Re: TKR

[Guest guest]

I would like to gently point out that many of the countries

that the US 'take care of' have not actually requested, or

appreciated, such 'care and attention'.

I would prefer my 33% tax rate was spent on helping fellow

citizens have good universal health care, rather than being

spent on weapons... I guess it all comes down to prorities.

P'raps this discussion has run its course now?

in NZ

----- Original Message Follows -----

> That's what the highest rate is in the US. Our military

> system is very expensive to operate. Our constitution

> mandates a military complex. We take care of the world.

> There is no mention in our constitution of health care

> for all. In fact, there is no mention in our constitution

> of many of the roles our expansive federal government has

> taken on. Arianne

>

[Guest guest]

Arianne,

What is your addy? You sound like you are one of

the few in this nation who are aware of what is going

on and not one of the sheeple.

Sherry

Re: TKR> >> >> >> > ,> >> > Where does the money come from to pay all the peoples> > medical expense? You cannot possibly believe that> > the portion people pay actually covers the cost.> >> > Sherry> > Recent Activity> > a.. 16New Members> > Visit Your Group> >

[Guest guest]

na

I disagree with you. Generic medications have the same active ingredients as the brand name. I am a pharmacist.

Re: TKR> > > the problem is our American system has become to socialized like> Canada and has gone down hill from there. Medicine was much> better when doctors made house calls and had PRIVATE PRACTICES.> There were NO HMO's. Now doctors have a slew of people just to> do paperwork and things in the medical profession have gone to hell> in a handcart. When the #1 cause of death in the US are medical> mistakes you know there is a huge problem. It never used to be> this way. The US was #1 in health care. Pretty much like our> public school system.> > Sherry> > > ----------------------------------------------------------> My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal and corporate anti-spam solutions. Download your free copy of ChoiceMail from www.digiportal.com.>

[Guest guest]

It's:

Arianne377@... - email me anytime

Arianne

-- In Joint Replacement , " S.A.M. " <blueopal@...> wrote:

>

> Arianne,

>

> What is your addy? You sound like you are one of

> the few in this nation who are aware of what is going

> on and not one of the sheeple.

>

> Sherry

>

>

> Re: TKR

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ,

> > >

> > > Where does the money come from to pay all the peoples

> > > medical expense? You cannot possibly believe that

> > > the portion people pay actually covers the cost.

> > >

> > > Sherry

> > > Recent Activity

> > > a.. 16New Members

> > > Visit Your Group

> > >

[Guest guest]

I'm glad you believe that. Sometimes it isn't the active ingredient, but

whatever proprietary

ingredient that's missing in the generic that was in the patented medicine. Do

you expect

me to believe that a pharmaceutical company is going to divulge their

proprietary

secrets???

If so, talk to my physician who will inform you otherwise.

Arianne

> >

> >

> > S.A.M.--

> >

> > The healthcare sysytem in the US is anything but socialized. It has become

a

> purely private business, with all the corner-cutting and minimum service

provision and

> maximum charge that the insurance companies can get away with.

> >

> > If you want someone to blame for this, blame, in order of importance: 1)

the

> Republican Party, which defeated the Clinton healthcare bill (and felt very

proud of

itself

> for doing so, btw); 2) the insurance companies that lobbied to kill the

healthcare bill,

and;

> 3) the AMA, which supported the insurance companies.

> >

> > Healthcare has gone to Hell in a breadbasket in the US, to the point where

I'm very

> happy that my healthcare is socialized. To explain what that means, very

simply: I pay

a

> premium, which is a certain percentage of my income, for a " basic package "

of

services,

> defined by the Ministry of Health, and uniform throughout the healthcare

sector, which

is

> actually operated by about half-a dozen " sick funds " ... private companies

that provide

> services in accordance with the Ministry of Health requirements, and under

its

auspices.

> >

> > Anyone wanting additional insurance pays for the extras, either as they

happen, or

> in a monthly premium to cover certain possibilities. My sick fund had the

levels of

> additions, each with more treatments covered than the previous level.

> >

> > For two THRs, I paid absolutely nothing. This includes: all preliminary

lab tests,

> imaging requirements, etc., stay in hospital, surgery, anesthesiologist, PT

in the

hospital,

> transportation home after surgery in a private ambulance, 6 weeks of home

visit PT

and 6

> weeks of outpatient PT at my local sick fund clinic, and all follow-up blood

tests and

> imaging. The only thing I paid for were the 10 days of anticoagulants after

release

from

> the hospital and the bandages I covered the surgical incision with for 2

weeks (and the

> health fund paid 75% of the meds, 50% of the dressings).

> >

> > After my first surgery, I found out that THRs and TKRs are included in the

" basic

> package " . In other words, necessary surgery is available to all, no matter

what their

> financial situation. Granted, there are sometimes waiting lists, depending

on the

> particular hospital you choose, and you may not necessarily be able to

choose your

> surgeon (working in the medical device industry, I had enough connections to

be able

to

> choose), but the services are available to all, and affordable to all.

> >

> > That's what socialized medicine is supposed to be about... (and the

doctors don't

> complain, either).

> >

> > It could be germane to note that part of the high cost in health care is

the " lawsuit

> mania " ... the company I worked for stopped exporting devices to the US

because the

legal

> costs for fighting frivolous lawsuits was too high to make it worthwhile.

Manufacturer's

> journals have noted that a large number of European manufacturers have done

the

same,

> including chemical supply companies, such as du Pont (France), who are the

sole

suppliers

> for certain raw materials that go into artificial heart valves. Suing

everyone down to the

> janitor who cleaned the OR and the company that pumped the crude petroleum

used to

> make the plastic of a medical device are counter-productive, and will, in

the long run,

> guarantee that a) there will be a mass exodus overseas for treatments that

become

> unavailable in the US due to lack of devices or materials to manufacture

them, and a

> black market of such devices and materials in the US, driving their cost up

even more.

> >

> > The only people who get rich off these lawsuits are the lawyers, the

people who

> actually suffered a loss get peanuts (if the decision is in their favor at

all).

> >

> > Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

> > mdavison@

> >

> > From: Joint Replacement [mailto:

> Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Ann

> > Sent: 29 October, 2006 1:38 AM

> > Joint Replacement

> > Subject: Re: TKR

> >

> >

> >

> > American medicine has become the opposite of socialized. It's become

for-profit.

