👯‍♀️👯‍♀️Hips and Knees part 4 👯‍♀️👯‍♀️

Yes Charleygirl5, I'm already thinking of booking myself into a local care home for a week afterwards. I haven't had a proper holiday this year due to my poor mobility and pain....the cost would be similar to staying in a home. At least I'd have 24hr access to someone if I needed help and all my meals cooked for me too!!!

Loobs

So I now find I have to go through another knee replacement. I had the right knee done (partial) in Feb 2020 (just as Covid hit) and found it really painful for the first 4 weeks or so. It was totally worth it but I really don't want to go through it again - I almost had a panic attack when I walked back into the private hospital last month (done under the NHS though) and was so stressed I decided to try a cortisone injection to put off the evil day!. It worked for about 3 weeks but then the pain returned and was far worse (in fact I ended up in A&E as my doctor thought my cruciate ligament had torn) and so I have to face the fact that I have to have it done. It will probably be early next year - the wait is about 18 weeks from seeing the consultant and I am unable to see him until early September. I am taking ibuprofen and paracetamol, Naproxen just sends me to sleep. Do you think that taking the 'branded' painkillers is more effective than the cheap supermarket ones?? I've started using a walking stick for when it gets too painful but actually find using a crutch much better.

Please be careful with ibuprofen and take it with food…

I had right TKR in Feb 2023, then right THR in August 2023. Thought I was doing ok then got covid after Christmas, then a chest infection which has left me breathless a bit. Had a chest xray early May and due to go back to see respiratory consultant in early July.
Now left leg aches, and with the breathing difficulties, I have not been going walking, which I was so looking forward to, and I am worried that I may need left leg 'doing'! Due to see Consultant who did my surgeries in August.
Feeling a bit sorry for myself.

Hi, thanks for this thread. I had my right TKR done on Friday, came home on Sunday. I can't take strong opiates so pain management is always a challenge for me (have had both hips and other knee replaced) but am enjoying Wimbledon! Currently watching CBeebies 😂. Stocked up on loads of food before my op but am not eating much of it. I suspect by the end of the week I'll be a bit more back to normal. So pleased to be the other side of the operation after a long time on crutches. The hospital will ring me today to check up on me; standard procedure.

Hello all
hi Loobs, I don’t think there is any difference between cheap and branded pain killers. Be careful of anything with codiene. Can cause dreadful constipation. Very quickly.
I also had a steroid injection which only helped for a week and yes, the pain was much worse afterwards so know how you feel. ,
Kircubbin it’s early days , you will be fine and Susytish perhaps your left leg is under strain due to the two ops on the right one.
Greetings to Travels, how are you?
Welcome Mizuna. How are you getting on? Hope the Appetite has returned.
I havnt been on here lately as I have been away for a wet week but have also had a lot of back pain right by my operated hip. X Ray says hip is ok but have been referred back to orthopaedics with an appointment at the end of this month.
My problem started after a couple of heavy falls 2 years post op. They think there is a tear somewhere ..…Will have to wait, but happily not for long and am grateful.

Kircubbin, as fir cutting toe nails and putting socks on, I go to a chiropodist fir the nails but to my surprise while I can put socks on it is somehow slightly awkward putting the left sock on my new hip leg. Can’t think why, especially as I am over 2 years post op.

Please may I remind everybody who has had a hip or knee replaced that irrespective of when it was done, please make sure you start on antibiotics for the simplest infection because unbeknown to you it can affect your joint whether replaced last week or 20 years ago. There endeth the sermon.

Oh! Thank you Charleygirl
No-one has told us that.

I didn’t realise that either. Thanks charleygirl

My ex-professional life is useful at times with snippets like that. Another is to not buy one of those gadgets which get your feet and legs moving/vibrating because over time it can loosen a knee replacement. I do not know what it will do to a hip unless you can feel it vibrating also, I would not use it.

