new member

[patfinch]

Hi all,
I had my total knee done on 5th August, and the other day found this amazing forum.
As I am home alone most of the day, its great to read other folks post op experiences, and realise that I am not alone.
I am 49 (50) in a few weeks, and needed my surgery due to an accident I sustained at work last March.I have been a nurse (rgn) since 1979 and had my surgery at a hospital where i worked as a junior staff nurse 20 years ago.
I cannot thank my surgeon enough as he seems to have done a good job.
Of course I still am using crutches and have another 7 weeks as he used a cementless component. i was originally told 6 weeks but that changed to 12 after the op.
Due to reading threads on here, I bought an exercise bike the other day, and from total uselessness on Weds, its now friday, and i have just completed 10 mins full rotation pedalling, ( backwards) but at least I have done it!
I did my first full rotation last night and if I had won the lottery I could have not been more over the moon.....
Thanks to all who have given me encouragement through their posts this week, I will continue to read and join in regularly.
thanks again and good luck to all.....Pat

 

[Nursepair]

Wecome Pat. Know exactly what you mean about being over the moon about doing a full rotation. Happened to me at 1am in the morning and I cried with joy and immediately posted about it here, had my RTKR in January and found this forum a life saver.

I live in Canada now but lived in Kent, Essex, Herts, Beds and Staffs. before we emigrated. Where are you? Jo our angel of a moderator and ex (well almost ex) nurse of
50 years is also in the UK.

Ask questions and vent as often as you need. Also share your milestones, we know how important that is too.

Good luck. Sue

 

[patfinch]

Hi Sue,
Thank you for your reply.
I am a Lancashire lass..born and bred.
I have read many of the replies from Jo and she sounds like a great lady, full of encouragement and useful advice.
I hope to gain more friends on here to care and share with, as I feel thats part of the recovery process..having someone there who knows EXACTLY what you are going thru.
I will keep plodding away at the bike as its my 50th on 8th Oct and my family are organising a party..I hope to surprise them by being able to get up and do a bit of dancing with a bit of luck
Take care Pat xx

ps are you a nurse also?

 

[Linda2]

We all know how amazing it is when the pedals on the bike go round and round. I'm glad you've found this forum--it's the best. I know without it I would have been sooooo much more discouraged. It is great to share with people who share your experiences. Welcome

 

[patfinch]

Hi Linda,
Thanks for your reply.
Yes its great to find others in same situation....This forum is great, I am sooo glad to have found it, and upto now have spent most of my ''free'' time, between exercising, reading the threads and collecting tips and advice.
The support system on here is awesome, and I thank everyone who contribute their experiences to help others. Thanks guys !!!!
Cheers Pat xx

 

[Josephine]

Hey, Pat! Great to see another Brit on here. There've been on or two but they don't seem to stick around - perhaps it's all this talk about grits and strange sounding meds!! I'm on here (almost) every day and on and off through the day so I usually get around to posts fairly quickly.

I'm impressed by your self-help and performance on the bike! Woweee! You go girl!!

BTW - just cus I'm nosy - which hospital did you train at?

 

[patfinch]

Hi Jo,
I trained at Wigan and Leigh 79-82, then did 6 years at Wrightington Hospital..the home of hip and knee surgery..in the days of Mr Charnley himelf.....
what a great man he was...I was so honoured to have my surgery there, even to the point that I am hoping to get a job there again when one comes available....there are still nurses working there who I worked with 20 years ago....how good is that?
Where are you from?
You obviously know your orthopaedics, and you offer great support and advice...
I'm so glad that I found this forum..
Keep up the good work girl ....!!!!!!!!

 

[Josephine]

Thank you for your kind words.

And Wigan - once had an acquaintance with a theatre sister from Wigan via the NATN. Lots of good stuff came from the North, not least of which was Charnley, of course.

I trained at the Norfolk and Norwich which was where Ken McKee worked. He preceded Charnley in THRs - in fact, Charnley derived a lot of stuff from what McKee (like the bone cement) but he had the nounce to adopt a better PR approach so people didn't get to use his hip without the appropriate training, therefore it didn't get a bad rep like the early Mckee-Farrar did.

I was scrubbing for THRs back in 1963 and in 1964 scrubbed for the very first knee replacement done anywhere ever!