> This causes the Big Businesses that own them to slash everything they can,

including

> treatments, to make big profits for their investors and obscene salaries,

bonuses, and

> retirements for their execs. They invented the HMO model. It was that that

stopped

> house calls. And the insurance companies discovered that they could make a

lot more

> profit by denying services, keeping office visits to 15 min (how ridiculous

is that?),

> reducing access to expensive tests that could save lives, like MRIs. And a

lot of doctors

> for some incomprehensible reason bought into it (I don't mean they chose it

-- they

didn't

> have a choice, but they Believed). If the AMA had risen up and roared loud

enough in

> 1991 when it all started, they could have prevented it, but they didn't. The

only reason

I

> can think of is that doctors thought they were gods back then and maybe

assumed

that

> they couldn't be hurt by the change. Now they get paid less & punished (in

some

clinics)

> for Rx'ing MRIs or referrals. When I had my horrible back pain for 2 years

back in '94-

'96,

> I asked my doc to refer me to an orthopedist so he could evaluate my spine

(I'd had an

> acute injury of indeterminate cause that resulted in my whole body being in

pain) and

she

> said " Oh, you don't need an orthopedist " because she had a small practice

and any

money

> paid to a specialist would have to come out of her pocket. That's why there

are fewer

> independent doctors nowadays. And wait till you get on Medicare. Good luck

finding a

> doc if you're a new patient. Our " socialized " medicine doesn't pay them

enough. 80% of

> docs here in Olympia won't take new Medicare patients. And I found out that

the medi-

> gap your insurance may offer doesn't pay the doc the difference between what

Medicare

> pays and what your insurance would normally pay (with you paying 20% of

that, of

course)

> -- the doc gets no more than what Medicare pays (which is only 80% of what

they say

the

> cost should be). The difference is that you don't have to cough up the

Medicare 20% --

> your medigap covers that. So having medigap won't get you a doc if that doc

doesn't

take

> new Medicare patients. " New " means you've never seen that particular doc

before. So if

> you come down with kidney failure & need a nephrologist, forget it if you're

on

Medicare.

> Make sure you contract all your diseases before you hit 65.

> > Ann S.

> >

> >

> > Re: TKR

> >

> >

> > the problem is our American system has become to socialized like

> > Canada and has gone down hill from there. Medicine was much

> > better when doctors made house calls and had PRIVATE PRACTICES.

> > There were NO HMO's. Now doctors have a slew of people just to

> > do paperwork and things in the medical profession have gone to hell

> > in a handcart. When the #1 cause of death in the US are medical

> > mistakes you know there is a huge problem. It never used to be

> > this way. The US was #1 in health care. Pretty much like our

> > public school system.

> >

> > Sherry

> >

> >

> > ----------------------------------------------------------

> > My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal and

corporate anti-

> spam solutions. Download your free copy of ChoiceMail from

www.digiportal.com.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

As a pharmacist, please tell me why, if someone starts out with a generic

version of a

medication, it most often works for them, but if someone who started the

patented

version of the same medication and is then switched to the generic version, if

often does

NOT work in the way the patented version did?

Arianne

> >

> >

> > S.A.M.--

> >

> > The healthcare sysytem in the US is anything but socialized. It has become

a

> purely private business, with all the corner-cutting and minimum service

provision and

> maximum charge that the insurance companies can get away with.

> >

> > If you want someone to blame for this, blame, in order of importance: 1)

the

> Republican Party, which defeated the Clinton healthcare bill (and felt very

proud of

itself

> for doing so, btw); 2) the insurance companies that lobbied to kill the

healthcare bill,

and;

> 3) the AMA, which supported the insurance companies.

> >

> > Healthcare has gone to Hell in a breadbasket in the US, to the point where

I'm very

> happy that my healthcare is socialized. To explain what that means, very

simply: I pay

a

> premium, which is a certain percentage of my income, for a " basic package "

of

services,

> defined by the Ministry of Health, and uniform throughout the healthcare

sector, which

is

> actually operated by about half-a dozen " sick funds " ... private companies

that provide

> services in accordance with the Ministry of Health requirements, and under

its

auspices.

> >

> > Anyone wanting additional insurance pays for the extras, either as they

happen, or

> in a monthly premium to cover certain possibilities. My sick fund had the

levels of

> additions, each with more treatments covered than the previous level.

> >

> > For two THRs, I paid absolutely nothing. This includes: all preliminary

lab tests,

> imaging requirements, etc., stay in hospital, surgery, anesthesiologist, PT

in the

hospital,

> transportation home after surgery in a private ambulance, 6 weeks of home

visit PT

and 6

> weeks of outpatient PT at my local sick fund clinic, and all follow-up blood

tests and

> imaging. The only thing I paid for were the 10 days of anticoagulants after

release

from

> the hospital and the bandages I covered the surgical incision with for 2

weeks (and the

> health fund paid 75% of the meds, 50% of the dressings).

> >

> > After my first surgery, I found out that THRs and TKRs are included in the

" basic

> package " . In other words, necessary surgery is available to all, no matter

what their

> financial situation. Granted, there are sometimes waiting lists, depending

on the

> particular hospital you choose, and you may not necessarily be able to

choose your

> surgeon (working in the medical device industry, I had enough connections to

be able

to

> choose), but the services are available to all, and affordable to all.

> >

> > That's what socialized medicine is supposed to be about... (and the

doctors don't

> complain, either).

> >

> > It could be germane to note that part of the high cost in health care is

the " lawsuit

> mania " ... the company I worked for stopped exporting devices to the US

because the

legal

> costs for fighting frivolous lawsuits was too high to make it worthwhile.

Manufacturer's

> journals have noted that a large number of European manufacturers have done

the

same,

> including chemical supply companies, such as du Pont (France), who are the

sole

suppliers

> for certain raw materials that go into artificial heart valves. Suing

everyone down to the

> janitor who cleaned the OR and the company that pumped the crude petroleum

used to

> make the plastic of a medical device are counter-productive, and will, in

the long run,

> guarantee that a) there will be a mass exodus overseas for treatments that

become

> unavailable in the US due to lack of devices or materials to manufacture

them, and a

> black market of such devices and materials in the US, driving their cost up

even more.

> >

> > The only people who get rich off these lawsuits are the lawyers, the

people who

> actually suffered a loss get peanuts (if the decision is in their favor at

all).

> >

> > Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

> > mdavison@

> >

> > From: Joint Replacement [mailto:

> Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Ann

> > Sent: 29 October, 2006 1:38 AM

> > Joint Replacement

> > Subject: Re: TKR

> >

> >

> >

> > American medicine has become the opposite of socialized. It's become

for-profit.

