Knee replacements

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Noggins
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Re: Knee replacements

Post by Noggins »

It's nice to hear of others stories of knee re-construction.
After hearing of stories of failures and distress it's good to know there is a good outcome at the end.
I'm finally getting mine done soon after 9 arthroscopies and countless synovisc and cortisone injections since 1985.
Can't wait to be able to walk up and down some of the gorges and trails again, it's a pain in more than one way being limited in distance and ability to explore a lot.
Now if I can just get on top of the fibromyalgia I'd be like a little piggy in shite. :P


Ron
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Dot
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Re: Knee replacements

Post by Dot »

Looks like we can now add Steve to this list of successful knee jobs. :lol: :lol:
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Re: Knee replacements

Post by Shirley »

I think the secret to successful knee replacement operations is to do the exercises & physio required to get the new knee operational.
My bro in law had his done mind you he is obese did very little exercise from day one, only had physio while in hospital & now can't stand for very long or walk very far, no one could tell him that he should have done as he was told.

My neighbour had one done about 8 yrs ago recently had second one done, was walking up to the point & back twice a day as well as going to the pool & physio, he was riding his bike again within a few mths, great success.
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Newcastle George
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Re: Knee replacements

Post by Newcastle George »

I think it would pay to do some muscle strengthening exercises prior to the operation.

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ozfueler
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Re: Knee replacements

Post by ozfueler »

I had my left knee replaced exactly 6 weeks ago today, and could not be happier with the result so far. I thought I'd relate the story of what got me to this stage, hope it's not too mind numbing. :(

Following a motor accident in which the knee was crushed and then surgically reconstructed, I had spent the last 11+ years in constant pain. The knee never felt right, it always felt 'heavy' and not really a part of me, it also had a mind of its own especially when descending stairs. Over the years I had a number of operations and arthroscopes and thought, well that's my lot in life, just get on with it, and I did. We got our bus and early last year went on the road full time.

Last April, whilst preparing to go into the **** Rally at Maryborough as a volunteer, it suddenly gave way without any warning and I fell from the bottom step of the bus, this resulted in 2 fractured toes and a small groin hernia, great! Had some treatment and we continued travelling north up to Cooktown, during this time the pain increased and I had a lot more falls but luckily no major injuries resulted. It finally got to the stage where I was virtually bus bound, I could drive us to wherever we wanted to go, but could not enjoy any outings because of the pain and increasing fear of more falls, although by this stage I was having falls inside the bus as well.

The falls continued unabated and reluctantly in November, we decided we had to return to Melbourne to see my orthopedic surgeon, he quickly determined that a total knee replacement was the only course of action to get me back on my feet. I knew he was right, but like some others here I hated the thought of more pain, stupidly I Googled it and that really scared the day lights out of me. Dot then came to my 'rescue' :? and threatened that if I didn't have the operation, she and her sister Fran would come and stay with us until I did. :o

It was a toss up between the fear of the operation and the associated extra pain, or the fear of Dot and Fran, of course anyone who knows Dot understands that in the end it was an easy decision to make and the operation won. It was decided, although not before one final fall outside the front of the hospital a week before the operation when I attended to have blood work done. It was really quite embarrassing laying in the gutter in more pain and having to have hospital staff get me up into a wheelchair :oops: . After all of the previous falls with little real physical damage sustained, this time I tore the muscle wall in the stomach and now have a cricket ball sized hernia still to be operated on, yes I know great! This time I have avoided looking at this operation on Google, however Dot has assured me that it's all ok, of course it is ok, it's not happening to her.

I had the knee operation January 15th, and was up and taking steps the next day, was it painful?, yes, but not as bad as I had been expecting, medication is a wonderful thing :idea: and within a week I was walking with crutches and transferred to a rehab hospital for another 2 weeks. The result after 6 weeks is nothing short of amazing, I have some minor pain in the joint but nowhere near the level before the operation. I am walking unaided and helping with the shopping and other little jobs, although I believe it may be quite a few years before I will be well enough to attempt any real house work etc :lol: . I now have complete faith in the knee, both going up and down stairs and have never felt it is going to give way, in fact it now feels like it is actually a part of me again.

I would recommend the replacement operation to anyone who has no other real options, but would suggest a few things to make it easier . I am a big overweight bloke with Diabetes, which both carry increased risks with the replacement operation. If you can lose a bit of weight, bloody hard I know, but it is worth the try, also do strengthening exercises at least a month or so before the operation, the hospital will give you a sheet of them, they really make a huge difference to your recovery and your new knees range of movement. Just remember all that crap about 'no pain no gain', it really is true, however the pain can be managed and you can actually feel the daily improvement .

All I can say as is go for it, it worked for me, oh and don't be tempted to Google it until after the operation, well after :!:
ozfueler
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dapope
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Re: Knee replacements

Post by dapope »

Great to see a great result
Googling medical stuff is definitely not always a smart idea. People are pretty quick with the negatives, but you don't always hear about the positives
Any thing on google or wikipaedia should always be treated as being a bit sus, especially medical stuff
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Re: Knee replacements

Post by Noggins »

Further to my earlier posts I had my left knee replaced on July 4 ( independence Day 4 me )
The result is great and by now I can do the stairs quite well, still have a hand near the rail as past experiences have taught me.
Did the physio after the opp and although I had severe restrictions before the opp I can get past the flexing I had before.
One note tho' .... Just love the oxycontin and his little bro, unfortunately my surgeon is a bit of a drug pusher, and taking his advise I nearly had to do rehab ( Joking :shock: )
I / we went inland via Kalgoorlie to karajini and down from Exmouth , Quobba etc to Geraldton, inland and then back to Mandurah before the opp.
My reasoning was I'd been told that I wouldn't be able to do the Gorges and climbing down / up for 7 - 10 months from the opp, well that was about right, I'm sure I can do the gorges with this new knee now and NO Pain or Massive swelling !

Glad I had it done . :P


Ron
Much that passes as idealism is disguised hatred or disguised love of power.

Ignorance is Liberating
You're not restricted by facts or knowledge.
You're a Free Person and, as such, able to form your own conclusions.
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T1 Terry
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Re: Knee replacements

Post by T1 Terry »

When we were at Gentle Annie last Easter, there was a day trip to Power's Lookout, I would have loved to do the stairs down and up to the other look-out, but I knew I would make it back for the return trip even if I made it there in the first place and it didn't look like a great spot to be stretchered out of, so I ewatched everyone else do it and huff n puff when they got back :lol: I think I made the right decision.
I was told I'd never be able to run for a bus etc after I had the knee replacement op, like I could do anything like that now :lol:
A person may fail many times, they only become a failure when they blame someone else John Burrows
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