Knee Replacement next week!

glitterbug

Hi guys! So the date is finally approaching...fast (this thursday)! I am so worried and anxious now! :shock:

I'm 30yrs old and have had a hip replacement 13yrs ago, so i've kinda forgotten what to expect really. Been doing loads of excercise and trying to strengthen my knee muscles. Managed to lose almost a stone in weight too in prep for the GA.

To be honest I'm more worried about the GA than the knee surgery, i'm a very difficult airway and red lights etc tend to go off whenever I arrive at a hospital!

Anyway just wondered if any other youngsters have had a tnr and how long does the op usually take? They've advised me that'll i'll be in 5-7days, but how long did it take you guys to escape?!?!? Ha ha!

A rather nervous Jo xxxx

colinone

glitterbug wrote:

Hi guys! So the date is finally approaching...fast (this thursday)! I am so worried and anxious now! :shock:

I'm 30yrs old and have had a hip replacement 13yrs ago, so i've kinda forgotten what to expect really. Been doing loads of excercise and trying to strengthen my knee muscles. Managed to lose almost a stone in weight too in prep for the GA.

To be honest I'm more worried about the GA than the knee surgery, i'm a very difficult airway and red lights etc tend to go off whenever I arrive at a hospital!

Anyway just wondered if any other youngsters have had a tnr and how long does the op usually take? They've advised me that'll i'll be in 5-7days, but how long did it take you guys to escape?!?!? Ha ha!

A rather nervous Jo xxxx

Hi Jo, wish i could be of some help but alas i'm glad to say had no surgery as of yet. I just thought i would wish you all the best and tell you try not to worry to much. it will all be over soon and hopefully you will get some benefit from the op. Keep your chin up and ill look out for you when its all over. Take Care
Colin

glitterbug

Thanks for your support and kind words Colin x

lindalegs

Hi Jo,

I had both my knees done at the same time when I was 42 (not as young as you) and I was in hospital for 12 days - I think I was in longer because it was both knees.

You will be absolutely fine, I too did the strengthening exercises beforehand and also stuck with all the exercises afterwards in order to get maximum mobility.

I did give myself a goal a day, sometimes big, sometimes minute depending on how I felt but it did me good having a focus.

Good luck and let us know how you go on.

Luv Legs

oneday

Good luck for the op. At one op i had, not artritis etc,i said all i was worried about was the anasthetic to which they replied no one had died so far at that particular hospital which was reassuring.all thebest.

magenta

Hi Jo,
Can't help you with op I'm afraid but I wanted to wish you all the best for Thursday
Magenta x

elvislover

Hi
Had my first knee replaced at 37 and was in for 10 days ' Had the same knee replaced again 2years ago was in a week .Was awake listening to Elvis tapes through out the op. I had a spinal block and an injection in my groin . Never had any sickness and was up in two days walking 'Had an extra day bedrest as it was a revision (2nd time) I now need my other knee doing but am hanging on as long as i can as my daughter is due to have a baby in April and want to be mobile to help out after the birth .
You are young and will get over the op much quicker
So good luck for thursday and hope all goes well
Angie

bluesky05

Good luck with your op hope it all goes well. x

glitterbug

Thanks everyone for your words of support. It's good to hear from people that have been through it all! I'll post an update once i'm home xx

claregood1

Hi I'm 38 and had my TKR 5 weeks ago. I was in 4 days, stood briefly on the second day and was on a frame the third so they get you going quickly. I too had a spinal and nerve block but because they gave me a sedative too I slept through the whole thing - what a woos! Anyway I think my progress is OK, I see the physio and consulatant again this week. You sound like you've done a lot more prepararion than me so should be fine. Ask about the spinal though if it's the GA that worries you, it's all fairly simple.

Lots of luck and I'll be thinking of you
Clare xx

greyheron

glitterbug wrote:

Hi guys! So the date is finally approaching...fast (this thursday)! I am so worried and anxious now! :shock:

I'm 30yrs old and have had a hip replacement 13yrs ago, so i've kinda forgotten what to expect really. Been doing loads of excercise and trying to strengthen my knee muscles. Managed to lose almost a stone in weight too in prep for the GA.

