TKR This time I am doing it right and having a blast

[Josephine]

has there every been a petition by knee and hip replacements persons to help the doctors understand the pain with the replacements?

Don't I wish! I can't even get to do this in the UK so heaven knows how we do it in the US! But as Jamie said, those who are most likely to need to change are the most 'prima donna' ones who think there are only two points of view - theirs and the wrong one!

When I had the tooth done the surgeon did do some repair and I do have some stitches. So should I use them too? I should - its a back up.

I think you should but best to check with your surgeon's office.

Josephine where do you get the silk fabric?

I get it from a fabric supplier in the UK. It's variously referred to as Habutai, China silk and polyester silk and usually works out around £1.50 a metre (about $2.30)

Josephine Have you head of the surgery? The surgeon wanted cut my foot in half and with screw and bolts put the foot back together again. I don't like the sound of it. Something better can be done.

Yes, he's talking about a fusion or arthrodesis. When a person has pain in the back end of their foot (known as the hind foot) probably with arthritis, then it's often very difficult to deal with problems. The hind foot is very complicated and some joints are prone to arthritis so the best method of treatment for best pain relief is an arthrodesis.

What he does is to open up the affected joints in the hind foot and remove the articular cartilage. Then he puts them back together and secures them with screws or staples. There are many different types of ironmongery he can use.

These examples look pretty scary but they're really not - you can't see the screws and whatnot. But the end result is one that really works as it relieves the pain and you can walk again!

 

[tashia]

Josephine That you so much explaining the surgrey. I does look really bad, when the doctor explain it I was I don't thing so. So now I will have to throw away my old opion and try to look at it in a positive way. . I need to heal from the knee before I even think of doing another. This poor foot has been operated on already two times with success. But now this has come up couple of years ago. Now I have new found hope. There are no words I can say to thank you for this information. I will look it up and started educating myself. I do have to say foot operations terified me. I know so many people who have had some type of operation on the foot and it didn't work. So far mine have been very success. They weren't this serious. Yes they were come to think about it but it was so long ago. You really are a . Thank you again so much. Tashia

 

[Josephine]

You're welcome, sweetheart! It has to be said that an awful lot of foot operations don't have the best outcomes, they are notoriously difficult to get just right. But the triple arthrodesis is in a different league and once it's healed and fused, it really does extremely well, according to statistics. You would spend about 8-10 weeks in a plaster cast and then need a lot of PT to get the ankle moving again - that's the tough bit. But if anyone can do it, I expect you can! After all you've been through, you're a tough little cookie!

 

[tashia]

Mbone I so know what you are saying. I wish I could say it worked. If the knee is bone on bone in time it will get worse. I do know you don't want to hear this. When I had my hip done, I got it well and then had the other knee done. My knee was done only nine months after the hip. I was so glad I did it. I have no reget what so every. I found the hip healed for me very quickly so I was able to have the knee fixed. Good luck. Please keep me posted so if there is any way I could help I can. Tashia

 

[Mbone]

Thanks Tashia, I am getting myself prepared for the possibility of one knee being replaced in the summer. When I go to my OS in March, I will talk to him about it.

 

[tashia]

Mbone Good luck. I have a feeling I know what you are going thru. You will do fine. Tashia

 

[tashia]

Josephine I looked it up on the computer about the foot operation. Right now I find it too overwhelming. It too soon to even think about it. Knees need to be done then maybe the foot but not now. I do have it marked so I will look into it. I hope it doen't have a time frame. I haven't seen the x-ray so I don't know how bad it is. Just can't face it right now but thank you so much. I was told that when you hit the 60s it was to be the Golden Age and have fun. All I have seen is its the " Golden Age " is for the doctors and not the normal population. They get rich while people like me get poor and hurt like mmm. Yes my insurance right now would cover it but I can't mentally face it. First tooth, then pain from the knee. then the knee. I need time having some norm without being cut and sewed back together again. I will read all the information and put in the file. Thanks Josephine Tashia

 

[Pumpkin]

Tashia,
Take one thing at a time. You now have the information you need about your foot, and can come back to it when you are ready.
How is your socket? I hope it is feeling better every day.
Take care, I hear there is a storm this weekend.

