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Knee No. 2 on the way.

Posted , 11 users are following.

ElaineA
ElaineA

I am not doing too bad with knee No. 1 but Knee No.2 has given up the ghost. I can't walk without it being strapped and painkillers, and even then not pain free. I saw my GP on Tuesday this week and he gave Knee No. 2 a good examination and could hear the crunching and grinding. I also have the Baker's cyst on this knee and to be honest the deterioration of this knee is holding back my progress with knee No. 1. Anyhow, my GP booked me in for an Xray and said he would write to my GP. This doc doesn't mess around! I rang the Xray dept of my local hospital a couple of hours later (UK) and yep he had booked it! I could go when I liked within the next 14days. So I went straight away. Also yesterday I rang the private hospital where my Consultant is and yes they had already received the referral from my GP! Wow! My appointment with the consultant is on Monday 14th so only just over a week to wait.

I have to say I am very nervous. Yes I know what to expect as I have had it done before...... I can still remember the pain and suffering!

​Also I am really pleased with knee No. 1. Considering being let down by Knee No. 2, I am 20 weeks post op with knee No 1 and I am up to 98 degree bend and counting. biggrin

3 likes, 63 replies

63 Replies

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  • ElaineA
    ElaineA

    Posted

    Well the day is arriving. I go in tomorrow morning to have this done. I am looking forward to not being in so much pain in this 2nd knee, I can barely put any pressure on it and the first new knee is really suffering. I will see you all on the other side. Take care all of you.

    I hope Busterbeans is getting on ok today and that Cheryl gets on just fine on Friday.

    Same for anyone else whose op is imminent.

    • sharon52158
      sharon52158 ElaineA

      Posted

      Hope all goes well look forward to hearing from you after the op x
    • ElaineA
      ElaineA sharon52158

      Posted

      Oh Sharon, thanks so much.  needing to hear enouragement right now as I know what is coming.
    • BusterBeans
      BusterBeans ElaineA

      Posted

      Hi everyone! Had my bilateral TKR mid-afternoon and 5-6 hours later still no pain. Am having a 48-hour epidural so they hope to keep pain at bay for that period. Have regained control and feeling in feet but not much else and have no memory of anything after moving onto the bed in the operating room and getting an oxygen mask put on. Thank you for your kind wishes and thoughts. Hope the others are doing as well as me.
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 ElaineA

      Posted

      Yes, BusterBeans...we are all thinking of you and I'm sending prayers of calm and peace and only very minimal pain and discomfort tonight!

      Elaine...sending prayers your way that you will remain calm and have a very successful surgery!

      I am SO READY for Friday! Tonight I am drinking tea, icing with my new gel packs and RELAXING!!

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 BusterBeans

      Posted

      Great to hear!

      Try to rest as much as you can!

      Praying that you will have a super successful recovery!

    • patsyrose
      patsyrose BusterBeans

      Posted

      Glad to hear that you are feeling OK.  It's a brave thing you've done.

      hope you make good steady progress when you are allowed on your feet.

      And not too much pain.

      Patsy

    • ElaineA
      ElaineA BusterBeans

      Posted

      Great news BusterBeans!  Just off now for mine, will see you soon. x
    • ElaineA
      ElaineA cheryl90571

      Posted

      Thanks Cheryl - I am just about to leave to go get it done, I should be home Saturday afternoon. I am not taking my lap top with me, so see you in a few days.

      I hope your op goes well tomorrow and look forward to hearing how you got on.

      Sending good healing vibes that it all goes well for you.

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 ElaineA

      Posted

      Thanks so much Elaine!

      You will be fine! Looking forward to your update as I am recovering. I'm taking my phone/charger/extension cord etc. so I will be able to read your update when you post. I remember drifting in and out and snatching a few minutes sleep here and there during my stay at the hospital, so I will keep up with how you are doing.

      Be well!

      Stay calm.

      Prayers coming your way for a very successful surgery today!

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel ElaineA

      Posted

      Sweetie, let us know how you are feeling as soon as you return from the land of  anaesthesiology
  • ElaineA
    ElaineA

    Posted

    Hi All,

    Sorry I haven't been back in touch until now. My Op appears to have gone really well. The thigh exercising before hand really paid off as I could lift my knee/leg off the bed the next morning! and do 10 repeats.

    I was last down for surgery at 5pm and got back to my room at 7.10pm. Prior to the op, I had a word with the consultant surgeon about the 1st knee and said how it was stiffening up and hurting as it had been having to be the 'good' knee for too long and too soon (only 5.5months post op) and that I could only achieve 102 ROM with a great deal of effort. He said he would manipulate while I was 'under'.

    He did and that leg is lovely and loose and I can do 100 ROM without trying, although he got it to 110 ROM under anaesthetic. I am therefore still working on this.

    My newly operated knee is coming on ok. On first morning after op, as well as being able to lift my leg up and down on the bed I could walk easily with the crutches. By lunch time Physio session I could walk with one crutch. I could ease my leg off the bed to the floor with the help of the good ole dressing gown belt, but could stand with no assistance. We then walked down the corrider and part way with only one crutch. I achieved 52 ROM on first bend. I also managed to go up and down the stairs. All on day one!!! I don't mind telling you I am over the moon. Needless to say I was discharged the next morning. Saturday, and was home by 10:30am. I can now achieve 90 ROM albeit with pain, but grinning and bearing it. I have also managed a few steps unaided. Long may this progress continue! I feel very upbeat and so pleased it is done. I feel more positive about the future now. I know I am running away with it and need to reign myself in a bit.

    I have my first Physio session tomorrow morning. I'll let you know if I get a slapped wrist! wink 

    Pleased to see Busterbeans is doing so well. Have we heard from Cheryl? I must check the forum.

