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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / July 2007Further Knee Update
I'm afraid I've been remiss in keeping folk up to date on what's happening here. The news is that I went to see the specialist about a month ago. from experience of our wonderful health service I went armed with plenty to do while I was waiting around. The first thing that happened, as expected, was to be sent for another set of X-rays. "Here goes my morning," I thought, but I was in and out of there fairly quickly. Back to the clinic to find I had the best part of an hour to wait. As it turned out the wait wasn't much over half that. When I finally got to see the specialist he seemed to have as much time as necessary, contrary to my expectation. He said that the only thing which would help me was a total knee replacement. So he told me a few of the things which might go wrong and that the waiting list is six months long. At the end of last week I had a letter from the hospital confirming that I'm on the waiting list and asking for holiday dates. I phoned those through and said I'd be available at short notice. When I said that I was away at theend of November she told me I should have been done by then. So there we have it. Part of the time I'm looking forward to having a new knee, part of the time I'm concerned about what will be involved. I'm also getting nervous because I don't have the best of luck with medical procedures and there are all these stories about 'superbugs' lurking in hospitals. But I'm staying optimistic. Cheers for now, Dave Smith  SignatureDave Smith Wordsmith and yarnspinner, singer and storyteller > I'm afraid I've been remiss in keeping folk up to date on what's > happening here. [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Dave Smith Thanks Dave,,, Its strange how we always prepare ourselves for the worst and it almost never happens. The few times that it does,,,, its not so bad. I had the same worries when I had to be tested to see how much oxygen was in my blood and how my lungs were or were not working. I lost a whole morning doing that to find out that it was all on the low side and my lungs were not producing very well. Anyone that see me doing the lawn knows that with all the wind brakes on the swing in the front yard. We have an old fellow in his 80's that lives around the block that walks his block which includes the street infront of my house and he goes around and around with his wheeled walker. It makes me get up and finish what I am doing. If he can do it,,,, I can do it. Harv >I'm afraid I've been remiss in keeping folk up to date on what's >happening here. [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > >Dave Smith It's designed for kids but this shows you what happens whilst you sleep. http://www.edheads.org/activities/knee/ How very interesting and informative. Thanks for the link SignatureNavy Take out the FISH to email me. >>I'm afraid I've been remiss in keeping folk up to date on what's >>happening here. [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > http://www.edheads.org/activities/knee/ Dave, This is great news and you won't believe the difference a new knee will make! yes there are occassional problems but actually when you read historically on the group the problems are not that common. The big thing is to be your own advocate (which you are obviously), be knowledgeable about what is to be expected before, during and after (which you are getting) and be aggressive afterwards in doing what they want in physio etc. The good thing is you will in all likelihood will not be in pain afterwards - just focus on that. Do as much as you can to keep you muscles strong beforehand and your lungs strong (some exercises with weights or elastics are suggested by some physios) and keep yourself healthy - avoid people with colds etc. Keep in touch and let us know when they schedule you - someone is sure to give you some great advice. Seems to me there was something about rocking chairs for physio but can't remember for sure! Glad to hear - keep optimistic. Kelly > I'm afraid I've been remiss in keeping folk up to date on what's > happening here. [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Dave Smith Hi Dave I've just had my date for pre-admission clinic in the middle of July and panicked a bit! I wasn't expecting my op until September, and here they were talking about the middle of August! When I went on the list they said 26 weeks max, so I assumed that it would be the full 26 weeks (like last time they said 9 months, and I had it done bang on 9 months). Anyway, it seems they are keen to get on, so I phoned up and begged not to have it until the beginning of September, so they are going to try to wangle things so that it can be around then. Its understandable to be so nervous - when I had my first one I worried about everything - complications, risk of infection, the fact that they don't use general anaesthetic. However, I needn't have - I was lucky with no complications, the staff were brilliant about hand washing and making sure everything was clean, and the epidural was nothing to be scared of. I am crossing my fingers that the same applies for my next knee! Good luck Dave - I really hope it goes well. My left knee is brilliant now, and I can't wait to have the right one the same. Jayne Jayne, how nice to see you post