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

WELL I am to see my consultant tomorrow and will ask for a left knee replacement to be done soon..i saw him last september and was told that my knee was not bad enough for surgery but i would need this op at a later date..i do not use any walking aids but prefer to limp instead..am in constant pain which wakes me in the night (as an insomniac this is not good as it means that i only manage a few hours sleep a night) and am fed up with not being able to walk properly..when I Sit i have to elevate my leg which is giving me back ache..i am having trouble with the stairs (live in a 3-story house) and this is putting more stress on my right knee so i have decided that i will have to have this done..not sure how long the waiting list is for this type of surgery but will know more tomorrow and will update then.

I had a left knee replacement  in February 2015. Great success, & a huge improvement in quality of life.  

As someone else said, when there's so much pain & discomfort  that you can't get a good night's  sleep, and the meds give you stomach ulcers, .... so you have to stop taking them, then you'll consider it.

Try to get as fit as possible before the op, as you'll recover quicker, & work on the exercises religiously after the op.  I was doing really well post op,  so I was encouraged to go home on the 3rd day. Regretted that, as I found the 25 mile journey  home very trying. Another  day  in hospital was needed, for  me anyway.

I was to have the other knee done in April, but it improved a lot as the weather did, so it's been  cancelled. (You can't  postpone it.) I can kneel on my new knee  - but very carefully. 

Would I recommend a new knee? Absolutely. 

Dawsie61

Hi, I have Crohn's Disease too, and had recently had a second resection when I had my first hip replacement in June. Having the second one anytime now. As they told me when I said I was worried about my multiple problems, they are obviously aware of your other health concerns and do factor them into your treatment. My friend's husband has had two hip replacements and a complicated revision and he has COPD. They just kept him in IC for a night after his revision. I know knees are slightly different than hips, in some ways harder, others easier, but it seems the vast majority do improve ones quality of life. With regard to my forthcoming second hip replacement I'm getting to the point where future mobility is becoming secondary to getting rid of the awful pain! Arthritis is a horrible condition, particulary as it so often seems to affect people who have been more active than average. It's murder for me to sit still after having horses, dogs, hillwalking, gardening, decorating, cooking, etc, etc. Thank heavens I read!

I met with my consultant last week and the only option now for me is a knee replacement which i have agreed to have done...the x-ray showed that i have no cartilage on the inside of my left knee so it's bone on bone..i now have to wait for about 2 months before i can have this op..reading the comments on this thread has really cheered me up as i am terrified of having this surgery (had a very bad experience last time i was in hospital) but to be able to walk again without pain and limping would be worth it! I have been exercising even more lately to keep my fitness levels up as then i can hopefully recover quicker..i do aerobics and weight training and go for long walks (weather permitting) the consultant told me that i am doing the right thing by exercising as i find it hard to sit around and have animals to care for so need to be active..just want to get this over with now and look forward to a pain free life...i too was told that i will be able to kneel down on my new knee so no worries about that...also i asked if i would still be able to ride (horses) and he didn't answer so not sure if this is possible?

I was told in Aug. 2015 that my right knee was totally Bone on Bone and I needed Total knee replacement asap. I was suffering a lot of pain and could not sleep comfortable in bed due to pain. I am unable to take anti inflamatories due to severe gastric upset. Since then, I read up on, and started taking Turmeric supplements to begin with, then proceeded to make the Golden Paste as per recipe on Turmeric For Health website. Honestly, the change was dramatic. I walk without limp, sleep well at night, dont take any pain killers although I take one 50mg tramadol for back pain following 5 Spinal surgeries. I exercise regularly in the gym, at home and in the water, and so far touch wood, I have got away without the surgery. Any one considering taking Turmeric must first read up on it on the web site and consult their GP to ensure that it does not interact with any medication that you may be on, perticularly Blood thinning and Diabetic medication. Trumeric how ever in diet is quite safe. Add a teaspoon to curries, smoothies, hot milk, fruit juice, rice, potatoes. Read up all about it on the website first as it may not be for every one. Also topical use of Turmeric and warmed up olive oil paste is safe and very beneficial. This is also on the web site.

Good luck  and best wishes

Nineteen_gale 

I've suffered with OA for a number of years but recently it has got much worse. I have great difficulty climbing stairs, so much so I just don't if I can help it. And generally just walking is extremely painful. I can't bend down to pick things up off the floor besides a host of other things I can't do. I can't even put my own shoes on anymore. My doctor has said he will see about a hip replacement when I have had physio. I'm dreading this. How can I do physio when I can hardly even walk?

I have read about Tumeric as it's often given to horses with arthritis and seems to work wonders for them so thought about trying it..i bought some but chickened out on using it as i was worried about side effects..i am not on any medication so may have to give to give it a go!  I tried a fish oil supplement that i got from the internet..it did help but i had to stop using it as it gave me nightmares and i was waking up terrified and to scared to go back to sleep..it was a shame as it really was good.

You should give Turmeric a go. It is very beneficial but make sure you check with your GP first. I have been taking Fish oil for years. it does not give me night mares and have never heard any one say they had either. Perhaps you are not in a relaxed state of mind. Dont know which fish iol you took. You can try Krill or Omega 3 or Codliver oil. Krill is supposed to be very good and Omega 3 gived protection to heart and brain too.

Good luck.

Nineteen_gale

Rosehip tablets are good and tumeric with pepper tablets are good . Take krill oil soo much better for you . If your not allergic to sea food collagen try that too. Always consult your doctor first. I took all these it helped with the amount of pain relief (drugs)  I took . Still had hip replacement though . Good luck with everything .