Morning my lovely friends! I have to have a knee replacement in the very near future. I am on 4 mg Pred, can probably get down to 3,5 mg. before I have it.
Your experiences please —— I am 80 years old and really worried about it. I do understand that it is very very painful but does the Pred hinder the healing process? Grateful for your help! Xxx
HiThis is something I wrote for arthritis forum -covers all replacement -but hope it helps..video may allay your fears.
As you’re on such a lose dose of Pred, hopefully shouldn’t impact recovery..
Replacement - hip/shoulder/knee
General advice for any replacement surgery - especially useful if you live alone.
Before you go in to hospital get yourself organised at home (patient leaflet will go over certain aspects). If necessary, get plates, utensils, cooking pans out of lower or higher kitchen cupboards - and place where they are easy to reach, you don’t want to be bending or stretching unnecessarily. Hanging washing outside is particularly difficult - indoor airer or tumble dryer come into their own.
Hip operation - you cannot bend more than 90degrees so beware if you have a floor standing oven - washer, dryer, fridge etc.
Stock up freezer with either ready meals or home cooked so you don't have to cook from scratch all the time- frozen veg is very good nowadays - and sometimes you just don't feel like cooking.
Likewise organise clothes in bedroom dressers, shoes etc.
Make sure you can access clothes easily - and initially wear loose trousers, skirts, tops - so you don’t have to struggle around your replacement.
Just plan ahead as much as you can...if you sort of make a note of what you do on a daily basis and think "I shan't be able to do that" you can get ahead of the game...and then hopefully when you get home you don’t suddenly realise you can’t do something, and there’s nobody to help.
If you are using crutches for knee/hip replacement remember you won’t have a free hand to carry things initially..so a lightweight shopping bag or old crossover handbag is useful.
You will find getting around a bit difficult - certainly if you aren’t used to crutches! So make sure you have enough room to manoeuvre yourself around bedroom, bathroom, living room.
If you have trouble getting compression sock off/on - who doesn’t - might be worth buying an extra pair - plenty on line at reasonable price. Hospital may give you extra pair to bring home.
I found that if they were too difficult to get off - I left them on when I had a shower - and dried them with a hair drier!
Probably cause the H&S people to have a fit - but you need to do what you need to do. And don’t be shy, if partner can’t help, or if on your own and you have a visitor ask them to help you get one pair off and new ones on!
Do as much pre op exercises as you can - plenty on line if you haven’t already got some - they really do help recovery.
Invest in a hot water bottle or similar - you will be sitting more than usual initially and the worst thing is feeling cold.
Also get flexible ice packs to help with swelling (hospital may supply icer for knee).
If you’re a side sleeper that’s not possible, and you may need extra pillows to get in a comfortable position. With a shoulder replacement you might find it easier to sleep in a recliner chair for a few nights.
You do need to do your exercises, but don’t overdo it…I did with my knee (first replacement) and the district nurse put me right
on that! (having been in same situation)
Once scar healed and doctor/nurse happy with it, massage bio oil or similar into/around it.
The first few days/weeks can be painful, but remember it’s only temporary - and will lead to a better life!…
Judi Dench YouTube - knee replacement
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Thanks so much my dearest DL! Some great tips! I’ve heard some awful stories about TKR s —- was it worth it for you? X
Absolutely-was summer 2018 almost years after GCA went into remission .
First 2 weeks are a bit painful, but to be expected -now I hardly think about about it., although can’t kneel on it for a long periods but okay for most things . Most importantly no day to day pain.
I look at scar sometimes and think how lucky I was to have it done…,
I thought you can't kneel on a knee prosthesis?
Yes I can (but then as you know I have magic powers) -I been doing the cat pose at Pilates -even after the first six weeks - needed an extra cushion for a little while but now fine, so long as I kneel on carpet or mat. But as I said wouldn’t want to have to kneel for longer than about 5-10 minutes and not on hard surface. That’s the Damehood gone then!
I can't kneel at all except on a really thick pad - maybe I need a new knee!!!! It makes getting up from the floor next to impossible!
