Knee Replacement questions....

[JennyC]

Hello,

I've just found this group and I'd like to ask a couple of questions.

Although I don't actually have arthritis I am booked for a total knee
replacement in February 2003. This is necessary because my knee was
operated on when I was very young (two years old) by the NHS and they
made a bit of a mess of it !!!

The joint has been getting rapidly worse since I hit 50 and now my
lower leg sticks out at a 30 degree angle from my upper leg. This
makes walking extremely difficult.

There is hardly any cartilage left and the bones are all wonky and
wobbly. The joint is very unstable and I fall down a lot :~(

I am hoping that the knee replacement will give me back mobility and
that I will be able to walk and cycle again.

There are a few questions I'd like to ask :

1) I know there will be physiotherapy while I'm in hospital.
Will this continue after I get home - if so for how many
weeks/months.
Or will I be able to do the exercises by myself ?

2) How soon can I expect to be able to drive again ?

3) How soon will I feel fit enough to go back to work ?
Physically ?
Mentally ??

Any other comments and / or tips welcome :~))

TIA, Jenny

[Gwen Love]

Jenny, I can't answer your questions because my replacement was for a hip.
Just want to say how sorry I am you are going through this. I'm sure others
will answer your post.
Gwen

[JennyC]

"Gwen Love" <cgl...@knology.net> wrote in message
news:aslgrn$sk842$1...@ID-84913.news.dfncis.de...

Thanks for that Gwen :~))

I'm just glad that I am going to have the op, even if it is a bit
scary. I'm sure it will improve my quality of life.

Jenny

[AChrist787]

Hi Jenny,

There are a number of us here who have had knee replacements and I'm sure
you'll get many answers to this. Here are my answers to your initial
questions:

>I am hoping that the knee replacement will give me back mobility and that I
will be able to walk and cycle again.<

You absolutely will be able to do both. My TKR is nearly 13 years old (I was
45 when mine was done) - I walk, I ride my bike, I go dancing occasionally.

>1) I know there will be physiotherapy while I'm in hospital.
> Will this continue after I get home - if so for how many >weeks/months.
> Or will I be able to do the exercises by myself ?<

I had physical therapy on my leg for nearly 8 months, which is much longer than
the norm. But, that being said I also need to tell you that this was the 13th
surgery on my leg and old scar tissue caused a lot of unforseen problems. I
don't know for sure what the average PT is, but would guess about 4 months or
so. I had exercises to do at home as well. I will tell you that the results
you get will depend on how faithful you are about keeping up your exercises. I
was not expected to have more than 80° in flexion on my leg when we were
through and I have approximately 124°. I worked extremely hard for every
degree I got.

>2) How soon can I expect to be able to drive again ?<

I wasn't supposed to drive for 6 weeks, but I cheated and did it anyway, after
4 weeks.

>3) How soon will I feel fit enough to go back to work ?
> Physically ?
> Mentally ??

I went back to work in 5 weeks and it was difficult physically, only because I
was working an extremely high stress job and had not a lot of energy. Mentally
I was ready to go back the week after my TKR and was bored as hell staying home
for all that time. I finally got the office to send my work home, as much as
they could because I was going stir crazy.

If I can help you any further, please feel free to email me and I'll answer
whatever questions I can for you.

Anne
AAC/AAF/AFBV62.0844.AZ
http://www.tckworld.com/opfoot

[Nann Bell]

> Although I don't actually have arthritis I am booked for a total knee
> replacement in February 2003. This is necessary because my knee was
> operated on when I was very young (two years old) by the NHS and they
> made a bit of a mess of it !!!
>
> The joint has been getting rapidly worse since I hit 50 and now my
> lower leg sticks out at a 30 degree angle from my upper leg. This
> makes walking extremely difficult.

I can't give you info on most of your questions, but my mom's leg was much
like yours when she had her TKR. Her right leg, with the bad knee looked
like a backwards C. It was so bad when they got in there to do the
replacement, the ortho couldn't believe she'd been able to walk at all.

18 months later she's cruising along. Her recovery was complicated mby
polymyalgia which had left her other leg quite weak, so i don't know what a
normal timetable is. But based on her experience I can tell you it is
definitely worth doing. (She was 73 when she did this BTW)

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
"To array a man's will against his sickness is the supreme art of medicine."
...Henry Ward Beecher

[Lyn Brown]

Hi Jenny,

I had a TKR done in June of 2001. I was in hosp. for 3 days then home. I
was on a passive motion machine for the first 24 hrs in hosp, then they
cut back the time to 1 hr 5 times a day. Took it home with me and used it
for 3 weeks. I then did physical therapy for 8 weeks. I was driving in 3
weeks and back at work in 6 weeks. I made sure I went into it with a
positive attitude and that helps a lot. Plus the fact that at the time I
was 53 was also in my favor.

My knee is wonderful, sometimes it gets a little sore as I need to stretch
it more than I do.

I hope you have great success. Please keep us posted.

Lyn

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[Caroline Marold]

My aunt's was way out of whack as well. She just had hers done this year
and is back dancing. If the doctor has given you exercises to do before
the surgery, then do them faithfully. Strengthening the muscles will be
important so you can get back to doing what you would like.
Welcome to the sandbox Jenny.
Duckie

[JennyC]

Thanks everyone for the optimistic replies - they are just what I
needed :~))

Jenny