The toughest thing for me is that my thigh muscle has been affected by the tourniquet they used during the operation. It's very sore and not working much so I'm having to heave my leg on and off my bed with a strap. I've spoken to the hospital physio who says it will improve. It is only 11 days since the operation but being me I want to be able to do more. I changed the dressing today and the scar is looking very good. Aren't bodies marvellous, the way they heal? My appetite is gradually improving, thanks silverlining.

Sock Aid Tool for Putting Socks Easy On and Off for Elderly, Disabled, Pregnant, Diabetics - Pulling Assist Device - Sock Helper (Blue)

10 months on from R hip replacement I still can’t put my TR sock on without this device. No other problems.

Mizuna. It’s only 11 days….it will be sore for a while longer. I heaved my leg up onto the bed for a lot longer than that and certainly didn’t touch the dressing, which was stuck solid, until I saw the nurse to remove stitches, of which there was none as it had been glued together. That was a surprise. 😳
Glad appetite improving.

It was a couple of weeks before I could lift my leg Mizuna but kept trying that exercise sitting on the bed and can lift it quite well now 5 weeks on.

We were told not to touch the dressing, had to go to the hospital to have it removed two weeks later. The advice does seem to vary. Mine was glued.

Hello again! The search function doesn’t work on my iPhone on GN so I have to wait until you reappear. My TKR was tomorrow but was cancelled and now waiting for another date, perhaps in September. It will be a full year since I first saw a surgeon. Having taken cocodamol last night, I have been very sleepy all morning and have just had a nap. What a waste of the day!
Glad you had your op Mizuna and best wishes for your recovery.

Oh that’s so disappointing Nannytopsy. I hope it’s not too long until you get a new date. Take care with cocodomol. Knew someone who ended up in hospital for a week after taking only a few tablets ( severe constipation).,
I ended up with his unused tablets, but didn’t have the nerve to take them. Just in case….

Nannytopsy We don’t often appear on the active list….but you can find us under health in the Forums at the top of the page, look out for the dancers, 👯 , it helps locating us easier.

Ah, thank you for the leg-heaving comments, which help immensely. I was told at the hospital to change the dressing today, and how to do it, but I will tell my doctor when I have a follow-up call with her tomorrow that I've done so. Also, I took a photo of the wound in case I need to describe it. Quite a few things have changed since I had my other knee replaced seven years ago, most noticeably the reduced emphasis on the exercises, which were hourly and gruelling at that point. I know there's been plenty of discussion about how much to exercise and whether to follow the physio's advice. I'm taking it gently.

Mizuna Yes the rules have changed with one set of doctors wanting to keep to the rules, exercise, degrees of movement, wearing the stockings etc and another lot much more laissez faire.
Physios have to know the particular surgeons views before they can decide on treatment
Must be very confusing for them as well as patients.

I expect the next appointment to be in September. I have an appointment in a couple of weeks with physios to start the hip pathway too. My shoulder and fingers are also more bothersome than usual. Does inflammation in one joint trigger it in others? The last time I asked I was told it was the weather! Also does arthritis make you permanently tired?

I can’t answer that NannyT but ask the physio when you have your appointment.

silverlining48

Oh that’s so disappointing Nannytopsy. I hope it’s not too long until you get a new date. Take care with cocodomol. Knew someone who ended up in hospital for a week after taking only a few tablets ( severe constipation).,
I ended up with his unused tablets, but didn’t have the nerve to take them. Just in case….

Yes!

I was threatened with hospital if I didn't 'go' that night.
I took the laxatives etc and avoided going back in.

Magnesium helps.

It was the physio who said it was the weather!

No answer to that then, though the physio could have been right about weather. You could ask a pharmacist perhaps or even google if you can’t see your gp. Not too long to wait til September. Good luck and Keep in touch.

Our joints do not like cold damp weather so the physio was probably correct. We function better when it is warm and dry. Does anybody remember those odd days?