| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kora |
Posted - 24 Jan 2010 : 8:51:17 PM
Hi, just wondered if anyone out there has had or know of anyone who has had a full knee replacement. My twin sister Janice who lives alone with her Rottie in Consiton, Cumbria needs one and she is really quite shattered by this. She has bone on bone Grade 4 arthritis of her knee, probably caused by all the hill walking she does in the Lakes with her dog. We are 55 yr old. All she lives for is walking the hills and she is a member of Coniston Mountain rescue team. She is in so much pain and is awaiting a 'gait scan' and may need special insoles. How soon after the operation will she be able to gently walk the fells again. Is it really horrendous. She is very depressed and struggles now to walk her dog but suffers the pain to ensure her dog has sufficient exercise.
Any advice!!!! or miracle cure !!!
Kora
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| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kora |
Posted - 26 Jan 2010 : 6:53:27 PM
Thanks Lynda, I have forwarded all replies to Janice, it means so much to us both especially when we hear positive feedback.
Thank you all again.
Kora
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| Lynda |
Posted - 25 Jan 2010 : 10:10:34 PM
My Father had a total knee replacement at the age of 89yrs old. He had been in a lot of pain prior to the op, in fact the surgeon said he wouldn't have even offered the knee to his dog, as it was in such a bad state. There was a great deal of physio after the op, which Dad carried on doing at home, and about 6 weeks after the operation, he was taking his normal strolls, albeit slowly at first.
He was not in any pain at this time, and that was the main factor, and he carried on with his walks without any sticks.
I hope all goes well with your twin. |
| Kora |
Posted - 25 Jan 2010 : 8:20:51 PM
Well thankyou sooooooo much everyone, I never expected such alot of replies. Janice is or should I say was very active and yes Quarabian she will give it her best shot. She loves the outdoors and to be stuck indoors well!!! she is a shadow of her normal self. Being an extremely close twin I also feel her pain and its not good.
Anyway, it all makes interesting reading and every comment is very much appreciated. Thank you to you all. I shall send her your comments.
Kora
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| Rozy Rider |
Posted - 25 Jan 2010 : 1:55:58 PM
Well a pal of mine, known to most of you in the Arab racing circles, had a half knee opp about 18months ago..she was having more pain before th opp than after with the new half knee, every thing went well and in just a few weeks we met up with them at the NEC at the house builders show and yes ahe was walking on it fine, not much real pain and no real problems, in that early stage (about 4 weeks after the opp).
I saw her at Warwick leading the horse round and Wolverhampton and at the Marathon and things are going well.I'm not sure that she will ever ride again, but that was not a high priority any more for her.
We have a surgion at the bottom of our lane that tell me that he does these opps all the while now.
I did know a woman in Lanwerta wales, that had a full knee and she did used to ride after her opp, only problem she had was that the insurance company would not insure her for riding, the horse was fine...
Good Luck.
Sue |
| vjc |
Posted - 25 Jan 2010 : 11:03:07 AM
My mom and friend have both had knee replacements and my sister and sister in law have had hip replacements, i would say on both counts it depends on your ability to heal well and i am afraid to say it, but also how good your surgeon is. My sisters hip replacement had complications and she may need to have another op  my sister in laws was fine. The same with the knee repacements, my friends went well and although you are still a bit restricted after, if done right you should be more or less pain free!!! my Moms op left her in a lot of pain and also an infection, she has never really been totally pain free and three years on is having to have a bone scan as they now think where the replacement joint goes into her bone is causing a problem  i don`t think they will operate on her again because of her age. Unfortunately whatever surgery we undertake there will always be differant stories. |
| Eeyore |
Posted - 25 Jan 2010 : 09:52:56 AM
My dad is waiting for a knee replacement but he needs to finish treatment for something else first. His knee sometimes gives way without warning and he gets a lot of pain from it but he stays active. I broke my knee cap into 2 pieces in an accident and that was painful enough so I can really sympathise. |
| Avonbrook |
Posted - 25 Jan 2010 : 08:28:34 AM
Full knee replacement is a big operation as there are in effect 3 sets of joint surfaces within the knee. However, it can be very successful. Don't forget that we all have the right to choose where operations are carried out within the NHS, and by whom. Some surgeons specialise in knees, others don't. And I echo the comments about the role of the patient in recovery. It can be quite empowering to know that, while you cannot dictate the outcome, you can play a big role in it. All the best to your sister.
Rowena |
| Suelin |
Posted - 24 Jan 2010 : 11:47:02 PM
A friend of ours has had both knees done. It does limit some things for him, like getting up and down if you need to get on to the floor to get something, but other than that he seems very mobile and if he hadn't told us we wouldn't have known. He walks 3 miles every day as well so hopefully your sister will still be able to walk her dog once she is fit again. I do sympathise though, I wouldn't relish the prospect of that op at all. Hope all goes well. |
| navaho621 |
Posted - 24 Jan 2010 : 10:37:28 PM
Well im going to post from the otherside of the coin, so to speak. My partners Mum had a knee replacement done just over a year ago, & she now wishes she hadnt had it done, she has very limited bend in the knee now & is in alot of pain with it, far more than she ever was before the operation, she has been back & forth to the consultants but they have said there is nothing more they can do for her. Its such a shame as she has always been a very active lady & finds in increasingly frustrating that she is so limited in what she can do now, especially as she has a farm to run. |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 24 Jan 2010 : 10:11:04 PM
Not quiet the same, but 5 years ago I was kicked by a cow and my knee joint was shattered. The surgeon did his best with a transplant of bone from my hip and metal screws. Yes after the op it was painful, but with perseverance I am nearly like new. The trouble is I was on a ward with some knee replacement failures. If you have the op, be prepared to work at the physio. Success is 50% the surgeon and 50% patient determination. I am sure your twin sister will be the sort of person who will give it their best shot. So the pain will fade and her mobility will return. Wish her luck from me. |
| shfwarrior |
Posted - 24 Jan 2010 : 9:55:38 PM
i have known 3 people who have had knee replacements and they have all said the same thing...if they knew how much better life would be afterwards they would have done it sooner. My husband is 47 and is waiting to be old enough to have one. he has been in constant pain for 10 yrs after an accident. when the time comes he will jump at the first chance. sue |
| Vera |
Posted - 24 Jan 2010 : 9:06:26 PM
No advice but plenty of sympathies.
I had both of my knees operated on 2 months ago and the pain in HORRENDOUS. The surgeon warned me that it got a lot worse before it gets better but it will never go away. I need both my knees replacing but I am only 43 so they won't do it. I have to try and get to 50 and then they will. The surgeon described one knee as 'totally buggered' and really needs replacing now.
I have to go to rehab at the hospital to learn to walk and stand. I can no longer lock either of my legs, which as you can imagine, makes things ...... interesting at times.
One thing I do find helps is prescription Voltarol gel. I was having liquid morphine but it makes me so sick I stopped taking it. I tried Solpadol as well but that made me sick as well.
I have struggled with depression too, and actually asked to go back to work instead of staying at home crying all the time. I don't do sitting at home and I suspect your sister is the same. When you are an outdoor person there is nothing worse than being stuck indoors. I don't do daytime TV!!
Sorry, not really what you wanted but at least she is not alone. |
