My thoughts on TKR

Hey everyone

Well here is my experience of TKR. Firstly l found out l had OA in both hips in November last year and that they were in such a bad state l needed them both replaced. I had suffered a year of what l though was muscle or tendon damage which was just coming from one leg it got so bad by november last year l was sent for xrays of my hips only this is when l found out they were both gone.

Well long story short l had my 1st hio replaced in december and in february. It was hard going but intant pain releif and my recovery went quite well until l started getting shooting pains coming from one knee. I felt like l was back to square one so was sent for more xrays in july.

This time another shock both knee's were needed replaced due to OA as well. I was so fed up l had now been off my work since November last year and at just turning 43 l though why me. I was a normal active woman l was not have a weight problem i was just unlucky l think.

I had been a member of this forum all the way through my hip replacements and found it a godsend having people who had went through the same or were just about to.

So l joined the knee forum l remember reading a lot of threads and it made me scared as it was saying how much worse the knee was to go through than the hips. I could not comprehend this at the time. I was so fed up with months of recovery from my hips. I remember posting and chico marx replied and confirmed to me how much harder it was gonna be. I felt awful and could not beileive it so it kinda scared me from this forum. But l pulled myself.together and though well you need it done so there is no other option.

He was spot on. I had my 1st knee replacement in august and its totally diffrent. A lot lot harder than my hips but l managed. I am still recovering and am now back at work just 2 days a week and driving. I am still in a lot of pain but a diffrent kind of pain from OA and its getting better. I have stalled on my 2nd knee replacement as its not as sore yet as my other one was and l think 3 major operations in the one year has took its toll on me. But l will get it done when l feel ready. I won't be as scared as l know in the end l will be fine but l do apprciate the honesty l got from this forum. It is hard going and painful but thats a full year l have not slept right and had very little energy. I don't think l will ever be the same person l was before all this happened as l have had to change my life. I am now only going to bbe working part time l have been for an assesment and been registered disabled at the moment. But l am thankful for what l have got and accepted now that this is how it isvl have just got to makecthe most if my life. I can walk and drive and there is people worse of than me. And when the time is rightt l will get my other knee replaced which will be worth it in the long run.

So if you are about to get a tkr then go for it lifes to short to suffer oain forever. It is hard and you will have down days but here l am a year later and l am doing ok for having 3 replacements in a year.

Just though l would share my story. Life could be much worse 😀

Laura x

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