Knee replacement

Hi

I'm 8 week post op and the physiotherapist said I wont be able to kneel down completely.

That sound more like......"I couldn't "    rather  than I "wasn't to kneel down"

I haven't got to that stage yet. No way could I kneel down. I'm still very sore.

Eileen

My husband had a Total Knee Replacement (TKR) in June 2015.  The real problem, we both experienced was with post-op pain control! Although we were informed during a Pre-op Knee Replacement knee "class" that every patient would receive a PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) "pump", so no one had anything to worry about pain control, this didn't happen.  We had decided that he would have his "op" at an Orthopaedic Hospital, approximately 1-1/2 hrs way from home because of its' excellent reputation and because of this, did not visit him until the day after his "op".  He was in absolute agony and told me he was only on something like co-codamol which did nothing to assuage his pain!  I suppose it helped that I was a retired Qualified Nurse, therefore immediately went to the Nurses' Station, explained both the information we had initially received and his urgent, current need for stronger analgesia. Within 5-10 minutes, a Nurse went to his bedside, confirmed he wanted "something stronger" for the pain and was given an injection of morphine and an anti-emetic (morphine commonly causes nausea). The hospital wanted to discharge him 3 days post-op (normal procedure) but he told them he could still hardly walk (with arm crutches) and had never tried going up any steps, which he would need to do to access our home.  Because of this, they "reluctantly" discharged him on the 4th day but trying to get him and a raised toilet seat and toilet frame into my car was problematic, not helped by me having Secondary Progressive MS (although still able to usually walk unaided), advanced osteoarthritis in all of my fingers and am 4'10''; my husband is 6'6''!  After explaining that I would need some assistance after having already made 2 trips from the carpark and still needed to get him and his arm crutches in, a HCA asked the Registered Nurse (RN) if she could help me; the RN reluctantly agreed.  It probably took, at least 15 minutes to get him into the car from the wheelchair, pushed and assisted by the kindly HCA.  Unfortunately trying to help my husband out of the car and into the house was a nightmare that I would never want ANYONE to experience!  The shortest route into our house is through the front door (having to negotiate a low brick step and then a higher one into our hallway); our next best option would be through the garage but the step into the Utility Room is higher than the 2nd step he would have to negotiate at the front. Because of this, I parked the car as close as possible to the front door but the effort he needed to get out of the car, getting up onto the fairly low brick (1st) step, was too much for him.....looking at the next, more difficult step, he broke down in tears, saying he just couldn't do it!  Eventually, the whole process taking approximately 40 mins, we managed to get him into a large reclining chair in the living room.  He had already taken a slow release morphine capsule before leaving the hospital so I immediately gave him a quick release morphine capsule (for breakthrough pain).  His leg was 2-3 times its' normal size and severely bruised, therefore we reclined it to raise his legs to help with this.  His bruising continued to ("come out") for the next 3-4 weeks.  Now for all of the positives!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

His surgical wound (using internal, dissolvable sutures + external steri-strips), covered by a non-adherent dressing, removed after about 2 weeks(?), healed beautifully. Although he needed strong analgesia (but in ever-decreasing amounts) for about 3 months, this was usually because they facilitated him in religiously performing his exercises, to most effectively strengthen his surrounding muscles. To help reduce his swelling and help dissipate his bruising, I usually massaged his leg (from toes to mid-thigh) 2-3x a day, for about 4-6 weeks.  After about 6 weeks - he only needed 1 elbow crutch. After about 9 weeks, he started using a walking stick and on week 13, intermittently using a walking stick, was able to safely (and with medical consent) fly to the USA for 2 weeks! Before the "op", he "lived on" paracetamol, ibuprofen, naproxen etc, his pain interfered with his sleep and every activity of daily living - now he very seldom needs any of these.  He used to walk "hunched over", with a horrendous limp and clearly, pained expression on his face - no longer! Although during the 1st 2-3 months, he constantly stated, "I wish I never had this done", he now advocates this procedure.  Two of the MOST important things to remember is 1) The absolute necessity in receiving effective analgesia and 2) if your pain is not "bearable"/hurts too much, you will not be able to perform the required exercises (which will naturally cause more pain) but VITALLY important to regain the best mobility........my husband continued to almost daily perform his exercises (given by the Physiotherapists) for 9 months!   

