RE: Epidural?

[Guest guest]

Cool! That's funny about you freaking the anesthesiologist out.

Ann

Re: Epidural?

Hi- As far as the waking up during the procedure & woke up during mysecond resurfacing while the cup was being set onto my pelvis. I hadspent a few weeks prior to the procedures taking some time out from mydaily meditation to mull over what I would do if that happened,getting my head into a space of not reacting, just staying relaxed & not jerking or moving suddenly. It worked quite well & I was able toget my bearings quite quickly & when I was kind of fully awake & askedthe anesthetist's knee (as that was all I could see) if they weresetting the cup and how big the hammer was. He freaked & put me underagain, & I woke up again a few minutes later. Felt no pain due to thecomplete numbing of the epidural, just woke from the sedative & haddone some homework on my head about that possible occurrence so it was OK.Thanks- Bilateral BHR 10/17-31/06 Hozack

[Guest guest]

When I had my thr in 2004 I had a general as the anesthiasiast felt

that there was more danger doing an epidural because the rheumatoid

arthritis had damaged my neck, but when I had my tkr it was a different

dr and he said no problem - my only complaint was that I didn't go to

sleep immediately and woke up before I was transferred to the bed to go

to the recovery room. For my third surgery I had the 1st Dr once

again, and he did an epidural - but had me asleep at the same time as

it was injected and I woke up in the recovery room - he was following

my request that I did not wish to know what was happening as they did

the hammering, drilling and sawing. The recovery after the epidural's

was much easier - didn't have the deep breathing exercises, etc.

>

> Hello everyone. I'm so happy to have found this site. I will be

> having a THR this Friday. I have to decide whether to be put under

or

> have an epidural. My concern is about being awake during the surgery

> and not being able to stand the sounds of the equipement, tapping,

> drilling, etc. I'd rather have the epidural for the recovery aspects

> but I'm afraid of freaking out during the operation. I'd love to

hear

> from anyone who has had the epidural and how they felt during the

> surgery. Thanks so much. This will help me with my decision.

>

[Guest guest]

Ann,

Even though I was lucky that I recovered the first 10 days after surgery at my mother's house, then my husband was there, also lots of friends brought food. Do you belong to any women's group or anything where knowing you have surgery coming up causes them to plan meals to be brought over? That might be a substitute. Then you just need a good friend to take you to PT. Which knee are you having done? I had the right done and could drive at 7 weeks. I was able to go places at less than two weeks with someone else driving. Pushing a grocery cart was tiring at first but not painful (almost like using a walker). Also, try to plan ahead and stock up on anything you might need.

-----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ]On Behalf Of Ann Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 1:30 PMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Re: Epidural?

No, I'd have to wing it. The college is Evergreen State, and I think is less likely to have students who would steal (or kill?). Of course, you never know. Everyone thought Dahmer was a nice boy.

Ann

Re: Re: Epidural?

Ann,

That's a very good idea! Do you know any of the faculty or staff at the school who could vouch for some students who might be interested.

Pat

I also live alone. It's a real problem for me because I'm not near a bus line. I live in a college town & thought maybe I could get a student to live w/me for a month or two to get groceries, fix food, etc. Not really sure what I'll do.

[Guest guest]

I can get Meals on Wheels. I'm also eligible to get PT in my home for the first few weeks. Left knee. Do you think I might be able to drive after 3-4 weeks?

Thanks.

Ann

Re: Re: Epidural?

Ann,

That's a very good idea! Do you know any of the faculty or staff at the school who could vouch for some students who might be interested.

Pat

I also live alone. It's a real problem for me because I'm not near a bus line. I live in a college town & thought maybe I could get a student to live w/me for a month or two to get groceries, fix food, etc. Not really sure what I'll do.

[Guest guest]

Maybe. You couldn't be taking too much pain meds when you are driving and it's getting in and out of the car even if you don't use that leg to push the pedals. You could mention to your home PT that you have driving at 4 weeks as a goal and see if they could make sure you have the mobility for it.

I drove at 7 but it was my right leg and it wasn't the whole act of driving but first, folding myself into the car and second moving my foot from accelerator to brake, that hurt.

How many minutes away from your house would a grocery store and the outpatient PT be? More than anything, driving will exhaust you. Does your city have a handicapped bus service? Often they will come to your curb even if you normally don't have bus service nearby if you arrange it.

-----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ]On Behalf Of Ann Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 2:09 PMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Re: Epidural?

