Knee Replacement Online Support Group

Hi, I am new and am suppose to have a partial knee replacement on 9/7. Does anyone have any experience with this procedure? Lee2

Lee2,

Welcome to our group!!! I personally do not know about a partial knee replacement as I had total knee replacements but I imagine they will be replaciing one component of the knee compartment either the femur head or the tib/fibula head.I'm sure you can Google partial knee replacement to get more detailed information and maybe someone online here has experienced a partial replacement. I love my new knees and now live pain free and have stability and can walk without limping so there is hope at the end of all the surgery and rehabilitation. We are here to support you through this and I hope we can help in any way possible and can answer your questions as they arise. Any knee replacement is taxing so prepare yourself and your home, remove area rugs and stock up on foods that are easy to cook or make and enlist the help of family and friends with daily chores as you will be tired and be uncomfortable at times. Sleep when you can and a recliner can be your best friend as it elevates the leg.Take things slow and don't try to do too much, just do what the doctor recommends or the physical therapist tells you to do as far as exercises.Rememmber we are here to help and there are alot of knowledgable people on this site who can offer you info and support and you are in my thoughts. Stay with us and I look forward to your postings. Hugs, Carol

Thanks Carol, I had a message on my phone saying that Monday I needed to go to the hospital at noon as they are having a class to show everyone having joint replacements what to expect. My son was a calfroper and tore his ACL, meniscus, and the cartlidge in one knee so I have been through quite a bit of knee challanges with him. He is doing well now though. I was shocked when I heard I had suffer arthritis that had done so much damage in my knee as 5 years ago I had a torn meniscus in my other knee and he x-rayed both knees and said 5 years ago this bad knee was great. Thanks for your help. Linda

Linda,

I am so glad that your hospital is having that class-more hospitals should have that!!!!Make a list of any question no matter what they are to bring with you so you can ask them and get your answers. In the meantime just know we are here for you through all of this and hope you USE us before and after your surgery as support so you don't feel so alone and frustrated (which can happen) This is where you can dump no matter what and we understand. So if you are awake at 2am and need to vent get online and I'm usually up by 4am and will get back to you. You are in my thoughts and prayers and good luck with your surgery-I just found out I have a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder and need surgery on Sept 24th so we will both be healing at the same time.Too many falls from my bad knees years ago I guess!!! Hugs, Carol

I am home from surgery. I had surgery on the 7th. The first night and following morning were beyond awful. After that it got better until they took me for a walk and I got overheated and my blood pressure shot up. I was suppose to go home on the 8th, but had to wait until the 10th. My first nurse at night just did not believe I was in pain. She told me to look at her, look in her eyes, there was nothing wrong with my knee, it was my fibromyalga causing pain and what did I do for fibromyalga at home? The next morning the PA said she just did not do her job and it was apparent my epidural was not working. The next morning when I had another spell with my knee my Dr. said it was rebound pain from taking the epideral out. The nurse who took over for the first night nurse came in to do rounds with her and was outraged with her. She told the other nurses about what had happened. After that I had great nurses. The moral of my story - get someone to stay with you the first night who is not afraid to stand up and fight for you. I thought I would be OK by myself - wrong. That was one of my worse life experiences. I told that nurse that my fibromyalga never hurt in the manner my knee was hurting. Can you imagine a nurse, on the floor of a hospital with a National Recognition of Excellent in Joint Replacement, telling someone that they had no knee pain on the night following partial knee replacement? Hopefully None of you will have to deal with her. On a more positive note, I am doing much, much better and plan on sleeping in my house with no friends or family tonight.

Lee,

I'm so sorry you had to experience the plain ignorance of an obviously unqualified nurse. I myself am a nurse and pain is subjective only felt by the patient and can only be measured by the patient and the response.Your advise to have someone stay with you in the hospital is good adice and I hope many people take it and have some there for them to advocate for them. I too ran into nurses that "felt" I was taking too much of the pain med and I screamed until I got more pain medication and relief-of course I became known as the "problem child". Once I got home I was much more comfortable in my surroundings and could relax and the pain was easier to deal with. Glad to hear you are doing better and good luck to you, you are in my thoughts, Hugs, Carol

Hello again, Thanks for the support. I started therapy this week and it has been fairly painful at times, but I am amazed at what I can do already. I had surgery about 11 days ago. I can walk by myself without a cane, bend over and pick things up,do pretty much what I want to do. I was told the partial replacement is much easier and it must be! I still get tired and have to rest after I have been up for a while. I washed clothes, changed my bed, etc. I have not had anyone here to help me for several days. I get my stitches out Thursday. I know everyone is not a candidate for this partial replacement, but if you are, I think it is a good choice. When I see my Doctor I am going to let him know about the nurse who was so awful. She may be a good nurse in other areas but should not be working with patients in lots of pain. Maybe his PA has already taken care of the problem as he told me she wasn't doing her job. Hopefully everyone is having a good week-end. My son hired someone to put up a railing and I will be glad when I have it finished as I am suppose to be able to drive next week, but can't go down the stairs without help or a railing.

lee,

So glad to hear you are doing well, and you certainly are doing your share of household things-you go girl!!!!!! Hugs, Carol

I have had a good day - one son, DIL, and 2 of my grandchildren came to visit and bring lunch. I talked to the Dr.'s PA about my having a nightmare and sweats and am going to try not to take anymore oxicontine until I can talk to my surgeon tomorrow. One minute I am sweating, the next cold. My friend said it could be diabetes. I have had two tests in the last couple of months, the ones that go back a few monthes, one showed some high readings, but neither showed diabetes. The Dr. at the hospital wanted to know if I wanted to go on medicine for it or see my own Dr. I said I hoped since I would be able to walk I could lose weight and not need it. Have any of you had this problem? I hope it is the pain meds. I don't want diabetes. Linda

Lee,

Now that you can walk diet and exercise is a big part of contol hing glucose readings, but IF your doctor feels you should be on meds pleae follow his advice and still diet and exercide and maybe in the near future withe added exercise you won't ned the medication anymore. As far as athe hot and cold. I was constanly freezing for about amonth aftermy surgery for my knees-I was anemic and needed to take iron suppliments the heat was from a combitiation of things the ocycontin can do it and mine also involved "hot flashes". DIscuss this with you ortho doc and Your PCP if it is something that concerns you -it's your body and you know it best. Hugs, CArol