> This causes the Big Businesses that own them to slash everything they can,

including

> treatments, to make big profits for their investors and obscene salaries,

bonuses, and

> retirements for their execs. They invented the HMO model. It was that that

stopped

> house calls. And the insurance companies discovered that they could make a

lot more

> profit by denying services, keeping office visits to 15 min (how ridiculous

is that?),

> reducing access to expensive tests that could save lives, like MRIs. And a

lot of doctors

> for some incomprehensible reason bought into it (I don't mean they chose it

-- they

didn't

> have a choice, but they Believed). If the AMA had risen up and roared loud

enough in

> 1991 when it all started, they could have prevented it, but they didn't. The

only reason

I

> can think of is that doctors thought they were gods back then and maybe

assumed

that

> they couldn't be hurt by the change. Now they get paid less & punished (in

some

clinics)

> for Rx'ing MRIs or referrals. When I had my horrible back pain for 2 years

back in '94-

'96,

> I asked my doc to refer me to an orthopedist so he could evaluate my spine

(I'd had an

> acute injury of indeterminate cause that resulted in my whole body being in

pain) and

she

> said " Oh, you don't need an orthopedist " because she had a small practice

and any

money

> paid to a specialist would have to come out of her pocket. That's why there

are fewer

> independent doctors nowadays. And wait till you get on Medicare. Good luck

finding a

> doc if you're a new patient. Our " socialized " medicine doesn't pay them

enough. 80% of

> docs here in Olympia won't take new Medicare patients. And I found out that

the medi-

> gap your insurance may offer doesn't pay the doc the difference between what

Medicare

> pays and what your insurance would normally pay (with you paying 20% of

that, of

course)

> -- the doc gets no more than what Medicare pays (which is only 80% of what

they say

the

> cost should be). The difference is that you don't have to cough up the

Medicare 20% --

> your medigap covers that. So having medigap won't get you a doc if that doc

doesn't

take

> new Medicare patients. " New " means you've never seen that particular doc

before. So if

> you come down with kidney failure & need a nephrologist, forget it if you're

on

Medicare.

> Make sure you contract all your diseases before you hit 65.

> > Ann S.

> >

> >

> > Re: TKR

> >

> >

> > the problem is our American system has become to socialized like

> > Canada and has gone down hill from there. Medicine was much

> > better when doctors made house calls and had PRIVATE PRACTICES.

> > There were NO HMO's. Now doctors have a slew of people just to

> > do paperwork and things in the medical profession have gone to hell

> > in a handcart. When the #1 cause of death in the US are medical

> > mistakes you know there is a huge problem. It never used to be

> > this way. The US was #1 in health care. Pretty much like our

> > public school system.

> >

> > Sherry

> >

> >

> > ----------------------------------------------------------

> > My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal and

corporate anti-

> spam solutions. Download your free copy of ChoiceMail from

www.digiportal.com.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I would like to gently point out that many of the countries

> that the US 'take care of' have not actually requested, or

> appreciated, such 'care and attention'.

>

This may be true but they all like the money we send don't they?

Arianne>

I would prefer my 33% tax rate was spent on helping fellow

> citizens have good universal health care, rather than being

> spent on weapons... I guess it all comes down to prorities.

> P'raps this discussion has run its course now?

>

> in NZ

>

>

> ----- Original Message Follows -----

> > That's what the highest rate is in the US. Our military

> > system is very expensive to operate. Our constitution

> > mandates a military complex. We take care of the world.

> > There is no mention in our constitution of health care

> > for all. In fact, there is no mention in our constitution

> > of many of the roles our expansive federal government has

> > taken on. Arianne

> >

>

[Guest guest]

And it's not true that once a med becomes generic, it goes OTC. My mail-order pharmacy (through my insurance) has generics, name brands, and meds they haven't approved.

Ann S.

Re: TKR> > > the problem is our American system has become to socialized like> Canada and has gone down hill from there. Medicine was much> better when doctors made house calls and had PRIVATE PRACTICES.> There were NO HMO's. Now doctors have a slew of people just to> do paperwork and things in the medical profession have gone to hell> in a handcart. When the #1 cause of death in the US are medical> mistakes you know there is a huge problem. It never used to be> this way. The US was #1 in health care. Pretty much like our> public school system.> > Sherry> > > ----------------------------------------------------------> My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal and corporate anti-spam solutions. Download your free copy of ChoiceMail from www.digiportal.com.>

[Guest guest]

Where do you get your information on that? Where are the stats?

Ann S.

Re: TKR> > > > > > the problem is our American system has become to socialized like> > Canada and has gone down hill from there. Medicine was much> > better when doctors made house calls and had PRIVATE PRACTICES.> > There were NO HMO's. Now doctors have a slew of people just to> > do paperwork and things in the medical profession have gone to hell> > in a handcart. When the #1 cause of death in the US are medical> > mistakes you know there is a huge problem. It never used to be> > this way. The US was #1 in health care. Pretty much like our> > public school system.> > > > Sherry> > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------> > My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal and corporate anti-> spam solutions. Download your free copy of ChoiceMail from www.digiportal.com.> >>

[Guest guest]

I didn't say that, Ann. What I said was once a new patented medicine comes to

market that

is like, but better than the previous one, the previous one generally goes OTC.

Think about

Cortaid for example. It was once a prescription med but became OTC when an

improved

version became patented.

Arianne

> >

> >

> > S.A.M.--

> >

> > The healthcare sysytem in the US is anything but socialized. It has

become a

> purely private business, with all the corner-cutting and minimum service

provision

and

> maximum charge that the insurance companies can get away with.

> >

> > If you want someone to blame for this, blame, in order of importance: 1)

the

> Republican Party, which defeated the Clinton healthcare bill (and felt

very proud of

itself

> for doing so, btw); 2) the insurance companies that lobbied to kill the

healthcare bill,

and;

> 3) the AMA, which supported the insurance companies.

> >

> > Healthcare has gone to Hell in a breadbasket in the US, to the point

where I'm very

> happy that my healthcare is socialized. To explain what that means, very

simply: I pay

a

> premium, which is a certain percentage of my income, for a " basic package "

of

services,

> defined by the Ministry of Health, and uniform throughout the healthcare

sector,

which is

> actually operated by about half-a dozen " sick funds " ... private companies

that provide

> services in accordance with the Ministry of Health requirements, and under

its

auspices.

> >

> > Anyone wanting additional insurance pays for the extras, either as they

happen, or

> in a monthly premium to cover certain possibilities. My sick fund had the

levels of

> additions, each with more treatments covered than the previous level.

