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

I think the Facebook page I’m on must be mainly American. People have said that, after a TKR they have to take a course of antibiotics before they have dental treatment, and this is for life. I’m wondering if the operation is done in a different way here. Or if it’s down to the American system being covered by insurance eg people saying they need more physio but the money has ran out?

That’s great news loopyloo. Glad you are on your way.

As to aids Charley my dd has worked in the nhs for 25 years. I asked why aids were not recycled as it’s a terrible waste and she explained that the service was contracted out to private companies who profited by charging the nhs money for new equipment each time. It wasn’t in their interest to be collecting, cleaning and reusing second hand stuff.
Now her hospital has this back under their control and items are returned cleaned and redistributed to new patients. At last.
So hooray for that.

MayBe I don’t think the antibiotics are for life but it’s true that before any operation you should go to the dentist to check teeth are ok. It’s to prevent infection.

maybee. Nothing was said to me about antibiotics and dental treatment post TKR. My dentist has never mentioned it and neither did the surgeon. Mr C on the other hand had to have a thorough dental checkup prior to heart valve surgery and was advised by his dentist that it was preferred there were antibiotics prior to anything invasive for the following year. In this area it seems to depend on the type of surgery.

It seems to be an American thing, then.

It’s now 15 weeks since my TKR and the change is quite amazing. It’s taken time, with vast swelling down my calf from just above the knee and an enormously fat foot! Also had a really achy shin, but I bought an ice pack from Amazon and this really helped. As did the Oramorph, for which I needed an extra script from my Gp.
I no longer need to use a stick, although if I’m walking any long-ish distance I do use it. I can’t manage a bath, though, and I really do want one! I can’t crouch in order to sit down in the bath, so I’m still using a bath seat. It’s ok, I can fully wash myself, but how I long for a really good soak!
I can walk upstairs, one foot after another, but am wary of doing so coming downstairs, so I do one step at a time.
However, has anyone found that their balance is a bit off? Maybe just me?

Going by my neighbour who has already had 3 new knees ….yes I know …long story ….you seem to have done really well in 15 weeks greenmossgiel.
As for balance could it be because you have had to be so cautious and even if not thinking about falling, you may sub consciously still are being careful, but walking upstairs one at a time , that’s great.

Oh no. I’ve started humming Jake the Peg now…

I do have what I call an ‘Inspector Morse’ foot (dropped), caused by the result of a slipped disc about 40 years ago. This foot tends to turn out slightly when I walk, so when one leg heads forward the other tends to want to veer off to the right! It’s a wonder I ever get to where I mean to be going, really!

greenmossgiel

I do have what I call an ‘Inspector Morse’ foot (dropped), caused by the result of a slipped disc about 40 years ago. This foot tends to turn out slightly when I walk, so when one leg heads forward the other tends to want to veer off to the right! It’s a wonder I ever get to where I mean to be going, really!

I’ve got an awful bunion on my right foot so my big toe is almost at a right angle to my foot which makes me walk at an angle. I remembered that I’d had a special insole made by the foot clinic a few years ago that is so deep it doesn’t fit into any of my shoes apart from my Ugg type boots. Given that one of my legs seems shorter than the other I might try using it to see if I walk better. Has anyone used a knee support? I wore one today that I’ve had for years. It fitted better than before because I’ve lost some weight ( so much of my weight is in my legs) so I was looking at buying a better one. My arthritic knee and leg is at least an inch bigger than the other one.

So glad to hear you're doing well greenmossgiel. You'll be glad you went ahead with the op. I kept using a stick outside for ages as it helped keep others at a distance and I always got a seat in the bus!

loopyloo please do not have both knees operated on at once. Some surgeons are very gungho about operating on both at once and apart from the pain. you do not have a leg to stand on. It is better to have the surgery a minimum of 3 months apart.

Even if anybody has a minor infection tell whoever is looking after you that you have a hip or knee replacement. I also have intricate metalwork in my ankle so I remind anybody I may need antibiotics. Better to be safe than sorry.

My big toes neighbour on one side is longer than the big toe and I have broken my other big toe twice in ‘trips’ ( not falls)! in the space in a year, the second time broke the middle toe too. The pain has been dreadful and it’s made me realise quite how important toes are.
I was considering having the broken big toe fused but couldn’t face it and worried about how easy it might be to walk.
I can only wear flat sensible shoes/trainers these days. Not very elegant but needs must.

Provided the surgery was carried out correctly you would be able to walk but it would take many months longer than one would think.

If you do decide please do research and choose a foot surgeon who does zilch else.

My big toe on the right foot seemed to fuse itself after a very sore arthritic flare up. Doesn't make any difference to my gait. I'm just glad the pain has gone.

To those who are waiting for a long time: I had my knee done last November at the South West London Elective Orthopedic Centre. As my DH is no longer able to drive I had hospital transport, the driver told me that the furthest he had been was to Cornwall to collect a patient. Opposite me was a lady from Southampton, I don't know what the criteria are for referral, but it might be worth asking about them. My sister had a new knee a few weeks before me, she had to wait two years in Cornwall, I waited six months.

I would think twice before I moved to another consultant. Some have really good reputations and have long waiting lists- I will say no more.

I had a chat with my friend who had a TKR recently. I said I was worried about not being able to look after my dog and she said well, you’ll have to get up in the night to go to the loo so you’ll be ok letting your dog out. Am I over worrying or is has she already forgotten what her first few weeks were like?

Maybee it will help to have someone with you for the first week or so if that can be arranged.
If not if you normally sleep upstairs can you move downstairs? Just until you are moving around better. It woukd make it easier to let your dog out.
I don’t think your friend will have forgotten especially if she had her knee operation recently. I remember how I felt after my hip hop 2.5 years ago.

When I had a knee replaced a few years ago now my cat escorted me to the loo 2-3 times during thenight. She had been sleeping in another bedroom and normally she would not have bothered. She did this for about 6 weeks and then I think she decided I did not need any more help. She is no longer with me but I never forgot that.

I am sorry Maybee I do not know what to say about your dog. Who is going to walk her? A cat is easier to look after.

I do share the dog with my partner so she can live with him. It’s just that she’s my world and I wouldn’t want to be parted from her for a long time.

Charleygirl cats are great. I too have an escort in the loo! Every time though. I think he thinks it's his job.

Maybe70, I nearly didn’t go for my TKR as my husband is quite seriously ill and needs quite a bit of input from me. However, I think the moving about that I had to do after coming out of hospital did me the world of good.
My grandson popped down 2 or 3 times a day for the first couple of days to make sure we had what we needed, and my neighbour collected our newspaper until I could walk to the shop.
When I saw my consultant for my 6-week checkup, I explained I hadn’t been able to do the exercises as I was afraid I would injure myself! He knew about my home situation and said, “Just keep walking, that’s all you need to do.”
I had my operation 16 weeks ago today.

Maybee you will not be parted from your darling for long. Maybe a couple of days without and then she could easily live with you provided your partner or whoever could exercise her and you could let her run around the garden if you have one to do the necessary. We care for animals more than ourselves.

My dentist said that any dental work or infection should be reported to the hospital as there is a chance of the joint getting infected via the blood stream.
Don’t report anything!!! A historic, dormant infection let the hospital take me off the list which put me back at least 6 months. You can always tell them if necessary WHEN you get a date, rather than risk ill informed booking clerks improving their waiting times by taking you off.