|
Post by tod2 on Dec 8, 2016 12:22:26 GMT
That's a shame when they could be of real benefit. A doctor told me they should only be taken midway through a meal, and not at the beginning or end of a meal. Makes sense to protect the lining of your stomach that way. I am very guilty of not doing that. Sometimes take them with a cup of tea but go heavy on the milk.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Jan 15, 2017 16:22:13 GMT
So I thought my knee op would be March but now its likely going to be mid Feb. So I will have more time to read and post on here for the following few weeks
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 15, 2017 16:43:08 GMT
Well, if you're going to be laid up, it might as well be in the coldest part of the year, right? I am ecstatically looking forward to more Lugg on anyport.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Jan 15, 2017 17:28:47 GMT
Aww thank you Bixa . Yep may as well be Feb/ March and then the summer awaits ...
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Mar 20, 2017 9:09:26 GMT
So I am now just over 3 weeks since I had my knee replacement. I thought I would have all the time in the world to read and post on here but the last few weeks have been a blur - mostly due to the pain killers. I am now feeling half human again and look forward to catching up in between my physio and exercising. I am hoping to start enjoying my time off work at last !
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Mar 25, 2017 16:37:50 GMT
Oh gosh, Lugg ~ it was painful then?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2017 18:00:21 GMT
Ouch, I always wonder about the pain involved in such things. I figure that one gets such an operation because of already having pain, so I try to imagine that the pain goes away after the operation. Clearly this isn't the case. I would think that perhaps if you are not moving, it doesn't hurt but that the physical therapy is a challenge. When does it get better?
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Mar 25, 2017 20:27:47 GMT
Hope your pain is easing Lugg.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Jul 1, 2019 19:34:33 GMT
I have arthritis in my left knee. It bloody hurts.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Jul 3, 2019 10:32:01 GMT
Sorry Cheery and all - 2 years overdue in my reply but yes it is now fantastic, no pain almost full range of movement which is quite remarkable given how bent it was before the op. I really wish I had not waited so long before having it replaced; it had stopped me doing so much in the preceding 2/3 years. New lease of life now . The final push for me was when it became impossible to sleep. Sorry Mick I feel your pain - have you had it checked out? Don't be like me and wait too log.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Jul 3, 2019 11:19:07 GMT
I haven't lugg. Going to give it 5 days of anti inflammatories and if that doesn't work it's the doc for me. I did have a heavy fall about 3 weeks ago which might have started it off.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Aug 28, 2020 10:01:00 GMT
Hows it doing now Mick ?
As I feared my left one is now unofficially knackered. Unofficial as I have not been to the GP yet to get an AX Ray but I know it is - fell in Feb on it and its never recovered. Today I am thinking about it because it is x2 the size it should be .
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Aug 28, 2020 10:58:51 GMT
Long recovered thanks. All in all I’ve been arthritis free for some time now. Sorry about your knee though. Anti inflammatories?
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Aug 28, 2020 11:31:56 GMT
My left knee brings attention to itself about 8 or 10 isolated days a year on the stairs, never enough to seek medical attention.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Aug 28, 2020 14:19:15 GMT
Mick, good to hear you’ve recovered from your knee problems. Congratulations!
Lugg, hearing about the success of your knee replacement is encouraging. I plan to delay that kind of treatment as long as possible, but I’m sure I’ll know when the time has come. It’s good to hear from someone who eventually returns to having normal use, though it sounds like you initially went through lots of post-surgical pain.
The exercises I’ve been doing faithfully for the past several months have worked wonders for me and I’m getting around much better. I need to see an ortho, but don’t really want to deal with an appointment during these crazy times. I ordered a pair of trekking poles so I could try to get back into walking longer distances and tried the poles out for the first time this morning. They gave me just enough support to provide the stability I need for easier-to-walk on hard surfaces. Next, I’ll need to try them on the dirt paths which usually give me a more difficult time. I think I’m going to like them, but hope I can continue to rebuilt strength and flexibility so the poles can eventually be retired except for more rugged hikes.
Lugg, I would be curious to know if you’ve tried any knee injections to help with inflammation, etc.
(I seem to remember you have had injections, Tod. I’ll need to go back and read through earlier posts.)
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Aug 28, 2020 16:50:45 GMT
Gosh that is a long time ago! Yes, I had a cortisone injection directly into-or should we say under, the knee cap. This lasted for nearly a year but I never went on holiday without one. Last holiday I got the quack to do both knees. WARNING: Do not let them insert the needle with the cortisone before you have had a very heavy anaesthetic injection just in the exact place the other (larger) needle will go. I have a brilliant doctor and I never feel a thing. Don't take no for an answer and if it becomes too painful shout "Stop stop stop! And then get more anaesthetic. That shouldn't happen if you be insistent from the get go.
Update on knees: Still tweak once or twice a week - sure its the weather. My replaced hip is great but I have had terrible Lumbago for 3 months. Treating it myself with Neurobion in tablet form and Voltaren rub on my lower back. I also take Spasmend if it is terribly painful when I straighten up.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Aug 28, 2020 17:09:00 GMT
We clearly live too long now if we are outliving our knees.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Aug 28, 2020 17:11:31 GMT
Great news Mick, yes I am taking NSAIDs - avoided them a while back due to Covid but decided that I would take the risk to reduce the pain and swelling. I ordered a pair of trekking poles so I could try to get back into walking longer distances and tried the poles out for the first time this morning. They gave me just enough support to provide the stability I need for easier-to-walk on hard surfaces Yes I have them too - find them great for long walks and I don't feel so bad using them then. yes the right knee replacement is great and I will definitely not wait so long this time with the left. My right knee had contracted severely so it took some time to get full mobility. Lugg, I would be curious to know if you’ve tried any knee injections to help with inflammation, etc. I did not and my surgeon said at the time of my op that he was pleased I had avoided them ... I cannot remember the detail but he said surgery was easier without. I guess they could cause changes in the joint, possibly scar tissue that might interfere with the surgery?