> >

> > For two THRs, I paid absolutely nothing. This includes: all preliminary

lab tests,

> imaging requirements, etc., stay in hospital, surgery, anesthesiologist,

PT in the

hospital,

> transportation home after surgery in a private ambulance, 6 weeks of home

visit PT

and 6

> weeks of outpatient PT at my local sick fund clinic, and all follow-up

blood tests and

> imaging. The only thing I paid for were the 10 days of anticoagulants

after release

from

> the hospital and the bandages I covered the surgical incision with for 2

weeks (and

the

> health fund paid 75% of the meds, 50% of the dressings).

> >

> > After my first surgery, I found out that THRs and TKRs are included in

the " basic

> package " . In other words, necessary surgery is available to all, no matter

what their

> financial situation. Granted, there are sometimes waiting lists, depending

on the

> particular hospital you choose, and you may not necessarily be able to

choose your

> surgeon (working in the medical device industry, I had enough connections

to be able

to

> choose), but the services are available to all, and affordable to all.

> >

> > That's what socialized medicine is supposed to be about... (and the

doctors don't

> complain, either).

> >

> > It could be germane to note that part of the high cost in health care is

the " lawsuit

> mania " ... the company I worked for stopped exporting devices to the US

because the

legal

> costs for fighting frivolous lawsuits was too high to make it worthwhile.

Manufacturer's

> journals have noted that a large number of European manufacturers have

done the

same,

> including chemical supply companies, such as du Pont (France), who are the

sole

suppliers

> for certain raw materials that go into artificial heart valves. Suing

everyone down to

the

> janitor who cleaned the OR and the company that pumped the crude petroleum

used

to

> make the plastic of a medical device are counter-productive, and will, in

the long run,

> guarantee that a) there will be a mass exodus overseas for treatments that

become

> unavailable in the US due to lack of devices or materials to manufacture

them, and

a

> black market of such devices and materials in the US, driving their cost

up even more.

> >

> > The only people who get rich off these lawsuits are the lawyers, the

people who

> actually suffered a loss get peanuts (if the decision is in their favor at

all).

> >

> > Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

> > mdavison@

> >

> > From: Joint Replacement [mailto:

> Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Ann

> > Sent: 29 October, 2006 1:38 AM

> > Joint Replacement

> > Subject: Re: TKR

> >

> >

> >

> > American medicine has become the opposite of socialized. It's become

for-profit.

> This causes the Big Businesses that own them to slash everything they can,

including

> treatments, to make big profits for their investors and obscene salaries,

bonuses, and

> retirements for their execs. They invented the HMO model. It was that that

stopped

> house calls. And the insurance companies discovered that they could make a

lot more

> profit by denying services, keeping office visits to 15 min (how

ridiculous is that?),

> reducing access to expensive tests that could save lives, like MRIs. And a

lot of

doctors

> for some incomprehensible reason bought into it (I don't mean they chose

it -- they

didn't

> have a choice, but they Believed). If the AMA had risen up and roared loud

enough in

> 1991 when it all started, they could have prevented it, but they didn't.

The only

reason I

> can think of is that doctors thought they were gods back then and maybe

assumed

that

> they couldn't be hurt by the change. Now they get paid less & punished (in

some

clinics)

> for Rx'ing MRIs or referrals. When I had my horrible back pain for 2 years

back in '94-

'96,

> I asked my doc to refer me to an orthopedist so he could evaluate my spine

(I'd had

an

> acute injury of indeterminate cause that resulted in my whole body being

in pain) and

she

> said " Oh, you don't need an orthopedist " because she had a small practice

and any

money

> paid to a specialist would have to come out of her pocket. That's why

there are fewer

> independent doctors nowadays. And wait till you get on Medicare. Good luck

finding

a

> doc if you're a new patient. Our " socialized " medicine doesn't pay them

enough. 80%

of

> docs here in Olympia won't take new Medicare patients. And I found out

that the

medi-

> gap your insurance may offer doesn't pay the doc the difference between

what

Medicare

> pays and what your insurance would normally pay (with you paying 20% of

that, of

course)

> -- the doc gets no more than what Medicare pays (which is only 80% of what

they say

the

> cost should be). The difference is that you don't have to cough up the

Medicare 20%

--

> your medigap covers that. So having medigap won't get you a doc if that

doc doesn't

take

> new Medicare patients. " New " means you've never seen that particular doc

before. So

if

> you come down with kidney failure & need a nephrologist, forget it if

you're on

Medicare.

> Make sure you contract all your diseases before you hit 65.

> > Ann S.

> >

> >

> > Re: TKR

> >

> >

> > the problem is our American system has become to socialized like

> > Canada and has gone down hill from there. Medicine was much

> > better when doctors made house calls and had PRIVATE PRACTICES.

> > There were NO HMO's. Now doctors have a slew of people just to

> > do paperwork and things in the medical profession have gone to hell

> > in a handcart. When the #1 cause of death in the US are medical

> > mistakes you know there is a huge problem. It never used to be

> > this way. The US was #1 in health care. Pretty much like our

> > public school system.

> >

> > Sherry

> >

> >

> > ----------------------------------------------------------

> > My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal and

corporate

anti-

> spam solutions. Download your free copy of ChoiceMail from

www.digiportal.com.

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>

[Guest guest]

I can give you an example. I was on Paxil for several years. I was taking 20 mg.

once a day.

It went generic and I was switched to the generic version of Paxil 20 mg. I

became

depressed within 2 weeks. I went to see my doctor and HE said that he had had

problems

with his patients who were likewise switched. He said that the formulary was not

the same

and many of his patients were getting depressed because the med wasn't working

as it

should. He wrote a new script for me for Paxil 20 CR (controlled release) that

doesn't have

a generic equivalent. I have been on that now for 3 years with no problems. Now,

had I

been placed on the generic version of Paxil in the beginning, it might have

worked

because my body wasn't used to the previous version.

The same has also been true with Naproxen. The patented version works fine on

some

people but once switched to the generic version, often fails to work.

Arianne

> > >

> > >

> > > S.A.M.--

> > >

> > > The healthcare sysytem in the US is anything but socialized. It has

become a

> > purely private business, with all the corner-cutting and minimum service

provision

and

> > maximum charge that the insurance companies can get away with.

> > >

> > > If you want someone to blame for this, blame, in order of importance: 1)

the

> > Republican Party, which defeated the Clinton healthcare bill (and felt

very proud of

> itself

> > for doing so, btw); 2) the insurance companies that lobbied to kill the

healthcare bill,

> and;

> > 3) the AMA, which supported the insurance companies.

> > >

> > > Healthcare has gone to Hell in a breadbasket in the US, to the point

where I'm very

> > happy that my healthcare is socialized. To explain what that means, very

simply: I

pay

> a

> > premium, which is a certain percentage of my income, for a " basic package "

of

> services,

> > defined by the Ministry of Health, and uniform throughout the healthcare

sector,

which

> is

> > actually operated by about half-a dozen " sick funds " ... private companies

that

provide

> > services in accordance with the Ministry of Health requirements, and under

its

> auspices.

