Donna:

Yep--I have several tears in the meniscus plus a lot of calcium (ie:
arthritis).

It is hard to say whether or not my problems are due to the tears or the
arthritis or both!

I'm hoping the 2nd orthoped. guy is a bit more positive about the possible
results of the scope. I think the scope will serve a dx. purpose too.

Mel

I am in the UK, so my experiences / terminology may be different, but here
goes.  I have had two each - arthroscopies and tkr's.  The first arthroscopy
was just fine, and I was back to work a few days later.  Apart from the fact
that I had an extra load to carry because my husband chose that time to
dislocate his ankle and break his leg the weekend after, recovery was fine -
a bit sore but nothing much.

The arthroscopy last year on my right knee was a little different - much
more of a clean up and trimming up.  The main difference I noticed was in
bruising - I didn't have much with the first one but the second was a
different matter - quite dark bruising, a bit sore and the joint hurt a
little for a week or so, but really nothing to write home about.  However
once that was over the knee felt better for a few months.

There are lots of people here who have had tkr's, but I will tell you my
experience.  Both times I had my operation on Mondays, and both times I went
home on the Thursday after, so just a short stay in hospital.  I found the
main thing was just how weak the leg muscles are afterwards - you have to
work really hard to lift that leg in a straight leg lift, and for the first
few days lifting the leg from the floor to the bed just seems to defeat you
(I cheated and used the hand end of my walking stick!).  The physio is hard,
but most definitely worth the effort.  When you give up the walking stick(s)
it feels like a great moment.  I wish I'd kept a diary as to when all of
these things happened, but I can tell you that the improvements just keep
happening for months and months.  I had my right one done in the middle of
September and a few weeks ago I suddenly realised that I was walking up and
down stairs like a normal person, and today I sort of ran down them at work
with no problem, which was lovely.  Oh, and I also discovered that I can hop
for the first time in years lately!  (What use that is going to be to me I
don't know!)

As far as pain is concerned after, I didn't find it bad at all really - I
expected much worse.  Immediately after, the spinal anaesthetic took care of
any pain, and that was followed by the morphine pump.  However that made me
feel nausious so I asked for it to be taken off after 12 hours.  After that,
I took paracetamol, codeine and tramadol if needed.  What I found worse than
anything was how difficult sleep was for the first few weeks.  I would say
it was 6 weeks before I could sleep through the night properly.  Oh and the
scar on my second knee for some reason was much more sore and itchy than the
first knee, but thats all long gone now.

Both times I went back to (office) work just over 3 weeks later.  First time
I couldn't drive at that stage (left foot, clutch, manual car), but second
time I could drive by then.

It was most definitely worth it both times, and to be able to walk and do
stuff without that horrible grinding pain is wonderful.

I remember being so surprised the day after the op, when the physios got me
out of bed for the first time and standing and walking with the frame.  The
surprise was that although the knee was sore, and the leg weak, there was no
"deep" pain anymore.

Sorry this turned out to be a bit long and rambling, but the very best of
luck to you.

Jayne

I want to echo some of what Jayne said. I had a right TKR in early
October. Had the op on Wednesday morning and was home again the
following Monday. Yes, the first few days were rough. I, too, had
problems sleeping through for quite a while.

Improvements are continuing, though the knee still hurts from time to
time - nothing like as badly as it did before the op, though! I've given
up sticks to walk with - except when I want to take the dog out for a
long stroll. The knee seems to be happy going a few hundred yards
without a stick, but further than that the extra help stops it hurting
so much.

Took me 6 weeks before the doctors would let me drive, and as long again
before they'd let me drive for a living. I'm over that, now, and
wouldn't go back to the pre-op days for anything. I'm left now with only
2 real concerns over my arthritis.

1. I presume that, because I've improved so much, they'll take away my
DLA, and hence my car.

2. Now my left knee is starting to play up after only a few steps. I
have a bit of a dread of that one going the same way as the right. If it
does I've got years of pain ahead of me again. Oh, well!

Cheers all,

Dave

I have spoken to others who say the same Nanny - when it gets so bad,
cleaning up is purely short term.  The main reason for both was to let the
surgeon have a good look around pre-tkr.

Jayne