Exhausted from other surgeries, Hard time going on to TKR

Thank you ALL for your responses. It helps to have support. I will consider waiting. You're right. I still have time to decide. Unfortunately, with this and my MS my quality of life sucks right now. Both knees are bone on bone, but I further injured my left one about 2 months ago. Every bend of it hurts. I can't walk a block and spend a lot of time in bed. People tell me that when I get through it - it will be life changing. Is that true? I'd like a bit of life changing right now! My mastectomy and DIEP flap surgery was HUGE. Funny thing is...I was looking for the bright side and thought -"Well, this will be the worst surgery you ever have to go through." Haha - seems that may not be the case. Just having you all reach out made me feel a lot better. I suppose like everything, I need to take it a day at a time and do what I feel is right. Tomorrow is another day and perhaps things will look brighter. I really appreciate the support. Thanks again.

Thank you for your response. I am so sorry about your breast cancer. It's a hard hand to be dealt. I know there is no way I can do crutches. I had lymph nodes removed and my underarms are numb, but somehow sore. Go figure! I am also sorry you went through this alone. I can't even imagine. I don't have the greatest support system but I do have some. It must have been so hard for you. Thanks for reaching out. It helps to hear from others that have been there and done that.

That's exactly it Pattiecake - where the lymph nodes were excised is my most painful area and was affected very much by both crutches and a stick (and I am 5 years post op) - just my luck with the stick use requires the same side - Ha !

I agree with most people that you should try and postpone this and definitely speak with your healhcare providers before you decide to go ahead.....you have a fair way to go with your breast surgery recovery and as someone else said - TKR is a very long haul and another long anaesthetic and you will need all your strength to cope with the highs and lows....so beware.....all us TKR'ers have experienced the same.

And thanks to both you and Linda for caring about my lonely plight - I'm used to dealing with things on my own and some of it is my own fault as I don't ask ! I think people have enough to contend with in their own lives and in the past - if I have reached out - I find people get compassion fatigue very quickly - lol - which is probably why I don't ask anymore......probably just asked the wrong people at the time...but in the whole scheme of things there are people out there and on this forum that are far worse off than me and I have had a whole raft of surgeries for cancer, spine and now knee but am not unique. In fact, you probably noticed yourself - in the cancer aftercare treatment centres, when you are feeling really sorry for yourself, you always find someone else that is far worse than you...all relative I know but I found such comeraderie and support from those people - that helped!

I am intrigued about this "tincture" and I notice one of Chicos replies (about 10 hours ago) is still awaiting moderation...I wonder if that because this forum doesn't allow us to pass on the names of these 'alternative treatments' - we are all adults and can decide for ourselves if we want to follow that path but I guess they can't be seen to advertise it in a way! Be interested to know....

Take good care Pattiecake and let us know what you decide and how you get on....I often don't see how people progress....bit like FB when people share a post where there is a lost something or a pet -  you never find out if they have been found...bit annoying ha!

Thanks for your good wishes....I'm doing ok really...just need to be patient but am also waiting for surgery on my spine as have a collapsed vertebrae ( that may have happened during my TKR!).

I giggled at your grilfriends support forum...there we 3 other ladies in my orthopaedic ward - all different ages, different procedures and different walks of life and we got on so well, we set up a 'Whatsapp' group - in the initial stages we were so confined to our own homes that it was pinging off the hook and we helped each other through that time with loads of support but it hardly ever pings now...maybe every other Sunday....lol...but it was good at the time.....

I wish you well with your recovery....x

WOW. I am sorry for all that you and your family have been through. But what a wonderful result for your daughter. That's great! It seems the overall consensus is that I should wait on this. I am going to give that some very serious thought. I have done the Synvisc and found it helpful at first. Unfortunately, about 2 years ago I had a major allergic reaction and one knee blew up like a balloon. It was no longer a viable option. I wish you and yours all the best. You deserve it.

Why in the world isn't the "tinctute" in the doctors arsenal? My daughter has fibromyalgia and lupus and more diseases I can't spell. Her doctor told her they couldn't tell her to get some but she should. I guess big drug companies don't have control of it. Wonderful that it helped you daughter recover! Its tough to see your children suffer.