> > >

> > > Anyone wanting additional insurance pays for the extras, either as they

happen, or

> > in a monthly premium to cover certain possibilities. My sick fund had the

levels of

> > additions, each with more treatments covered than the previous level.

> > >

> > > For two THRs, I paid absolutely nothing. This includes: all preliminary

lab tests,

> > imaging requirements, etc., stay in hospital, surgery, anesthesiologist,

PT in the

> hospital,

> > transportation home after surgery in a private ambulance, 6 weeks of home

visit PT

> and 6

> > weeks of outpatient PT at my local sick fund clinic, and all follow-up

blood tests and

> > imaging. The only thing I paid for were the 10 days of anticoagulants

after release

> from

> > the hospital and the bandages I covered the surgical incision with for 2

weeks (and

the

> > health fund paid 75% of the meds, 50% of the dressings).

> > >

> > > After my first surgery, I found out that THRs and TKRs are included in

the " basic

> > package " . In other words, necessary surgery is available to all, no matter

what their

> > financial situation. Granted, there are sometimes waiting lists, depending

on the

> > particular hospital you choose, and you may not necessarily be able to

choose your

> > surgeon (working in the medical device industry, I had enough connections

to be

able

> to

> > choose), but the services are available to all, and affordable to all.

> > >

> > > That's what socialized medicine is supposed to be about... (and the

doctors don't

> > complain, either).

> > >

> > > It could be germane to note that part of the high cost in health care is

the " lawsuit

> > mania " ... the company I worked for stopped exporting devices to the US

because the

> legal

> > costs for fighting frivolous lawsuits was too high to make it worthwhile.

Manufacturer's

> > journals have noted that a large number of European manufacturers have

done the

> same,

> > including chemical supply companies, such as du Pont (France), who are the

sole

> suppliers

> > for certain raw materials that go into artificial heart valves. Suing

everyone down to

the

> > janitor who cleaned the OR and the company that pumped the crude petroleum

used

to

> > make the plastic of a medical device are counter-productive, and will, in

the long

run,

> > guarantee that a) there will be a mass exodus overseas for treatments that

become

> > unavailable in the US due to lack of devices or materials to manufacture

them, and

a

> > black market of such devices and materials in the US, driving their cost

up even

more.

> > >

> > > The only people who get rich off these lawsuits are the lawyers, the

people who

> > actually suffered a loss get peanuts (if the decision is in their favor at

all).

> > >

> > > Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

> > > mdavison@

> > >

> > > From: Joint Replacement [mailto:

> > Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Ann

> > > Sent: 29 October, 2006 1:38 AM

> > > Joint Replacement

> > > Subject: Re: TKR

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > American medicine has become the opposite of socialized. It's become

for-profit.

> > This causes the Big Businesses that own them to slash everything they can,

including

> > treatments, to make big profits for their investors and obscene salaries,

bonuses,

and

> > retirements for their execs. They invented the HMO model. It was that that

stopped

> > house calls. And the insurance companies discovered that they could make a

lot

more

> > profit by denying services, keeping office visits to 15 min (how

ridiculous is that?),

> > reducing access to expensive tests that could save lives, like MRIs. And a

lot of

doctors

> > for some incomprehensible reason bought into it (I don't mean they chose

it -- they

> didn't

> > have a choice, but they Believed). If the AMA had risen up and roared loud

enough in

> > 1991 when it all started, they could have prevented it, but they didn't.

The only

reason

> I

> > can think of is that doctors thought they were gods back then and maybe

assumed

> that

> > they couldn't be hurt by the change. Now they get paid less & punished (in

some

> clinics)

> > for Rx'ing MRIs or referrals. When I had my horrible back pain for 2 years

back in

'94-

> '96,

> > I asked my doc to refer me to an orthopedist so he could evaluate my spine

(I'd had

an

> > acute injury of indeterminate cause that resulted in my whole body being

in pain)

and

> she

> > said " Oh, you don't need an orthopedist " because she had a small practice

and any

> money

> > paid to a specialist would have to come out of her pocket. That's why

there are fewer

> > independent doctors nowadays. And wait till you get on Medicare. Good luck

finding

a

> > doc if you're a new patient. Our " socialized " medicine doesn't pay them

enough. 80%

of

> > docs here in Olympia won't take new Medicare patients. And I found out

that the

medi-

> > gap your insurance may offer doesn't pay the doc the difference between

what

> Medicare

> > pays and what your insurance would normally pay (with you paying 20% of

that, of

> course)

> > -- the doc gets no more than what Medicare pays (which is only 80% of what

they

say

> the

> > cost should be). The difference is that you don't have to cough up the

Medicare 20%

--

> > your medigap covers that. So having medigap won't get you a doc if that

doc doesn't

> take

> > new Medicare patients. " New " means you've never seen that particular doc

before. So

if

> > you come down with kidney failure & need a nephrologist, forget it if

you're on

> Medicare.

> > Make sure you contract all your diseases before you hit 65.

> > > Ann S.

> > >

> > >

> > > Re: TKR

> > >

> > >

> > > the problem is our American system has become to socialized like

> > > Canada and has gone down hill from there. Medicine was much

> > > better when doctors made house calls and had PRIVATE PRACTICES.

> > > There were NO HMO's. Now doctors have a slew of people just to

> > > do paperwork and things in the medical profession have gone to hell

> > > in a handcart. When the #1 cause of death in the US are medical

> > > mistakes you know there is a huge problem. It never used to be

> > > this way. The US was #1 in health care. Pretty much like our

> > > public school system.

> > >

> > > Sherry

> > >

> > >

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------

> > > My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal and

corporate

anti-

> > spam solutions. Download your free copy of ChoiceMail from

www.digiportal.com.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann,

Sorry I haven't replied since you wrote but I've been busy keeping

warm in this cold weather in Michigan. I live in the country and

the OS that did my original knee replacement had fixed a torn medial

meniscus a couple years before. My husband and I researched him on

the internet and his credentials are impecable. The only problem

that I really have with him is that he threw his hands up in the air

and after the two manipulations (to get rid of some of the scar

tissue that formed and to try and get my knee straightened out),

said there was nothing else he could do for me. I have a copy of

all his notes and I have to say, he wasn't very nice in some of the

things he said about me because I was devastated by the pain I was

in and that I couldn't straighten or bend my knee, he as much as

called me a cry baby.

