Become an Insider

TKR Second time lucky for LTKR

Good to see its going well @Eeek , I know a lot of people have both done at once but it must be better to have one solid point on the ground.



Earlier this year I was on a yacht when we were attacked by Somali pirates. I managed to fight most of them off and although I was captured I at least gave the other members of my crew a chance to escape.

I was held captive for 8 days during which time I was tortured terribly while they held me hostage in anticipation of a ransom.

I managed to start a small fire and made my escape by diving trough the window of their boat, cutting my leg badly on the shards of glass. This cut quickly attracted a shark which I captured and then using my shirt as a makeshift bridle rode it safely to a beach where i sought help.

I quickly got medical assistance who stitched the injury on my leg.

And that, if anyone asks, is how i got my TKR scar!
 
@Nick-UK,

That’s your story and you’re sticking to it!

Wish I could use something similar, but my surgeon gifted me with a barely visible scar:shrug: . Guess that’s not all too bad.
 
I can vouch for @Nick-UK pirate story because I was there too. Since I'm a bit more..uh..rotund then Nick, I had more of a squeeze out the porthole so both my knees got cut up pretty bad. But Nick caught the only shark around so I had to swim for help. Good to hear he made it back okay.

I have keloid scars but barely even think about them. More concentrated on what is happening inside knees and getting movement back to normal. Figure I've got plenty of time later on to worry about the scars.
 
Lol!! Incidentally, @NavyGunns, I saw recently that the Equal Rights Amendment is still pending! Illinois recently ratified it, so only one more state is needed! Brings warm fuzzies to my heart as I testified in favor of it in several states back in the 70's, as well as presenting testimony for it before the Platform Committee of the Republican National Convention in '72 (we weren't in time to get on the agenda of the Dems, but they were already in support). Testified before the House Subcommittee handling Title IX too.
 
Actually, I was quite serious about the ERA and Title IX!

Love that the personality transplant was so successful.
 
You should explain that to @SherrieT then, I was getting the water board and she had the cheese board.

Shame that something you worked on the 70s still isn't ratified yet but some progress is too slow. Will get there eventually but will be driven by the younger generations.

It wasn't a transplant, it was a bypass. When people say I am funny now they mean peculiar!
 
As an aside the physio told me yesterday I shouldn't be driving until I am 6 weeks post op even though I had an LTKR and drive an auto.

The hospital told me that as long as I was comfortable and not on any of those funny tablets @SherrieT and @NightQuilter sell on the dark web I should be OK.

I have been driving for over a week with no problems. Is this OK? Should I wait? Do I need to inform the insurance company?

So much of surgery recovery seems correctly to be up to how the individual feels however I guess this could have legal ramifications?
 
My doctor told me I could drive when I was ready. I waited till 4 weeks and I drive an auto too. I can‘t remember, which foot do you use for gas and brake in the UK? Is it right like the US?

The thing is, what would happen if you had an accident. Would someone‘s insurance use this as an opportunity to shift blame on to you?

I never called my insurance, though I guess it‘s worth it. I probably will with this tkr. I can see insurance wanting a release from a doctor though....or hospital, perhaps.

Probably good to call insurance, though it might be opening a can of worms!
 
Hi @Eeek the pedals are still the same, my left foot just comes for the ride really.

Im not sure how blame could be apportioned medically if I was using my good leg and not on meds but like you say calling the insurance would probably open a can of worms.

I drove through choice, my OH could have driven me if i asked.

I may sit back until here are no dressing or indicators of the op before I drive.
 
My OS also said I could drive when I was ready — and off narcotic pain-killers. It was up to me to decide if I felt capable of controlling a car with my operated knees.

The main consideration is not our own convenience but whether we are putting other drivers or pedestrians at risk. :scaredycat:
 
Drove when off narcotic. Never asked OS when I could drive. My husband was disappointed when I started driving. He like chauffeuring me around! :loll::horseriding:
 
Its ironic really. I avoided driving before the op as my knee was painful and distracting.

Now its pain free I can drive but probably won't for a couple of weeks just in case.

@Eeek made the point about insurance and they will use any ploy to wriggle out of paying
 
I started driving when I was off of narcotics. Short drives at first then at 6 wks post op I made 1.5 hour drive to Boston. It was so freeing to be able to drive to store for short shopping trip and such.

And @Nick-UK - I thought the dark web was when one of the animals laid on my tablet screen
 
Tomorrow will be three weeks with my new knee so handy to have a review methinks!

The scar is pretty much healed now, I will probably take off the dressing tonight and that will be it. Positive news.

Still have a lot of swelling and some bruising which I not only expected but think will last several more weeks if not months. Some small numb areas on the left hand side of my left knee as i look down on it but the areas seem to be getting smaller. Will continue ice, elevation and scotch.

Walking unaided all the time now although I use a stick in London mainly to get others to give me a wide berth. I will continue to use this until i feel confident i could take a knock and not lose my footing. Can go upstairs sequentially and down stairs sequentially with a railing but again avoiding doing this until I feel a bit more healed, I do forget though and can end up doing a few steps before I remember. I have a slight limp and am walking more slowly than before, mainly to pace myself though rather than overdo it.

I was back at work on Monday and again Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I had the opportunity to do shorter days than I would normally however this has still left me very tired. Firstly I didn't factor in the commute which is not just the walking and stairs but also sat in one position on a crowded train and works out over an hour each way. Secondly I didn't consider that I can't put my leg up and ice as frequently as I would at home so found that my leg was slightly more swollen come the end of day.

Still driving. I have decided that not only am i not a risk to others but also don't think that my current medical situation would invalidate my insurance.

No pain killers since day three which I am delighted with. I also no longer have the pain I had prior to the op and am enjoying getting a good nights sleep.

Physio and nurses have signed me off, seeing the OS on the 18th July for hopefully sign off too.

Going forward I am still planning to take it easier than I normally would, build up as I feel stronger.

Someone on here said about a massage which helps to reduce the inner bruising and swelling so may look into that although personally I think time heals all wounds (except amputation obviously).

So there we are. Very happy with where I am after such a short time
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Staff online

  • Layla
    Layla
    Staff member since November 20, 2017

Members online

Total: 2,534 (members: 3, guests: 2,531)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom