Knee Replacement - Page 4

Justice4all · ‎12-22-2013

Sorry to hear about your pain. The people I know who have had knee replacements are very happy and pain free. What's wrong with that? The key is to find the best orthopedic surgeon and hospital. Spend some time researching this...a wonderful site is bonesmart forum, knee...

CrazyKittyLvr2 · ‎05-11-2013

@Sweet Caroline 1 Oh my gosh, your leg sounds like mine.My right leg isn't straight either. Mine is arthritis and I can't believe how quickly it came on and got to the point of needing surgery.My hip took along time to really interfer with daily chores. I fought hip surgery. I'm overweight, blood suddenly decided to go up (always normal for 66 yrs.),and I had a small stroke in 2016. Going under the knife was not something I wanted to do. However, it got to the point I was tired of the pain even with 2 pain pills a day. I took 1 in the am to get some housework done and 1 at night to sleep. In between I didn't do basically anything. I refused to take more pills. OTC pain relievers didn't touch it. When I found I could have a spinal instead of being put under I did it. It wasn't horrible at all. I have absolutely no pain in my hip. I amhoping a new knee will end as wel leven though I dread it. Do what you need to do to feel better. Hopefully we will both be walking soon and not hobbling.

Lilysmom · ‎03-09-2010

@CrazyKittyLvr2, when I retired, within 16 months I had three siblings diagnosed with terminal illnesses. One with early onset Alzheimer’s (@59), one with stage 4 lung cancer and one with ALS. Every six months, it was something else. I was caregiver in many ways during that time. I was thankful to be able to help. It was exhausting. Take care of yourself. I pray you and DH can exhale now and relax a bit. Best wishes for the holidays. LM

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
I'm sorry if this has already been discussed, I haven't been around here in a couple of years. My Dr. wants me to have a knee replacement. I know he's right but not sure I want to do it. Have read a lot and some say the knee still hurts and wish they hand't done it. This knee never hurt until last year when I just got out of chair and the front below knee hurt. Had x-ray and showed arthritis. My left hip was bad and was a priority. Got shot in knee jn Dec. of 2017 and it worked. No pain for weeks.Shot every3 months,it was great. Finally had hip done in September of this year. Everyone said hip surgery is easier than knee. Hip is great now. Leg was almost 2 ins. shorter before surgery almost even now. In hospital on Monday am and home late Tuesday afternoon. Had a spinal, all went well. At 2 week checkup he gave me another shot in my knee. Well, nothing. Shots stopped working. Anyone with knee replacement experience? Thanks in advance.

Both my MIL and Mother have knee issues. My Mom does need knee surgery but her age and health concerns, there is no doctor who will do the surgery (she is almost 80). My MIL just had knee replacement surgery last summer. It all went very well. After released from hospital, she went to outpatient rehab for one week. She's very happy she did it.

Sweet Caroline 1 · ‎12-12-2017

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
@Sweet Caroline 1 Oh my gosh, your leg sounds like mine.My right leg isn't straight either. Mine is arthritis and I can't believe how quickly it came on and got to the point of needing surgery.My hip took along time to really interfer with daily chores. I fought hip surgery. I'm overweight, blood suddenly decided to go up (always normal for 66 yrs.),and I had a small stroke in 2016. Going under the knife was not something I wanted to do. However, it got to the point I was tired of the pain even with 2 pain pills a day. I took 1 in the am to get some housework done and 1 at night to sleep. In between I didn't do basically anything. I refused to take more pills. OTC pain relievers didn't touch it. When I found I could have a spinal instead of being put under I did it. It wasn't horrible at all. I have absolutely no pain in my hip. I amhoping a new knee will end as wel leven though I dread it. Do what you need to do to feel better. Hopefully we will both be walking soon and not hobbling.

Dear Retired Legal Secretary, last night on line, I found an exercise to do that may help straighten my knee. Sit on a chair and prop foot up on a chair in front of you so that the leg is as straight as it will go. Load a plastic grocery bag with some canned goods, for weight. Start out light, not too heavy. Slip your foot through the handle of the plastic bag and position it to just above the knee cap. Let the weight of the bag do the pushing down of the knee. Do several times a day. Warm the knee with heating pad before beginning. It will take a while but the knee should straighten a little over time. This is doable for me and I'm going to try it. I use over the counter ibuprofen for my pain and inflamation. And the heating pad helps a lot even though ice pack is suggested. God bless you and please keep in touch. SC

CrazyKittyLvr2 · ‎05-11-2013

@Lilysmom I'm so sorry to hear of all you have had to deal with. I know from experiience taking care of yourself is on the bottom of worries. When DH was diagnosed with cancer I lost 12 lbs.in no time. After his surgerywhile it was successfulhe got a staph infection that caused delirium. It was unbelievable what he was like. My mild-mannered intelligent husband was nasty saying the most outrageous things. even after 10 days in hospital on IV antibiotics and 2 weeks at home with them (they taught me how to do IV setup). he not right. I lost another 20 lbs. I came out of the bank and saw a woman from a store I went to. she took one look at me actually gasped and said OMG are you alright. I knew then I better take care of me too.