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Aug 28, 2020 17:12:43 GMT
We clearly live too long now if we are outliving our knees. I hope I have a few more years left !!!
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Aug 28, 2020 18:41:06 GMT
My wife had both knees replaced, the first was OK, but she had an infection with the second and it was never right. She had also had injections prior but they didn't help.
I now hobble about with bad ankles, most likely arthritis. The quack arranged for me to have X-rays, but the result was "We can't see anything wrong, now clear off and die quietly in some corner, and don't make a fuss"
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Aug 28, 2020 19:27:41 GMT
Sounds like your wife had a really hard time of it, Mossie.
I’ve never had injections, but if they’re ever recommended I’ll be sure to ask about possible issues. Thanks everyone for the helpful advice.
Tod, I’ve been plagued with back problems ever since having an accident many years ago. I’ve found the exercises I’ve been doing to help my knee have also served to strengthen my low back and hips. The first few weeks of the exercises were hard on my back, but now it feels like I have the beginnings of good overall support. For me, daily stretching and strengthening have worked a few small miracles. It’s also helped to fill some pandemic down-time.
Kerouac, if your knees rarely bother you then you’re pretty lucky, especially with all the walking and stair-climbing you do. Mine have been an issue going back to the age of twelve and, for my family, it also seems to be an inherited issue.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Aug 28, 2020 19:30:04 GMT
My wife had both knees replaced, the first was OK, but she had an infection with the second and it was never right. She had also had injections prior but they didn't help. I now hobble about with bad ankles, most likely arthritis. The quack arranged for me to have X-rays, but the result was "We can't see anything wrong, now clear off and die quietly in some corner, and don't make a fuss" Mossie, Sorry about your ankles. Must be very frustrating for you. I think we’ve talked before about possible ways to build up strength.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Aug 29, 2020 13:50:14 GMT
I now hobble about with bad ankles, most likely arthritis. Yes I'm afraid that it definitely would be due to arthritis. Everyone developed arthritis slowly from there ager of 18. It's only in our latter years we seem to be aware of it. Don't suffer Mossie. At our age (me 75) and you slightly more - we deserve to be able to bombard our bodies with "Shut up " pain tablets. Life is unbearable when in pain. HTMB - My sister also swears by an excercise regime to help her back! I am slowly going that route.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Aug 29, 2020 13:56:30 GMT
Kerouac, if your knees rarely bother you then you’re pretty lucky, especially with all the walking and stair-climbing you do. I think that all of the walking and stair climbing are what keeps my knees working properly most of the time.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Aug 29, 2020 14:43:51 GMT
It’s got to be very beneficial. Use it or lose it, as they say.
|
|
|
Post by casimira on Aug 29, 2020 16:36:37 GMT
I remember in 2009 and APIAS had just launched in February. I had laproscopic surgery on my left knee the following month and posted on here "high as a kite" from the residual pain medicine they had injected me with. Ice was my best friend. Just a random memory that triggered while reading these.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 2, 2020 19:38:57 GMT
I finally gave in and visited an orthopedic specialist today so he could take a look at my left knee. I’d gotten really tired of pain affecting my back and my other knee so I donned my mask and a pair of clear safety glasses and ventured into the inside world of people. The section of the medical facility I visited is a good two miles away from the general health center and, theoretically, there were no covid cases in the building. Each person entering must have their temperature checked and answer a series of questions. All must wear masks.
The physician I saw specializes in sports medicine, specifically knees, and I liked him very much. I was not referred for an MRI, fortunately, but did have several x-rays taken. The good news is that I don’t have a tear of my medical meniscus and that the pain I’m feeling in that area is probably related to an inflamed bursa. The bad news, and something I already knew, is that I have severe osteoarthritis. I was given several options for treatment (things to which I’d already given thought) and decided on having one cortisone injection into the middle of the knee (rather than a second injection into the meniscus) and will see a physical therapist for an evaluation, with recommendations for home exercise.
With luck, and with continued therapeutic exercise, I can postpone having a knee replacement for a few years, at least. I’m thrilled to know I don’t need immediate surgery on the meniscus, since that had been my major worry. I was also happy to have felt no pain when I had the injection into the middle of my knee. The only way I knew he was done was seeing the doctor place the syringe back on the counter. It’s amazing what a little lidocaine spritz on the skin can do to make an area numb.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Nov 2, 2020 19:49:08 GMT
I do hope it gets sorted htmb.
Despite decades of sport my knees are in good shape I'm pleased to say.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 2, 2020 19:52:20 GMT
Thanks, Mick. Me, too. I’ve never had good knees, even as a kid when I danced. Something either felt loose and unstable, or was getting banged up from tripping and landing hard.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Nov 2, 2020 20:04:24 GMT
I'm afraid that I will be obliged to mention my left knee during my next visit to the doctor.
|
|