It's made from the plant that Clinton said he never inhaled...you know...the 4:20 one...  Some states have legalized it for medical use.  You have no idea how many people ("medical refugees" have moved to Colorado and other states in order to save their own lives or those of their family.  The stuff just works.  The problem is that you can grow your own cure in your own backyard and Big Pharma doesn't make a dime.  It's all about THE MONEY!!!  If no one gives a damn about your daughter's life, then take it into your own hands.  My daughter did and lives to tell the tale...

Ha ha - ok - thanks for that......no wonder your post on the subject was moderated......I had one refused as I mentioned a National Helpline website for bullying in the workplace....understandable I suppose as you never know what people might try to advertise on forums like this.........

I have tried the 'tincture' but didn't keep it up for long as didn't have any effect...too impatient I guess but maybe I should have another go for longer next time as it may take a while to 'kick in'......x

You're so darn vague. Hard for old people like me to figure out what you're talking about.

Has spring arrived in TX yet. Still can t get a 75 degree day here.

Have a good week

I live in NY. Medical marijuana was recently legalized for certain illnesses. MS being one of them. I tried it in pill form.  There are several variations with different % of the 2 substances. None worked for me but perhaps I should have tried the tincture too before giving up on it. I will reconsider. It was an expensive proposition. Only a few doctors are in the program.  The physician that prescribed it charged $250 for the initial exam. Two weeks - one month supply  of pills (depending on how many per day) was $90. Nothing covered by insurance and all cash because it is federally illegal. It is just ridiculous. Some people, like your daughter - get tremendous relief. They have also recently learned that it helps people get off an opioid addiction which is a huge epidemic in this country.  Hopefully our law makers will open their minds to the benefits derived  and legalize it. 

c b d oil has the hallucinogen taken out to preserve medical benefits and make it legal, but like anything else, quality is important. Some have had success juicing the whole plant.

It was cooler than normal down here last month but today was 80 so we're back to shorts weather.  Things are finally starting to turn greener...

Vague?  Moi?  There are certain things the moderators don't like posted...

Hope you have a great growing season and your crops produce real contentment for you this summer and fall.

In my ongoing efforts to stay away from the surgeon's knife again, I went to PT today. I've got a great gal in mid 40's working on my back and my old buddy, the one with the doctorate, working on my knees. Today was back day. She asked me how I sit and how I lay so she can get an idea of helping control the damn pain that's with me 24/7. It came down to conventional and then doing whatever it takes to get relief. I got to thinking about you and wishing I could got west to a higher altitude for a few days but with my wife's condition worsening on a daily basis, that's out of the question.

Sure makes you wonder why everything has to be so difficult. Right now my docs understand the pain in in and my home life situation so they are willing to work with me on my pain meds but I live in fear that the opiate watchdogs will slam the door shut and I'll be left with Aleve to control the pain and ruin my liver. At 81 years old, addiction is the least of my worries. My wife is so rigid and stuck in her mentality, home grown alternatives and holistic options would be out of the question even though her anxiety and depression meds have failed and many hours of her day at spent in tears and begging me to find help for her. I would love for life to be as simple as a warm brownie, scoop of ice cream and glass of ice cold milk.

Well enough of my rambling at 2.30 a.m., the pain meds have started to kick in so I guess it's back to bed, get a little rest so I can get up and get her meds out, fix breakfast and start the day contemplating what needs to be done and then hit the therapy routine remembering the good old days when an occasional hangover was as bad as it got.

Have a good day today and A better one tomorrow.

Ha ha - this post made me giggle....so did my very young great niece who had been worried about my knee replacement....she wondered if I ever thought about the person ?! What person I asked, you know, the person who's knee it is you've got ! Bless her - she has been worried that someone died and donated their knee to me as a transplant as I had to wait so long for an operation date....poor kid has been fretting about it for months......that made me giggle a lot...she is a very caring young lady and I was pleased to put her mind at rest...bless her ! Don't think she's been at any plant matter !!!

Just thought I'd lighten the load here too.....x