I did seek a second, third, and forth opinion. The second opinion

was with an OS in the same system as the first OS but he thought

that more surgery was indicated but I didn't go with him. The third

OS in a different system did another surgery on October 27, 2005 to

remove scar tissue but the end result was the same, it just formed

once again even though I had a CPM machine at home. My first OS

decided that a CPM machine wasn't warranted at home and wouldn't

help me out, that's a bunch of crap because my girlfriend had a CPM

machine at home and kept her leg in it all night long and in four

weeks, she was walking great.

I then went to the forth OS at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor,

MI where they are supposed to have the cutting edge of technology.

This OS had a Cat Scan done on my knee, all components and

everything was okay. To much scar tissue. He recommended a Nerve

Specialist which is where I'm at now. I'm just waiting for this

specialist to read the notes from my Pain Management Rehabilatation

doctor. When he's read them, I should be receiving a call for an

appointment. He can possibly deaden the nerve in my knee so that I

might be able to work to get my knee loosened up to where I can

straighten it out and bend it. If this doesn't work, I will have my

leg amputated. I can't live like this for the rest of my life. I

know all of you say no, I shouldn't do this but you aren't living

with my pain that is constant, it never stops, EVER!!!!!! If you

have any suggestions for me, please email me at

susan71353@.... I welcome any and all suggestions.

Please only email me if you really think you have a good suggestion.

Thanks for reading my long reply. Have a wonderful day. Oh, and I

don't feel badly for myself. I'm happy but could be happier, lol.

>

>

> -- I'm horrified at what you've had to go through. Please

tell us what the subsequent surgeries did, and was it the same OS?

Are you currently seeing the original OS who did the first surgery?

If so, I think you should take a black marker & cover his name up in

your phone book & find someone else. Sometimes, in a smallish town,

or if doctors belong to the same organization, they won't contradict

each other, so watch out for that.

>

> DON'T GET YOUR LEG AMPUTATED!!!! There has to be a solution

that will save your knee. Would it be possible for you to see

someone at one of the big name hospitals, just for a consultation?

Where, more or less, do you live?

>

> I'm glad you got a better anti-depressant. I'm so sorry you've

felt so bad for so long. Keep in touch with us. I'm sure we can

help you get through this.

>

> Ann S.

>

>

> Hi There,

>

> I haven't written in a very long time. Have gone through a long

> spell of depression since my total knee replacement August 31,

2004.

> Since that time, have not been able to straighten out my knee or

bend

> it. My knee is locked in a very painful position and I have been

> walking with a cane ever since my surgery. I have had three

> subsequent surgeries with no good results. My last hope will

come

> hopefully soon with a nerve specialist. Hopefully this doctor

will

> deaden the nerves in my knee to where I can work through the

scar

> tissue to be able to move my knee. I have exhausted all avenue

after

> this and my only option (which I have thought through and

discussed

> with my husband and doctors) is to have my leg amputated above

the

> knee. I know that I would still be facing phantom pain but

anything

> is better then pain every minute, of every hour, of every day

even

> being on pain meds. I'm on high doses of Percocet and Neurontin.

> Hopefully I won't have to go this route. My primary care

physical

> changed my anti-depressant medication in August to Cymbalta

which has

> worked wonders for me. Every day all I could think of was

suicide

> and treated my husband so badly along with other members of my

> family, friends, and doctors. Cymbalta has made a big difference

for

> me. I don't think of suicide but every once in a great while

now, if

> that. I just wanted to get some people who know me on this forum

up-

> to-date on what was going on with me. If anyone has a response,

I'd

> love to hear from you.

>

> from Michigan

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I am so sorry to hear of the terrible situation you have been in.

Please get another opinion before considering amputation - it is so

final, and phantom pain, I understand, can be quite substantial as

well. There has to be another answer for you!

Take care,

Judy

>

> Hi There,

>

> I haven't written in a very long time. Have gone through a long

> spell of depression since my total knee replacement August 31, 2004.

> Since that time, have not been able to straighten out my knee or bend

> it. My knee is locked in a very painful position and I have been

> walking with a cane ever since my surgery. I have had three

> subsequent surgeries with no good results. My last hope will come

> hopefully soon with a nerve specialist. Hopefully this doctor will

> deaden the nerves in my knee to where I can work through the scar

> tissue to be able to move my knee. I have exhausted all avenue after

> this and my only option (which I have thought through and discussed

> with my husband and doctors) is to have my leg amputated above the

> knee. I know that I would still be facing phantom pain but anything

> is better then pain every minute, of every hour, of every day even

> being on pain meds. I'm on high doses of Percocet and Neurontin.

> Hopefully I won't have to go this route. My primary care physical

> changed my anti-depressant medication in August to Cymbalta which has

> worked wonders for me. Every day all I could think of was suicide

> and treated my husband so badly along with other members of my

> family, friends, and doctors. Cymbalta has made a big difference for

> me. I don't think of suicide but every once in a great while now, if

> that. I just wanted to get some people who know me on this forum up-

> to-date on what was going on with me. If anyone has a response, I'd

> love to hear from you.

>

> from Michigan

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy,

I have just about exhausted all avenues as I have stated. I have

had second, third, and fourth opinions and have been treating with a

Pain Rehabilitation Management doctor for a while now. The last

doctor I hope to see is a nerve specialist. This is my last hope.

I know all about Phantom pain and I'm willing to put up with that

rather then be in pain every minute, of every hour, of every day

like I am now. My knee has been burning besides the pain for the

past week, I don't know what it is from but it is terrible. The

alternatives are just not there for me. I have sought out doctors

that were supposed to have the cutting edge of technology and they

can't even do anything for me, they suggested amputation also if the

nerve specialist doesn't work out.

Thanks for your comment but I'm just about at the end of my rope

with this knee. I will never have another knee replacement done

ever!!!!

> >

> > Hi There,

> >

> > I haven't written in a very long time. Have gone through a long

> > spell of depression since my total knee replacement August 31,

2004.

> > Since that time, have not been able to straighten out my knee or

bend

> > it. My knee is locked in a very painful position and I have

been

> > walking with a cane ever since my surgery. I have had three

> > subsequent surgeries with no good results. My last hope will

come

> > hopefully soon with a nerve specialist. Hopefully this doctor

will

> > deaden the nerves in my knee to where I can work through the

scar

> > tissue to be able to move my knee. I have exhausted all avenue

after

> > this and my only option (which I have thought through and

discussed

> > with my husband and doctors) is to have my leg amputated above

the

> > knee. I know that I would still be facing phantom pain but

anything

> > is better then pain every minute, of every hour, of every day

even

> > being on pain meds. I'm on high doses of Percocet and

Neurontin.

