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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 21, 2022 18:43:55 GMT
I have had very few health problems, but I have always been told "be careful in the future" which should be a no brainer, but a lot of people seem to think they can once again ignore all health precautions once they have been fixed.
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Post by lugg on Nov 21, 2022 19:12:10 GMT
Thank you all - its good to be half human again. ignore all health precautions once they have been fixed. I am definitely not in that group of people. I know I am lucky to get the surgery and will do all I can to make it successful so I can be as good as possible. I have already decided that my horse riding days are mostly over -- I cannot afford to be thrown onto either knee. I may go for a gentle walk occasionally on a steady steed but that will be all. No high impact stuff at all but fortunbately walking and swimming both of which I love are still open to me of course.
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Post by mich64 on Nov 21, 2022 23:33:27 GMT
Hi Lugg! Glad to read that you are progressing and hopefully over the worst of the swelling and pain. Wishing you continued success with your recovery and to getting back to your walks and swimming!
My mom is having hip replacement surgery in a couple of weeks. She had shoulder replacement surgery about 5 years ago.
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Post by mossie on Nov 22, 2022 8:14:06 GMT
Good news Lugg. Take it steady and do the exercises .
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Post by lugg on Nov 24, 2022 19:26:30 GMT
Thank you both - really feeling that now every day is an improvement.
Hope your Mum's surgery goes well Mich.
How are you doing Mossie ?
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Post by lugg on Dec 17, 2022 20:12:49 GMT
I had no idea that several weeks post op my operated leg would resemble that of a gorilla. Apparently this is normal ..the hair follicles get a renewed burst of life. I am going to have to live with being hairy for a while because I cannot bear the thought of a wax for now. Anyway third world problems really.
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Post by htmb on Dec 17, 2022 22:18:19 GMT
At least it’s not summertime! How’s the new joint working out?
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Post by casimira on Dec 18, 2022 17:58:57 GMT
Only very recently with the onset of cold temperatures here my left knee has been acting up. This past Thursday during the installation of our new home's foundation it was quite chilly, and I felt it acting up. By the end of the day, I was limping. I am sure it is arthritis as was predicted by my orthopedist back in 2009 when I had laparoscopic surgery for torn meniscus. (I remember I had a DVD of the surgery and during his narration he pointed to the exact area where it is acting up. How he was able to predict or deduce this I have no clue). Occasionally, it will act up on Mardi Gras when we walk long distances almost all day especially on chilly days.
I am taking Naprosyn, using arnica lotion, both hot and cold packs and get some relief from this particular regimen. I also have an elastic type of brace to wear if I have to walk very far.
This morning it was particularly sore after being out last night at our local music club and I didn't even dance!!
I also think that my tendency to sleep with my knees bent doesn't help either.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 21, 2022 10:59:17 GMT
Sorry to hear your knee woes Casimira. You have all the sympathy in the world from me as I suffered badly some years back now - so bad I ended up in hospital in Paris one trip. My doctor drained the fluid build up in the cartilage to alleviate the pain. But what has happened since is quite strange. Since my hip replacement I have no knee problems whatsoever. Yes, the stiff legs after sitting too long but nothing even remotely like the pain I had previously. So, what is different? Was the way I walked causing the pain first in the knee and then in my hip? Has the hip fixed the knee? Guess I'll never know but I do have sciatica in my opposite hip area and so far it is not bad enough to attempt another hip replacement.
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Post by casimira on Dec 21, 2022 15:35:29 GMT
I hope the hip pain abates Tod and thank you for your well wishes. Gratefully I have not had any problems with my hip.
I do have chronic lower back pain that manifests itself when my back is in a slight prone position while doing tasks e.g., vacuuming, mopping, some gardening tasks etc. Swimming does help along with some exercises specific to the area where it flares up. After the exercises or a flareup ice is my friend vs. applying heat.
I have a vivid recall of my first episode of tearing the cartilage in my left knee.
I was an avid tennis player and was on the tennis team in high school. I was considered to be quite talented and known for a fierce backhand with both arms as I was ambidextrous. I could throw off my opponent because I could switch back and forth and was unpredictable. (much like a "switch hitter" in baseball) I used to ride my bicycle to the nearby school and practice on the back wall of the building. One Sunday while practicing I could feel something tear in the left knee. There was absolutely no one in sight to call out to for help and I somehow managed to get to my bicycle and ride it home peddling with just enough strength relying on my right leg to get me there. A gentleman I knew saw me and stopped. By then the left knee had swelled up considerably. He drove me home and my mother put an ice pack on it. Over a period of days, it didn't abate and was quite painful. We were struggling financially at that time so visits to any doctor only occurred if there was an emergency situation. (very common in the old days it seems). By day 3 or 4 she took me to a Dr. in a nearby village and he whipped out the largest syringe I had ever seen and stuck it in and drained out all the fluid buildup. (I remember him joking by telling me that Joe Namath AKA "Broadway Joe", a famous quarterback for the American football team the NY Jets) had this procedure performed almost every week) As if that made me feel any better. I did experience immediate relief. Unfortunately, as well as devastating that was the end of playing tennis because that knee was so vulnerable to further injury. Over the course of many years, I had repeat flareups and the same procedure. In 2009 I tore it, rather, shredded it and then had the surgery.