Sorry for "going on a bit" and also know some people, who have had a TKR, had nowhere near my husbands' problems and others have had more - everyone is different but hopefully there is "light at the end of the tunnel". x    

PS - My husbands' Orthopaedic Surgeon said there is no reason that you won't be able to kneel down after the "op" - some people can and others can't.  When my husband 1st tried this, he "toppled over" because his knee was still extremely numb so he couldn't "feel" if was kneeling or not and felt "top heavy".  He will be 2 years "post-op" on 10th of June 2017, which is how long a Total Knee Replacement (TKR) can/will take (according to his Surgeon) to gain maximum mobility/strength.  My husband every once in awhile, does try kneeling down on his TKR and has reported although it still feels a bit "strange", he has considerable more feeling in it each time he does this.     

I have been told by my consultant that i will be able to kneel down..i am having my op on the 15th.feb so not long to wait now..i will let you know how i get on and how i recover post surgery.

Apparently they ask if the pain keeps you awake at night (it does) so say YES even if it doesn't..they did ask me and i said yes as i am woken up with pain every night.

My neighbour who has had tkr said you have to make a fuss or they will send you away..this is what happened to me the first time i saw a consultant (not the one i have now who is doing my op) he just told me to go away and come back when the pain was so bad that i couldn't stand it any longer and he would then operate..this time i made sure that they knew how much pain i was in .

I am indebted to read the experience of the people have had their knee/knees replaced, does the knees replacement have age limit?.  please let me know my lovely helpful people. AWAITING FOR YOUR REPLY. THANK YOU. KEVIN.

Well i have NOT had my surgery yet! I have twice been given dates only to have them cancelled at the last minuet...i refused another offer of an appointment unless they would be able to assure me that this time it would go ahead..so i have now been taken off the surgery list.

I have no idea now what will happen as it's now 16 weeks since referral and i am no nearer getting  this done than i was in november.

I am now virtually housebound as i am in so much pain when i walk.

So much for nhs care.

Had my knee replacement on 14th February. Was painful at first and still is at times. Not as bad as I had anticipated though. It's just a case of mind over matter. I've only been scheduled for three physio therapy classes as I am doing so well. If the operation is offered, take it or you might not get it done for ages. 

@Moonstone.  Still no message about your TKR? I'm so sorry about all the cancellations.  Have you asked them to put you on the cancellation list incase someone else backs out?

I cant only imagine home bad it must be for you, waiting and waiting.

I do hope you hear something soon.   Can you keep ringing them.......consultant/surgeons secretary? That's what I do when I want an answer to a question.  I ring her, she emails him and he emails back and she phones me. I know its not exactly the same thing but I would keep pestering them.

Love

Eileen

I spoke to the admissions clerk yesterday (after trying all day to ring the hospital using all the numbers i had on my letter) eventually got put through and she has said that no one has been admitted for 2 weeks and that i am still on the list along with numerous others..all waiting for surgery....so she said it may be 3/4 weeks before they are able to offer another appointment as they have a high rate of infection there!

really doesn't sound too good there at the moment so i have no idea when i will be admitted or if the infection will be under control.

I understand that hospitals are under immense strain now so will just have to wait..i did ask my GP if i could be referred to another hospital but that would mean having to start all over again so i will have to stay with this one.

I have now been given a new date for my op..it's 29th.march so next week...i know it may be cancelled again so am prepared for that but they (admission) did say that they couldn't see any reason at the moment that it will not go ahead!

I will be so glad when this is over as it's been so frustrating keep being given dates then having them cancelled.

I know this hospital has been in special measures so can understand the cancellations but because i suffer from anxiety it makes it worse for me as i get so nervous.

So hopefully i will be ok for next week i am feeling calm now but sure i will be anxious by then but it has to be done.