I need a bit of advice.- I've been given a date for my knee replacement..it's in August and will be done in north London at a good NHS hospital. They have a centre for elective surgery and to be honest it's probably the best hospital option available to me.
But for anyone whose been through it - how painful is it after surgery? And for how long.
I've just had a bad day of crippling knee pain and the thought of more pain is hard to bear. I've got visions of painful nights with no sleep, being bad tempered.
My partner is getting over cancer treatment so don't want to be a bigger burden than necessary so I might have to ask to delay surgery anyway.
Secondly a random question but after the operation are you able to manage the toilet ok?
Thanks
Paul
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TheBoys
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So I was an orthopaedic rude for many many years. I would say knee replacements are generally more painful than hips. The best advice I can give, is to do exercises to strengthen your quadricep muscles, as that will help with the pain & recovery afterwards. Toileting is not really an issue, most ops are done under spinal these days, and less opiates are used, which are very constipating. They may offer you a raised toilet seat if yours is low and you struggle. Ice is very good for reducing swelling and thereby easing pain. The people who recover best are those that do their exercises little and often. You’d be surprised the number who only do them when physio are standing over them, then wonder why their not progressing. There are plenty videos online showing you quad strengthening exercises. Usually by 3 days after surgery, you are able to manage stairs, and walk around fairly well. I’ve discharged many patients who live alone and cope very well. We always called patients a few days after to check how they were doing, and the vast majority had no issues. Hope this helps somewhat
I penned this a couple of years ago - and although posted on a different forum - you should be able to read it okay. if not just join forum and then unjoin after you've looked at it.
Agree with Runrig01 knees can be more painful than other replacements, but if you do as much beforehand to help muscles [not always easy when in so much pain] it does help recovery.
Yes it can be painful, but at least you know it will improve, unlike your current situation.. and I doubt its any worse, apart from the first few days.
I lived alone after all my surgeries [although grandson was about a lot for knee, and a great help].
If hospital doesn't supply raised toilet seat [not sure currect situation, mine was in 2018], you can easily purchase one.
As I say in link get well prepared beforehand, and look forward to a better life afterwards... good luck.
The operation itself is of course painless. The fact that you will be on your feet and walking (with aids) in one of two days might give you an indication of possible pain level. That's not to say it isn't painful when you do your physio. I needed my wife's assistance to lift my leg back into bed for at least 10 days. In fact I would say recovery is impossible without assistance. The level and duration of pain varies with individual and with the procedure you have had ie full of half knee. Keeping up the physio is the most important aspect of the whole situation. In any event be prepared for a long but improving recovery.
Hi I am going in on June 12th .. and I have just been to something called Joint school. It was very useful so if you are invited to go to a session you should try and go. Thry talk about pain medication and what will happe,and as regards to the toilet a few of us asked this question and we were told you will be fine as they encourage you to use and bend the knee asap after your operation.
Many thanks. I had a bad experience when was in for observation following an arrhythmia episode recently and it's just a particular trigger issue for me.
I think recovery time and pain is different for everyone. I’m in the US so medications and physical therapy may be a bit different. What I found useful was to do exercises before surgery to strengthen the quad muscles. We added a riser to the toilet seat as that made it easier getting up and down. I had huge ice packs that I ordered from Amazon. I rotated those to keep down the swelling. In looking back I would say that doing the exercises after surgery was probably the toughest because you are making yourself do something that is painful. But I will stress that you MUST work through this pain so you regain the range of motion you need. If you don’t do these then scar tissue will form and lock the knee. This requires more surgery to fix. This all sounds like a lot but I’m six years out and since recovery, I have zero pain. Plan on some sleep deprived nights but that can happen as your body recovers from any surgery.
Hi! I had a knee replacement op in January 2020 just before lock down. Several folk told me how painful it would be afterwards and I can honestly say they were wrong. Yes it was painful but it felt positive as I knew it would get better. As long as you keep up with the exercises and move around you’ll be fine!
First of all I wasn’t discharged until I could do some exercises and manage the toilet ok
The exercises are so many steps and up and down a few stairs with the aid of crutches
On my discharge I was given a sheet of exercises by my physio. The physio took me through them ensuring the correct technique at home. I was diligent in doing all the exercises and kept to the regime of x number of reps x times of day for each exercise. During this time I increased my pain killers. Keep to the regime because failure to do this will result inhibited movement caused by scar tissue and muscle wastage.
I’ve had total knee replacement on both knees and grateful not to have that grinding pain every step I take. I’ve got 100% knee bend and straighten in both knees achieved by keeping to the regimen and increasing the pain killers, with professional permission and guidance, during this period to discharge
Hello there,Firstly you will manage the toilet just fine, you will have crutches, and Yr physio people will make sure you have a toilet type of frame so that you can pull yourself up. (THIS WILL BE DONE CLOSER TO OP)
It is major surgery, so you will experience pain after the op, for me it was about the third week in, but you have to tell yourself each day is a day closer to no pain eventually. Also do remember you will be sent out with high dosage drugs and they do work, so use the as often as your body needs them.
I'm seventeen months post op, and for me it was worth every bit of discomfort, which i think lasted six weeks or so, i can't bend mine as much as I'd like but it's pain free, I just need the other doing now!!!! Best of luck, hope it goes well. K
Dreading this but although I am not in great pain as a close scrutiny to decipher my x-ray report showed my arthritis as mostly in the kneecap, I cannot walk far, suffer physical exhaustion, moving is so awkard, Is this my knees? Or have I got something like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome too? I don't want this terrible op and find it doesn't solve the immobility. I am just terrified, and in the UK have had no consultation/advice whatsoever.
Hi, I had a full right knee replacement 6 weeks ago, to answer your question honestly and direct, yes it is very painful following Surgery, there will be alot of bruising and going to the toilet is very difficult and painful, make sure you get plenty of pain relief from your Doctors as soon as you get home, the biggest problem I find is at night and the lack of sleep which impacts in many ways. GOOD LUCK with your surgery,and I hope your partner keeps well.
Hi...I think I ll be postponing this procedure as it's not fair on the wife nor me just right now. Already had a bit of a row over the weekend all over silly issues . We re just not ready yet
my sister who is now 89 had both knees replaced 20 years ago …amazingly both done at the same time. She was also very active with good muscle tone and was walking fine in two days! Hopefully I’ll get mine done soon as the pain is restricting the many activities I’m involved in. Good luck.
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