on the NG across the water Haven seen you on here in a long time. Will pray for the same good surgery as you had before. Gwen > Hi Dave > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Jayne > Jayne, how nice to see you post on the NG across the water Haven seen you > on here in a long time. Will pray for the same good surgery as you had > before. > Gwen Hi Gwen! More of a lurker these days - I do read every day, but don't often get time to do a lot of posting. I am working more hours nowadays - average about 30 - 35 per week, which is up a lot from 20 hours a week tops. Mainly because I am feeling so much better. Both of my knees were bad, but it is strange that having one total knee replacement made me feel way more than 50% better! Also, I've noticed that my right knee is every bit as bad as my left one was before it was done, yet I am managing without a stick and the pain is not atrocious as it was when both knees were bad. I am so looking forward to next year being a great year with two good knees! Mind you, my hubby is wearing me out yesterday and today - he has had minor surgery and the doctor told him to take things easy for a few days. You would think from his interpretation of this comment that he has had heart and lung transplant! I am going to really get him moving on Saturday! Jayne I guess all males are just big babies when they are sick!! Glad you're doing so well. >> Jayne, how nice to see you post on the NG across the water Haven seen >> you on here in a long time. Will pray for the same good surgery as you [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Jayne >I guess all males are just big babies when they are sick!! Glad you're >doing so well. pshaw! her: "i've got a cold coming." me: "poor old you, anything i can do to help?" her: "not now thanks" me (next day): "how's the cold?" her: "what cold?" she prefigures so many illnesses, that when she really is ill (e.g., she has keratokonus and her eye's been leaking recently) i'm not at first sure how to respond. SignatureRobin Fairbairns, Cambridge > Its understandable to be so nervous - when I had my first one I worried > about everything - complications, risk of infection, the fact that they > don't use general anaesthetic. They don't!!!!!!! And I was looking forward to a decent sleep for once :) Seriously, though, I've put up with one fairly minor operation under local anaesthetic and it's not an experience I'd like to repeat. All right it was 40 years ago, and procedures my have changed by now. But surely I'm not going to have to be awake and aware of everything they're doing to me, am I?? Cheers for now, Dave SignatureDave Smith Wordsmith and yarnspinner, singer and storyteller >> Its understandable to be so nervous - when I had my first one I worried >> about everything - complications, risk of infection, the fact that they [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > But surely I'm not going to have to be awake and aware of everything > they're doing to me, am I?? Don't worry, there are a lot of options now between the general anesthetic of 40 years ago and what barely passed for a local then. The only way they'd do my knee without me napping would be if I were terribly curious about the procedure. Jo > They don't!!!!!!! > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Dave I didn't mean to alarm you Dave - your area may do things differently. Here, most of the knee and hip replacements are done with epidural, and they then sedate you so that you sleep through it. The good thing from my point of view is that the sedation does not involve being intubated, and also, when you recover afterwards, you cannot feel the pain for a few hours, by which time I had a morphine drip. The only thing with me was that for some reason my weight was missing from my notes and they guessed the dose, and I woke up during the op, which was VERY strange, but not alarming at all surprisingly. There was a tall screen so I couldn't see, it was quite noisy and physical but I honestly couldn't feel a thing. They could have sawed both legs off and I wouldn't have known. I had a nice chat with everyone, the surgeon told me a joke and made me laugh, and the anaesthetist eventually asked me if I'd like to go back to sleep and gave me a little more medication and I drifted off!! Odd, I know, but not scarey. Now General anaesthetics - they scare me rigid!! Jayne >I didn't mean to alarm you Dave - your area may do things differently. >Here, most of the knee and hip replacements are done with epidural, and they [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > >Jayne When I had both knees replaced (2003, Oregon, USA) I had the choice between an epidural and a general. I was told that the recovery was much easier with the epidural. That is what I chose. I was sedated and only woke up for a few seconds, didn't open my eyes but could hear some of the noise. I am very glad that I chose the epidural. With the general, the intubation always makes my throat sore for weeks and gives me a cough. Be sure and spend some time with the anesthesiologist discussing the options until you understand and are comfortable with your choice. Good Luck and wishing you an easy surgery and a speedy recovery. -- BettyB -- www.flamingo-code.com "I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road." - Stephen Hawking |
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