 

[tashia]

Pumpkln, I don't have the energy to even think about the foot. It is conric pain and it is what it is same as my shoulder. My mouth is sore because I need more than I am taking. The knees are tender and also getting worse. I still have my emails and the pharmacy dates so this is all good. When my husband died I was phyically in very bad shape and the doctor told me a needed 2 new knees, 2 new hips and 2 new shoulders and the foot that needed to have surgrey. Well now I have gotten my knees and 1 hip done. The other hip I think has brunties and could hace tenderies. No dought they are spelled wrong. Let me heal from the mouth before do something I am not ready for. I am getting so much better but it takes time. My naps are really long sleeps. I had one this afternoon for over three hours. Tonight I could go to sleep but I do need my antibotic so I am trying to stay awake for my last dose of anbotonic that I need. My face is almost normal but sore. I am not in a very good mood right now so it is no dought a good thing I am by myself. I am so angry. Everyone do take care. Tashia

 

[Pumpkin]

Tashia,
Hope you got some rest today . I am sad to see you going through such a rough time right now.
How is your mouth feeling? Can you rent a funny movie or watch situation comedy show to take your mind off your all your aches, pains, and frustrations?

We had 5 Yorkie therapy dogs at our adult day club yesterday, they ride in a shopping cart. One of them had such a good time he jumped out and went back inside to see all the people. His person had to come back in and have a second visit before they could leave.
Tomorrow will be a new day, and you can , and enjoy the .

 

[tashia]

@Pumpkin I am getting better. The mouth swelling is almost all gone. I have to call the surgeon to get the date to have them taken out. He told me verbrally but I was so out of it I don't remember it. I know it was in March. the first week. I went to the sewing stores today to distract myself. the weather was so beautuful and warm. It was so said to see the shop that with so few things but that is the way it is. I had a good lunch and then came home. I thought today I had a appointment but it was yesterday with the doctor. Ops. Good think I got ride of lot of angry today. I get so frustrated that I cry while I am talking. This isn't good. I feel so much calmer now. It so good to have a sister.

My sewing room is really started to take shape. Next week I get more patterns for my new machine. I belong to a club and every month I get 6 patterns. This will no dought the last and only year I will belong. Each pattern if I use that word has at least 20 patterns that follow that theme. I will have enough to last my life time. I have only seven more months and that will be it. My knees are getting sorer as the medicane wears off, I have a appointment tomarrow with the doctor. I do have a back up plans if it doesn't work so now I feel better good about it. I still blows me away the my doctor says I am to have NO pain after having my teeth pulled. I had to have at least thee stiches so I know there was a lot more done then just pulled. But getting better. Tired but better.

I do have to admit I am having more pain in the knees than I am probly surpose to. Each week they were getting better so I didn't think about it. I have good rom and can walk more each week so I didn't think about it. I see one of the OS assiatance next week. The only time I see the OS is for the surgrey. I have put my foot mess on the self because I can't do anything about it. Same with my shoulder.

This site is for knees and hips so I never mentioned till now about the shoulder and the feet. Couldn't do anything about them so why untill now bring it up. I will start having acpuncture twice a month and message twice a month and try to get them back under control. this will also help my knee also. Also the weather is getting great so the outside pool will start being put on the schedule. I don't want to overdue so I must go slow. I lost my message person so that hurts. I will have to find another. I have the person do acupressure and deep message combnation so I will have to start to look and try to find one. The one I had knew excatly what to do.and was so good. I must of been holding my jaws taught today because they hurt so I will have to put a warm pack on them. They will be ok in the morning. Boy I am I writing a lot tonight. I have a lot to get off my shoulder. Life can be interesting. Thank God for this site. Its hard when you live by yourself and don't have a good surpport system where you live. Well this is a true see ya later. Everyone do take care I understand a ruff storm is in the midwest and East so please take easy. Tashia

 

[Pumpkin]

Tashia,
Glad to hear you got out yesterday! You have so much going on, some good and some not so good. Can you start a list of all the good things to remind you that things are better? I am excited to read you will have access to a pool soon, I love going to the pool and hope you do too.
There are already threads in the social room about shoulders and feet, when the time comes, you can post your ups and downs there.
The amount of sewing you have, WOW that is a lot of projects!
Sometimes when the pull a tooth the bones crack and take time to heal, and of course cracked and broken bones hurt, and take time to heal.
Take it easy and slow, the tortoise won the race and we will too!