I also met Prof Wroblewski once when I was on one of the surgeons' visits to Wrightington. He was such a showman! He had this trick during the op of apparently grasping the cup with a pair of Kochers and pulling on it fiercely to demonstrated how confident he was in the cement security. All the surgeons were going "wow" but I just shook my head and sniggered.

Later in the surgeon's room they were talking about that, being impressed, but Wroblewski looked at me sagely saying "Ah, but Sister wasn't fooled!" They all turned and looked at me. "Go on," Wroblewski said, "Tell them!"

So I told them - he wasn't pulling on the cup but pushing! The patient would rock on the table giving every appearance of a fierce tug.

Later in the OPD, he pulled out a patient's file of xrays and announced "You know what this man is suffering from? Radiation poisoning!"

Ah those were the days - they don't make showmen like that anymore.

 

[patfinch]

Jo...FYI..I saw prof W a few weeks ago, walking the corridors at Wrightington...so he's still very much on the scene. In my day it was Prof W, John Murphy, and Kev Hardinge who were the main men, all our ward regs were actually consultants from other hospitals who came along to watch and learn the tecniques from the masters, before going on and teaching elsewhere.....but of course no where is better than Wrightington.
now you mention it I do remember the McKee Farrar implants, although my specialist is in prison nursing now.
however like I said, I really want to go back as the atmosphere is much better than at the prison and the moral among staff is a lot higher. we are under an awful lot of stress and most nurses either dont stay, or are off sick with stress / depression related illnesses.
i fell on some stairs in our hospital unit last march and damaged my knee, thus resulting in a TKR recently as you know. I am now fighting the Prison Service for compensation and it's bloomin hard work!!! I am being made out to be at fault, and we are having a time of it getting anywhere with them..
there have been a lot of falls recently, but they still refuse to admit liability..I am dreading having to go back especially with the P I claim ongoing..

on another word, just love your pics...the old nightingale wards were just the best, it took me a while to get used to the bays.....your pics although a little earlier than my experience, do bring back many many happy memories....
Is that your pic at the top right of the web page, as it certainly looks like your other pics?
Going now, have just done my second set of 10 mins today, I almost gave up at 5 mins but kept on and went the whole way.......bring on my dancing shoes...!!!
Love and best wishes Pat xx

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Pat -

Sending you the vision of an Alskan HAPPY DANCE for your success on the bike! The day my pedal went around at PT was so funny - the 2 pts, assistant and receptionist (who was the one who should get all the credit - she moved my left foot about 2 isnches back on the pedal and viola!) all did the "Happy Dance" for me - fortunately there was only one other patient at the time and she was a knee too so she totally understood!

Congrats!

Marianne

 

[patfinch]

Marianne.......

LOLOL Excellent......

sadly I missed PT sessions due to my hubby working 64 hr week, he is not able to take me , so I am doing it on my own at home , hopefully right.?
I see my consultant next week (6week check) so will find out if I am doing it right.
I have also progressed to walking up and down stairs without crutches today..just hope I'm not doing too much too quick...I'm getting plenty rest inbetween and my knee is getting less stiff so I must be going in the right direction.....

thanks for making me chuckle...like I said ...this forum is THE BEST....

Love and hugs Pat xx

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Holy cow - a 64 hour work week - My hubby was able to stay home for the first 10 days - I love him but the only thing he ws really good at was driving me to PT - my 9 year old had to show him how to turn on the washing machine!He went back to work (he works away for 2 week hitches) and swapped some shifts so he was home for alot of the early pts. His little sister (25) drove out (20 miles) and took me to the pts he missed during the first 4 weeks. I couldn't have done it without her. She was great. SHe had just had her second baby 1 1/2 months prior to my tkr - what a sport she was - she claimed she was thrilled to have a something to do that would get her out of the house.

Hang in there and keep doing those exercises. I am hangin my knee right now!

Marianne

 

[hess]

Pat,
I'm SO excited for you! Believe me, I will never forget the feeling of making it around on the bike for the first time. It was fun to share with these guys, because they truly understood, as they do with ups and downs! I can always find someone here to help with problems, and share in the excitemenht of milestones. When I actually made it onto a street bike, I could not wait to get home to post!
I'm 3 months out now, and have found this forum to be the most WONDERFUL group of people. I can not speak highly enough of this place! How I found this forum is beyond me, but I am really thankful!
I am 40 next month, and the mother of 3 young boys, and have found the most support here. Keep posting, and don't forget that you have a new group of friends here that truly do care about you!
Hess

 

[patfinch]

Thanks Hess ( is that your real name?)

