questions about replacements

[Guest guest]

Hi, my name is Robin Deutsch and I am new to this board. I just

learned from the doctor on Wednesday that I have to have a total knee

replacement on my left leg as soon as possible since it is bone on

bone. My right leg they will do next year since it is almost bone on

bone. He is also talking about doing both hips and maybe my

shoulders. Both have severe arthritis and very bad bone spurs. He

won't know until they do the MRI. He thinks I have torn my rotator

cuffs in my shoulders so I need surgery either way.

What is involved in the recovery of each of these. I went to

Edheads.org and saw a virtual knee and hip replacement surgery done

so I know how they do that, but I don't know about what the recovery

will be like. I have to wait for the class on joint replacement which

they are scheduling me for in the next week or so, but I like knowing

before hand what will happen.

What is easier to recover from, or should I say, what do you recover

from the quickest? I am in so much pain right now that I am not

worried about the pain from the surgery, but what kind of physical

therapy is involved? The doctor mentioned a machine of some kind,

what is this machine?

Has anyone else had more than one joint replaced? How is it

afterwards?

I know I have so many questions, but I really don't know about the

recovery or therapy or anything else. My doctor just told me he will

talk to me about it once the surgery is scheduled.

Any help would be appreciated.

Robin

[Guest guest]

Robin

I have both hips and shoulders replaced. PT before hand always makes

the operation recovery easier. But that is not always an option.

Now I am doing great.

Ask anything and I will try to answer.

Sue

>

> Hi, my name is Robin Deutsch and I am new to this board. I just

> learned from the doctor on Wednesday that I have to have a total

knee

> replacement on my left leg as soon as possible since it is bone on

> bone. My right leg they will do next year since it is almost bone

on

> bone. He is also talking about doing both hips and maybe my

> shoulders. Both have severe arthritis and very bad bone spurs. He

> won't know until they do the MRI. He thinks I have torn my rotator

> cuffs in my shoulders so I need surgery either way.

>

> What is involved in the recovery of each of these. I went to

> Edheads.org and saw a virtual knee and hip replacement surgery done

> so I know how they do that, but I don't know about what the

recovery

> will be like. I have to wait for the class on joint replacement

which

> they are scheduling me for in the next week or so, but I like

knowing

> before hand what will happen.

>

> What is easier to recover from, or should I say, what do you

recover

> from the quickest? I am in so much pain right now that I am not

> worried about the pain from the surgery, but what kind of physical

> therapy is involved? The doctor mentioned a machine of some kind,

> what is this machine?

>

> Has anyone else had more than one joint replaced? How is it

> afterwards?

>

> I know I have so many questions, but I really don't know about the

> recovery or therapy or anything else. My doctor just told me he

will

> talk to me about it once the surgery is scheduled.

>

> Any help would be appreciated.

>

> Robin

>

[Guest guest]

Well, Robin I am sure you will get a lot of response to this. Because

of the need to use your arms during recovery from the TKR I can;t

imagine having them done along with any of your other surgeries. I had

both knees done 3 years apart and did great on both of them. To be

relieved of the constant pain immediately after surgery was wonderful.

Need to run but will write more later.

On Aug 27, 2006, at 2:40 PM, robingdeutsch wrote:

> Hi, my name is Robin Deutsch and I am new to this board. I just

> learned from the doctor on Wednesday that I have to have a total knee

> replacement on my left leg as soon as possible since it is bone on

> bone. My right leg they will do next year since it is almost bone on

> bone. He is also talking about doing both hips and maybe my

> shoulders. Both have severe arthritis and very bad bone spurs. He

> won't know until they do the MRI. He thinks I have torn my rotator

> cuffs in my shoulders so I need surgery either way.

>

> What is involved in the recovery of each of these. I went to

> Edheads.org and saw a virtual knee and hip replacement surgery done

> so I know how they do that, but I don't know about what the recovery

> will be like. I have to wait for the class on joint replacement which

> they are scheduling me for in the next week or so, but I like knowing

> before hand what will happen.

>

> What is easier to recover from, or should I say, what do you recover

> from the quickest? I am in so much pain right now that I am not

> worried about the pain from the surgery, but what kind of physical

> therapy is involved? The doctor mentioned a machine of some kind,

> what is this machine?

>

> Has anyone else had more than one joint replaced? How is it

> afterwards?

>

> I know I have so many questions, but I really don't know about the

> recovery or therapy or anything else. My doctor just told me he will

> talk to me about it once the surgery is scheduled.

>

> Any help would be appreciated.

>

> Robin

>

>

" the church is not suppose to be a country club for the saints, but

rather a hospital for the sinner. "

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue

I see that you have had both hips and shoulders replaced. I have had both hips replaced and my knees are very painful.....they both need replacing. Even though it's been 5 years since my hip replacements, I find I am reluctant to add more artificial joints. And, of course, I don't really liike the thought of the knee replacement recovery. Your thoughts with the 4 joints replaced?

Thanks very much in advance.

Sally

[Guest guest]

I am sure you could google about shoulders also. I definitely would

have one done at a time. This is what a CPM machine looks like. You

put you leg in it and bring the straps over and set it to the degrees

necessary and it does the work for you. If you notice the boards at

the end of the bed that is because we have adjustable beds and the CPM

machine wanted to slide off. I found a commode by the side of my bed

was helpful as well as a leg lifter so get my leg out from under the

covers and CPM machine. After the machine was gone I didn't need it.

