Helen's Bilateral TKR

marrianne

Hello Steve Helen and Julia ...thinking of you .... everyone else ,Oh goodness its warm ,been sitting in the garden looking grr you know as my o/h says a clog and a pump ,oh Helen my physio has been and still recomends the horrible st/Trinnians white stockings ........Steve you are doing well with a 90 degree when I do that bend with my dressing gown cord and grit and show off well it nearly shoots me into orbit so guess you are doing very well , I hope Julia is doing well I am sure we will see her soon ...Marrianne

diamond

Keep on going Steve it can happen that you go back to -physio and bend seems worse than previous week.It can be annoying when you are trying so hard to do the exercises.My physio said there was about five degree margin either way when they measurethe bend.Regarding anti embolism socks i was told to wear them for six weeks.

loovechocolate

Strange this knee thing last week I was 90 this week 71 hen 85 after aqua hey ho we'll all get there

Helenbothknees

Physio appointment today; first one since leaving hospital. She was extremely happy, told me to carry on with exercises, and gave me another one using ankle weights. Then I asked her about exercise bikes or if it was too early, and she said she could make me an appointment to learn about using their gym if I wanted. So I'm trying that in a couple of weeks. She also told me to rest; as usual my knees were swollen from doing too much - need to rest, rest rest, I know....

Helenbothknees

BabyMamma, this is the UK and the NHS - so no bill! And let me say, however much our NHS gets criticised, and with all its shortcomings, it really has come up trumps for me - less than three months from first referral to a specialist to having the op, and everyone from doctors to nurses to physios absolutely brilliant.

As for my wanting to get out there, it's an age and personality thing I think. I'm not that old (64 in a couple of weeks) and had always been very active till arthritis got in the way - record breaking walk round Britain in the 1980s, windsurfing, helicopter flying, horse riding - you name it, I did it back when I could. And I haven't really changed. I have new knees; I wanna be out there using them again! If I can do a bit more now and do that a few weeks earlier, then I will. That's easier for me than resting, which I find tough...though I stayed in bed till 9.30 this morning; my body absolutely went on strike! We're all different.

dreamdaisy

Don't get worked up Helen, that's a spammer and has been reported.

Right, I think you asked me why I am having to wait for so long? I saw the ortho in August last year and he said two things: you're too young (rot) and you're too fat (true). I was told to lose three stone and go back when I'm 55. (I'm now 53). I've lost 1.5 stone (thanks to coming off the steroids) so I have another 1.5 to go. I now have bone-on-bone through about 3/4 of each joint, and the ankles are joining in the party. I could be doing with the benefit of the op now, come when it may get done (let's estimate 2014/15) everything else will be so shot to bits I'm not sure if it will be worth the bother! Having the two kinds of arthritis is a bind, the meds for the auto-immune do nothing for the OA but having the knees fixed won't achieve that much for the other affected joints, it does feel like a Hobson's Choice to me but perhaps my mood is reflecting the weather here - grey and dull. No matter, let's hope this does the trick for you, Marianne, Steve and Julia, yes? DD

marrianne

DD Helen Steve,everyone ,and Julia guess you will be back soon , well the spammer has gone so all is well ....... but geee it really is all about the cost off and the value of nothing in that great nation ........well yes it I guess it just brings it home that well in many ways we are lucky and yes we have our complaints but on balance our n/h is pretty good at point of contact ,But D/D can understand you being hacked of the only thing to say is act as though you dont want the op and men especially consultants will take umbridge and insist you need it as soon as possible ,well today is hot overcast here and I have been to the pub ,yes with family crutches a big seat in the beer garden and a very nice lunch home again safely knackered hope everyone is ok ,I did enjoy last nights olympic opening it was brilliant but did not stay awake till the end still struggling with my stockings and swollen knee they seem to catch the clips and sting and burn and keep me awake but to scared to leave them off longer than a few hours the daily injections are not much fun either o/h is on the end of those so I have to be very patient and kind Marrianne

Helenbothknees

Thanks for that DD, about the spammer I mean. Still, it doesn't do any harm to praise our NHS, and I really mean it. Though what they're making you do is horrible and unfair! You may be young, but what are you supposed to do for the next year and a half? And you've lost one and a half stone already which is brilliant; I know how hard that is as I've done it myself. Is it worth getting a second opinion? I don't know, but just a thought. I went to one GP who said my knees weren't bad enough to need a TKR; the next one I saw seemed to think it was essential, put it in my notes, and after that everyone seemed to agree. Meanwhile I stopped tellling them I wanted it and took on the "anything you say doctor" approach, so maybe Marrianne has a point. It's so hard to know. I'll keep hoping you get something done soon.