> > Hopefully I won't have to go this route. My primary care

physical

> > changed my anti-depressant medication in August to Cymbalta

which has

> > worked wonders for me. Every day all I could think of was

suicide

> > and treated my husband so badly along with other members of my

> > family, friends, and doctors. Cymbalta has made a big

difference for

> > me. I don't think of suicide but every once in a great while

now, if

> > that. I just wanted to get some people who know me on this

forum up-

> > to-date on what was going on with me. If anyone has a response,

I'd

> > love to hear from you.

> >

> > from Michigan

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Al,

Thanks for your wishes. I'm so tired of doctors and I think they

are tired of me. I am at the end of my rope and have just about

exhausted all avenues that I know of.

>

> ,

>

> There must be a reason your knee is frozen. I have a stiff knee

which

> is 90 days post tkr. I am going to have a full revision soon.

>

> Before you do something drastic, you should seek out the nation's

best

> knee doctors and see one. Perhaps it would make sense to contact

the

> Clinic where doctors go from all around the world to

learn

> special knee surgery teachings?

>

> http://www.andersonclinic.com/

>

> There must be a way your knee can be revised and the pain made to

go

> away.

>

> Wishing you the best and a cure for sure.

>

> Al Welch

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/25/2007 8:01:38 PM Eastern Standard Time, Lewcite@... writes:

percodan and oxycodyn for 4 days, resulting in bad constipation. I am going to stop the pain meds soon, I am wondering how people manage to stay on pain meds for a log period of time, as with TNR without having problems.

Before my TKR I was on Diclofenac for a couple years (it's a NSAID).....I was on Vicodin after the TKR for about2 - 3 months )off and on when needed).....the oxycontin made me very sick (as it does to almost everybody I have talked to who took it!)....but the Vicodin did very well for me....you can ask your Dr to switch to another pain med if those don't "feel" right to you.....also if you are taking those strong meds now, it's probably time to go for the TKR!

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Robin, Do you have a list of helpful hints -- how to prepare your home, what to take to the hospital and what you need or will find handy when you get home? Wishing you the very best outcome and will be thinking of you. You're knee replacement will be one day after 's. Glad you're lurking and learning. :-) Warm regards, Donna levan_53 <levan_53@...> wrote: Hi, my name is Robin and I'm scheduled for TKR on April 26th. Been putting it off for over 6 years but the doc said to schedule when my quality of life was no longer acceptable, and I reached that point mid-March. I understand I will be receiving the Biomet Ascent system.I will continue to lurk, but I am grateful to be learning so much from all of you.Robin in NWFlorida

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[Guest guest]

For those newbees with TKR coming here is a book I highly recommend.

" Total Knee Replacement and Recovery "

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

Dr. Falkel had both knees done and he is an orthopedic doctor. So you

are getting info from both sides of the knife so to speak. Also to

restate the importance of post surgery excersizes this is very

important. Get as much strenght and stamina as you can. If you are

confined or resticted do what you can. Go to a swimming pool. Ride a

bike (that is what I did because walking was not an option). Even

just lift you legs one at a time or together and count to ten or

twenty in bed. Don't forget your upper body strength. You will be

needing you arms, back and shoulders post-op. Lastly eat good fresh

food (no more Big Macs).

This effort will help you recover much quicker I promise. I figure

that I was about a week ahead in my recovery because I had worked out.

Good Luck

Don

PS BTW almost any subject is fair game on this forum related to joint

replacement. From sex to shoes 8^). So ask away.

>

> Hi, my name is Robin and I'm scheduled for TKR on April 26th. Been

> putting it off for over 6 years but the doc said to schedule when my

> quality of life was no longer acceptable, and I reached that point mid-

> March. I understand I will be receiving the Biomet Ascent system.

>

> I will continue to lurk, but I am grateful to be learning so much from

> all of you.

>

> Robin in NWFlorida

>

[Guest guest]

Heck!!

I reread this message and said " post surgery " I should have said

" presurgery " SORRY if anyone was confused.

Don

[Guest guest]

hi

You don't indicate your age <G>, but, if you feel not ready for TKR

because you're not old enough, it may still

be something to consider My 43 year old sister in law has had JRA

since age 2 and has had most of her

problems with her knees and she works as a physical therapy asst. and

has to life children and get on the floor

with them....She had a bilateral TKR done in April....returned to

work full-time in July and is able to do so much

more than she has for years She is pain-free and SO happy with

the results The surgeon wanted to do the

knees one at a time, 10 wks apart, but, she decided one surgery, one

rehab made more sense, esp, since she had

to go back to work....and it while the first weeks were tough, she

feels it was well worth it

good luck

nancy

At 06:58 PM 11/29/2007, you wrote:

>I am radiographically ready for bilat. TKR, but not there mentally.

>At the ortho today I was evaluated for my tight knee ligs. and

>tendons that are making me look like I am squatting all the time

>when I stand. He ordered me to visit the PT to learn some exercises

>and a knee dynamic splint to stretch things out. Trying to avoid TKR

>for 3 more years until I can finish school!

>

>The odd thing was to help with some of the pain that we might try an

>experiment with Supartz injections. It isn't indicated for RA, but

>since I have no or next to no joint spacing, and have some

>radiographically defined osteoarthritis changes, that we might give

>it a shot. Has anyone had success with these types of injections with their RA?

>

>Shandi

>

>---------------------------------

>Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make your homepage.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am 32. It isn't an age thing, I am ok with being 32 and having TKR, as is my

RD and ortho. My ortho went over quality of life issues and to be honest I am

debating back and forth about it. However, he is ok with me not getting TKR, I

suppose because I wasn't an active person to begin with so I don't miss things

like a lot of functionally challenged people do. Whenever I do it it WILL be

one at a time. Not doing two at once. I am TERRIFIED of blood transfusions and

I am not a candidate to donate my own. He said that given my age and health he

doubt a transfusion would be necessary...but still...AHHHHHHHHH! Of course, he

went over the infection risk and blood clot part of it...which I try to forget

about. Although he mentioned that I am on immunosuppressants I am healthier

than just about everyone if it wasn't for these joints! So I suppose that means

I would get a whopper of a post-op infection.

Before I get TKR I MUST get some weight off. Just about 20 pounds. I don't

have the hand or arm strength to pull myself around after TKR, much less extra

weight.

My RD is going to try me on antibiotic therapy soon. After failing all the

biologics I am hoping this may be the answer to stopping the inflammation. I am

still trying to talk myself into Rituxin.