I believe 8 weeks of therapy three times a week is normal for knees.

You will tire easily and if you take pain meds be sure to watch for

constipation. That can be a problem. My hubby had rotator cuff

surgery and he was not able to use the arm for much for I believe 6

weeks. He also had a device that works like the CPM machine that would

move his arm but they don't use that any more. When I came out of

surgery I had two small drain tubes coming out of my leg, some thing

that went around my leg pumping air in and out to keep circulation

there and the CPM machine. They had me up later in the day. When I

got home it was on the bed a lot. I took baths but some I know took

showers and wrapped their leg in the new stick to itself saran wrap.

Keeps the water out. By ten days I could walk unaided but dr. wanted

me to take cane with me when not at home as a signal to others that I

wasn't the most sturdy on my feet. I am sure others will give you

information. the important thing is to do exactly as your doctor says

and get your bend back. If you don't work on that right away and you

wait too long he said you would never get it back.

On Aug 27, 2006, at 2:40 PM, robingdeutsch wrote:

> Hi, my name is Robin Deutsch and I am new to this board. I just

> learned from the doctor on Wednesday that I have to have a total knee

> replacement on my left leg as soon as possible since it is bone on

> bone. My right leg they will do next year since it is almost bone on

> bone. He is also talking about doing both hips and maybe my

> shoulders. Both have severe arthritis and very bad bone spurs. He

> won't know until they do the MRI. He thinks I have torn my rotator

> cuffs in my shoulders so I need surgery either way.

>

> What is involved in the recovery of each of these. I went to

> Edheads.org and saw a virtual knee and hip replacement surgery done

> so I know how they do that, but I don't know about what the recovery

> will be like. I have to wait for the class on joint replacement which

> they are scheduling me for in the next week or so, but I like knowing

> before hand what will happen.

>

> What is easier to recover from, or should I say, what do you recover

> from the quickest? I am in so much pain right now that I am not

> worried about the pain from the surgery, but what kind of physical

> therapy is involved? The doctor mentioned a machine of some kind,

> what is this machine?

>

> Has anyone else had more than one joint replaced? How is it

> afterwards?

>

> I know I have so many questions, but I really don't know about the

> recovery or therapy or anything else. My doctor just told me he will

> talk to me about it once the surgery is scheduled.

>

> Any help would be appreciated.

>

> Robin

>

>

The Bible is the only book in which the Author is always present.

[Guest guest]

You didn't ask me, but my attitude is, as long as I feel myself, they can replace everything. I hope they come up with a way to restore lost brain function soon without me having to become a different person. Then again, there are others who wish I would become a different person.

Ann

Re: Re: questions about replacements

Hi Sue

I see that you have had both hips and shoulders replaced. I have had both hips replaced and my knees are very painful.....they both need replacing. Even though it's been 5 years since my hip replacements, I find I am reluctant to add more artificial joints. And, of course, I don't really liike the thought of the knee replacement recovery. Your thoughts with the 4 joints replaced?

Thanks very much in advance.

Sally

[Guest guest]

Hi Sally

I have had both my hips resurfaced and know that my knees are bad too.

I am 39 now (37 when hips done), have also had over twenty other major

operations and

don't fancy having my knees done just yet especially as they don't ususally last

as long as

the resurfacings should.

I keep myself really fit, I swim and do pool work at least three times a week,

go hiking, I

ride my horse as often as I can, I run a little, I walk everywhere and generally

keep very

active.

The more exercise you get I am convinced keeps the joints more supple and will

help stave

off the inevitable new knees for a while. My surgeon will try arthroscopy when I

give the go

ahead, again this might help prolong the inevitable.

Because I am young I want to put off too many false bits, they don't last

forever and I want

to avoid revision surgery as long as I can.

Best Wishes to you

jane in Wales

>

> Hi Sue

> I see that you have had both hips and shoulders replaced. I have had both

> hips replaced and my knees are very painful.....they both need replacing.

> Even though it's been 5 years since my hip replacements, I find I am

reluctant

> to add more artificial joints. And, of course, I don't really liike the

> thought of the knee replacement recovery. Your thoughts with the 4 joints

> replaced?

> Thanks very much in advance.

> Sally

>

[Guest guest]

I have posted this before but because there are several new people

here I thought I would do it again. I cost around $15 US, you can

get it on Amazon. I is almost like a workbook and covers week to

week what is going on and what you need to know and do.

" Total Knee Replacement and Recovery "

By Dr. Brugioni MD and Dr. Jeff Falkel Ph.D, PT.

Although this covers knees I am sure a lot of it could apply to hips

as well.

>

> Hi, my name is Robin Deutsch and I am new to this board. I just

> learned from the doctor on Wednesday that I have to have a total

knee . . .

[Guest guest]

Sally

Having 4 fake joints sure beats the pain of the original ones. It got

so bad that I could not move my arms and I knew it was time. Even

though I was so anxious for the first shoulder that I chickened out

about an hour before I was to be at the hospital! I got it done a

month later and all was fine. The more surgeries I have, the more

anxious I get, but the easier the recovery!

Sue

>

> Hi Sue

> I see that you have had both hips and shoulders replaced. I have

had both

> hips replaced and my knees are very painful.....they both need

replacing.

> Even though it's been 5 years since my hip replacements, I find I am

reluctant

> to add more artificial joints. And, of course, I don't really liike

the

> thought of the knee replacement recovery. Your thoughts with the 4

joints

> replaced?

> Thanks very much in advance.

> Sally

>