All Right Already with the Damp

[rolanni]

It is cold in the attic office. This is not a complaint I make often. Also? Damp. Every old war wound is awake and snarling -- shoulder, wrists, knee -- and the only thing I want to do is curl up under a buncha floofy blankets and sleep through it all.

Actually, the knee has been acting up pretty constantly for the last month -- dry weather or damp. I'm thinking I'm coming up to a decision point. Twenty-five years or so ago when I did a double-somersault down a flight of concrete steps and cleverly landed on my knee, I was offered surgery, which, after talking to a buncha people who had had the surgery being offered and who, if they had had it to do over, told me that they wouldn't have -- I declined. And, after a while, yanno, the knee got better. For values of better including It Works, Mostly, and Only Hurts When It Rains.

It would probably help to lose the twenty pounds I picked up since the schedule of go-to-day-job-sit-at-desk/come-home-sit-at-desk went into force a couple years ago, but I don't see a massive exercise and weight loss regimen in my near future.

Anybody had knee surgery lately? How'd it go?

Comments

[katmoonshaker.livejournal.com]

The last one I had was in 2003. It was a Fulkerson Osteotomy Distal Tibia Realignment. My knees got much much better. They're starting to give me crap now but I have a lot of stairs and Kats aren't supposed to be doing stairs. OTOH I've had knee trouble since I was a teen so it's an entirely different situation (I've also had 7 knee surgeries over the years on both knees).

That said, I've also known a lot of other friends who've had knee surgeries recently (also hip replacements in someone in his 30s). They've had no problems other than my dad having to have a knee replacement redone but he blames the rehab folx & himself for pushing him too hard.

Surgery nowadays is much advanced and depending on what you need is very noninvasive. I do suggest that you get a 2nd opinion. Very very important.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

My sister had knee replacement last year and says that starting PT the day after surgery hurt less than her natural knee had in years . . .

That was rheumatoid arthritis, though, onset nearly 50 years ago.

knee replacement

[catletude.livejournal.com]

Had total knee replacement last June. Painful to the point of crying during therapy. Pain pills didn't work until they upped the dosage and put me on oxycontin. Used it for a week and that enabled me to really concentrate on the exercises. After a week of those pills, I tapered off and have had no more trouble.

Still twinges now and then but the doctor tells me that is normal. Had the surgery done at Mayo hospital in Jacksonville, Fl.

Am seriously considering having the other knee done this fall.

Two advices: Make sure you keep lots of ice on the knee and keep it propped real high. I did my pt at home: never went to rehab. For me it worked better but you need someone with you 24 hours a day until you can get up and cook your own meals.

A laptop comes in very handy because you can't sit at a desk for at least several weeks and then only for 1/2 hour or so. Lots of good writing time.

I crocheted two full afghans and lots of scrap projects while I was laying there.

By the way I'm 73 years old and have other foot and ankle problems which contributed to the slow recovery. My sister was up and walking with a cane within one week.

And get a laptop

[gilraen2.livejournal.com]

talk to Mary Kay Kare. i'm facing knee replacement myself and the general concensus that i hear seems to be that for the first five months you will not believe that it could possibly be worth it but that after that you will wonder why on earth you didn't do it much earlier. another alternative - depending on what's wrong - is to have a yearly (or twice a year) set of weekly injections (3 to 6 weeks) that put a viscous fluid into the knee that acts much as the missing cartilage. that's my next choice and i'm starting my first set of injection therapy in july.

Knee Surgery

[(Anonymous)]

Surgery - yuck! I will say, however, that my mother just had knee surgery back in January and is so happy to have done so. Her knee had been badly damaged in a fall from a horse when she was a teen. She recovered, but as she got older it became disabling. Now, all the pain is gone and she can do things (walking) that she hasn't been able to do (or do well) for years.

Best wishes!

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

My Mom (before her stroke) had each knee done separately. The first was standard knee replacement surgery, the second was done artheroscopically, minimally invasive. She was up and moving a lot faster the second time. It makes a real difference, too, when you go to a doctor who has done the procedure a lot: the expertise they gain in getting through the surgery quickly and doing it right pays off in better results for the patient.
She started walking more, enjoying life more, and lost weight.
Sadly, other issues caused severe problems, but for a short while, we had her back again....

