TKR post op review

[BonnieMagic]

I’ve just about calmed down enough to share this experience now. Last week was my six week post op check appointment. It was a half hour journey but roadworks made it an hour. I rang ahead to explain but when we arrived the consultant was shouting out my name. I told him I needed the loo first and turned to go there when I saw stars. I was bundled into a wheelchair and obs were taken. I felt absolutely dreadful but my partner wheeled me into the consultant’s room where he didn’t even ask how I was feeling.

After ten days of painful trying I was proud that I could straight leg raise and on occasions manage a 90 degree bend. But instead he pushed my now very swollen knee into 90 degrees and then yanked it into a lift. Then he muttered that I must keep exercising. I nearly cried but was mostly so disappointed. I didn’t even ask any questions as I felt so awful.

The lovely duty doctor in this private hospital took bloods, ecg etc and insisted I go to A&E. We were obviously there for hours where I was diagnosed with anaemia and postural hypertension. Six hours and no painkillers as we’d left home early and thought we’d be straight back.

Since then my walks have lengthened though very slow (the dog is exasperated!) and I found out the cause for my foot swelling up to resemble Miss Piggy’s - our curmudgeonly retired GP who’s now a friend says it’s because I haven’t been walking enough. I was so relieved as, during the bank holiday, I wondered if it might be a dvt.

I hope you’re all doing well on your similar journeys.

[piglette]

when I had a hip replacement, I fainted in the shower in the private hospital. I managed to dislocate my brand new hip. They took me for x-ray, the pain was indescribable. I then had to wait over six hours for them to get a team together and an operating theatre to put my hip back in place. I was not offered any pain killers in that time.

[BonnieMagic in reply to piglette]

how absolutely awful for you - I hope you recovered well from that experience. I couldn’t fault the nursing staff but they only wanted me in for one night and after that they said I had to go on the second day.

There does seem to be a total lack of empathy and understanding which I find so sad. My GP surgery has been absolutely useless.

[piglette in reply to BonnieMagic]

They kept me in for nine nights. Got my money’s worth as I has paid for my hip as as a package deal. I fainted three times, they gave me two lots of blood which took from 7pm to 1am to get into me, they kept checking me every few hours overnight and shining lights in my eyes, plus all sorts of drugs intravenously, In the end I insisted I went home as I think they were slowly killing me!!

[BonnieMagic in reply to piglette]

yes it’s horrible. I had a transfusion after my THR and it was an all-nighter too. Just love your last comment Piglette🤣

[Nightingales in reply to piglette]

what a nightmare. I wonder why you were in the shower without someone to help you. They gave me a bed bath the first day then strip watch the second. I seem to be doing well after my THP two days ago. Done under epidural with a very professional skilled aneasthiologist who even reviewed my latest MRI. My surgeon seems to know more about PMR than my rheumatologist. Gave me a steroid boost to try to avoid a flare. Nurses are lovely and kind. Private with Circle Health after a series of debacles on the NHS. I feel so fortunate that I can afford it but feel so bad about those who can’t. It was Avascular Necrosis and the pain was suicidal. After surgery my pain has been more from my back and PMR flare pains than my hip. Now an awful headache. No sleep,exhausted . I hope we all recover well and join in the legion of people who say it’s one of the best things that they have done.

[BonnieMagic in reply to Nightingales]

So pleased that you are recovering well. Though the lack of sleep is really awful and impacts on recovery so much. I do think it is underestimated by the medics. My THR has been amazing and on reflection was a much easier procedure to recover from (than my ##**## knee). Sending you healing thoughts.

[piglette in reply to BonnieMagic]

Knees are supposed to be much more of a problem than hips. I understand it is because they are more complex and have a twisting motion. Shoulders are particularly difficult because of the twist too. My company did training for trainee surgeons on knees. We did it in Eastern Europe as everyone must have a post mortem, so lots of bodies around on which to practise!