Sorry for the ramble...
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Post by lugg on Dec 21, 2022 20:05:46 GMT
Feel for you Casi - maybe time to get an X Ray to see what is going on ?? Hope your hip pain gets better Tod. At least it’s not summertime! How’s the new joint working out? Ha thank goodness - I can hide my hirsutism behind leggings and jeans Otherwise its ok - a long slow journey but more ups than downs now , if only I could sleep !
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Post by casimira on Dec 21, 2022 23:48:05 GMT
Thanks Lugg. Much appreciated! I hope you are going to be able to get some sleep soon. Enzo will likely wear you out and hopefully allow you to rest better from being tuckered out. I plan on calling the orthopod in the a.m. Perhaps he can see me sometime soon. I do have a trip planned in January and would hate for it to interfere with my walking around alot.
Perhaps a cortisone shot in the interim? I dunno.
It's really acting up this p.m. but I knew it would as I had to do some major schlepping today. Carrying potted plants the length of the lot to T.'s vehicle and then inside the "shoebox" to protect them from the frigid temps anticipated tonight and the following days. I also carried the last of the lemons in buckets. Then, rummaging through the storage unit and getting warm bedding and clothes. I'm exhausted and yes, my knee hurts. The arnica cream I just put on it a bit ago has given me some relief.
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Post by casimira on Jan 4, 2023 12:47:29 GMT
I followed y'alls advice and made an appointment with an orthopod. I see him this upcoming Friday, 1/6. He is someone new to me as my previous Dr. retired. (I'm afraid that many of us are of an age where most of the health professionals we used for many, many years have since retired). I trust that because he is with the same group, he will be okay but one never knows. I am hoping he can give me some relief if not just temporarily in order to enjoy my trip. Fingers crossed.
It has quieted down a bit in recent days but that may be because I haven't been as active of late.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 4, 2023 17:00:27 GMT
All I can add is that 'you takes your chances' where you can. Here in my city everyone knows everyone and how good they are. We have some of the finest surgeons in the world. People come here to have dentistry and then fly home to United Kingdom. My Orthopaedic surgeon is Number One in his field. Where does the information come from.....the Beauty salon and Hairdresser. Without these vital wives having a pedicure, my Grandson would not have had instant surgery when his bike accident knocked out his front tooth.
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Post by lugg on Jan 4, 2023 19:54:55 GMT
followed y'alls advice and made an appointment with an orthopod. I see him this upcoming Friday, 1/6. He is someone new to me as my previous Dr. retired. (I'm afraid that many of us are of an age where most of the health professionals we used for many, many years have since retired). I trust that because he is with the same group, he will be okay but one never knows. I am hoping he can give me some relief if not just temporarily in order to enjoy my trip. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed for you on Friday Casimira - its hard to give advice as we are all so different but I would request an X Ray/ scan so that you and doctors can see exactly what is going on and then make decisions from there. Personally ( and this is just a personal view) I would avoid any quick fixes like steroid injections until you can make informed decisions about whether they are the best option.
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Post by casimira on Jan 4, 2023 23:40:37 GMT
Agreed Lugg. I am certain that the Dr. will do an MRI and an Xray before administering any medication be it a steroid shot or otherwise. My hope is that the tests will be able to determine if I can get some temporary relief before taking the next step in remediating the problem.
Thanks for the advice and kind concern.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 6, 2023 14:33:35 GMT
I am keen to hear what he said Casi. Did he detect any fluid build up? That's what caused my terrible pain. Soon as the Doc drained the fluid under the kneecap I was fine.
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Post by lugg on Jan 6, 2023 19:46:00 GMT
Hope your appointment went well Casimira - any news ?
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Post by casimira on Jan 7, 2023 13:12:46 GMT
Thanks so much for asking!
I had my appointment yesterday morning. The orthopod that I saw had been partners with my previous Dr. who retired in the past 4 years. We reminisced about him, and the appointment went ever so smoothly.