I can get Meals on Wheels. I'm also eligible to get PT in my home for the first few weeks. Left knee. Do you think I might be able to drive after 3-4 weeks?

Thanks.

Ann

Re: Re: Epidural?

Ann,

That's a very good idea! Do you know any of the faculty or staff at the school who could vouch for some students who might be interested.

Pat

I also live alone. It's a real problem for me because I'm not near a bus line. I live in a college town & thought maybe I could get a student to live w/me for a month or two to get groceries, fix food, etc. Not really sure what I'll do.

[Guest guest]

Grocery store is about 10-15 min. counting parking. PT -- not sure -- she moved. I think she's still on my side of town, so again 10-15 min, I hope.

As for getting in & out of the car, I have a low one -- Honda Accord. I know that'll make it harder. But if you scoot the seat back, sit down facing out, put your right leg in (put your left leg in, put your right leg in, and shake it all about -- oops) -- OK let's start over, put your right leg in, maybe have a strap or something to left your left leg (in my case), scoot seat forward short of making your knee hurt -- is it not that easy?

Yeah, my city has handicapped bus service -- nearest stop is 2 miles from here. I've written them castigating them for not bringing bus service up here -- thousands of houses have gone in up here now (it was all forest when I moved here). They also have Dial-a-Ride. Doesn't come "this far out". Grrrrrr!

I really appreciate your offering all these comments & suggestions. It's very helpful. Imagine having a TKR w/o any advance knowledge other than the vague things your doc says. Scary! This list is a lifesaver.

Ann

Re: Re: Epidural?

Ann,

That's a very good idea! Do you know any of the faculty or staff at the school who could vouch for some students who might be interested.

Pat

I also live alone. It's a real problem for me because I'm not near a bus line. I live in a college town & thought maybe I could get a student to live w/me for a month or two to get groceries, fix food, etc. Not really sure what I'll do.

[Guest guest]

Mightn't there be a vast difference between driving with a new hip and driving with a new knee?

Ann

Re: Re: Epidural?

I had my right hip done and I drove after 2 weeks and I was being conservative. 3-4 weeks seems a little long to me. Ann <ruby2zdyearthlink (DOT) net> wrote: I can get Meals on Wheels. I'm also eligible to get PT in my home for the first few weeks. Left knee. Do you think I might be able to drive after 3-4 weeks?Thanks.Ann

[Guest guest]

Opps - I'm poking my head up again.

My doctor would not clear me to drive for 8 weeks. In Australia, if I drove

without this clearance I would not be covered by insurance. That, in

effect, made it against the law for me to drive.

As most accidents happen within 3 klm of your home I didn't like to take

many risks on that score.

Aussie Margaret

LTHR 1990 revised 2004

Re: Re: Epidural?

|I had my right hip done and I drove after 2 weeks and I was being

conservative. 3-4 weeks seems a little long to me.

|

| Ann <ruby2zdy@...> wrote: I can get Meals on

Wheels. I'm also eligible to get PT in my home for the first few weeks.

Left knee. Do you think I might be able to drive after 3-4 weeks?

|

| Thanks.

|

| Ann

|

|

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann,

Oh yeah, there is a huge difference between driving with a THR vs a

TKR. Pushing and switching the pedals takes about 1.5 months before

PT will allow it. Not only is the pressure the problem, but flexation

as well. If you've had a double TKR, just getting in and out of the

car is fun too.

In reference to everyone's comments on drains, I think in TKR's the

drain is required in all instances to allow the knee to pass the blood

from the cutting of bones.

Alan in NJ

====================

-- In Joint Replacement , " Ann "

<ruby2zdy@...> wrote:

>

> Mightn't there be a vast difference between driving with a new hip

and driving with a new knee?

>

> Ann

>

> Re: Re: Epidural?

>

>

> I had my right hip done and I drove after 2 weeks and I was being

conservative. 3-4 weeks seems a little long to me.

>

> Ann <ruby2zdy@...> wrote: I can get Meals on Wheels. I'm

also eligible to get PT in my home for the first few weeks. Left knee.

Do you think I might be able to drive after 3-4 weeks?

>

> Thanks.

>

> Ann

>

[Guest guest]

No hay problema!

Ann

Re: Re: Epidural?

I had my right hip done and I drove after 2 weeks and I was being conservative. 3-4 weeks seems a little long to me. Ann <ruby2zdyearthlink (DOT) net> wrote: I can get Meals on Wheels. I'm also eligible to get PT in my home for the first few weeks. Left knee. Do you think I might be able to drive after 3-4 weeks?Thanks.Ann

Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows. Answers - Check it out.

