Improvement on bend!

Terri, that's really good - I know a revision can be so hard.  And lovely that you've been able to go to the supermarket:-)))))  Milestones like this mean so much, don't they:-))))  It's all a step towards normality!:-)))))  You have a good weekend too:-)))

SO glad to hear that it seems that this revision is going to be a success, after all you have had to go through.  Soon hopefully all these months of pain will be a distant memory!!!

Thanks Jan.  Yes, it is worrying about the knee and hip ops.  YOu don't really know if the intention is to lengthen waiting lists or put them off totally for a period!!!!  There are going to be a lot of anxious people!

Hi Mike,

Don't get me on this one. The problem is those that are able have not wanted to do that. The amount of tax in the pot is not enough with an aging population and advances in medicine.

I read today that there will be a cap on new medicines and bartering with the greedy drug companies.

The NHS is not a bottomless pit.

Jan

You are so right Jan, the drug companies have held the NHS is sway for far too long. Someone in procurement has not been doing a very good job FOR the NHS

Marilyn

XX

Originally, just before Christmas, I saw the GP and was referred for both knees.  My appointment came through to see the surgeon in January and my op was booked for 1st March - that was all much faster than I imagined.  When I saw him he said they'd do the knees about 4 months apart.  The physio told me to book to see the surgeon for the next knee when I go back for the sign off at six weeks but the hospital said I had to rebook the surgeon and team at that point, so that would put it off another  few weeks probably.  On their site they're still saying 8 - 12 week wait for the knee ops from booking in, so I am desperately hoping that will be the case.  It will all take it more than four months apart, but I can live with that - at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel.   I'm HOPING, because it's an orthapaedic hospital it won't be too affected by the NHS pushing through more urgent problems such as cancer because it would just leave surgeons there doing nothing and theatres empty.

But while I agree with Jan, that if you can afford to pay for it, then do, I also feel that most of us needing this sort of surgery have paid in all our lives for this service and it riles me that money is being sent to other countries for trivia like football teams etc. when our own country should be first priority, with the NHS up there as top.  But that really is all I'm going to say about that!

 

Why won't they sign you off until October Marilyn?  Apparently my lot always intend to sign off at 6 weeks.  You just have to show them that you can walk properly, without a limp, and unaided (without sticks etc.) I think.  But if they require me to leap over fences and climb ladders and jump from rooftops, then that's what I'll do LOL!

Hi Chris, I was supposed to be signed off st 6 months po! Due to the ongoing problems with the NHS I can't GET an appt until October!! So no2 not looking like it will happen THIS YEAR!! If ever if news reports are to be relied upon! As my op was in October '16, o should have been signed off in April/May! Go figure!!!

No good news here I'm sorry to say!

Good luck with getting your other knee done! I hope your LEA is not so busy as mine! I'm in the North & East Herts local Health Area! Maybe yours is better!

Marilyn

XX

Oh boy - that's not encouraging!  I suspect it would be similar here with general hospitals, but am hoping that an orthopaedic hospital won't be as affected.  But I AM anxious about it but hoping for the best.  I suppose though, more people will be choosing that as their option!

Well I was hoping that as the Treatment Centre where I had my op is for electives only, that it wouldn't be too bad.

All emergency & difficult ops, cancer etc are done in the main hospital in Main Theatres!

The problem is getting an appt to see my surgeon! I always got the feeling that he wasn't a staffer, he only sees people in the main hospital, not any locals! Also he doesn't seem to be physically there an awful lot!! Which was prob why my 6 week po appt was nearer 12 weeks! So, really & truly I think this is the reason for length of time to get this appt!

I don't really care as long as I get the other knee done, even if it's next year! Would prefer this year but hey ho beggars & choosers eh!

The trouble is now I am limping quite badly on the left leg I am hoping it isn't going to put recovery off in the right!

As Private Fraser would say "doomed, we're all doomed!"

Sorry about the gallows humour!

I'm sure this time next year we'll be swapping more TKR stories & getting helpful advice.

Let's all do the chin up thing & see what comes!

In the meantime the hospital contact centre is gonna get fed up with me!! Lol

Keep smiling

Marilyn

XX

Oh that's a real predicament then.  All you can do is hope it comes through as fast as possible once you've seen him.  I know exactly what you mean - I feel my walking is slow but it's limited how much it can speed up because the other leg doesn't feel stable and is giving me constant pain, so yes, I worry too that the other one is being held back by the non-operated one!  But yep - we have to be optimistic that it will all come out in the wash, so to speak LOL!  Maybe the summer will work wonders LOL!

Hi Chris,

Really hope you get your second one done sooner. It might be worth saying you could take a short notice cancellation as patients do sometimes change there mind. October does seem a long wait for an appointment .

Both my knees have been affected with RA and osteoarthritis but unoperates one way behind .Its strange though now I'm not getting the deep joint pain in my tkr knee the other knee feels worse lol! I keep telling myself noooooh ! I'm exercising both and static bike but today icing and elevating after yesterday.

I wasn't actually saying that people should pay for their surgery but that the NHS isn't a bottomless pit and in my opinion our tax rates should be higher towards it. It cannot survive in its current state. Our tax rate towards health has been lower than a lot of countries for years.

