Knee make up

What do you mean a 30year knee??

Called Verilast Technology...made of oxinium metal alloy.  It should outlast a typical replacement knee.  My orth is one of 18 surgeons in Ohio trained to install this knee.

I'm jealous - you have got a much lighter implant which should last longer than cobalt chrome which is mine - yours is far superior - too late now but let's hope my body accepts it. The rage is all for titanium here but they don't do that on the NHS

Mary,surgeon who did mine said one part titanium,one part cobalt chrome,one part plastic. i hope the knee lives me out. I know a guy who had his 10 years ago and its still going strong. I wonder if they err on the side of safety when telling us how long it will last. Plus I would imagine it can vary from person to person,how you treat it etc. I was told by one woman she was playig tennis after 4 months,though not sure I believe her. She is in her 70s.

Hi John

I think he said mine was just cobalt chrome. I did ask for titanium but he said that doesn't last as long.

Titanium is lighter and I think the NHS have chosen the chrome perhaps cheaper.

They'll be giving us steel next!!

Anyway heard a guy in his eighties - two new knees last year now he's rambling all over the country.

I'm in my sixties so I have to be careful with mine because of the shelf life. Mine gets worse when I'm lying down. Just had to take 2 co codamol and a glass of hot milk to try and bed down for the night.

Great life it's become.

If he tries to flog me another knee - I'm going to ask if he could just do half.

I couldn't stand this again. It's been a horrendous seven weeks.

I just can't seem to get the measure of the pain and when it's going to flare up.

I can feel the prosthetic inside my leg.

Ah ah ah

Chrome and surgical steel are one and the same.  just because you are in your sixties doesn't mean you have to wrap yourself up in cotton wool. Why are you worrying about shelf life. I am in my sixties and go off track cycling.  I cannot walk far.  I have to use a cane, but cycling gives me a freedom like nothing else on this planet.  When I have the time to go to the gym I use the rowing machine, the ski machine, then treat myself to the steam room and then float in the pool.

Why do you want to have a partial. You will only need more surgery further down the road.  It is entirely up to you to get your life back on track.  Start doing more physio, go to you local gym, find a hydropool; where the water is warm, they are run specifically for joint issues and for those that need the security of water. There are classes you can join where people are in similar situations as yourself.  If you are in so much pain go back to your doctor.  They are not mind readers,they cannot know you are in pain, unless you tell them. 2 co-codamol are not enough.  Reading the information sheet that comes with the packet of pills.  It will tell you how many pills you can take in a 24 hr period, though I don't recommend self medicating.  If you can feel the prosthetic then you need to do more physio.  Strengthen your muscles.  Of course it is a different feeling, it is not your own bone. But you are going to have to get used to it.  Take control of your life. Don't let pain rule your life

Hi Mary

I think probably still early days for most of us. Regarding feeling the prosthetic I can certainly feel mine still after 4 and a half months. Im doing the exercises,etc. so as I say we are all different. But a neighbour of mine had his doine in the same hospital by the same surgeon just before me. I asked him if he did the exercises and he said yes but it hurts. Mine actually doesnt now. but I get twinges from time to time. I take naxproxen when I get it. But I still feel its early days for you Mary.

