Further to my post re knee op of 3 months ago

[Tucson]

Which is here

/healthunlocked.com/hughes-syndrome/posts/137951927/im-scheduled-to-have-total-knee-replacement-in-both-knees-at-guys

I saw my Aps consultant at St Thomas' on Thursday and I'm pleased to say that now I have a date for surgery 24/9/18 I was handed the bridging plan and all the drugs required. So I now have enough Fragmin for 21 days commencing 4 days before surgery. I have to have a second pre-op assessment as the last one will have expired, so lets hope this one doesn't chuck a spanner in the works as the last one caused all kinds of unnecessary grief as the person deciding on my risk had no clue about Aps and wasn't willing to listen to anyone either. At least now if any issues arise between my pre-op assessment and surgery I have contact details for a specialist nurse.

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

I am very glad this has been sorted out and wish you well for the knee replacement.

With good wishes,

Ros

[Tucson]

Yep big round of applause for St Thomas' who have been so helpful and gone that extra mile, firstly for the referral and now for the assistance with the bridging including handing me the meds. It helps that the two consultants know each other and clearly hold each other in high regard. I just hope it all goes well but I'll never get a better opportunity than this and once this one is over I have the other knee to look forward to followed by at least one elbow.

[HollyHeski Administrator]

Best wishes xx

[Tucson]

Thanks again HollyHeski for the email address, it helped greatly x

[GinaD]

I had a total knee replacement on June 4 at Cleveland Clinic, which is a 4 hour drive from my home. -- followed by a 2 week stay at a hotel in Cleveland. CC's PT visited me in the hotel room several times a week. I stayed in Cleveland at the request of my surgeon who wanted to be assured that if I had any post op compiications - higher due to the APS -- that CC would identify and treat such a complication, rather than my local doctors.

There were no post op issuess. Bridging went well under the consult of CC vascular surgeon and cardiologist. My knee has healed spectularly well and I think I'll be back hiking on the trail soon. Before my bizarre accident last week -- exploding pitcher when making tea resulting in boiling water on the left foot, now covered with blisters -- I was walking 3 miles a day and on my way back to my previous goal of 5.

I attribute my fast recovery not just to the CC surgeon, staff and my wonderful, local physical therapist, but also to my consulting with a book on knee surgery which urged me to work on stretches and exercises pre-op. I did those stretches and exercise, and when I asked my surgeon at a pre-op appointment if he approved of those exercises and stretches he enhusiastically said "Yes" and that he wished more of his patients would/could do so.

Yes, the post op procedures are uncomfortable -- partiularly the heel slide stretches. But persist! As my CC PT said, "You're in a race against the scar tissue formation." I don't wish to toot my own horn too loudly (well, maybe I do) but I achieved full extension and the maximum recommended flexion for my prostetic within 6 weeks, instaed of 3-6 months.

[Tucson]

Hi Gina I was wondering how you were doing and it sounds as though everything is going great. I've already started exercising as much as I can with my limited movement and was quite surprised how much movement I can manage on the heel slide as when walking I've developed a very straight leg. I find it hard to lift my foot off the ground because it involves the knee bending but gimme the slider and I can perform miracles. Well almost.

I shall be staying in Guys for approx a week depending on recovery but I've been told to expect a week. I will certainly give it my best shot to get as mobile as possible as quickly as I can. It's odd because standing I'm pretty immobile yet laying down I have rather good flexion especially in the right knee, which was the one due to be operated on but I'm swapping and getting the left one done first as the pain is constantly increasing in that knee and I have better movement in the right. When I get home my Son is taking a week of work to put me through my physio and then hopefully I'll be able to use the local poly clinic for physio if needed.

Sorry to hear about your accident which sounds horrendous but it sounds as though you were doing a wonderful job recovering. I don't expect to get anywhere near your target as I currently can't get further than the kitchen and that usually involves two crutches and a lot of pain but my surgeon has said she expects me to be walking several hundred yards within a couple of weeks. Whatever, I have every faith in her improving my life no end.

[GinaD in reply to Tucson]

Difference, in my uneducated opinion, between heel slides and march lifts is muscle strength. As a successful functional med patient, I wonder if more B vitamins and iron via green leafies might help. ( And if you are a warfarin patient like me, that does require some doseage and INR finagling.)

[MaryF Administrator]

Thank goodness for all the fine tuning that has gone on, sending you best wishes for a speedy recovery after a smooth stay in hospital. MaryF