Well they are allowing me back to work after Easter. I've increased my walking but yesterday caught the train to London to meet a friend. Think must have done about 3 miles and even at 15 weeks knee blooned! I think anything over a mile it does this. Not worried but work will. be a challenge lol! I'll be pleased to get my brain active again though.

Yep summers nearly here! It's another lovely day again today. I went to the garden centre Thursday & bought some beautiful plants, which I planted Friday. It is so good to get into the garden again!!

I have to be thankful for having this knee done, & all the other treatments & operations I have had done in the last few years, so I can't complain really.

I'm a glass half full kinda gal anyway, so don't get down for long. ( although you wouldn't believe it from the complaining I have done here!!)

I hope you get yours all sorted & done PDQ, it will be good to be able to get out of a chair without all the groaning & trying to straighten!!

Happy Spring & Easter 🐣

Marilyn

XX

That's just what we're planning this week Marilyn:-))))  The weather makes you want to get out and enjoy it, doesn't it.  I'm finding that the knee is gradually going further and further back in my mind now - it's beginning to feel like a long time ago and other things are taking over now, rather than 'me and my knee' LOL!  You're right - we have to be grateful for the treatment we have had.  I had a cancer op in 2014 and so far so good on that, and then the knee going so well!  Only problem now is that I've pulled a ligament under one arm LOL!  This is the downside of hypermobility LOL!  But it's trivial - it's not a bad tear or anything and will be better within a week, but I am seriously wondering if it's the hypermobility that's made the knee op so easy for me.  So I'm not going to complain about that!  It would be wonderful if we can both get our second knees done in the not too distant future:-))))  A very Happy Spring and Easter to you and all on here:-))))))

I hope your arm gets better soon. I have never had hyper mobility, maybe as you say why you found it easier to get the bend. I found straightening much easier than bending. Before the op I couldn't straighten or bend far & the other leg is worse! It felt really really odd when my leg went straight back, after years of not doing it I was worried it was just going to keep on going! Lol

Yep I also had a cancer op in 2015, seeing my Oncologist on Thursday, had the blood test for it. Sure it's gonna be fine.

Have a good time in the garden.

Marilyn

XX

My worry straight after the op was the knee hyperextending - it felt unstable because it was going PAST straight, so I've literally done NO exercises to straighten it more.  I just want ligaments to hold it at straight and not go beyond that.   But yes, that's what the feeling was like - as though the knee was going to bend forwards and backwards LOL!   The ligament under the arm is trivia really. 

Hope your appointment with the Oncologist goes well:-))))  It's so good as time passes after these things and you can put them behind you!  It does make you realise how far things have come over the years, with the NHS and cancer!  We have to be SO grateful for that!

Take care:-))))

Youre so right Chris. We lost our daughter in law in 2012 to breast cancer. She left behind my son & the twins who were only just 4 & her daughter from a previous relationship who was 10. So it was a bit of an intake of breath when I was told it could be cancer. Luckily it was thyroid, one of the easier to treat ones.

I consider myself very fortunate. Also glad we have the NHS umbrella!! Because say what you like they do the best for us.

Look after yourself

Marilyn

XX

Oh Marilyn!  I am SO sorry about your daughter in law.  That's so so sad and with such a young family too.  My mother died from breast cancer.  Mine was endometrial and stage one, grade one, so the chances are fairly high of no further problems.  I think thyroid cancer is pretty rare?  I'm glad yours was one of the easier to treat too.  I would HATE to be without the NHS.  I think it's something that should be cherished by patients and the government and the staff. 

Yes, you take care of yourself too:-))))

Am sorry to hear you lost your daughter in law. How devastating , I cant imagine anything worse. Am glad your news wasn't C & hopefully can be treated & kept under control, xxxx

Jan, it's Marilyn, not me, who's been told October.  I won't know until i go back first on 18th April to get signed off by the physio, then wait for an appointment with the surgeon (could be three to four weeks, as it's saying on their site at the moment) and then they'll give me a date hopefully (their site is saying 8 - 12 weeks now) but the times on their site can suddenly change overnight.    Yes, last time round I said I'd take a short notice appointment and I'd certainly do the same again:-)  RA can be such a dreadful condition, can't it?  It can affect so many body parts!  I can't say my unoperated knee is any worse than it was but it was always a toss up as to which one would be done first.

I think you're right - if we do need to pay more towards the NHS to keep it then that should be done.  But I still think at least some of the foreign aid should be diverted to it.  I think also by bringing the NHS up to what it could be, there could be good repercussions around the world as we develop treatments etc. in this country that other will gain knowledge from.   But it breaks my heart to see the news sometimes when children have died because an operation kept being put off, and stuff like that, when the government are giving money to help Chinese make bras or football teams in India and so on.

Your walking sounds really good!  15 weeks might sound a lot compared to say 5, but really it's not that long, is it, and since they say we'll get swelling up to a year, I suspect we'll all fall foul of this problem!  But I'd LOVE to be able to walk a mile!  I can't imagine that until after the other knee is done.  Half a mile even would be wonderful!  I hope you can manage the swelling though - can you elevate and ice at work?