Re: Need answers about Knee Replacement

[Guest guest]

They haven't told me I can't kneel, but I'm going to the Dr. Tues. and I'll try to remember to ask. I've kneeled on the bed with my oldest replacement.

[Guest guest]

Hi, on the TKR I would definitely do it. I haven't been able to kneel for 10 years and it's only going to get worse. I know that I can live with how mine turns out. I'm trying not to think about the infection part, but I know it's rare.

[Guest guest]

Colin,

Both of his concerns are well-founded. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean he will be up against either.

I had a TKR in Oct. 2004. After many complications due to a blood clot, I can honestly say being without the pain now overrides what I went thru. As for kneeling, my doctor has said never again. I do gardening anyway - I mulched the whole front of my house last week by throwing the mulch in piles and using a rake to move it. In the back where it was too deep to get at, I sat on a stool and pushed the rake behind the hedges. When I weed between hedges and flower beds I sit on a stool and bend over. I have a small one step Rubbermaid stool. It works great. Simple, cheap and does the trick.

As for infection, I hear alot about others but Thank God I never, ever got an infection. Additionally, I am a diabetic with uncontrolled blood sugars. I get my teeth cleaned every 3 mos. because of the diabetes, take my antibiotics before I go and never had any problem there either. I have also heard the horror stories about staph infections and the like. But I think that you hear more bad stories than the good.

I would suggest your friend go ahead. Did you ever have an infection with your surgery? If not, tell your friend so.

Take care and I hope this is of some help.

Regards - Joy

-- Need answers about Knee Replacement

I am looking for information, not for myself (I had a successful THR in 04/05) but for a friend who is suffering a lot of OA pain in his knee. One reason he gives for avoiding surgery is that he understands that he will never be able to kneel again if he has an artificial knee (he is an avid gardener). He is also concerned about stories he has heard about the prevalence of infection post-op. Could someone with experience in the knee replacement world let me know if either of his concerns is well-founded. I hate to see him in so much pain and I have had such a good experience with my new hip that I'd like to encourage him to go for it. I just don't know if his fears have any foundation.Colin

[Guest guest]

Hi Salem, I'm just out of my second TKR 4 weeks ago, but I can already tell that it's the best thing that I could have done. This new one is a lot stiffer than my first, but no pain!! At least not the same kind of pain. I was bone on bone and about to go crazy.

[Guest guest]

I was told NEVER to kneel

I never had a post op infection though

Wanda

[Guest guest]

I hope these suggestions help your friend. I know I was sad at the thought of giving up gardening but they make so many adaptive tools and seats now that i don't have to give up a thing >>> Due to my restrictions remaining intact and the not being beyond 90 degree issue being the hugest pain in the BUTT! LOL Raised beds is a terrific idea which I've mentioned to my husband~ hopefully I'll have some soon. But for the record they also sale extention gardening tools. I've got a set (rake, shovel, hoe, claw) that converts from 1ft. to 4ft. you merely unscrew the handle and pull it out to be the length you want it.... they're terrific lil bugers. LOL Think I found mine at BigLots for like $5 each but I'm sure you could get them at Lowe's or anyplace that had a gardening center... their pretty common.

[Guest guest]

Hi Colin,

I too am an avid (rabid) gardener who has OA and just had both knees replaced. I couldn't really kneel before the surgery and was told by the surgeon at my last visit that kneeling is out of the question. Has your friend condidered raised garden beds? they are easy to make and look good too. I even saw in a catalogue some corner pieces that you slot the boards into to make a raised bed any size or shape you want. I have also gardened by wheelchair, I had to move a section of garden 1 week after a major surgery, to have my ramp installed and did it all from a wheelchair. I also took care of a gentleman who just lay down next to whatever part of the garden he was working on to take care of it. I now have one of those roll along seats that I use to move about the yard to garden as well as a stool device that tilts in any direction to let me get to plants in the back of others or to a specific part of the garden bed.

I hope these suggestions help your friend. I know I was sad at the thought of giving up gardening but they make so many adaptive tools and seats now that i don't have to give up a thing and this year I even plan on extending my garden space. I truly think your friend would feel better if he had the surgery and just want to let him know that he doesn't have to give up a thing and remember necessity is the Mother of invention!

