Well it's bidet sorry, B-Day that is to say, two days before D-Day because in two days time I will undergo a TKR or Total Knee Replacement surgery. My left knee has been agony for ten years so now i've taken the plunge, put my cowardly principles on hold and decided to do something about it.
I've spoken to a few friends who have had the TKR all of whom swear by the procedure which has been reassuring though I suppose all patients react differently, depending on their personal health issues at the time. I expect the individual recovery times also varies according to each particular case.
It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has been through a TKR and the problems and procedures they had to endure. How were the hospital conditions and what kind of rehab treatment did you go through ?
For example, I know of a lady in her early '70s who is still having rehab problems all resulting from severe restricted knee & leg movement for 16 months before the TKR surgery. I know of another person, a man in his '70s who was very active up to the operation, playing golf, albeit with discomfort several times each weekwhich meant the leg muscles were in pretty good condition pre op. His rehab was relatively quickand less painful. So, is it a case of the better your leg is before surgery the easier the recovery will be ?
Surgical techniques and rehab programmes seem to be very similar in most countries tho' it would be interesting to compare procedures. For example, I know of a chap who had a TKR in the UK who was discharged after 48 hours whereas the usual stay in hospital in France is more like 5/7 days.
Previous short stays in french hospitals have convinced me the food on offer is at best 'edible'. Now, I enjoy eating so will I need to hide food in my case to keep me going ?
Any advice will be appreciated
Hi again Shirley
The staples came out yesterday morning much to my relief ! The cicatrice (can't remember the english word !!!) looks good and vaseline helps to moisten the site. The pain levels have dropped quite significantly over the past few days tho'nit is still quite painful ! (ok, i'm a wimp !). The knee is swollen which is normal apparently but the ice-packs help to control the swelling and the pain.
M friend left on thursday to get back to work so i'm fending for myself at the moment until my son comes down for a few days next week. No panic, my Delia cookbooks are doing the job !!!
My hospital food was superb Shirley, hw have you found the french hospital food ?
It's a gift one is born with! You either have it or you don't. No amount of book learnin' can achieve it. ;-)
Only you could antagonise sheep !
Your reputation precedes you...
Actually it was positively tropical. Well for Orkney it was :-)
Trying to tell me something Gimpy? Now you mention it the sheep were a bit reluctant to speak to me ;-)
...bet you still managed to upset the locals tho' ?.......
Summer visit to the Orkneys = preparing for winter anywhere else in Europe ;-)
Barbados? Nah! Mme Mutt insisted on coming so we were obliged to visit BIL in Orkney by car for our annual booze & food fest where I rediscovered the joys of Orkney Blast beer , Black Sambuca & policeless space so wide open it makes our neck of the woods at 'Worlds End' seem positively cramped ;-)
Thanks Jane, i'll remember that for the other knee !
The best aid to healing is to take vitamin E tablets for at least ten days before surgery.
The surgeon could not believe how well my OH healed after a delicate operation and he didn’t tell him, as he said he would not believe him.
Welcome home Peter.
Progress only allowed.
Not worried about scars Angela, apparently they are 'macho' in men !
The stockings weren't mentioned but the anti-coag jabs have now been replaced by small tablets, one to be taken at the same time every day. This is good news for whimps like me !
I'll find out about the bio oil - i'll be applying the Arnica cream after the shower in a minute. The nurse changed the ddressing and covered the usual dressing with a waterproof version to allow 'dry' showering. What a nice man !
Thanks for the info.
The best for your scar (or any scar) is bio oil (available any chemist in UK, never tried to buy it in France) It's what my plastic surgeon recommended and it is wonderful. My knee scar is hardly visible after 9 months and it also keeps the tissue around the joint nice and supple. Arnica is good for reducing the swelling though but ice packs, ice packs and more ice packs!! I'm amazed you haven't had to have the anti-coagulant injections in the stomach or the compression stockings (I had to wear them for a month) and I was very fit before the op. Still every hospital is different! Good luck in your recuperation.
Well actually the comparison was with restaurant/canteen meals in the area. The quality was amazing when you consider the number of 'covers' involved ! Many of the ingredients were fresh rather than frozen which is a great indictment.
My only criticism of the stay would be the mattress which wasn't that comfy, or are they meant to be like that ?
'Hols' ? Wot, Barbados again Vic ?
Well done matey! I've been on me hols. but managed to keep up with your hospital journal. This knee job sounds fun. Was your 8/10 rating on the hospital grub based on a comparison with your own cooking? ;-)
So no injections. I'm surprised given that doctors here are such assists! Shame about the stockings, they would have been so fetching ;)
Thanks, I will try some Arnica I just happen to have a tube from a previous battle.
One armed goalie confronted with one legged centre... Hmm interesting.
Arnica cream helps the scarring for sure and taking an arnica something orally too. When my shoulder was still newly broken and I was often near to tears after the botched repair job it helped more than the painkillers which I dropped quickly because I dislike all pharmaceuticals and take as few as possible. Even if it is only placebo, which it might well have been, at least I am still without bone necrosis that was predicted to begin in under two years and even the specialist says that it probably helped although professionally he cannot formally say so. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so give it a try.