up sounding as positive as you do when it's all over.

Hi Cris,

There's no rush to find out the name ........yet. I'll contact you when I get my next letter.

Hi Elaine,

Thanks ......think I'll be borrowing part of your Username for a short while. I agree it's good news I don't have to wait months and I will have the summer to recover .....so I'm drawing on the positives as much as I can.

skezier

Hi Legs,

just leaving a ((((( ))))) for the morning. Cris xx

julie47

Morning legs
Hope are feeling not too bad today.
Just to let you know I am thinking of you
(((((((((())))))))))hugs and courage in the post
Take care
Juliepf x

stickywicket

lindalegs wrote:

Does your Username come from your ankle-to-groin splint?

Three questions: 1) Do you know how much longer your new implant is? 2) How long did your op take? 3) Were you awake?
I'm hoping that I end up sounding as positive as you do when it's all over.

No, Legs, my username comes from a lifelong addiction to cricket plus the fact that a sticky wicket is difficult to bat on – but interesting. I’m now going to heroically resist waffling on and on about cricket and deal with your other questions instead.

1. The new scar is on the same line and only an inch or two bigger than the old one. However, the actual implant is a thigh to ankle job. It goes down approximately to where short ankle socks reach. Despite my warnings, they always take about 3 attempts to fit it all on one X-ray. The X-rays do look beautiful though. All clean lines. No fuzzy edges; no holes where bone should be or odd flakes of bone where it shouldn’t be.

2. After consultation with my husband, we agree it was somewhere between 3-4 hours. But I’d forgotten the bone grafts which probably took up some time. The surgeon told me in advance he’d probably need to do some.

3. No. Fast asleep.

If you think of any more just keep 'em coming and I'll try to answer.

dreamdaisy

Morning legs, I think I remember that today is the day you are due to hit your local supermarket with style - I hope the trip goes well and that you enjoy being able to career round the various displays. Taking corners on two wheels is not recommended tho, as you may well be tipped out, which will hurt. Demolishing displays, however, will be awarded points. I wish you well. DD

lindalegs

Hi Cris and Jules,

Thanks for the hugs and good wishes. Had a bit of a rough night because it started aching yesterday, :roll: normally I just get pain on weight bearing and movement. Finally got out of bed at 4:0 to take some paracetamol which have helped and I was able to get some sleep. The ache's gone this morning which I'm relieved about, but have just topped up the paracetamol to try to keep on top of it.

((((())))) for you both.

lindalegs

Wow Sticky,

I can't believe the size of your implant ...you must be worth a lot in titanium if you ever get recycled

I don't know your age (sorry) but my next question is what are the chances of another replacement later, or don't you think about that and just live for today?

............and why is the implant so long?

Tell me to mind my own business if you want I won't be offended.

I've just looked up Stickywicket and the definition made me laugh (see below)

"Sticky Wicket"
A field which is partly dry and partly wet, creating a treacherous and uncertain bounce which makes the batter's life difficult...by extrapolation, any life situation which is full of hazardous uncertainty!

.......would your hubby agree with that?

lindalegs

Well remembered DD

I have actually changed my mind and I won't be using the wheelchair for my trip to Sainsbury's :shock: :oops: The reasons being I don't have a lot to get and can manage with a little trolley; it means I'm still independent and don't have to be pushed (can't self propel because of the state of my deformities in the upper body) and I was told by the surgeon to keep my leg as strong as possible and they won't keep strong by sitting on my derrière. :roll:

So hubby is going to put on my elastic knee support for me and I shall take my time going round.