-- Need answers about Knee Replacement

I am looking for information, not for myself (I had a successful THR in

04/05) but for a friend who is suffering a lot of OA pain in his knee.

One reason he gives for avoiding surgery is that he understands that he

will never be able to kneel again if he has an artificial knee (he is

an avid gardener). He is also concerned about stories he has heard

about the prevalence of infection post-op. Could someone with

experience in the knee replacement world let me know if either of his

concerns is well-founded. I hate to see him in so much pain and I have

had such a good experience with my new hip that I'd like to encourage

him to go for it. I just don't know if his fears have any foundation.

Colin

[Guest guest]

Hi Sassy Lou,

I used to have a garden almost every year but then this Arthritis hit me and then I had the operationsI'm not allow to squat so I guess the means I'm not allow to kneel ,That sounds like a good ideal making a high garden .Well I hope everything ok with you ,How is your daughter doing? I went to see the dr today and he told me I had a infection in the leg that had the sore in the sore is gone I just have this dry skin and it looks like one big indian burn thats what the dr said .For the infection I'm taking cefadroxil 500 mg generic for Duricef 500mfg I don't think I ever took those before.

I see the dr next Friday I hope that it clears up I'm using Sulfadiazin cream once a day and cover it with gauze Propoxyphene for Pain I'm taking Propoxyphene-n-100w/APAP 650 tabs Generic for Darvcocet-n-100 the first two bottles said take every six hours this last bottle of pain pills are the same and it says take every eight hours I wonder if they made a mistake .Well you take care and have a nice weekend.

Susie

-------------- Original message -------------- From: SassyLouYou@... I hope these suggestions help your friend. I know I was sad at the thought of giving up gardening but they make so many adaptive tools and seats now that i don't have to give up a thing >>> Due to my restrictions remaining intact and the not being beyond 90 degree issue being the hugest pain in the BUTT! LOL Raised beds is a terrific idea which I've mentioned to my husband~ hopefully I'll have some soon. But for the record they also sale extention gardening tools. I've got a set (rake, shovel, hoe, claw) that converts from 1ft. to 4ft. you merely unscrew the handle and pull it out to be the length you want it.... they're terrific lil bugers. LOL Think I found mine at BigLots for like $5 each but I'm sure you could get them at Lowe's or anyplace that had a gardening center... their pretty common.

[Guest guest]

I just want to thank everyone for your helpful answers. You are a

wonderfully supportive group. I will pass what you say on to my

friend and give him as much encouragement as I can to get away from

his pain.

Thank you all

Colin

>

> I am looking for information, not for myself (I had a successful

THR in

> 04/05) but for a friend who is suffering a lot of OA pain in his

knee.

> One reason he gives for avoiding surgery is that he understands

that he

> will never be able to kneel again if he has an artificial knee (he

is

> an avid gardener). He is also concerned about stories he has heard

> about the prevalence of infection post-op. Could someone with

> experience in the knee replacement world let me know if either of

his

> concerns is well-founded. I hate to see him in so much pain and I

have

> had such a good experience with my new hip that I'd like to

encourage

> him to go for it. I just don't know if his fears have any

foundation.

>

> Colin

>

[Guest guest]

Salem,

I know what you mean about being Catholic and kneeling. Both I and my

friend are Catholics I know feel a bit conspicuous sitting rather

than kneeling diring church services. As you say, I am sure people

are not sitting in judgment on us.

Thank you for your experience and advice.

Colin

> I am looking for information, not for myself (I had a successful

THR in

> 04/05) but for a friend who is suffering a lot of OA pain in his

knee.

> One reason he gives for avoiding surgery is that he understands

that he

> will never be able to kneel again if he has an artificial knee (he

is

> an avid gardener). He is also concerned about stories he has heard

> about the prevalence of infection post-op. Could someone with

> experience in the knee replacement world let me know if either of

his

> concerns is well-founded. I hate to see him in so much pain and I

have

> had such a good experience with my new hip that I'd like to

encourage

> him to go for it. I just don't know if his fears have any

foundation.

>

> Colin

>

>

>

>

>

>