Marrianne, glad you had a good day. Sometimes it's worth it, even if it wears you out. I've been resting as tomorrow will a long day - we're going to see "The Mikado" at Buxton Opera House. We had tickets anyway and couldn't get a refund, and they're front row stalls so I can stretch my legs, so I said let's give it a go and leave early if it's too much for me. But it's doing wonders for me mentally as I haven't really 'been out' since the op and I'm really excited.

Still waiting for news from Julia; she should be home soon....

dreamdaisy

The NHS is not making me 'do' anything (and the NHS is one of the greatest entities on this planet). The ortho was completely correct about the weight, coming off the oral steroids (which took me nearly a year) undoubtedly helped but the rest is up to me. I'm not sure what new knees will actually achieve - will they help the toes, ankles and sacro-iliacs? I dunno. :roll: DD

SteveBurns

Hi girls, it is good to hear you are getting out and about, it will do you good.

I've had a couple of walks - would you believe with our dogs?

I went out with my son who had both dogs on their leads, me with my single stick and trying to walk normally, it felt ok so I took hold of one of the leads and walked her home.

I tried again today, walking the dog from the house but had to hand the lead to my son as it was starting to hurt. The dog is a little Yorky cross and very much enjoys to pull, too much for me today but I'll have another go tomorrow.

The Physio last Thursday gave me a few pointers on the exercises and I've changed the way I do some of them. My wife now helps me to bend the leg while lying on my tummy. She is reluctant to hurt me but I tell her to push harder, I know if I don't get a decent bend I won't be able to drive.

I agree the NHS is brilliant and where would we all be without it. It gets an awful lot of stick but the nursing staff and consultants have a very difficult job and get on with it all very well.

I think at our age we all get our moneys worth, especially with new joints and the medication.

Keep on keeping on and we'll all be better for it.

Helenbothknees

Sorry, DD, maybe I misunderstood. I thought the NHS was making you wait when you really needed an op, and it seemed unfair. But yes, with all the other factors to take into account..... Anyway, I really, really hope you get something sorted out soon, and sorry for the mix-up.

dreamdaisy

Don't apologise, Helen, there's no need (or dare I say 'kneed'? ) Fatter people than me have had the op, younger people than me have had the op, I daresay my turn will come. If it doesn't it won't matter, things can't get much worse than they are but if they do I'll manage. I've had loads of practice! DD

Helenbothknees

Back to updates...

Yesterday David and I went to see The Mikado at Buxton Opera House. Arrived in pouring rain, so he dropped me off and went to park the car. The staff of this Edwardian theatre with no original thoughts for disabled were brilliant, got me a chair, showed me a back way out with no steps for when we came to leave, wonderful! Sitting still for the hour and a half first act was hard, but with front row of stalls I could stretch my legs a little so it was manageable. Anyway, it was worth it to be out and about like 'normal' people again! It's only been three weeks since the op, but I was already going a bit stir crazy.

Excitement for today..... I came upstairs without using crutches; only the banister rail for support!

mig

Well done Helen,i haven't replied to the thread till now but have been reading your updates,can only get better.Mig

SteveBurns

Well done Helen, I knew your little outing would do you good

I've recently got my wife to bend my leg for me while I'm on my tummy, its working as the bend is improving. I try this at least twice a day, may be worth considering for you all

marrianne

Hi all of you ,especially Helen and Steve and all the knees,Still waiting for Julia but I am sure she is doing well ,good luck with your bends walkvery well s with the dogs Steve ,and Helen so pleased you had a good night out at Buxton opera house ,,I had 2 poorly fed up days ,after a pub lunch ....probably out and about to soon but back on track now ...tolorating the stockings better and exercises followed by ice pack ......nurse on Sunday morning checked clips and changed dressing .. said all is well clips out on friday showed me how to put srockings on putting plastic bag over foot ... have a good day to you all weather still nice but a little fresher which suits me fine ...Marrianne

Helenbothknees

marrianne, I know how you feel. I had a couple of bad days on Friday and Saturday, after going with David to the supermarket. I was going to wait in the coffee shop, but instead I decided to go round the fruit and veg section with him, then choose my own coffee as he doesn't drink coffee. Well, the walk from the coffee section back to the cafe just about killed me, and I'd only taken one crutch! It took me two days and lots of ice to recover. I thought yesterday would do me in too, but I've been at the computer writing an article for nearly two hours, with a couple of trips downstairs to make coffee as David is out (don't worry; I put it in a thermos to carry it) and I feel just fine. So, so hard to find a balance between overdoing it and not doing enough, as the balance point is forever changing. Still, we'll all get there.

