Total Elbow Replacement - I have had this done. Anyone else?

Hi Chythu I am delighted with my replacement elbow. I didn't really have a choice to have it though as my arm was in a very bad way. I can't use it for lifting heavy objects and whilst I still swim I don't use it for any weight bearing exercise. I have all the movement to match my normal arm. I do find ways to carry stuff by leaning laptops etc in to my body or under my arm. If you have severe restrictions and if you have pain... I have had no pain whatsoever... then I would consider it if I was you. 

Hi Chythu,

I can bend both my elbows to touch the top of my head. I cannot straighten them fully. If I rest my arms on the desk whilst at t he laptop I get a lot of pain in the elbows when I lift them off the desk again. I can still lift bags of shopping and push a hand drill. I have difficulty in putting on a jacket or overcoat and need help.

I have hardly anything between the elbow bone joints. I have no pain at rest. Overall concluded that the removal of the discomfort which the operation would bring was insufficient benefit if it limited my ability to do the things I can do .

Overall I came to the conclusion that the operation could limit my ability to do somethings which was more important than removal of the pain.  It's a very personal choice, your circumstance may be very different.

deb66157, hello, my elbow is gone, and I am awaiting the humerus bone to heal from previous screw holes to receive my new elbow. I read that you have a weight limit but are pain free, what is your weight limit. I'm told everyone has a different limit.

Jeannie,

 I had a total elbow last October, 2016. I am pain free and pretty much have full range of motion. I still have instability in the elbow and have to wear braces because there was so much damage in my joint and erosion, there was nothing to attach the outside ligaments to, so I have a "flop" when I am moving my arm side to side. My weight limit initially was 2 pounds, and now it has been raised to 5 pounds since I have muscles in my arm again to help support the elbow. ALthough I wish it was  completely normal, I am glad it is pain free and more functional than it was, and the surgery had to be done due to constant dislocations and occasional paralysis of my arm from nerve impingements. I also had a hip replacement, which also had to be done so I could walk instead of needing a wheelchair and a nursing home (I live alone/ no partners or family to help). Both surgeries were only difficult in the first  few months and then I started to get better and return normal function and movement to my life. It is always worth it to do these things if you are at the places I was at where my pain and problems were greater than the risk of surgery. Good luck and I hope you will get better too after the surgery!

I read with interest all the comments in this forum, thank you all. 

To sum up a thus far,  a very successful right elbow replacement surgery September 10 2017.

History: elbow dislocation age 6 badly set, lived with it w limited motion and self imposed weight restrictions but pain and extremely limited mobility issues from jan 2017 changed things. 

I was fortunate to get an excellent referral to Tom Lawrence and Chet Modi,

a specialist Orthopeadic team of surgeons (based at Coventry University Hospital UK) surgery done 

and replacement w a Discovery elbow joint has been very successful for me. 

Tips Pre Op

Found a fantastic traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture/cupping therapist before surgery and booked successive appointments starting 10 days after and then weekly for 2 months. I believe this has great improved the healing time, targeting inflammation and increasing blood flow to arm. 

Buy a V shaped pillow, best for post surgery arm elevation elbow above heart to minimise pain swelling and provide a comfortable resting and sleeping position

Buy a plastic sleeve for dry showering

Organise pain meds’ in advance, there is no need for pain if you medicate properly 

Ora morph liquid is fantastic stuff

Save the small oral syringe to take home for accurate dosing and easy reducing of moraphine ( you have to special request this to take home) ask for max pain meds while in hospital!

Explore meloxicam, a stronger anti inflammatory (pain is caused by inflammation, so any reduction will help) paracetamol was a waste of time for me. 

Gabapentin to reduce nerve pain was also effective right after surgery and for the 4 weeks following 

* Do your medication homework in advance, ask and you shall receive.

*Take earplugs or ear buds to distract from noise and an eye mask!

*Take chocolates or treats for your overworked nurses. Be a good patient. 

*Leave the hospital w adequate meds and prescriptions. Get them filled from the hospital pharmacy as some prescriptions are only available from prescribing hospital!

*Codeine and surgery can be constipating, think ahead ...

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AFTER SURGERY I left hospital w half cast  and a sling...removed 1 week later,no stitches and then continued witha sling. No physio recommended... they can be too rough.

Arm is just gradually moving and motion w out pain being regained. 

Wearing sling when out walking mainly to self limit movements and protect against outstretching in a fall.

This is life changing surgery.

Learn to use you other arm for lifting and carrying, door opening etc 

 be kind to your elbow and make it last. To wash my own hair, put on make up, cook, and drive and do so many things that i simply could not do without extreme pain or at all, is a gift, a technological miracle, i do not need to lift weights and bags of groceries to appreciate this wondrous improvement to my lifestyle.

if you are in pain, do it, 

I am reading all the discussions on weight limitations and for me it was a small compromise.

Best of luck to all and thank you all for sharing, your advice and tips were so helpful to me.

Hi,

Its great to hear your success story. I was 2 yrs old when i had a bad fall on my left elbow and due to the improper surgery later it developed into the rheumatoid arthritis. Since then I lost the range of motion, max I can stretch my elbow to 90 degree, also the muscles have become weak and doctors say only treatment is elbow replacement but the only fear I have is lifting restrictions because I'm 25 years old now. Although I can do all my day to day work, the only thing I want is full range of motion. Now I'm waiting for some technology advancement in TER.

How old was you when you had your elbow replacement?

I was 55 when I had mine done. I too broke my arm when I was young and the surgery was done badly. It broke again when I was 55. I am not sure if a new elbow at 25 is a good thing as they suggest it will last around 10 years and it may only be possible to have a total from 3. However there are advances all the time so this may well change.  Maybe you need an opinion from more than one surgeon to get advice.  If you can do everything you want to now then potentially you might want to wait. 

Best regards

Jeanette