Life after a joint replacement: Share your experiences and advice!

@Moonstone1

Your consultant is right. Doing Squats and lunges with heavy weight put too much preesure on your knees hence the Arthritis in senior years. I used to do 10 mile Fun Runs to raise money for the charities, and that is what has caused the Arthritis of my knees, running on solid concrete ground. We dont realise at younger age, how we are destroying our own bodies in years to come. Never mind, I had immense satisfaction in raising funds for Cancer and Children's societies. Hope you will continue to improve. If you can, do ease up on Ibuprofane. The recent studies show that they are the culprits along with Naproxin and other anti inflamatories in causing heart attacks. Many GPs are now trying to take their patients off these pain killers. Do continue with your knee exercises and good luck and speeddy recovery to you

Nineteen_gale

Hi all I had an epidural to have my surgery for knee replacement and it was brilliant felt so much better afterwards and only felt a slight tugging not a any real noise and was so relaxed throughout. 

At the beginning after surgery and for a few months I suffered pain and discomfort in my knees and legs. It takes a year to heal completely so in time the pain reduced and I also kept up the exercises.8 monthso on and I very  rarely have any pain at all, I had physio and the hospital also ran a pilates class that I have joined .

I had an epidural for my knee surgery..they had to sedate me before i went into theatre as i had a panic attack as the injection started to work and i was aware of the noises (hammering,banging etc.) during the operation although i was sleepy so i didn't bother me.

I am still having pain at night but it's now now as bad as it was and am still taking ibuprofen for this but not as many.

Walking normally for most of the time now although it's painful when i get in my car or out and i often yell out in pain (luckily my neighbour's are used to this now lol)so do feel that i am on the mend now.

I am doing the exercises i was given at physio classes and walking.

Hi everyone.  I previously told you about my knee  problem re burning and pain when in bed. Went to see my GP who sent me for an exray on my fibular but it came back " no further action". I just don't know what to do now as the pain is so bad that I don't go to sleep some nights till 3 am. I suppose I must just grin and bare it.  I often wish I hadn't had the replacement as I wasn't this bad beforehand. But you sign a disclaimer to cover the.hospital in case of this kind of thing happening so to use a pun " I haven't got a leg to stand on" lol 

@Jenny44

Hi Jenny

I am sorry for you the Replacement hasnt improved the quality of life for you. How long ago did you have your replacement? For some people, its the best decision they ever made. They are now pain free and without any problems. Yet for others, its not the same. My husband had it done 18 years ago and he never looked back until recently. But then its because its worn out after all those years. It also depends on who did it, as some are obviously more specialised and expierienced than others. Have you had any scans to see whats going on underneath? Have you tried exercising in water? I know its easy to say keep moving if you dont use it you lose it. When you are in so much pain, exercise is the last thing on your mind, But it is true that if you persevere with gentle exercises and walking as much as possible for you, and proper pain management, you will get better. Dont lose hope. I hope you will find a solution with perseverence

Good Luck

Nineteen_gale

Hi @jenny44

I'm sorry you are suffering so much. Not being able to sleep is awful. How long is it since you had the replacement ?

I had a TKR on 2/5. Like you I found it very uncomfortable at night. I've found using an ice pack regularly, co codamol and a pillow length ways under the leg , reduces the pain to a tolerable level. 

I have to keep reminding myself that it's marathon not a sprint! My knee was a mess;twisting to the right and bone on bone. But like you I didn't have much pain.

I'm feeling very fortunate that I've had the op as without it I would have found life very difficult.

keep your chin up. This too will pass.

Tricia xx

Jenny44...i am not sleeping either so you are not alone..i have said many times that i wish i hadn't had the op as i feel worse off now than before..at least i could cope with the pain and was not taking any pain relief but now i have to take this every day just to try to get some sleep!

I am so tired all the time as am getting by with only a few hours disrupted sleep a night.

The consultant who was supposed to do my operation passed me on to another surgeon at the last minuet so i do not know anything about him..the original one was deemed to be the best ....i saw the x-rays and they looked ok although i am not sure what i was supposed to be looking at really..i just have to trust his word for it..as said before he told me that i should have been pain free by 6 weeks and when i said i was still in pain he seemed to get grumpy and said he would see me again in 2 months time.

I just hope that in time the pain will ease and then i will be able to sleep.

Hi everyone.

i thought I would let people know I'm going into hospital on Wednesday 7th June to have a Oxford uni parshal knee replacement done so I will post on here how it all went when I'm well enough.

I had a complex shoulder replacement last August because of osteoarthritis and have been in pain since then. The pain is actually worse than before the op. Seeing my consultant next Friday to discuss having the op done again with a different implant, not looking forward to it in the slightest.