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
I'm sorry if this has already been discussed, I haven't been around here in a couple of years. My Dr. wants me to have a knee replacement. I know he's right but not sure I want to do it. Have read a lot and some say the knee still hurts and wish they hand't done it. This knee never hurt until last year when I just got out of chair and the front below knee hurt. Had x-ray and showed arthritis. My left hip was bad and was a priority. Got shot in knee jn Dec. of 2017 and it worked. No pain for weeks.Shot every3 months,it was great. Finally had hip done in September of this year. Everyone said hip surgery is easier than knee. Hip is great now. Leg was almost 2 ins. shorter before surgery almost even now. In hospital on Monday am and home late Tuesday afternoon. Had a spinal, all went well. At 2 week checkup he gave me another shot in my knee. Well, nothing. Shots stopped working. Anyone with knee replacement experience? Thanks in advance.

@CrazyKittyLvr2

I'm really glad your hip surgery was success!

Please look at the words in your paragraph that I highlighted in red. The reason I did this is that in the area you are describing, the petallar tendon attaches to the near top of your shin bone. The patellar tendon goes from your knee cap to a small bump on the near end of the tibia (shin bone). When that attachment becomes injured, it can hurt like heck, become a bit swollen, and, frankly, is extremely slow to heal. If you have the opportunity, I would get a second opinion. Question: have you had an MRI of the knee in question? If so, has your surgeon gone over all of the various MRI levels with you? If not, he/she should. Also, when seeking a second opinion, be sure to take regular x-rays and MRI with you.

Good luck!

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
Not specifically for the knee yet. After had the hip surgery I went a couple of times but it aggrevated my knee. I know I will have to go for therapy before I do the knee surgery because of Medicare rules. It's weird, 2 people I know got new hips about same time I did. Not the same Dr., one lady is 85 and the other my age. Neither had to do therapy after surgery. My Dr. said to go if I wanted. Figured it might be good but my knee was not happy. My neighbor is a recovery room nurse and said a lot of prople get both knees done at the same time because after just one they won't do it again. I'm no wuss with pain but knees sound bad.

@CrazyKittyLvr2

1. The reason for therapy PRIOR to surgery is to build up strength in your legs, so that your post-op course will be positively impacted by the good shape your legs are in.

2. You absolutely must follow through with post-op physical therapy. It is a must. Your knee will not magically return to near normal without PT, believe me! Truth!

CrazyKittyLvr2 · ‎05-11-2013

@sfnative Yes they did an MRI on knee. I know the knee requires pre and post PT. when I asked him way my friends didn't have to do post surgery PT, he said some Dr. don't require it. As I said I did PT for hip a couple of times and it aggrevated my knee. Hip is great and I just walk. Even the 85 year old was told to walk no PT. She's tooling around like nobody's business. I know I will have to do knee differently.

kismet · ‎03-10-2010

I too have had both of my knees replaced. It was the best thing I ever did. Had 2 meniscus tear surgeries and they were very painful and always had pain and stiffness in the knee. Went the route of shots every three months, got the injections of synvic and they didn't last. I was just tired of my life being on hold so went for it. My doctor wouldn't do it earlier because he said I was too young. Had my first knee done almost 9 years ago and the second one done 8 years ago. It was the best thing I ever did. My first knee, which was the worst, I had no pain and only took pain medication at night. The days of PT I really needed it at night. The second knee I had a little pain but not much. Never took the medication I was given. I did have a spinal for both surgeries. The doctor said he wouldn't do the surgery if I didn't have the spinal. The first knee I did use the walker to get into the house but found using one crutch was easier and only used it sometimes. The second knee I walked into the house with just a crutch. It worked for me and I was use to having to use them. I did have an excellent woman come and work PT at home for a week and then went to PT after a week. It was hard but I did all the exercises every day and sometimes more. I felt better when I did them. I could do more a week after surgery than I could before the surgery with little pain. You have to make the committment to exercise or you'll have problems. I would do it all over again because I have a quality of life now. Honestly my first knee was a piece of cake, the second a small amount of pain. I had surgery on Tuesday morning and went home on Thursday morning. Tuesday I barely could lift my knee and bend it. Thursday I sat on the edge of the bed and put on my socks and tennis shoes with no problem. I went in with a positive attitude and that helps. Now my doctor has me come in every 3 years for xrays just because. Find a good doctor and stay positive.