It is a real miracle, isn't it. I think of modern medicine as a combination of advanced plumbing and miracles.

I hope he makes a speedy recovery Sherry. I had staples when I had my total knee replacement.

Sue

Yes, joint replacements are miraculous for those who need them. I hope I am not one of those people! My brother is 61 and needs to have a hip replaced after years of athletic type abuse. He is doing everything he can to avoid it, but it is inevitable.

My friend also needs a hip replaced. I am so concerned that the bone will break and she will fall. She went for an exam prior to her surgery and they discovered that she has ovarian cancer. She has to complete her cancer treatment before the hip can be done. In the meantime, watching her walk or get up from a chair is difficult. She is supposed to use a walker but she won't.

Best of luck to your brother. Hope he heals quickly and enjoys his bionic knee.

I am sure that your brother will be very happy - based on the results of people I know who have had both hips and knees replaced. The difference was incredible. I sure hope he didn't have to wait too long for the procedure.

He can't drive for 6 weeks, and that will slow him down. :)
He's to go to the hospital for therapy twice a week, and the medical van/shuttle doesn't go to his part of the city, so he's working on a way to get there when he comes home.

He was on a waiting list for well over a year, eccentric, but there was a last-minute opening on Wed and they called him.

I know your brother will be very happy with his TKR. I had mine on Aug 26th. I did not have staples either.

Can I ask why your brother had to be on a waiting list for over 1 year?

Just tell him to make sure he goes to therapy & do what they tell him to do at home. This is very important for recovery.

My wife has had both knees replaced (not at that same time) and it has made a big positive difference for her. Without those, she was headed toward being an invalid.

I had my right knee replaced 5 years ago and was supposed to have my left one done at a later date.I still havn't had it done,as over a year ago my dr put me on vitamin D3 and after taking that for awhile I don't have as much pain or crackling from that knee anymore.So as long as it doesn't bother me ,i'll let well enough alone.

I also had staples,but when I had my bilateral mastectomy 3 months later they just glued my chest back together.It used to worry me during the healing process that the glue would come loose and leave me wide open.Never happened,thank goodness.
Kathi

Good luck to him. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

Does he live in Canada? As I understand it waiting times of that length are not unusual there.

My daughter who had rheumatoid arthritis had both knees replaced. The first when she was just 37 and the second 2 years later. She earned her living as a physical therapist. She would be the first to tell you how very important that therapy is to get the full benefit of a new knee. Sadly she passed away at 45, but she was able to enjoy her new knees for the bike riding she so loved.

This post was edited by gazania on Sun, Dec 1, 13 at 7:38

My MIL had both of her knees replaced at the SAME TiME! She went to therapy a few times, but she quit before her time was up because it hurt. She thinks she knows more than the drs...she never follows their advice, she does as she pleases. As a result she is in pain and it hurts to walk. She had her knees done about 4 years ago..

Good luck to your brother, hope he follows the drs orders.

I hope he does well. I am going to have a knee replacement soon. My knee is very bad and it is the only pain I have, and I am looking forward to getting it done and hopefully not having so much pain, which is constant and has a couple of times put me in a wheelchair and on a walker.

jasdip - thankfully there was a last minute opening and your brother was available to take the call and get to the hospital. It is too bad the med van does not go to his area. I am not surprised at all by the wait - this is Canada! The six weeks will seem like an eternity but I am sure at the end your brother will be very happy!

Mary3444 - yep, Canada - our wait times are often very long. I shudder to think if I ever need an MRI. Having to wait 7 months to see a derm was ridiculous - especially with referrals to 3 different derms. And it was for a derm issue - not a cosmetic treatment - then I would have been seen right away. Something is wrong here...

Eccentric summed it up perfectly. Wait times are long to see any kind of specialist or get surgery.

Eccentric, he's in Old Thornhill/Center st area so it's not like it's in a slummy part of Toronto at all. I didn't know that the medical transport had a geographic area that they served.

I spoke to him today and he's doing well. He's really doing lots of physio on his own as he wants to get better as fast as he can. He's an impatient guy, he starts and finishes projects asap.
He did say that he can't imagine how difficult it is for elderly people; they physio is hard work and of course is painful.