Won’t say I’m too elegant at times -just added bit to previous reply about not getting “Dame”d -you too it would appear 😳
Ah well - grossly over-rated, look at the company you might have to keep as well 
True … I’ll just stay a commoner then! 😉
Common as muck - that's me 😇
Actually I think the saying is -“salt of the earth” … although probably not nowadays especially with PMR!
My husband, now almost 88 had his knee replaced 1 1/2 years ago . He went to a rehab facility for a couple of weeks. He now plays tennis. He does not have PMR. In your case the anesthetist should give you a steroid boost under surgery. Just remind your doctors.
Not sure I would bother getting down to 3.5mg - you need the PMR to be under control and adrenal function to be adequate to manage the post-op rehab that is absolutely crucial to recovery. Even if both are fine - you may be more fatigued as a result and that is the last thing you need!!!
I am sure your surgeon would be happy to operate at a dose of 5mg even. It is a pretty impressive operation you should be fine.
Mine agreed to do my second knee when on 12mg. But with the long waiting list I am now down to nearly 7mg. By the time my op comes I could be down to at least 5mg I hope.
Wow! We shall have to keep in touch and compare notes! From what I have heard we will be crying to each other! 😢 xxxx
You have to make sure your pain level is controlled. I had a range of Co Codamol, 8,15, and 30 caplets. Didn't use the 30 much but at the beginning to get through the night, and you have taken all the CoCodamol for 24 hours they gave me Tramadol. After 6 weeks I got a deep seated infection, but the pain didn't increase. Just couldn't do exercise. That was 7 years ago. Now to get the other one done.
Ahh! I didn’t realise you had had one done already! You are very brave! Xxx
Has your surgeon asked you to reduce!If not I would stay on at least 4mg possibly five.I 've had both knees replaced years ago but I was not on steroids then.I had both hips replaced one last September surgeon wanted me off steroids which I managed.Second hip was done April this year but I was allowed to stay on 5mg pred.I found I recovered better from first hip than second.I don't know if steroids played a part in recovery or was it because second hip was harder to replace.We are all different people and recovery will vary.Remember to do the exercises daily if you want to achieve a good bend.Good Luck for your knee replacement.
I don’t know about knee replacements but have had lots of other surgeries. If I were you I’d stick with the 4mg. Think it will be more useful than trying another reduction. Along with DL’s long list of helpful advice you will be ready to go! All the best with the surgery. 🌺
Good morning to you! I had a TKR on 25 February this year. The first night was agony but after that the pain was completely under control by taking the prescribed medication - paracetamol and ibuprofen. I didn’t think they would work but they did! NEVER let the pain get started; be rigorous with your meds timetable - I set up alarms on my mobile phone. Also, use ice packs regularly and DO THE EXERCISES! Recently I cycled 12 miles on my electric bike and yesterday 5 on my exercise bike with virtually no pain. I am only 3 years younger than you so you should be able to do it! I have different pains in my body but have been able to get to this point by dint of determination, which is not my forte! My main pre-op message is to "get your head round" the operation and what it will involve and you will surprise yourself! All the very best wishes
Brilliant Dolores! Sadly I can’t take Ibuprofen any more —- it gives me stomach cramps—- but I’m OK with Codeine! As for the exercises I shall do my best but I have an old, low, slipped disc so I’ll have to be careful! Can’t cycle. I walk a mile every day—- always have done—- I shall miss being able to do that for a while! Xxx
Me again, Smokygirl! Just to say that I think you should be able to do the exercises in spite of disc problems. All the exercises involve movements from the knee down and while lying on your bed!! I got through the boredom of it all by listening to BBC Sounds on my tablet! 😘
Maybe with your knees in order the back might feel better.
Yes , it defo is affecting the old disc! Xxxx
I can only speak for hip replacement 7 weeks ago. I am just a year younger than you and very active before PMR in Jan 2021. I was on 5mg pred. Surgeon was aware but didn't comment. I stayed on 5mg for an extra week after the surgery. I have just tapered to 4mg after month on 4.5mg. Lady in next bed was having her 2nd knee replacement in a year. A little younger but said advised exercises were key to a good recovery. I certainly did mine and am very happy with the result.Very best wishes for the surgery and your recovery Smokygirl.
Pat.
Knee replacement
Knee replacement soon & on 8mgs pred
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Knee and hip replacement hampered by Covid lockdown then PMR was 