The wheelchair does look very smart polished up with my cushion on at the ready, but will be reserved for days out and long shopping trips like when we go into town.

kathbee

QUOTE Hi Kath,

Yours is another very positive post about spinal blocks which is so good to read .....and I must admit that after the GA last time I was queasy for days so that's another bonus of being awake. Sounds a bit like they were looking up your skirt with the makeshift curtain hope you had your paper knickers on :oops: QUOTE

No knickers allowed with hip replacements Linda, paper or otherwise. :oops:
You just have to grin and 'BARE' it - (pun intended)

Kath xx

tjt6768

Hope he remembered to inflate those tyres :shock:

Be well today, hope the leg doesn't become too bothersome...

stickywicket

lindalegs wrote:

you must be worth a lot in titanium if you ever get recycled

Please, Legs, not so loud. My husband'll have me up on eBay by tonight if he realises.

I'm 64, though not for much longer and, quite frankly, if this one lasts as long as its predecessor, I'll probably have more major problems by the time I'm 90 - eg breathing? I've no idea why it's so long. I guess they have to cut out a lot of glue and stuff from before and then ensure it's firmly wedged.

Please don't 'mind your own business'. Not much point in us being here if we're going to do that.

I think we'd all agree with that definition of a sticky. I consider the R.A makes my life 'full of hazardous uncertainty' and my husband reckons I have the same effect on his - nothing to do with the R.A!

lindalegs

kathbee wrote:

No knickers allowed with hip replacements Linda, paper or otherwise. :oops:
You just have to grin and 'BARE' it - (pun intended)

Kath xx

Maybe your Username should be Goingcommando Kath? :shock:

lindalegs

tjt6768 wrote:

Hope he remembered to inflate those tyres :shock:

Be well today, hope the leg doesn't become too bothersome...

What leg Tony? ..............I'm on so many painkillers I'd forgotten I'd got one

lindalegs

stickywicket wrote:

Please, Legs, not so loud. My husband'll have me up on eBay by tonight if he realises.

I'm 64, though not for much longer and, quite frankly, if this one lasts as long as its predecessor, I'll probably have more major problems by the time I'm 90 - eg breathing? I've no idea why it's so long. I guess they have to cut out a lot of glue and stuff from before and then ensure it's firmly wedged.

You do make me laugh Sticky.

Just pretend you're on Mastermind and this is your specialist subject because Hubby's thought of another question to ask you ...........where did they take the bone grafts from?

stickywicket

lindalegs wrote:

[
You do make me laugh Sticky.

Just pretend you're on Mastermind and this is your specialist subject because Hubby's thought of another question to ask you ...........where did they take the bone grafts from?

OK Legs, I'll guarantee this one won't make you laugh. Actually, I didn't ask but I know where they usually come from.

stickywicket

collywobble wrote:

Right, let's away to the scrappie with Stickywicket - do you want the left leg or the right? :shock: :shock:

Whoa there a minute. I'm not used to being so popular. I can't handle it. Could we come to some arrangement?

lindalegs

Hi Lynn,

Painting Venice at the mo whilst singing 'Just one Cornetto, ♪ give it to me, delicious ice cream of Italllllllllllie♪'

Meal was fab though it went a bit cold because we were gossiping too much ..........bet you wouldn't believe that of me

.............and what wobbly bits are those then? :shock:

Thanks for the hugs my little pin cushion

Hi Sticky,

I'd be guessing the hips for the bone grafts, would I be wrong?

.................and it looks like you're ready to pay me and Lynn off so we won't share you between us

Thanks for answering my questions.

stickywicket

lindalegs wrote:

I'd be guessing the hips for the bone grafts, would I be wrong?

.................and it looks like you're ready to pay me and Lynn off so we won't share you between us

Hips? What hips? They're titanium as well.

OK, I give in. The scrap heap it is. There's plenty of bits of me to go around so no need to squabble.

dreamdaisy

Morning legs, I hope the trip to the supermarket went OK and I quite understand about the independence/muscles thing. Good for you girl. If you don't use it you lose it - however, what seems monumentally unfair to me is that we DO use it and still bloody LOSE it. Not on, is it? Oh, marks for your performance yesterday? Well, I reckon 10/10, don't you? DD