Impatience

[Daisy2408]

I have had osteoarthritis of the lumbar region for several years. The same in right knee was much less painful. Recently I was away on holiday and pushing myself to walk and walk and walk to see things I wanted to see. I woke up one morning and my knee was stuck and very painful. I was unable to do other than hopping to loo for 3 days. Saw doc on return who said I was heading for new knee and referred me to musculoskeletal physio who referred me to swimming and other exercises. I Am not against anything to help but I am very busy with a disabled relative and and need to get back to normal walking and driving asap. If I need a new knee then why not now. I am 78. Thankyou. I am a member with various health issues

[cheritorrox]

Can only sympathise - must be very frustrating x

[kohai OA Ambassador]

Hi Daisy,

First of all my apologies, this is my fifth attempt at sending a reply to you over six weeks but my old phone keeps freezing on me and I haven't set my pc up yet after moving house.

Getting this done, for you, asap is imperil!

A new knee or hip has the life span of 20 years before it needs replacing.

Sadly, because these operations are generally 'in and out the same day' for knees and possibly overnight for a hip, they are viewed as routine, and the waiting list in the UK is 3 years.

Surgeons will only give a new hip or knee to someone who can has, insensitively on their part, put, "the same life span as their new joint".

(I'm an ex-nurse so know this rule they have off by heart).

Your doctor can having your operation time "expedited", this means the surgeons secretary moves you from the Routine list to the Urgent list, but its still a very long waiting list

I know its going outside of the rules for an ex-nurse to suggest you play mind games against a surgeon by throwing valid facts at them, not emotional pleas (the latter are water off a ducks back to a surgeon).

1. Fact - Time or age doesn't stop and a new joint has a 20 year life span!

2. You won't be taking up a hospital bed any longer than absolutely required!

3. You have a disabled person relying on you so you can't afford to be out of action for too long

4. Because you are taking care of another person, it involves being highly active. This means you are healthy enough for the anesthesia!

No surgeon can or will dispute those facts if said to his or her face!

Plus, not only can you request your doctor make you another appointment to speak with the surgeon,

you also have the right to request a new one.

If you opt for a new one, you'll be called in to speak with him/her straight after being given a new surgeon any way.

It's entirely down to you Daisy... It's your choice what you do with the information I've given you.

By the way, I had a new knee in my 20's due to a mountaineering accident where I tore the cartledge and the x-ray showed a bone spur sticking into the tear. The physio was at the end of my bed just five minutes after a nurse told me to sleep off the anesthesia!

I was on a stick after being discharged 3 hours after a 9am surgery (which only lasts 30-40 minutes) .

The following day I was walking around. My knee was a little sore, but like you, I needed to be up and about.

I hope you get the results you want from this Daisy, and do wish you luck!

kohai

[Daisy2408 in reply to kohai]

Thank you so much, kohai, for your extremely detailed reply.

It is interesting you mention caring for someone with a disability. This is indeed so in my case. My daughter is receiving the highest level of disability allowances and whilst she manages her situation in her own way if there is a worsening of her condition, which happens quite frequently, it is all hands to the pump and that includes me in the first line.

I was interested to catch a statement in the House of Commons recently regarding the extraordinary difference in the way private patients are treated compared to NHS. I Believe the speaker is a medical doctor. She was making the point that if you pay you can have the operation at your convenience provided you are fit but if your need is exactly the same the NHS put you in a list which can leave one in pain. It is a disgrace people are made to live their lives in pain for the lack of funds. I declare a particular interest as I decided to give up medical insurance last year on the misguided assumption the NHS would look after me when I was in trouble. How misguided was I!

Thank you again. I guess, having fought for years to successfully get compensation from the NHS employee who destroyed my daughter's life I will at the age of 78 have to start fighting for my own rights.

[kohai OA Ambassador in reply to Daisy2408]

Daisy,

I can't let you pay to go private without one vital fact.

Be aware, if you do go private, the chances are incredibly high that the surgeon you see WILL be the exact same one you saw at the NHS hospital !

They do 'not' work long hours, as they have the public believing! Most, if not, a vast majority make up their poor NHS salary by sub contracting themselves to private hospitals!

I've also had this confirmed for me by a surgeon who is classed as top in his field, I queried this with other orthopedic surgeons who were surprised I knew, but did confirm it, as have medical surgeons.

Just something you do need to take into account before paying out the money and be shocked to see the same surgeon.

kohai