 

[tashia]

Went to the doctor with my journal that has everyting I take somethine I put in it. He was really impressed about how detailed it was. I also have the dates of when I pick uped the drugs. And the tooth mess. He is going to give me so much a month and I will have to do it. now he didn't say what happens if someathing like this happens again but he did say he game me extras for such thing. Every day that month I am to ge it refilled for that amount and come to think about it he didn't say what I am supose to do with the extras. He listened as I told him about the foot and the shoulder. And said your right I didn' know about those. If they don't get better in a couple of days I will get a doctuor to look at you. As I left he said he wished most of his patience were that aware of the drugs and keep that good of account on each one. The group sometimes will have people come in and give classes on how to manage things. I and he thought this would be one of them. So the crises is over. Thank God. Got my meds the same amount I had before. I am very tired and I need to go to sleepl. Talk to you later. I closed my eyes and fell asleep at 11 this moring and just woke up at four o'clock. I have been sleeping in my reclindering chair thew all of this. I am so physially tire. I could scream. I also hurt. Now i need to get the med in me and get my mouth stop from hurting. What a horribile week . This weekend is sewing if I can stay awake. Love Tashia

 

[kneeper]

 

[Pumpkin]

Thank goodness you have your medications, and that you will continue to have them for your pain. I hope you have taken them are are able to get some relief from your toothache, and anything else that may be aching. Take good care and get some rest.

 

[RestAssured]

Tashia,

I hope you sleep well! You deserve it!

 

[tashia]

Pumpkln, Poppet I can't believe how physical tired I am. I came home from the doctors and fell asleep. When I woke up I did eat and take my evening pills. I am still so tired. Every change my eyelids get a chance they close. My tooth is so much better. It is still a little hard around the hole or incission. But the pain level is almost nothing. My energy level is almost 0. Since I have my meds now I will no dought be able to sleep the whole night and get some good sleep. I still have to read what he gave me to read. He was in a very good mood when I saw him and so was I so that no dought helped a lot. I think I told you we talked about my cronic pain and he admitted he had not idea I had that much. He has been my doctor a little over a year. He did say he was sorry. WOW. Now that I am awake I am possing the appointment. He does choose to use the computer instead of seeing the person. Not comfortabe with this but I afraid this is the new age. Now onwoard to recover. May it come soon. I know, I know its patience is the key word. Well I better end my eyelids are trying to close and they do have a way to get their ways. Everyone do have a good weekend. But do please be careful with the storm in the midwest and the East. I think we are finished for the weekend. Sewing is this weekend we will see. Do take care with the weather. Tashia. I realized I repeated myself from the post before so I really need sleep. Good night

 

[Poppet]

Tashia, I am so pleased that you went armed with your record book... I can well imagine the Doctor's jaw dropping in amazement at such good record keeping... well done you

Sleep sound tonight honey, all is ok now!

 

[tashia]

Well I had my nap and now I am awake for a little while. So will read some post.

 

[tashia]

I know its early but I fell asleep in the chair again last night. The only thing I can think is sleeping in the chair must be more corable than the bed with my face being sore. Also my knees aren't as sore. Also the tree is in the living room with the Shamrock lights and its really cheery. Winter is so dark that I have found keeping my tree up and decorating for Valentines, St. Patatties, and Easter helps keep me from getting down. So I continue doing it. I put the tree up in October with lights that are browish in color and made some leaves I scatter on the tree. then after Thanksgiving Christmas, etc. This is the Christmas decorations didn't happen not did Valentines. But so what it I now have green lights on the tree and around the apartment. I usually take the tree down after Easter because of the heat it makes and its also getting warmer and the sun shines longer but I do have red, white and blue also. I love to decorate so I do. The people in the apartments think I am a little strange for doing this but so what. It helps me get thru all the stuff that is happening and that is the important part. Right now my foot is better. I took some medician yesterday and am starting to feel better. Question: Do cats climb Christmas trees? Since I keep my up so long would it be trouble?

Josephine Thank you so much for the explanation on the foot now I find myself not so anxiours when it hurts. You helped me so much. Now that I have the medication I feel so much better. Thank you for being there for me. Dotors are great but at times they can also be a pain in the mmmm. Well I feel another very lazy day coming on for me. The mouth is sore but not bad at all.

Everyone do take care with the weather being so bad in the midwest. Stay safe and dry. Tashia