To be honest I'm more worried about the GA than the knee surgery, i'm a very difficult airway and red lights etc tend to go off whenever I arrive at a hospital!

Anyway just wondered if any other youngsters have had a tnr and how long does the op usually take? They've advised me that'll i'll be in 5-7days, but how long did it take you guys to escape?!?!? Ha ha!

A rather nervous Jo xxxx

Hi Jo

I'm not a youngster (I'm a young at heart 63) but I've recently (8 weeks ago) had a knee replacement op so thought you mightn't mind a reply from an old codger !!!

First of all, well done to you for doing exercises and losing weight before the op. My consultant didn't say anything about this and I didn't think of it (duh!) but I'm sure it will be beneficial.

I was very nervous in the week leading up to the op but I'm sure that's normal and natural. I didn't have any fears about the GA (I would have been more nervous about having it done with a local) but I can appreciate your feelings because of your airway issue. I'm sure they'll be aware of this and take all necessary care.

I was in for 8 days, mainly because I had a bad reaction to the morphine pump you have after the op, it made me very sick so I couldn't 'get going' as soon as I'd hoped but once I'd started there was no stopping me! I had great physio and was very motivated - I live on my own in an old house with lots of stairs and wanted to leave hospital walking with one stick, which I achieved. Having said that, friends rallied round so I wasn't on my own for the first 4 days at home but it was good to be confident moving around the house.

5-7 days seems like the average stay though I think you can get home sooner than that if you mobilise well and have appropriate help at home.

I've continued to do my physio exercises at home, my walking mobility is great though I'm struggling to bend my knee past 90 degrees. I saw the consultant just before Xmas, he was pleased with my progress and has referred me to physio for a few sessions to 'finish off'.

For me, physio has been really important in my good recovery so do take advantage of anything you're offered!

I've had my 'down times' since the op, when my knee's been painful and I've felt I wasn't making any progress, but have found everyone on this forum really supportive and I can honestly say I have no regrets.

So I wish you lots of good luck with your op, hope the above has been helpful and let me know if you've got any other questions.

All the best

Wendy

glitterbug

I am so distraught. Had a phonecall today at 4.30pm to tell me they have cancelled the op as there are no beds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tried to explain how much pain i'm in and that i've had to stop the Enbrel for 2 weeks prior so have been literally in agony!

Cannot believe they can do this the night before!!!!!!! I've put my life on hold for 3 months and am emotionally drained. My knee is so bad I cannot walk now and my arms are too bad to propell a wheelchair, my husband works 40 odd hrs a week and I am truly stuck now!

Sorry to rant but just feel dreadful :roll:

lindalegs

I know just how you feel, my bi-lateral knee replacements were delayed on the morning of their replacement because of a gnat bite on my leg which my surgeon didn't like the look of!! I collapsed into tears because I was so psyched-up into having it done. All the hand patting and don't cry didn't make me feel any better either - they don't understand do they :?: :roll:

All I can say is I'm so sorry this has happened and of course you have no choice but to hang on in there until they call you again Life's no fun when you have to keep gritting your teeth to get through the day.

I hope you hear very soon.

Luv Legs

greyheron

glitterbug wrote:

I am so distraught. Had a phonecall today at 4.30pm to tell me they have cancelled the op as there are no beds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tried to explain how much pain i'm in and that i've had to stop the Enbrel for 2 weeks prior so have been literally in agony!

Cannot believe they can do this the night before!!!!!!! I've put my life on hold for 3 months and am emotionally drained. My knee is so bad I cannot walk now and my arms are too bad to propell a wheelchair, my husband works 40 odd hrs a week and I am truly stuck now!

Sorry to rant but just feel dreadful :roll:

So sorry to hear this news, it must be truly dreadful.

Do you feel strong enough to make a complaint? Not sure about the procedure but PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) should be able to help - their phone number should be on hospital paperwork and in the phone book.

Complaining might ensure that you are right at the top of the list for the next bed - which you should be anyway.

Meantime, try to keep as positive as you can (I know that's easy for me to say) and lots of luck when the time does come - keep us posted.

Wendy