There's an exercise room in his condo and he uses the shower there as he can't climb in and out of the tub, and he uses the floor mats to do his physio. Of course, he still has to go to the hospital 2-3 times/week.

He's having a tough time with the pain. It's far worse than he imagined. He didn't have the pain in the hospital as they had given him nerve-blockers. Now that he's home, it's another story.

He's going in for physio, and it's still badly swollen, of course.

How did you handle the pain? He was told to take Tylenol 3, which he is doing. Do you have any suggestions to make the recovery easier?

Jas, does he have an ice machine for his knee? This was a huge help for my dd when she had acl surger. We were very lucky to be able to borrow one, but perhaps he can find one to rent? I'm so sorry it's been tough. Ha, I do remember when the surgeon came out to talk to dh and me after the surgery when she was still in recovery, and he told us that before they close, they shoot the whole area full of pain killer. By the time the patient is home, it's starting to wear off. Bummer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ice for after knee surgery

Around here, they send you home with an ice machine (and a knee exerciser for while you sleep?) for a few days.

I am headed for a tkr after we're in our new house - will start the process - pre op appointments, etc. in January. I'm not sure how long it will take after that to have the operation...the doctors have told me to limit walking/hiking after the operation, to switch to nonweightbearing exercise like biking and swimming. I hate water, and the nearest public pool is about 20 miles from here. So - I need to look for an exercise bike, I guess.

The only thing I'm dreading - I've heard that many people wind up with catheters afterwards - true? I've had them before and hated the pulling feeling whenever I moved.

We're about 30 miles from the hospital where I'll go for the operation, but there is a good PT clinic in our small town, so that's good.

I only know anyone except my brother, who's had a recent knee replacement. He doesn't have a catheter.

So your brother didn't have a catheter while he was in the hospital? Maybe what I've heard is dated, from the days when they didn't make you get out of bed right away - ? I've heard that some people can't feel them at all, I had an uncomfortable tugging on my insides whenever I moved.

When I had my TKR in Aug , I had a nerve block too which most times last up to 24 hours.

I was given a prescription for pain when I left the hospital. I was told to ice as much as possible & make sure when you sit try to keep that leg up on something. I only used the pain pills when I went to PT. I had pain but it was not that bad.

Gladys1924, I did not have a catheter. I only had one pre-op appt. That was for the blood work, general exam & a 2 hr. class as to what happens with the surgery & after.

A exercise bike is great & you can use that after the surgery. I would think every Dr is different as to what they want you to do. Good luck when you go for the surgery.

I was kind of unhappy when the docs told me to limit hiking and walking after the operation. But - I can't walk much now without shrieking; at least then I'll be able to do normal, daily "stuff" (errands, working in our yard) comfortably.

I'm blessed that our new house will be tkr friendly - one level, accessible master bathroom, etc. My other knee operations had "interesting" recovery periods due to the nonacessible apartments I lived in!...and yes, nerve blocks are wonderful! The nerve block, combined with leftover anesthesia - life is really nice then! I wish I had one now, as a matter of fact. Oh well.

I was kind of unhappy when the docs told me to limit hiking and walking after the operation. But - I can't walk much now without shrieking; at least then I'll be able to do normal, daily "stuff" (errands, working in our yard) comfortably.

I'm blessed that our new house will be tkr friendly - one level, accessible master bathroom, etc. My other knee operations had "interesting" recovery periods due to the nonacessible apartments I lived in!...and yes, nerve blocks are wonderful! The nerve block, combined with leftover anesthesia - life is really nice then! I wish I had one now, as a matter of fact. Oh well.

Sending prayers for a quick and complete recovery.

gladys: I guess it does depend on the dr. I had my knees done in 2011 and they used a catheter with each knee surgery. I wish you all the best. Let us know when you find out when you'll have your surgery.

jasdip: They put me on strong pain killers. I had to take some an hour before each PT session. I too had a lot of swelling each time. Ice and elevation were my instructions. I hope your brother gets better each day.

Shirley