Knee replacement. Help!

Hope that your knee isn't too painful elrel. I saw that you'd posted on another thread at 2.30 this morning. Is it keeping you awake?

Well spotted oldgoat. Its quite hard to sleep (well I find it hard) on your back all the time.
I'm 4 weeks post discharge today and Elrel is a week or so after me. I'm lucky as I have DH to help if required but I think Elrel manages more or less on her own but with visits from DS and DGDs.
Two weeks to go till my appt with consultant and possibility of driving again. It will be nice to feel a bit more independent again.
My knee still doesn't bend all that much but I'm more relaxed about it having been reading up about long term results. Still doing my exercises though.

Are you going to make it to the GN C**** Edinburgh meet-up Jane 10 ?
I remember after my Caesarian sections, being afraid to stand upright because my scar felt so tight and I was afraid that it would pop open Needless to say, it didn't.

No I won't be going to the Christmas (there I've said it!) lunch oldgoat. Sorry to miss seeing you. I did enjoy our last lunch outing. I'll not be able to be out and about independently on time. Hope you enjoy it.

Went to knee class on Thursday with socks in my pocket. Physio was worried until I explained that surgeon said I could stop wearing them. However I put them on when I got home and am still wearing them! Another 3.5 weeks to go I guess!
I just washed my hair with jug over bath! DGD had agreed to do it but we forgot and she went home early. I felt a bit faint with head down but done now, clean hair!!
Rose hip oil is really softening scar, I rub it in twice a day. I haven't tried Wobbly's scourer method however!
All the best to all 'new kneelers'!

Lovely hydrotherapy session today, really feeling benefit!

Ooh I envy you. I'd love hydrotherapy -much better than being pushed and pulled by my physio.

How many do you get Eirel? I was allowed 4 when recovering from a broken ankle. Really enjoyed the sessions and the hydrotherapy pool was so warm. I gather it's been closed down since then. Pity.

I googled local hydrotherapy as I thought it would really help but all I found was a 'consultation' document regarding closure of our only hydrotherapy pool. Needless to say it has been closed despite lots of responses saying how much the pool was valued.

you might find a local gym with a jacuzzi - much the same effect.

It's 7 weeks now since my knee replacement and I saw my consultant on Monday and was given permission to drive.
So I tried it and, oh dear, what a disappointment. I thought would be easy but it wasn't. It's my left knee that was replaced, so hence having to use the clutch. It wasn't all that painful, just a bit, but the stiffness made it really hard to quickly put my foot on and off the clutch, so I found myself riding the clutch pedal, - not a good idea. So I only went around the block.
I will keep trying, but if continues to be difficult I will change my car for one with automatic gears.
Anyone else had this problem after knee replacement?

I changed my car for an automatic when I broke my foot 3 years ago and I have not looked back.

Thanks Luckygirl. I've never driven an automatic so am very nervous about it. But I honestly think it might be the answer.

Oh dear henetha. I'm hoping to be able to drive after next weeks appt (6 weeks post op by then). Maybe you should persevere a while? From all accounts I've read improvement can happen in fits and starts.

I've driven an automatic for years now. The trick is to tuck your left foot out of the way so you don't slam it on to the brake because you think you're using the clutch. (I did it once , and it's not recommended!) An automatic car makes driving so much easier after a knee replacement. I was driving much sooner than I was supposed to be.

My hydrotherapy, in hospital pool but with private company, is a Christmas present from DD. Met two women having NHS hydrotherapy yesterday, both were collected by porters with wheelchairs, far less mobile than I am.
I've booked another 4x 1 hour sessions for January. Yesterday's manipulation has left me achy and fragile. I love walking in the water and apparently my extension is all right. My flexion is still not good, I'm not getting about enough. Knee class tomorrow.
I will deliver some cards to neighbours soon, just to get out. Took the opportunity to try a sitting bath (on lowish stool) and hair wash yesterday while cleaner was here. I felt good afterwards and didn't need any help from cleaner. It was reassuring to know she was in the house.
I don't drive, sat in back of car for first time yesterday and had trouble getting out. Considering Ring and Ride.
oldgoat. - I've let my timings get out of control. As I was finding it difficult to get to sleep I went to bed later and later. Knee was really achy last night, and when I woke up! I'm sleeping better now, still on my back propped up. Last night I had a good 8 hours - from 2.00am to 10am! Not good!! The Nigel Slater programme on Cake from 1am - 2am was a pleasant distraction!!
My final meeting with the surgeon is next Tuesday morning. Have other people had their's?

Elrel please please check the Bonesmart forum. Its a brilliant source of practical info and support from people all over the world who have had knee replacements. I have a completely different attitude to my recovery as a result of it. Nobody is going to manipulate my knee or measure recovery by range of movement! The physio I've had has set back recovery!! The evidence base for physio for knee replacement is very poor. There's no evidence for long term benefit of physio!! I checked the NICE guidelines on this and also the Cochrane database.
We seem to be given physio sort of because it seems logical but its not logical to start pushing and pulling on a very damaged area which hasn't had a chance to let the tissues even start to heal. Its rest ice and elevation for me now as well as gradually increasing activities of daily living. That seems to work very well! Do check that forum.

Whoever it was that suggested the Bonesmart site, I cannot quite get my head round it. I tried to join and it keeps saying they will send an email and then does not do it. Also, the posts on the forums seem to be very old, with none recent.

9 weeks post breaking rt. ankle and the physio was dubious about me driving because of doing an emergency stop. I have to go and practice somewhere quiet apparently, which sounds like a good idea.

Luckygirl I think I just googled bonesmart forums. There certainly are extremely up to date postings -mine included. There's a knee replacement pre and post op section and a hip pre and post op section. I'm on my mobile writing this or I would cut and paste the url (or whatever its called!!)

Thanks, off to Bonesmart!

Good news re the driving. It's just over a week now since I started and it's getting easier... yippee. I can actually operate the clutch now without yelping with pain!
And I'm increasing the distance and managed to get up to my beloved Dartmoor yesterday where I sat in the mist feeling marvellous.
8 weeks now since my operation and life is almost back to normal, - almost not quite. Still limp a bit, but hardly any pain. It's been hard work though. Knee operations are not a lot of fun! Good luck to all you fellow sufferers.
P.S.. I agree, Jane10, about the physio. I think it's too painful. I'm glad I am now signed off by the physios and can just improve in my own time without all that struggling to do their squats and endlesss cycling etc.

Bad news for me at today's appt with surgeon. He's not happy with my degree of flexion and has given me a month to improve it otherwise its a manipulation under anaesthetic for me. My worst fear.
On top of that worry I'm not allowed to drive. Am feeling extremely downhearted.

Oh no Jane10
Do you have exercises to do, can the physio help?

The physio has given me exercises which I have tried to do but they make my knee swell up even more and further restrict bending! I can't win. On top of that I've just read that I can't have any alcohol with the anti inflammatories prescribed. Not that I'm a big drinker but was looking forward to the odd glass of bubbly at various Christmas events. Just have this awful fear hanging over me.
Sorry for being such a moan.