    I must admit that all the exercises and friends visits have been taking up my time and tiring me out. I will now, hopefully, be able to keep up to date with you all.

    Thanks for all your kind wishes and prayers - they seem to be working !

    • terri59470
      terri59470 ElaineA

      Posted

      Great to hear from you!

      And WOW!! You're doing so well!

      What a great idea to get the Surgeon to manipulate knee #1 while he was doing #2 - I'm also finding that #1is pretty stiff, probably from overuse, so might have a word when I see my surgeon.

      I must say I feel a lot calmer about my upcoming op (2 weeks from today 😨) having read about your progress.

      Long may your success continue, but don't wear yourself out (easier said than done, I know!) Xx

    • ElaineA
      ElaineA terri59470

      Posted

      Terri - do ask him. I don't even think I am going to be charged for it, but not sure (wishful thinking!). I am amazed. I think it is all to do with the muscle strength. I was exercising with ankle weights and reached 1Kg, though it was hard, but it paid off.

      So pleased I have made you feel calmer as I was really worried and I think that is why I am so bouyant with enthusiasm now.

      My next dread is the clips out - can't be avoided, but my favourite nurse is on holiday when that has to be done and so it is being done by a nurse I don't know - Aaaargh!

    • patsyrose
      patsyrose ElaineA

      Posted

      Hi Elaine

      Great to hear how well you are doing.  It's so nice when you can see such good progress.  How handy to have the other one manipulated at the same time too.

      Keep up the good work.

      Patsy

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 ElaineA

      Posted

      Hi Elaine!

      Cheryl here! I'm doing GREAT! The best thing has been my AWESOME balance. Last time I didn't DARE let go of my walker as I was standing. THIS time I find myself in the kitchen...LOOKING AROUND for my walker and realizing that it is in the living room and I have LEFT IT BEHIND!

      I don't have the dizziness or the nausea or the drifting in and out like I did with LEFT KNEE. I think all of these improvements are thanks to me realizing that Percocet was NOT a good drug for me! I am taking 2 Norco every four hours. Seems to be working OK.

      We got a new driveway poured over the last week. My therapist wanted to evaluate me to see if I was better suited to Outpatient Care or HOME care, so she asked if I thought I could walk to the road on the driveway and get in our Kia which was parked on the street. My husband popped in with, "She put out the mail this morning and walked there and back pretty fast! Also, she had NO TROUBLE getting in and out of the Kia at discharge from the hospital on Sunday."

      I showed her I could do the driveway walk and back and get in and out of the car without difficulty AND without assistance.

      When we got back inside the house, she did some more measurements, had me do some exercises, go up and down steps etc. and determined that I would be best served with OUTPATIENT therapy.

      I am able to move around in bed, too. Last time it was literally WEEKS until I was able to move my leg independently in bed. I always needed my looped belt to swing it back and forth throughout the night. Because BOTH LEGS can now move on their own while in bed, I get more sleep.( You may remember my need to be almost constantly moving as a way to help with stiffness and pain.)

      My RIGHT KNEE is pretty close to flat on the bed which wasn't achieved with LEFT KNEE until 13 weeks post op! My BEND is just 70 with my RIGHT KNEE, but that was EXACTLY my number a few days post op with my LEFT KNEE and all in all Colette was VERY PLEASED with my progress for now...considering all the other improvements made THIS time around that weren't happening LAST time until MUCH further down the road.

      My appetite is good, I have good energy, I planted some fall mums out front, cooked dinner the night after I was discharged from the hospital, and was able to enjoy our family celebration of 1) my discharge, 2) our youngest son's birthday, and 3) our new granddaughter's first visit to our house the day of discharge without lots of pain, nausea or dizziness. ( Granted everyone did the work, and I sat, talked, held Arya, ate and looked around feeling VERY BLESSED!)

      The Home Care nurse visits again today. Cris was pleased LAST TIME, so we will see what SHE says today.

      The only thing I have trouble doing is putting on my compression stockings and my gripper footies. My husband doesn't mind helping because he can tickle my feet and pull my toes and do his CRAZY THINGS that get me laughing! Laughter and acting goofy has ALWAYS helped us through just about everything! ( We have known one another since we were TEN!)

      Well, Elaine, I think that's about it for MY STORY! I am AMAZED at how much easier the second Knee's experience is going. I kept a journal last time (June was my first TKR), so I have a record that I can compare with from day to day. I overall am about two to thirteen weeks ahead of last time depending on the skill, improvement, exercise or particular milestone reached. That is MORE than fine to me!

      Let's keep in touch!

      Wishing you CONTINUED success!

    • ElaineA
      ElaineA cheryl90571

      Posted

      That is amazing Cheryl! I too am astounded at what I am achieving this time! Did someone wave a magic wand over us?? Long may our progress continue. xx

       

    • terri59470
      terri59470 ElaineA

      Posted

      Ugh, the dreaded clips! Hopefully my Surgeon hasn't changed his methods in the past 6 months, as last time I had multiple layers of dissolvable stitches, not a clip in sight!

      Like you, I've been doing loads of exercises, mostly in water as its less painful, and I'm hoping that it makes a positive difference. I keep joking about my "quads of steel" but I can definitely notice a difference.

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 ElaineA

      Posted

      For me I think I was in SUCH bad shape BEFORE I had my first surgery that things went WELL , but very SLOWLY. The PT done with LEFT KNEE benefitted RIGHT KNEE, and RIGHT KNEE got a pre-surgery boost.

      Also we KNEW what would happen the second time around. Knowledge is POWER even with KNEES!

      YES! I am looking forward to much success from BusterBeans, you, and from me!

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