Steve, thanks for the hint about bending knees. However, my knees bend really well; it's getting the strength back without my knees swelling up which is my main problem. Still, the exercises with the weights seem to be really helping with that.

By my reckoning Julia should be due out about today. Looking forward to hearing from her....

marrianne

Hi Helen SteveJulia,and everyone ,Hope all is well and Julia is feeling so good to be home,its cooler and fresh good weather for ducks ,but it suits me just fine ,My update is mannaging 95 bend with dressing gown cord and some pain is this good or bad for an older person like me ? also walking well with crutches 12 days now since op ,have not been further than the garden since my day out and still feel tired after 20 minutes house work but happy enough with my Downton Abbey boxed set ,hope you guys continue to improve with each day love to you all Marrianne

Helenbothknees

Hi marrianne, Julia, Steve, everyone. I've had a good day. Went to the dentist (routine stuff) then to B & Q to look for lamps, garden centre for lunch, and bought some trendy looking knee length shorts for physio, yoga, walking, and...because I felt like it. Walked lots and up loads of stairs with only one crutch - could probably have managed without any but a bit wary of ditching them completely. Came home, iced knees, and need to lie down now as I'm shattered, but it felt really good! Seems to be something new I can do every day; today was getting in the car 'normally'! Er....I wanna try driving; what do you all think?

stickywicket

Helenbothknees wrote:

Er....I wanna try driving; what do you all think?

I'd ask first, Helen. I had to wait 6 weeks after my first knees before I was allowed to drive. Mind you, that was back in the dark ages but still worth getting it checked out first.

marrianne

Helen,You have done such a lot today ,Its that feeling the pain is there as is the tiredness but dont you feel so much better than ie pre op days As to driving well I thought it was six weeks to ,but seems we are on the rapid recovery plan in every way ,but I agree with Sticky ask first hope you can rest now those shorts sound pretty I spent a fruitless couple off hours looking for some leggings I had cut short for after op I think o/h has got rid ,Marrianne

Helenbothknees

sticky, marrianne, I'd vaguely heard six weeks too. But my blurb from the hospital says when you can get in and out of the car normally, and manage the clutch for a left knee, do an emergency stop for the right. I'm pretty sure I could do both, but I thought I'd try in the estate car park during the day when it's empty, then if all seems OK, ask my insurance company and the consultant's secretary. I can't see why I should have to wait six weeks if all seems OK. But it's only three weeks now, so maybe I'll wait another week or so....always in too much hurry, that's me. And yes, marrianne, I know what you mean - I'm in more pain and more tired than before the op, but I do feel better. I think it's because daily things are getting better instead of steadily getting worse!

dreamdaisy

Whoah, whoah! Hold ye hard, girl! I reckon this has nothing to do with what you want and everything to do with what is best. I cannot see that there is anyway that your muscles etc will have fully healed by now - stop and think about what has been done, the time it's taken to get to the stage of having it done, the expertise in getting it done: are you willing to run the risk of blowing all that just for the sake of another 21 days without driving? I understand the frustration and the urgency to get back to normal life but a great deal is at risk if you push yourself too far. These are still very early days and setbacks are still a real possibility no matter how confident you are feeling. Think on't, please. DD

PS I was able to have three months of only paying £5 insurance to maintain my cover with my insurers. I rang them when I felt safe to drive and they bumped the premium back up again.

SteveBurns

I too am frustrated not driving, I hate being driven anywhere and I'm a terrible passenger, back seat driver etc. My wife is the worst driver in the world, she doesn't think so but I do.

I had to put her dad on the insurance instead of me so he can drive me to physio this week and a consultant appointment next Monday.

I have tried sitting in the driving seat and can just about reach the pedals but it hurts. My car is an auto but its my right leg. I think if it was my left leg I would be driving already as I don't need the left one in my car.

I'm trying hard to get more of a painless bend for next week when I see the consultant and ask him if I can drive, that will be six weeks post op.

What is even more frustrating is my daughter's motability car is being changed next Wednesday, she is too young to drive and I am the main driver. New car on Wednesday and someone else will have to drive it if I can't, how sad is that :x

Be aware that you could be feeling so good because of the pain relief, I feel really great most of the time but I know when the tabs wear off.

lindalegs

Spare a thought for those of us who can't drive and always have to ask for or accept lifts. :roll: At least you'll be driving again soon.

Luv,