Knees & Hips

Just think of how good it will be to get rid of the constant pain. Take the opportunity to let someone take care of you for a while after your op'.

Thanks, Ginny. That's good to know. I'm just becoming a terrible worrier as I get older.

I too had an spinal with sedative. You certainly will not be able to see or feel what is happening . I slept though my two op's. No after effects from the aesthetic. Just a gradually regaining of feeling. Certainly fr better than the horrible fuzzy sick feeling I have had with general aesthetic.

Thanks, Mishap. I'm driving my poor DH mad with constant 'what ifs?' I really must 'woman up'.

I had mine with spinal plus sedative in September - I was aware of nothing at all of what was going on during the operation and can remember nothing. I don't even remember being given the sedative - last I remember was them tatting about putting the spinal in, which, by the way, did not hurt. I do not think you should worry - this is the standard way of doing the op now and is much the safest option.

Yesterday I had my pre-admission appointment - my hip op is on Tuesday. I had earlier been told by the consultant that even with only an epidural and a sedative I would know nothing about the op until it was all over, so I was appalled when the senior nurse who did my bloods and other tests told me I would know what was going on the whole time. When I queried this she said I would be 'in a light sleep' but would be aware of what was going on. Who is right? I don't want to have a general anaesthetic as everyone tells me the epidural/sedative option enables the quickest recovery, but the thought of lying there for 90 mins watching my hip being replaced scares the living daylights out of me. Has anyone any experience of this? What is it actually like? Please help! At the moment I feel like cancelling the whole thing.......[shocked]

Thank you all. Your reassurance is invaluable. I will certainly let you know how i get on.

NotTooOld it reall, really is true about the pain! After the operation (hip six weeks ago, knee last April) you will feel discomfort, and maybe some controllable pain, but it is nothing like the pain you are feeling now. You will get very tired as your body recovers. Just listen to what your body needs.

Read what I said earlier about my recent exploits - walking to the cinema the other day I was remembering the pain I was suffering the last time I did it.

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

NotTooOld Of course everyone reacts and recovers at a different pace. Most of these very common operations go smoothly and the results are very good.

I have had both my knees replaced in the last 9 months and just the fact that the constant pain has gone is life changing in itself.

There will be some pain and discomfort but the most important thing is to make sure you do all the exercises that the physio's give you.

I hope your op' goes well and wish you a speedy recovery.

One of mine is 25 years old, the other isles than te

PS That was nearly ten years ago and the hip is still working painlessly.

NotTooOld, I can only speak from my own experience and assure you that one of the first things I noticed was that the pain radiating down to my foot had gone completely. The pain had been so bad pre-op that I'd been using a stick for some months and I couldn't imagine the post-op pain being worse. And it wasn't. However, everyone has a different experience. Good luck on Tuesday and please come back and tell us how things have gone.

Have been reading your comments re hip replacement with interest as my op is set for next Tuesday and I'm dreading it. I think what I dread most is feeling worse than I do now. At the moment I can still get around fairly ok, although getting in and out of the car is a struggle, and I don't need a stick BUT post-op will I immediately feel better or worse?

Mishap - I had my hip op. 8 years ago but got the same advice about walking regularly. To strengthen the muscles around the damaged joint(s), also the psychological beneficial effects.
I realise it's harder for you if you have foot problems too. Has anyone suggested getting specially fitting boots for walking? I have some insoles which were designed to correct an imbalance of posture.

Thanks Charleygirl. I'm taking it day by day and trying to stay positive

My brain feels like 29 but it obviously has not communicated with my joints recently.

Very sorry to hear that you have RA petallus- not what you wanted to hear.

And it can only get worse!

Un-subscribing in my experience generally fails. So you will just have to stick with it pompa.

I have un-subscribed from getting old, still waiting to hear back.

I feel that if I'd have known what getting old was like when I was born, I wouldn't have been

This getting old lark has very little to recommend it!

Pleased to hear the various bits of good news. Mishap sorry you are still suffering after all this time.

Two and a half months after my hip replacement and I am told I am doing very well.

However saw a rheumatologist last week because of swollen painful fingers. Seems I now have rheumatoid arthritis. I am waiting for Xray and blood results before commencing treatment which I am told can be very effective.

Bit of a bummer though!

Just 18 days post op from THR. My DS is 5 months post op from knee key hole surgery because of accident at work. He has pins and plates. I am in better shape! I have been told that knee ops are much worse than hip ops. Now the dog has to go to vet with bad knee caused from chasing rabbits. Everything certainly does come in threes. Good luck to all. Keep positive. [cupcakes]

Thanks ariadne - I think it is just a matter of time. The joint is sound from the x-ray evidence; it is just inflammation of the surrounding tissues and nerve irritation. I am told that it will eventually go away and that I need to walk as much as possible - which of course I do. I have a problem with most painkillers and have to choose between being able to live fairly normally or being sick, having heartburn, being too dozy to function. I choose to live! - and I just take paracetamol.

I do find it frustrating, as I have several foot problems - broken foot is on the opposite side to the hip op and is painful and causes me to limp as the joints have collapsed; and I seem to have a metatarsal problem with my other foot that is jolly painful to walk on. So I am a bit lame - in every sense of the word!

But I have to plough on in the hope that it will all resolve in its own time.

I try to be pleased for all my friends who have recovered from their hip ops in no time at all!!

I have my discharge appointment next Monday, then, I hope, I too am done for a while, pompa'

I am also enjoying not taking codeine, paracetamol, Naproxyn etc - my body feels so much better. I remember the relief when I came off Tamoxifen - that was awful.

Mishap I am so sorry to hear of your pain - is there nothing the medics can do? Is it associated with the injury to your foot in any way? I remember that was pretty bad.