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

PT *prior* to surgery is a big deal. Dad had a knee done, and for a variety of reasons wasn't able to do intensive PT beforehand (mostly due to it being not just his knee that was busted). His recovery has been much slower than other people I know who have had knees done. The bigger base of physical strength you have, the easier recovery is.

His was another old injury... I think he injured the knee around 16, and didn't have it repaired til he was about 57? The repair definitely has helped.

[ckd]

My mom had her knees replaced recently, and she's much happier. There was some recovery time, but within a few months she was at Walt Disney World and trying to keep up with a not-quite-6yo granddaughter....

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Depends on the definition of 'recently'. I had damaged knee cartilege back in the late 90s, and in a German hospital had a thing put into my knee which filed it down (arthroscopy plus a powered thing the same size) under local anaesthetic. I was on crutches for a couple of weeks. No real trouble since, it twinges a bit occasionally.

[sraun]

kalmn had one of her knees replaced last year, and is very happy with it. IIRC, it was because of arthritis. Regardless, she's much more mobile now than she was before.

Knee replacement

[chipwyn.livejournal.com]

I've done the knee replacement twice, once 7 years ago, and then 5 months ago (same knee, but that is whole 'nother story). My recovery this time was a breeze compare to 7 years ago. It depends on your surgeon and you. My base cause was osteoarthritis. I am 60 years old and (mumble mumble) pounds overweight. I will not lie, I still have some pain, but nothing like prior to surgery. I quickly regained full flexibility and am working on re-strengthening the muscles. If you've reached the point where it keeps you up at night and OTC pain killers don't work, then you need to see to it. Sigh. Good luck, hope the info helps.

[(Anonymous)]

I've had both knees replaced -- one in 2001 and one in 2005. I had very few problems with either and not a lot of pain. Both were total replacements. The doctor put me on a passive motion machine for two weeks after I went home and I think that helped tremendously although I hated it ('cause you can only lie there). Also did regular therapy. I agree with the comment that doing PT prior to the surgery will help enormously.

Liz

[alienorade.livejournal.com]

Bilateral ACL reconstructions, one in 2007, one in 2008.

Went from it going out walking across the parking lot to a return to sport.

My recomendations in general are to do PT before if they'll let you, get the surgery, have a Game Ready ice/compression machine for after the surgery (you rent it for about a month--and yes, the brand does matter!!! Donjoy's machine sucks), make sure to follow the therapists instructions post surgery and don't push too hard, and take your vitamins--they are all important for recovery.

knee surgery

[(Anonymous)]

You didn't say what kind of surgery you need, but the description sounds like you probably damaged the ACL when you fell. Repairing ACL injuries is much easier and faster healing than knee replacement surgery.

Twenty years ago I tore the ACL in my left knee. This is one of the four ligaments (read rubberbands) that hold the knee together. My surgeon told me NOT to have reconstructive surgery as he didn't think I needed it at that time and it would have involved laying the leg open from six inches above the knee to six inches below the knee. They cleaned out the knee, I went through PT instead and had minimal problems for the next 15 years.

Five years ago, I slipped on a screwdriver that someone had left on a floor in a store and did major damage to the MCL in my left knee. Suddenly, I lacked two out of the four rubberbands that hold your knee together. Also, MCL injuries apparently aren't conducive to surgical intervention. The decision was made to go in and repair the old ACL tear which, if sucessful, would give me back three working rubberbands and make my knee much more stable. It worked!

The reconstructive surgery is now done arthroscopically. I had two tiny holes and one 1" incision. They take part of another ligament and use it to reconstruct your torn ligament. Before the last surgery, I couldn't walk without the risk of dislocating my knee. Now I can dance again.

PT is an immense help. Ten minutes a day on the exercycle for six to eight weeks before surgery helps a lot. Starting PT as soon after the surgery as they will allow it also helps. I didn't have an ice machine and never felt the need to have one. However, I recommend having several large bags of frozen peas or corn on hand which substitute for ice bags. Just remember to mark them as non-edible as you will be using them and then refreezing them. Two to three bags will last you several weeks by which time you shouldn't really need them anymore.

Ginni Morgan

knee

[(Anonymous)]

ardell had total knee replacement 3 wk ago, knee pain gone but tendons ect got used to old knee. will take a while to adjust to new knee