Revision TKR Chocolate at midnight<

[Dabber]

We all need a pity party from time to time. It's best to cancel if you don't feel you want to go, I've cancelled a lot recently. I once burst into tears at a physio session, a different thing but I'd been going for about a year with absolutely no improvement, I just gave up then.
You sound like a lovely caring mum.
Sue

 

[Josephine]

My knee unfortunately isn't getting the stretching and exercise it needs and is swollen and stiff again.

Actually, it's not lack of activity that causes swelling, quite the opposite. Though it could be responsible for the stiffness. But you know, a few sitting heel slides every so often would stop that.

I'm back on stronger pain meds too, trying to keep all this surgery in perspective and not let it get me down.

And this, of course!

 

[Dabber]

I stopped the Celebrex for a few days, I suspect that caused the swelling. I restarted today, but Josephine, can I keep taking them.....what do you think, I'll have to go back and ask for more? They do really help with swelling and pain. I take 40mg Nexium. I managed a few heel slides today when I felt a bit better and a trot round M&S after Dr's consultation and coffee, it certainly helped.
I do feel much better today, I feel the knee takes priority, the pacemaker will just do it's own thing once the wounds have healed and they look fine so far, I have my follow on checkup in 3 weeks.

 

[Josephine]

I've never heard anything about NSAIDs causing swelling, after all, their primary role is as an anti-inflammatory so it doesn't make sense. As for helping with swelling and pain, they're not designed to help with swelling, just inflammation and they are actually quite mild pain killers. You'd be better off taking a couple of paracetamols 3-4 times a day. Then you won't need to take the lansaprazole (Nexium) which is only because you were taking NSAIDs. Otherwise, keep up the good work!

 

[Dabber]

Sincere apologies, I don't explain things very well. I meant the swelling came up again after I'd stopped the Celebrex so I restarted it. The GP suggested trying it for 2 weeks, stopping and seeing how the knee was then restarting for 2 weeks if the knee swelled again.
Nexium is part of my daily diet as I have rather bad acid reflux, they thought at one time there was a suggestion of Barrett's oesophagus, but there isn't.
I am confusing swelling, fluid accumulation and inflammation I think! I think it's joint effusion I have, maybe very common post op. I've always had a lot of fluid build up in the knees.

 

[Josephine]

Oh, okay - my misunderstanding too.

 

[Dabber]

Oh dear, the other knee doth protest today, it is another train heading this way.
Sue

 

[Josephine]

Whatcha been doing?

 

[Dabber]

Wish I could say dancing the night away but nothing at all, a handful of knee slides, a walk down the garden and a chat with the hens. Just a bit under the weather I think post pacemaker op. No energy and little men attacking the underside of both kneecaps.

 

[robynhood]

Hope youre feeling a little better today Sue. Im like the walking wounded today. Went to a theme park yesterdsy with the family. My legs have been replaced with very large tree trunks that I cant lift off the bed. Think a restful day would be best for both of us.

 

[Dabber]

We're like a couple of Cheshire Oaks, aren't we
I was alternating finishing a novel until 5am as I couldn't sleep, with tearfully blaming Dh for my woes.....he wanted me to take the pacemaker cancellation date, I thought it was too soon, so it was all his fault. He's doing his penance now.....cleaning the downstairs cloakroom and dashing along with a smoothing iron.
Sue

 

[robynhood]

Cheshire Oaks. Very funny. I live over the road from there. Got a questionaire this morning from Nuffield Trust on how my new knee is coping. Filled it in very honestly. Not as far ahead as I thought I would be. Your husband IRONING o my gosh I dont think my husband knows where the iron is kept. Hes a Landscape Gardner very good with his hands OUTSIDE the house. Awful inside. Well we have to blame someone for how we feel. Why not them. Feel better soon x x

 

[Dabber]

Now what I wouldn't give for a landscaped garden. Dh likes gardening, we grow most of our own fruit and veg organically, but flowers, lawns apart from mowing......zilch, unless I do them which brings one full circle to knees.

I wonder how many of us feel held back by the tight band feeling and heaviness, I know I'm only 11 weeks and have a long path yet to be walked.

How is your ROM? You suffered with your lack of physio didn't you. I have my next physio appointment tomorrow after a 5 week break.

The other knee is settling and the little men are having a lunch break from drilling behind my knee caps. I wasn't very well for a few days, but am better today. I'm going to try to shower and not disturb the glue on my chest wounds.

Hoping you get some much needed rest today.

Sue.

 

[Dabber]

Positive update

Physiotherapist was extremely pleased with the whole show and said I had a really good outcome from my TKR. He was willing to either discharge me or book another appointment, so I went for another one in about 5 or 6 weeks following my appointment with my consultant.

Having a short break away now, and hopefully I'll try to get on with the rest of my life. There are still exercises to be done and bridges to be crossed but 12 weeks down the line the TKR is looking fine and I'm feeling good.

Sue

 

[Dabber]

Josephine Please can you tell me what the current advice is about dental treatment/antibiotics and joint replacement?
Thanks,
Sue.

 

[Josephine]

Well, last year the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy issued this statement in the British National Formulary (the bible on drugs)

"Advice of a Working Party of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy is that patients with prosthetic joint implants (including total hip replacements) do not require antibiotic prophylaxis for dental treatment. The Working Party considers that it is unacceptable to expose patients to the adverse effects of antibiotics when there is no evidence that such prophylaxis is of any benefit, but that those who develop any intercurrent infection require prompt treatment with antibiotics to which the infecting organisms are sensitive*

The Working Party has commented that joint infections have rarely been shown to follow dental procedures and are even more rarely caused by oral streptococci"
*This means that it does not imply that oral infections should not themselves be appropriately treated with antibiotics

Stateside, this has announcement has just been made Evidence insufficient to recommend prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures.

 

[Dabber]

Thank you.
Sue.

 

[Dabber]

Well, the knee didn't like a short break away. It seemed to really loosen up whilst we were away, we only did gentle strolling round a town with stops, icing and elevating back at the hotel, but the day after, ooh la la, I paid!

 

[Dabber]

Can't sleep again, up and about reading BS. Neck aching and creaking as well as chest hurting from pacemaker incisions, back to back sleeping mostly. Thought I'd cracked the sleeping difficulties...got to be up at dawn for starving blood test at 9am in surgery, hungry, can't even have a cup of midnight tea; fused all the lights, had to wake Dh to venture down to the fuse box.
Moan, moan to self.

 

[Dabber]

turtle68 Thanks for your kind words. Had a nice little break away, enhanced by stopping at a real cider place coming home.
Pacemaker settling down now. Looking forward to raising my arm if only to gesticulate with my NHS walking stick....been for fasting blood tests today, by request of the cardiologist and GP only they couldn't find one request and by the time it was sorted, I was desperate for a cuppa and croissant.
Sue