👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ Hips and knees part 6 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

Thank you for your encouragement. I think I’ve got everything I’ll need moved to where I’ll be able to reach it easily and I have a Helping Hand in every room. Cleaning and bed changing are organised and ready meals are at the top of my chest freezer. I have people staying for the first three days and my daughter will be coming over whenever she can. I hope that I’ve got everything arranged so that she’ll feel that I’m coping and she can relax, she has enough on her plate.

Teabagwoman, hope all goes well. It’s natural to worry but there are lots here to advise if there is anything you aren’t able to do.
You will be up and about in no time, in fact you should make sure to be up snd about as sitting around too long isn’t good for you.
I have said this before, but will repeat. When I got home from the hospital 36 hours after my new hip hop I had to go upstairs to the bathroom urgently, if you get my drift. So off and up I scampered, after only walking up 2 steps in hospital ( once) it was the full 15 in my house an hour later. You will be fine. You really will.

It is important that items you need regularly are within reach and you are not over-stretching or bending down.

A deep freezer can be problematic, but if you don't have anybody to cook for you, plated meals you pop in the microwave would be ideal.

Have you sorted out house cleaning and bed changing?

It will soon be over and at Christmas, you will be saying "surgery, what surgery?". Good luck, we are here for the slightest query.

Thank you for your good wishes, Redcar and Grammargran. I have to confess to being rather nervous, not so much about the operation but whether I’ve got everything sufficiently organised for afterwards. This thread has been a great help but I’m sure I’ll have forgotten something. I guess, if I have, I’ll muddle through, I always have in the past, but I hate having to ask for help.

teabag I hope your THR goes well next week.

Best of luck for your THR next week, teabag. Be sure to keep us updated with your progress.

I loved Marrakech, glad you had a good time. Well done. 👍

I must confess re my above mentioned holiday, I did have lots of lovely sit downs in shady spots at regular intervals. But you're right, Charleygirl, ski-ing & ice skating are definitely off the agenda during the coming Winter months - I know my limits!

That is so encouraging Grammargran. The thought that in a few months I will be walking comfortably again will keep me going after my THR next week.

I had the weirdest dream last night. My bad leg was actually a false leg. I decided to remove it so asked my partner to do it. Having smashed it off he said well, you wouldn’t’ve had the strength to do that yourself and I realised it had removed my hip too so there would be nowhere to attach a new hip or leg to. I woke up just as I was about to fall over . Because I woke up mid dream it’s stills fresh in my mind and won’t go away…

grammargran so pleased you’ve had a lovely pain free holiday!

grammargran That is very encouraging to hear you had a pain-free holiday, although with a couple of naggers in tow! Pleased to hear it was all well worth it.

I would not advise skiing or ice skating in a few months!

Not been on here for a while, but wanted to say to all of you whom I’d got so close to earlier in the year, that just ten months after my THR last November saw me strolling along the promenade in Casablanca. I would never have believed it possible from my hospital bed all those months ago. It was mainly thanks to our two carers (AKA two very bossy daughters!) who pushed both of us well beyond our comfort zone that my husband and I had a brilliant five days based in Marrakech, sightseeing and walking every day with temperatures in the 30s and both of us in our 80s. I do so hope this encourages anyone out there who is worrying about having a replacement, be it hip or knee, go for it, you won’t regret it!

Aches are commonplace with statins. Can you see if you can change them?

Where specifically in your legs is the pain? It could be coming from other areas, depending on where and when the pain bothers you.

Is it when walking, at rest, outdoors or eg at night? Do painkillers relieve it, or is it not bad enough? Is it with you all of the time?

Sorry for so many questions!

I have pains in my legs. Had hip op in May. All good, just can't figure out why legs pains. I am on statins and want to stop them as may be causing this. Also breathing probs since last year. They say not connected, so does anyone else have this? May be my great age!

If anyone is waiting for a hip replacement I can thoroughly recommend the surgery tool kit exercises on Versus Arthritis. I went to my exercise group this morning having had to miss several weeks for various reasons, and found the exercises considerably easier to do.

I bought a Vive knee ice wrap from Amazon. It’s soft, washable fabric and fixes around the knee with Velcro. Has pockets for flexible ice packs which emerge cold from the freezer while still being flexible. I found they stay cold for about 20 minutes. It has been both comfortable and useful for me and the two friends who subsequently borrowed it. It was relatively cheap as were the additional ice packs I purchased. Very useful with ice to tackle swelling and help movement. A very swollen knee truly can’t bend very far.

I’m throwing everything possible at my knee at the moment. Am at my partners for 4 weeks. One week in and each day I have done the exercises my physio gave me. Have been rubbing on Voltarol each night but have stopped for a while as I bought a tens machine and it has to be used on dry greaseless skin ( used it for the first time last night).Have walked each day, using walking poles and trying to get into a rhythm. I have found walking less painful.Even taking one 200g ibuprofen tablet each day ( I’m very wary of ibuprofen). My daughter has checked my post and there is no letter re my hospital appointment ( although I did tell them that I would be away in September). Doing my sauna each night and trying to fast for as long as possible after my evening meal. Even if I will need a TKR on my bad knee at least I hope to strengthen what has been, up till recently, my arthritis free knee. Trying to take a more positive approach as it had all been getting me down recently. Using ice and heat, too.

Definitely for the best and hopefully you will be on the mend soon. At least you will not have to wait long for surgery.

It’s for the best surfsup, it’s dangerous to have anaesthesia with an infection. Hope the meds work quickly and you can get your op very soon.

My knee op has been cancelled because of this nasty virus I’ve been fighting all week. It really has been awful. I’m on antibiotics from today as it’s in my sinuses and my chest. Hospital rang for pre op chat and was due to attend clinic tomorrow for blood tests etc. When the nurse heard my voice and I explained she said she’d have to speak to anaesthetist and surgeon. She called back to say they would postpone. Tbh I’m relieved as have felt so ill this week.

I keep my peas in the original bag but then put a damp tea towel on my knee and place the peas over it. It is good in that it moulds itself to the shape of the knee. I have to label it well to stop anyone using it first cooking.I sometimes sleep with a hot water bottle in a fluffy case on my knee. I’m currently sitting in an infra red sauna blanket which is bliss.

You may not have stitches. Mine was "glued" together so I could have a very early shower.

I would put a light towel or something between the frozen peas and my leg. You should not apply something frozen straight onto your skin.

Assume you wrap peas in a towel, which would help if any mopping up is required.
I woukd get one if those flexible scarf shaped heat things you can warm or chill in the freezer.