He was upon examination able to discern a small amount of fluid buildup under and around the knee but not enough to drain. He suspected that the meniscus was likely acting up but wanted to rule out bone on bone issues and/or anything else. I had both knees x-rayed with a major focus on the left ailing knee. The x-ray showed no major issues save some swollen meniscus, (no tears or the like) so he encouraged me to do some low impact exercises (ice down afterwards) and gave me a lidocaine/hydrocortisone injection (OUCH!!) and prescribed a high-powered anti-inflammatory. He said that if the pain/soreness should continue he recommended then having an MRI.
I did not feel immediate relief and my knee was a tad sore after last pm's Twelfth Night festivities which involved a good bit of walking, but nothing compared to previously.*
It was not throbbing or nearly as sore when I retired last night and now this morning, I do not feel any soreness at all.
Needless to say, that I was very relieved it is not anything serious that needs to be addressed and as long as I continue to keep up with the proper amount of exercising (swimming!!) I should continue to improve.
Again, thanks for the kind words, advice and support.
* the nurse who had the same name as I and a perfect New Orleans (Y'at) accent told me that some people experience immediate relief but for most it takes up to 48 hours to "kick in".
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 7, 2023 13:29:34 GMT
Things are looking up!
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 7, 2023 13:48:56 GMT
Indeed! That’s good news.
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Post by lugg on Jan 7, 2023 17:37:24 GMT
Great news Casimira
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Post by casimira on Jan 7, 2023 19:38:21 GMT
Amen to that!!! Thank you good people!
I was just out and about running some errands and hitting up some yard sales, an active day thus far and no soreness. (at one point it was sore just driving around and no, not with a clutch involved, just the left knee bent).
I'm thrilled to pieces~~
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Post by questa on Jan 7, 2023 20:00:58 GMT
Many thanks to all of you who have shared your experiences and knowledge, I will be needing it soon as my knee has finally demanded I pay it some attention. It has been grumbling along for years but has been rather ignored as I attended to the Parkinson ups and downs. Now those hassles have settled and (L) knee demands some attention...long consultation booked with GP in 3 weeks. Let you know how it goes!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 7, 2023 20:31:21 GMT
Good luck Questa.
My old boss just had another cancellation..he was due to have a tkr in October, cancelled the day before the op was due and moved to 20th December..he was in a gown and had had his premeds when he was cancelled again..still no new date poor bugger. He doesn't complain but it is seriously affecting his quality of life.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 9, 2023 16:25:17 GMT
) and gave me a lidocaine/hydrocortisone injection (OUCH!!) Oh Cassi I am so sorry the Dr did not wait long enough for your knee to be completely numb. He would have got a lot of angry words from me if I was his patient. There is no need to feel anything. These Dr buggars are always in a hurry. My Dr always gave me a pre-med numbing injection so I felt nothing. Please don't let them bully you to what they want to do in a hurry.
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Post by casimira on Jan 9, 2023 16:47:00 GMT
I don't know what the size gauge of the needle was because I asked beforehand to please not let me see the needle. I do know I had my eyes closed tight and my teeth clenched and as he injected me right under the kneecap, I did utter F**K!!!! The site of the injection has a fairly large sized hole.
I used to get injections in my wrist when I had carpal tunnel syndrome back in the early 1990's. Those injections hurt much, much more because they were going into the tiny canal where the median nerve is. I guess there's some cartilage to go through, I'm not sure. All I know is I understood for the first time what it meant "to see stars" because that's exactly what I saw. I nearly passed out. They did work for up to 6 months though until I eventually had surgery to remedy the ailment.
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Post by lugg on Jan 9, 2023 20:19:13 GMT
Let you know how it goes! Good luck Questa - fingers crossed it is better than you think . yes please keep us up-dated.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 9, 2023 23:57:38 GMT
Hope your consultation appointment goes as best as possible Questa!
My sister is excited for her appointment in a couple of weeks that she has been waiting so long for. It has taken 2 1/2 years to get an appointment with the only surgeon in the region that does a specific toe joint surgery that she needs, the receptionist told her it could still take another year before she gets the actual surgery though.
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Post by questa on Jan 10, 2023 0:20:16 GMT
Many years ago I had serious pain in the lower spine. After "Everything else" failed the Big hospital in the city booked me for spinal delivery of meds down a longish tube into the part damaged. Needed cameras, monitors etc so I watched as the tube moved up my spine. It must have come to a blocked part - a little push from Doc and the tube hit an un-anesthetised part of my spinal canal, and straight through the nerve cord.
I saw stars and my body leapt, still as stiff as a board, and kicked the sterile trolley sending $$$ worth of equipment scattering across the floor. My first thought was "paraplegic" then as I became compis mentis saw the Doc was in a bad state too. Seems I kicked him a bruising blow.
I didn't finish the course of injections...it kinda got better itself...
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