👯‍♀️ Hips and Knees part 7

I was covered with a warming blanket during surgery which was very cosy!

Orthopaedics is especially noisy, with the sounds of drilling, hammering, and banging. Depending also on the surgeon's choice and the volume of music, it is not all soft classical.

Redcar, it’s interesting to hear what you’re saying about the operating theatre being cold and noisy. That’s not what I thought it would be like. I had a picture in my mind of the surgeons working away in total silence, which obviously isn’t the case

That’s good to know Nannytopsy.

I remember the operating theatre was cold, noisy and the music was very loud and not my choice! In recovery I was shaking with cold so they had to warm me up quickly.
It was the first operation I’d ever had - at 76!

I had a TKR 12 months ago with a spinal block and light sedation. I had conversations with the theatre nurse and the anaesthetist who kept me updated but I felt nothing. I obviously wasn’t fully awake as I didn’t hear noises.

You are better off sleeping; otherwise, it sounds as though you are in a builder's yard, and I am sure you don't want that, do you? Banging and hammering of metal is not a pleasant sound, and you may not like the music being played!

GemmaMack, I was terrified of being under as well - really. Didn't let anyone know how petrified I really was & was convinced I wasn't going to wake up. In reality I just felt these icy cold gentle stroking movements on my back, remarked that my feet were tingly, "good", I heard, "that means everything's working." And with that I woke up in recovery about an hour and a half or so later, none the wiser, except that I couldn't move my legs which was an odd feeling. By teatime-ish feeling had returned & time for some painkillers. So I for one totally understand how you're feeling - but now I know how unnecessary it was, please, please believe me!!

Sadly I’m not brave . Just more frightened of being asleep than awake . It’s reassuring to know that your friend wasn’t traumatised though

Gosh GemmaMack , you're very brave . I don't think she was traumatised , I think it's a vague memory due to the sedation . Possibly she started to come too at the end and she heard the team finishing off . I think she's rather proud of it but I do wish she hadn't told me ha ha ha 😉

Thanks got the welcome everyone. I will definitely try to sleep on my back surrounded by pillows in advance of the op to see how that works.
Ironically the hospital have now (literally this morning) put the date of my op back a couple of weeks so it’s now in early March. It’s a bit annoying as I had geared up to the earlier date but there is a good reason.
I’m having the operation under spinal plus sedation too sparkle and was sort of hoping to be awake but relaxed (I’m a bit scared of being put to sleep) but now I’m beginning to wonder if that’s the right decision. Was your friend very traumatised by hearing what was going on? I’m assuming that she did actually feel anything

Luckygirl3

Please don't be put off the surgery by my experience - I do not live up to my Gransnet name!
I am surrounded by people for whom the surgery has been a total blessing - jealous, moi?!

I didn't like to say that you've been most unlucky

I hope the MRI shows up a fixable problem.

My DH has progressively found walking more and more painful over the past couple of years. Physio, painkillers and compression stockings had very little effect. He finally pushed for an MRI and it turns out that he has bulging discs trapping a nerve, And it is apparently fixable with an op. We're just waiting for a date now.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you

sparkle I had a spinal block and sedation for both my hip replacement operations. At some stage during the first one I could hear noises, and made a comment to the anaesthetist and he immediately gave me further sedation. Couldn’t feel anything. I woke up as the op finished and was fully awake within a few minutes. The second time I woke up as the operation ended. The anaesthetist will adjust the level of sedation according to your wishes. Hope it all goes well!

Please don't be put off the surgery by my experience - I do not live up to my Gransnet name!
I am surrounded by people for whom the surgery has been a total blessing - jealous, moi?!

cornergran,Charleygirl5,MaizieD , thankyou all so much , I feel much better and I will tell the anaesthetist to make sure I have the deepest sedation available.
I'm so sorry Luckygirl3 I hope you can get it sorted , it sounds awful .

I had hip replacement 11 years ago because it kept locking in place. When I surfaced from the surgery I had a new pain (not at the incision) deep in my groin and down the inside of my leg.
I have been back endless times and they just say it is inflammation and give ateroid injections which achieve nothing.
Saw the guy yesterday and got a bit firm. I can now no longer lift my leg when I am sitting or lying ... brain sends message but nothing happens. And the pain is worsening.
He has ordered a back MRI ...I have had some back surgery since the hip. He is finally admitting that something in my back might have been disrupted during the hip surgery .... 11 years it has taken....

I had a spinal block with a 'sedative'. I was asleep before I went into theatre and woke up just as the op was finished. The only thing I heard was a couple of loud thumps just as I woke up

It is nothing at all to worry about. And you couldn't have found a worse worrier than me before I had it done..

I had the same, and I told the anaesthetist I didn't want to hear anything, and he obliged. I was in Recovery before I joined the land of the living.

Please don't worry sparkle. I opted for a spinal block and sedation for a TKR I remember not a thing until I was suddenly wide awake, my leg held up while the surgeon wound what seemed to me miles of bandage around my knee. There was no pain at all.

The major advantage for me was no nausea afterwards, it was simply like waking from a deep sleep. Quickly back in bed I was soon happily eating a sandwich and drinking tea while messaging folk to say all was over.

I had previously opted for sedation for two more minor processes and been encouraged by those experiences. It truly is nothing to worry about but why not tell the anaesthetist when you see them pre surgery, I’m sure you’ll be reassured and they will be aware of your fears

Good luck GemmaMack , I have been trying to get out of the habit of crossing my legs now before the op . There seems to be so much to remember but there seems to be lots of good advice here.
One thing that's worrying me is a friend telling me she could hear everything in the operating theatre . I'll be having the spinal block and sedation , could one of you lovely ladies put my mind at rest . I'm currently absolutely petrified .

I was advised that I could sleep on my side right from the start. Obviously with a firm pillow or cushion between the knees. As grammargran said, you won’t find movement very easy in the early days anyway because the muscles in your operated leg have been weakened. I found sleeping in either position wasn’t easy initially.

FWIW my op was on the NHS but at a private hospital. I don’t know if that makes any difference to the post op advice given.

GemmaMack When you go home, I am sure you will be told to sleep on your back for 6 weeks and put a pillow between your legs to stop you from rolling over. For comfort, you may want a pillow on one side. Unless you are incredibly lucky, you may find it very difficult. Why not try it now, pre-op.

Hi GemmaMack and welcome. I, too, had my TRH done privately last Nov twelvemonth because age wasn’t on my side and like teabag, saw my savings plummet but hey, what are savings for? I think you’ll find, restless sleeper or not, your movements will be very limited in the early days anyway. Like you, I’m a bit of a fidget and found frustration the worst enemy because I couldn’t toss and turn in my sleep! All the best for Feb and keep us in touch with your progress.

gemmamack I’ve had both hips replaced and am glad to be free of the pain. After the operation you will be told to sleep on your back, which some find difficult. I put pillows down the middle of the bed to stop me trying to roll over while asleep and found that worked well for me. Sometimes a pillow between the knees helps to keep your legs in the right position.
I hope your operation goes well.

Hello Gemmamack, I had my THR done privately, last October. Took a hefty chunk out of my savings but like you I couldn’t wait any longer and it has been well worth it.

I’m not the person to answer your question about crossing your legs as I’m the opposite of you, a back sleeper who hardly moves. I believe the advice will be to pad yourself with pillows but someone, more experienced than me, will be along soon to give you the answer.