Sister has OA and needs new knees

woodbon

Hi, I forgot to tell you that my sister has been having pain in one of her knees for a year or more, but her doctor has been telling her that unless she sees him when the pain is bad, he can't do anything??? Anyway, he has now sent her for an x-ray and she has OA in both knees and has got to have both of them replaced. This is a big shock for her, but as she is in quite a lot of pain and is a very active person, she has agreed to have it done. No date yet, but I hope she gets one soon. At least now she has stronger pain killers, which help a bit more than the paracetamol she did have. I think shes worried that the op will effect her mobility, but as she is, her walking, although she tries not to show it is effected. I told her about this site, but she isn't too happy with the internet, frightened she'll do something wrong, I think!
Love Sue xxx

valval

give her a hug from me and when you are with her bring her on and let her read also put it under favorites for her so she can find us easy val

dachshund

Hi Sue and welcome to your sister.
i've had my tkr 8 years with no problems. good luck to your sister i hope she does not have to long to wait.
take care both of you.
joan xx

hileena111

Hi Sue and sister
Hope you dont have too long for your appointment.
I was in a similar position only it was my hip...GP wouldnt believe me that I was in pain and eventually after more than a year he referred me to the hospital.......needed both hips replaced.....and like you i was on paracetamol...nothing else!!!!!
Only had one done up to the minute.
Come on a talk to us.....we dont bite well not usually
As for the computer....you'll not break it
Love
Hileena

frogmorton

Hi Sue

your poor Sis! Well at least she has you eh? You can support her and maybe she will pop her nose in and peek at us one day. We are really nice aren't we? Hramless and you can't really 'break' a computer can you??

Love

Toni xx

barbara12

Oh Sue...give her a big hug from me (((()))) at least now things are moving forward for her........and get her to come on here we will watch out for her.

lindalegs

Hi Sue,

I can well understand your sister's worries afterall it's the unknown to her. Maybe if she doesn't want to post herself you could ask us any questions for her and act as a mediator?

Please give her a hug from us (((( ))))

Luv

woodbon

Thank you for the love and support, I wonder if she will drop in under a user name, its the sort of thing she is likely to do!!!

One of the things she is worried about is how long it takes to get over the op and whether they will do both at once. I'm not sure if she would prefer to have both done together or one at a time and neither is she. She's also worried about her mobility when she gets home, but she's got her husband, whos fit and lots of friends who will help. She's stubburn as a mule and does't like being helped, yet she is always helping others!

She's 17 years older than me and until recently she was up to all sorts of things, walking holiday in Spain 2 years ago, in the mountains! She's not over weight and careful to eat a proper diet with all the things your suppossed to eat and exercise by walking most days with her husband and sometimes, friends, she also goes line dancing with a friend, but her friend told me that she often has to stop and rest. She told me she was fine and it didn't effect that her dancing!!! Oh well, at least she's finally getting the treatment she needs.

dreamdaisy

I suspect she won't believe the difference having a new knee (or knees) will make to the quality of her life. Let us know when she hears about a date and we can offer support via you! Would they do both knees at once? I know they do two hips but knees are a very different kettle of fish - a more complicated joint for starters - but what do I know? I ain't an orthopaedic surgeon (might go and learn tho, then I could do mine). I hope she is coming to terms with the idea. DD

lindalegs

Both my knees were replaced during the same operation and I had a different surgeon on each leg. They only do this when both knees are shot and neither is better than the other. They also judge you and whether you can cope with both at the same time.

Your sister will be mobile when she gets home but will use walking aids (usually crutches) for the 1st six weeks. After her 6-week check with her surgeon she will probably be advised to use a walking stick and then gradually wean herself off that.

You're usually told you'll be back to 'normal for you' after 3 months and you'll get maximum bend/straighten from your new prosthesis up to 18 months. After this time you won't be able to bend/straighten any more than you're able to at that time ..............if you see what I mean. :???:

Hope this helps.

woodbon

Thank you I'll pass the information on. Its always better to hear what someone who has been through the experience knows. She's been lucky so far and not had arthritic problems and done all the things that they tell you to do to stay fit, so I don't think she thought it could happen to her. She seems shocked and surprised, but we all know that its possible to suffer whatever we do. Love Suexx