I know what you mean about the support on here....like you I dont know how on earth I found this site, but sure to heck am glad that I did !!
You are truly an amazing lady...total TKR, 3 young boys and still under 40?!!!!!!!!!!
thats one mean achievement..good on ya gal...
When is your birthday ? Mine is the 8th when I reach the grand young age of 50 !!!!

Just broken another barrier on my bike, did 15 mins and there was still some left in me....but that will wait till later.......
I am still only able to pedal backwards though....will the forward thingy come? or will i have to go backwards everywhere??? lolol

I just can't believe the improvement that I have made this week and thats due to you guys putting the idea of an exercise bike in my head...I NEVER exercised before in my life, and the though of getting on the bike scared the s. . .t out of me , but because I know I have to do it, I DID and now I actually look forward to it !!!!
Hows that for a convert?
Gonna chill for a bit now, and rest the old (or new ) knee.....

speak again soon

love and hugs Pat xx

 

[Josephine]

Pat, I remember the name Hardinge - he invented the flanged cement restrictor. Can't imagine how many times I wrote that name in my order books over the years!!

And a prison nurse - oh woweee! That is a job I do NOT fancy. You all have my deepest, deepest admiration. I hope you get your compo from HMPS! Fighting the civil servants is never a fun thing to take on.

Stay in touch.

 

[hess]

Thanks Hess ( is that your real name?)

I know what you mean about the support on here....like you I dont know how on earth I found this site, but sure to heck am glad that I did !!
You are truly an amazing lady...total TKR, 3 young boys and still under 40?!!!!!!!!!!
thats one mean achievement..good on ya gal...
When is your birthday ? Mine is the 8th when I reach the grand young age of 50 !!!!

Just broken another barrier on my bike, did 15 mins and there was still some left in me....but that will wait till later.......
I am still only able to pedal backwards though....will the forward thingy come? or will i have to go backwards everywhere??? lolol

I just can't believe the improvement that I have made this week and thats due to you guys putting the idea of an exercise bike in my head...I NEVER exercised before in my life, and the though of getting on the bike scared the s. . .t out of me , but because I know I have to do it, I DID and now I actually look forward to it !!!!
Hows that for a convert?
Gonna chill for a bit now, and rest the old (or new ) knee.....

speak again soon

love and hugs Pat xx

Pat,
Actually, my name is Beth. I have a sister and a sister-in-law named Pat, how cool is that? I would not trade either of them for the world!

My birthday is the 27 of Oct, and I'm actually looking forward to it! I do feel like I have accomplished a lot for such a YOUNG age (note the word YOUNG)!!

It is so great to get to celebrate our milestones, isn't it? Yes, you will make it around forwards on your bike soon, actually, it may be sooner than you think! I just did it by accident one day. I just wanted to see how far I could make it, and it just went around. I was SO excited!

Keep it up, but don't overdo, or you will be sorry! Have a good day, I'm enjoying my Sunday with my husband and my kids. My middle son has a volleyball game this afternoon. I was never much for volleybal, but he LOVES it! Looks like I might be taking on a new interest, huh?

Have a good one,
Hess

 

[patfinch]

I'm sooooo excited...
have just completed 10 mins FORWARDS...YES FORWARDS... on my bike...
it was playing up in reverse with a lot of tension, so i just pushed forwards, and my knee just slid round......no problem...no pain...nothing.......
I was like a kid with a new toy.
I am still perspiring as I type, but just had to share my news, as yet again I'm home alone, well hubby is sleeping after night shift and has to be back today at 5pm..
I have earned a play on my computer now..
Love and hugs...Pat xx

 

[JudyS]

Pat,

That is great news!!
Reading about all of you knee people riding bikes motivated me to take my bike outside yesterday.
I am a hippy with weak quads. Can't say the uphill was fun, but glad I did it. My town is very hilly at the base of the foothills in southern california.

Keep up the good work.
Judy

 

[Coppernob]

Hi Pat
Good news about being able to go forwards - hope it's forwards all they way from now on! I used to enjoy the exercise bike but the greatest achievement was when I was able to go on my 'real' bike. My husband persuaded me to get an electric bike after my UKRs and it's brilliant. I still have to pedal or the power assistance doesn't kick in, so I have to work the knees but it's much easier on them. Worth every penny! Lin

 

[Josephine]

Way to go, Pat! Way to go!