Somehow I get the feeling that this surgery wasn't explained to you n the beginning. This is a process that has to be followed as there are very few allowable shortcuts. It generally takes a year before you and The knee are one. Do not get too wrapped up in the components of the prosthesis as that is somewhat academic to the actual healing. My 1st prosthesis was a Stryker and was a of a certain design. Due to the type of tumor I have, the bone was eaten up and it was replaced with a different brand of a different material. The day after the surgery I fell and broke my femur, another surgery. Later a staph caused that one to have to be replaced with the same kind. I now have had 11 surgeries on this leg and am 9 months into my 5th complete rehab. The surgeon has told me instead of a year......I'll be 2 years and will have residual pain the rest of my life. That's what you can expect from 11 surgeries. But once more I am in the process knowing there will be a conclusion that will end better than where I started. Take your pain meds as prescribed, excercise as instructed, rest every chance you get and don't overdo it thinking that real hard work will get you there faster, hydrate......drink more water than you ever considered necessary because a dehydrated body just won't heal properly and ice whenever you feel the ache and pain. Take an over the counter anti inflammatory on a regular basis ( a couple of times a day....I use aleve). Don't worry about age. I was 66 when I started through. This jungle and I am now 79. To add to the confusion, I am responsible for caring for my wife who is has advanced Parkinson's disease. Have faith and be diligent staying within the process and yourself. STAY with this group......great advice and encouragement. As my physical therapist told me the 1st time I met him.....

15% of this was his responsibility and 85% mine so let's get with it. So goes life with the recovering knee replacement population.

NHS stands for National Health Service but now you can choose your hospital private or public and it's free.

Most consultants who work in the private sector also work in the public sector.

Did you have to pay for yours and how much was it? If I'm not being cheeky

Mary,  we have medical insurance that covered the surgery.  As John said titanium does not last as long.  Since I am early 50's this was easy for the surgeon to get thru he system.

I think titanium is lighter though and probably recovery is a lot better

Titanium is supposed to be the Rolls Royce of knees but it doesn't last as long as the others so my surgeon told me.

Mine is also cobalt chrome like yours but I was wondering if you have experienced much pain. Maybe the titanium isn't so painful.

Sorry I didnt read all of your previous message properly.

But I agree even down to he food which at times was inedible prompting me to ask that if they had two menus ie one for the private and one for the poor relations.

The pressure on me to to go home was dreadful - I got an extra day (4) purely because my blood pressure was so low.

If I had gone to my local NHS I could have stayed apparently as long as I needed.

Also I wasn't that impressed with the theatre facilities. Seemed a bit basic

My knee is just chrome - didn't realise all this

Would be very careful before I had the other one done - may ask for half knee as its not as bad.

Will hav to have it done because he's made me a fraction taller on the new knee!!

Hi Mary

He said part of it was cobalt chrome and part was titanium. I had pain early on but it got less and less as the weeks have gone on. Im not taking painkillers now,only naproxen when I get more than usual. I can DEFINITELY feel that its different and it doesnt feel like the other one. But although bad at first its quite a lot better now. 

I wasnt so bothered about the food because I can eat anything. But the staff,apart from a couple of trainee nurses,were uncaring and frankly not very good. I had to ask them to change my dressing,even had to tell one Id done some first aid and knew what I was talking about. There was a near 90 year old man in the ward who sat for 2 hours waiting for the toilet after a hip operation. I had to press my buzzer a few times to get attention. Honest.

Also Mary when I went to the rehab I had to pay for a taxi to the rehab hospital,3 miles away as it was a private hospital. Good job I had some change!! It wasnt the paying that bothered me. But was I glad to get there. They were marvellous.

Well I suppose you get what you pay for. I bet the NHS is far better equipped for operations like this but knee and hip ops are big money for these private hospitals - I should think that's what keeps them going - then they get money for six weeks physio for everybody.

Well I hope my chrome prosthetic settles soon because I'm now sitting on the side of my bed exhausted from lack of proper sleep and I can't get comfortable. I've taken 2 solpadol and I'm wondering what else to take.

Hi Johnl had mine done in a private hospital through the NHS mine is Titanium the facilities were fantastic and the food well 5 star,it's still painful    Very sore 12 wk post op ,keep up the good work.

Hi blingbling33146

Sorry for late reply. Mine was the same private hospital NHS. Different experience to mine in the hospital but at least the rehab place was nice. Im probably about a month on from you but still a bit sore. The knee feels heavy and clicking despite my exercising in and out of water but we are still early days. Spoke to somebody today and he said surgeon told him it could take up to a year to feel better.