[Guest guest]

Alan,

Are you saying its more of an issue to drive after a hip or a knee replacement? I am 3 weeks post op (BTKA) and feel I am getting close to being ready to drive. My PT'ist says my right leg isnt quite strong enough. Maybe by next week it will be.....

Marguerite

On 9/13/07, mbwebman <mbwebman@...> wrote:

Hi Ann,Oh yeah, there is a huge difference between driving with a THR vs aTKR. Pushing and switching the pedals takes about 1.5 months beforePT will allow it. Not only is the pressure the problem, but flexation

as well. If you've had a double TKR, just getting in and out of thecar is fun too. In reference to everyone's comments on drains, I think in TKR's thedrain is required in all instances to allow the knee to pass the blood

from the cutting of bones.Alan in NJ====================-- In Joint Replacement

, " Ann " <ruby2zdy@...> wrote:>> Mightn't there be a vast difference between driving with a new hipand driving with a new knee?> > Ann> > Re: Re: Epidural?> > > I had my right hip done and I drove after 2 weeks and I was beingconservative. 3-4 weeks seems a little long to me. >

> Ann <ruby2zdy@...> wrote: I can get Meals on Wheels. I'malso eligible to get PT in my home for the first few weeks. Left knee.Do you think I might be able to drive after 3-4 weeks?>

> Thanks.> > Ann>

[Guest guest]

If you have a TKR on your right leg, you just can't drive until about 7 weeks for one main reason - the movement of foot from brake to accelerator and back. Seriously. I practiced that movement outside the car and then once in the car, before I ever drove, I would get in the car to practice this move. It really hurts until you are healed more. And you have to be able to do it fast enough to keep yourself from getting in a wreck.

-----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ]On Behalf Of MargueriteSent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:52 AMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Re: Epidural?

Alan,

Are you saying its more of an issue to drive after a hip or a knee replacement? I am 3 weeks post op (BTKA) and feel I am getting close to being ready to drive. My PT'ist says my right leg isnt quite strong enough. Maybe by next week it will be.....

Marguerite

On 9/13/07, mbwebman <mbwebman > wrote:

Hi Ann,Oh yeah, there is a huge difference between driving with a THR vs aTKR. Pushing and switching the pedals takes about 1.5 months beforePT will allow it. Not only is the pressure the problem, but flexation as well. If you've had a double TKR, just getting in and out of thecar is fun too. In reference to everyone's comments on drains, I think in TKR's thedrain is required in all instances to allow the knee to pass the blood from the cutting of bones.Alan in NJ====================-- In Joint Replacement , "Ann "<ruby2zdy@...> wrote:>> Mightn't there be a vast difference between driving with a new hipand driving with a new knee?> > Ann> > Re: Re: Epidural?> > > I had my right hip done and I drove after 2 weeks and I was beingconservative. 3-4 weeks seems a little long to me. > > Ann <ruby2zdy@...> wrote: I can get Meals on Wheels. I'malso eligible to get PT in my home for the first few weeks. Left knee.Do you think I might be able to drive after 3-4 weeks?> > Thanks.> > Ann>

[Guest guest]

Hi Marguerite,

I was referring to TKR's. I had a bilateral TKR. Everyone is

different, but PT told me that 1.5 months was usually the minimum

before they felt the patient was strong enough to be safe behind the

wheel. Like you, I snuck in driving a little early even though it did

hurt some.

Alan

I can get Meals on Wheels. I'm

> > also eligible to get PT in my home for the first few weeks. Left knee.

> > Do you think I might be able to drive after 3-4 weeks?

> > >

> > > Thanks.

> > >

> > > Ann

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>If you have a TKR on your right leg, you just can't drive until about 7 weeks for one main reason - the movement of foot from brake to accelerator and back.

I was once driving around a town looking at lots for sale, slowing down or stopping to get a better look. After a couple of hours my R knee (un-operated on) was so swollen I could have entered it in a circus. I can't remember whether it was due to chondromalacia or a busted meniscus. But if either of those can cause swelling from driving, certainly a RTKR would!

Ann

>Seriously. I practiced that movement outside the car and then once in the car, before I ever drove, I would get in the car to practice this move. It really hurts until you are healed more. And you have to be able to do it fast enough to keep yourself from getting in a wreck.

>

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