Shandi

<nancynfoster@...> wrote:

hi

You don't indicate your age <G>, but, if you feel not ready for TKR

because you're not old enough, it may still

be something to consider My 43 year old sister in law has had JRA

since age 2 and has had most of her

problems with her knees and she works as a physical therapy asst. and

has to life children and get on the floor

with them....She had a bilateral TKR done in April....returned to

work full-time in July and is able to do so much

more than she has for years She is pain-free and SO happy with

the results The surgeon wanted to do the

knees one at a time, 10 wks apart, but, she decided one surgery, one

rehab made more sense, esp, since she had

to go back to work....and it while the first weeks were tough, she

feels it was well worth it

good luck

nancy

At 06:58 PM 11/29/2007, you wrote:

>I am radiographically ready for bilat. TKR, but not there mentally.

>At the ortho today I was evaluated for my tight knee ligs. and

>tendons that are making me look like I am squatting all the time

>when I stand. He ordered me to visit the PT to learn some exercises

>and a knee dynamic splint to stretch things out. Trying to avoid TKR

>for 3 more years until I can finish school!

>

>The odd thing was to help with some of the pain that we might try an

>experiment with Supartz injections. It isn't indicated for RA, but

>since I have no or next to no joint spacing, and have some

>radiographically defined osteoarthritis changes, that we might give

>it a shot. Has anyone had success with these types of injections with their RA?

>

>Shandi

>

>---------------------------------

>Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make your homepage.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Orthopedic Institude of Pennsylvania  ( OIP ) of Camp Hill PA. has great

doctors.

I had My hips done last FEB and OCT and  I'm doing great.. I will be getting

both knees done next year.. DR.Dahl did a fantastic job and has great bedside

manners..

 

   Carl in PA.

RE: [Total_Joint_ Replacement] TKR

Note: Original message sent as attachment

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[Guest guest]

>

> Judy,

> I probably missed it. Who is your surgeon?

>

>

>

> Re: TKR

>

> Judy,

>

> I think a lot has to do with your confidence of your surgeon.  After

being

> told by my primary physician, pulmonary physician, and my original

sports

> medicine ortho physician that I have the best in the area and one of the

> best on the east coast and after seeing he has taught at the Mayo

clinic I

> am " currently "  not concerned with my scheduled surgery.  Or maybe

I've been

> in pain so long that doing something has to beat doing nothing. 

Good luck

>  

>

>

>

> TKR

>

>

> HI everyone,

>

> I've been reading but don't post very often. I'm just now planning a

> bilateral knee replacement. My consult is Nov and I'm terrified.

Does anyone

> know if doctors and give you something to keep you calm before the

surgery?

> I'm afraid I won't make it in the front door of the hospital! LOL

>

> Judy

>

Hi Judy,

I had my knees replaced three weeks ago. 4 days in the hospital (days

2,3 & 4 were the worst) By day 5 I was transferred to a rehab

hospital for 7 days. At day 5 I would " See the light " and improved by

leaps and bounds every day thereafter. By the time I left the rehab

hospital, I was depending on the walker for longer trips only. I

would manage in the kitchen and bathroom without it. I did need to

get a seat for the shower and a hand held shower head that I used for

the first week home. I also had a handicapped toilet seat which I am

still using. I was in very good physical condition (workout and

pilates) before the surgery and was self-sufficient in about 7 days.

I am still on 5 days a week out-patient physical therapy. Next week I

go to 3 days a week. I can only bend to about 90% (which is a little

behind the progress I expected). I am still very stiff and in some

pain. I was in a LOT of pain on days 2, 3 & 4 after surgery mainly

because of doing both knees at the same time. It was extremely

painful to stand up. Now I am glad that I had both done at the same

time. Does anyone out there know how long it takes for that extremely

tight feeling to go away? I would recommend bilateral knee

replacement only for those who are in excellent physical condition.

You have to be able to pull yourself around with your arms.

[Guest guest]

Dot, different stores have different kinds.you can go to Home Depot, Lowes,

CVS, Wal-Mart, or a health equipment store and see the different kinds.

Here's 1 link to the web that shows several different kinds but it is far

from all there are:

http://www.become.com/portable-shower-seats?

<http://www.become.com/portable-shower-seats? & utm_medium=ssp & utm_source=yaho

o & tc=12 & qet= & utm_term=portable%20shower%20seats & utm_campaign=become & kd=13218

786 & refdisa=ytf>

& utm_medium=ssp & utm_source= & tc=12 & qet= & utm_term=portable%20shower%20sea

ts & utm_campaign=become & kd=13218786 & refdisa=ytf

Just go to the internet and type in shower seats or shower chairs and find

the many links that come up.

Harold

_____

From: Joint Replacement

[mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Dot Sheltie

Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 8:09 PM

Joint Replacement

Subject: RE: TKR

Chrisse,

Is there any place on the net were I can get a look at this shower chair? I

so happy for this list is helping like you are.Thank you all.

DOT in Florida.

'Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened'

[Guest guest]

Hi so nice to meet you.Stay in touch.

Dot

'Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened'

From: karen773208 <karen773208@...>

Subject: Re: TKR

Joint Replacement

Date: Saturday, April 11, 2009, 9:45 AM

First of all, I apologize if I'm repeating myself...I hit the wrong button and

lost what I had written!

Hi Dot!

Congrats on setting up your TKR! I had my left TKR in Sept 08 and my right TKR

last month. I am so thrilled with the absence of pain in my left knee and ready

to have the same with my right!

A couple of things you asked about...

The shower bench that has been suggested is probably the best bet for taking

showers. You can hang your TKR leg out the side of the tub and wash the rest of

yourself without getting your incision wet. I wasn't able to get the incision

wet till 2 weeks after. (once the staples are removed). Here in Indy we have a

store that has all these products for handicapped persons. If the transfer

shower bench won't work in your bathroom, you might check with one of these

kinds of suppliers for something that will. My bathroom is teeny tiny, but the

bench worked well enough.

I was able to go out about a week after leaving the hospital. I went to walmart

and rode around in one of those little cart things. It wore me out, but it was

nice to get out of the house. You just have to listen to your body and if you're

tired, rest!

As far as doing things around the house...well, my house is a mess right now. (I

live alone) but I'm starting to be able to sit on a stool and do dishes as long

as I don't force anything. I'm using a cane more now, but when I was on the

walker all the time, I attached a little basket to it with yarn. It looked silly

but it helped me be able to carry things like my cell phone, a sandwich, a

bottle of water, etc. Plus I have a tray that I would put my food on, slide it,

take a step, slide the tray, repeat..lol. you just do what you gotta do.

If you want to email me personally, please do. I am a satisfied TKR recipient!

karen773208