[BonnieMagic in reply to piglette]

That would explain why orthopaedic surgeons treat us as they do - all the replacement surgery borders on barbaric 😱

[piglette in reply to BonnieMagic]

At least they have anaesthetics now, not like being stuck on a ship needing your leg chopped during the Battle of Trafalgar!

[BonnieMagic in reply to piglette]

🤣

[katieoxo60]

Sorry to hear all your not so good experiences of joint replacement. I was unfortunate to loose my balance while doing my walking exercises , ending up with a broken foot bone. As mentioned very little intervention by GP surgery , but plenty of help with physio dept. I found the pain relief made me feel quite ill on occassions . I was in for around 48 hours to spite having other health issues/disability, while I know others who were in for much longer than that, seems to depend on what area you live in and who your consultant is, plus which method the hospital uses. I was not allowed to shower only wheelchair to wash basin . Hope you recover slowly and safely but I think the six week target is a bit misleading . allow yourself more time and take care.

[Hidden]

Hi BonnieMagic,

Hope you are feeling better. I am now 13 weeks post TKR on my left knee. I can straighten it but still can’t get to 90% bend. I had to go through MUA a few weeks ago but still have swelling. I have no pain and on no pain killers.

Over 40 sessions of physiotherapy and still attending which includes the use of CPM machine, hydrotherapy, G5 machine, lymphatic drainage machine, sports massage, various exercise's I think they have ran out of machines to give me.

I swim and exercise in the pool every other day, if I can only get to 90 degree bend I will be happy I just want to walk without a limp and use a bike. Not asking much. Surgeon who is also my Dr said “I MAY need to go through Patella resurfacing in the future” so I’m desperate to get to 90 degrees and hopefully not need this.

I live abroad at the moment outside the UK so health insurance in this country is covering everything from A-Z I have been very lucky. Keep us updated on your progress interested in how you do.

DeeDee

[BonnieMagic in reply to Hidden]

OMG you have been unlucky. Why did you have to have the manipulation? On the plus side your exercise regime is something to aspire to - can’t imagine anywhere in the UK would offer this. Doesn’t sound if you could try any harder so sure you’ll get there in the end.

[4chickens in reply to Hidden]

If still struggling to cycle due to bend have a look at unicam retroflex there a crank system that’s fits to a normal bike so less bend is required, best purchase ever and if for medical reasons you don’t pay the vat

[Hidden in reply to 4chickens]

Thank you so much 4chickens for the information, I travel home tonight to the UK for a few weeks I will start to goggle this for more information looks like this would help. This will be my first flight after TKR so interested to see how it goes. Husbands company pays for Business so should have enough room for the leg. Thanks again

[BonnieMagic in reply to Hidden]

Good luck with the flight and hope you have a good trip.

[4chickens in reply to Hidden]

good luck with the flight,

[Hidden]

Thank you for your reply I’m just having a little wobble and feeling disheartened today. I’m usually a very positive person so I take bad feeling like this. Onwards and upwards hope to turn it around again tomorrow.

[Blackknight1989]

I don’t want to pour water on anyone’s fire for the “great recovery” new hips (and knees) post replacement are billed as. However, I am 3 years post left hip (4ish years post left knee) and 2and 3 on the right side. While much less painful than the awful arthritis pain previous color me unimpressed with the hips. I had the right shoulder replaced first (then left) and expected my lower body to mimic the upper body. I have been pleased with the shoulder since after the, ya’ know first 6/8 weeks of pain, but the hips especially don’t feel as “stable” for lack of a better word.

Also, I found the shoulder healed relatively well at about 8 weeks, but knees closer to double that before I felt “comfortable” with the whole deal. Just my experience.

[BonnieMagic in reply to Blackknight1989]

Don’t know quite why I got your reply as my posts have rarely been positive about my knee replacement in particular. Anyway I agree with you about the whole knee experience. Mine still feels like a lump of wood and seizes up at every available opportunity. I live in hope that one day I won’t notice it!