Val (Zebedee) Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees after 15+ years of being told the pain was due to me having a bad back & walking differently when my back "went". Within a few months of this diagnosis, I have been referred to a consultant, booked in for surgery on both knees & had the operations! This made walking the dogs harder & harder as I experienced severe pain when walking mainly downhill (slopes or steps), some pain going uphill. The worst was the crunching noise on bending the knees e.g. walking downstairs and if I sat for more than 3 or 4 minutes, my knees would lock up & crack loudly on stretching I have had keyhole surgery to both joints and am in recovery now. I will be looking at full knee replacements in the future ( can't wait! ) but this should tide me over for a fair few years if it works. Basically, I have had the knee joints washed out so any loose bone & debris is removed, parts of the leg bones drilled so they bleed which will make new cartilage and some of the knee cap replaced. I was up & walking within 2 hours of coming out of surgery (just as well as I was turfed out for the next patient, they needed the bed!) and am now taking my time strolling round the house & up and down the stairs (in a fashion!) getting everything moving again. This has played on my mind for a long time now so I am glad it is over with & can look forward to pain free dog walking with groups again instead of standing in the corner of the dog park & watching Here's some pics (not too squeamish lol) My legs pre-op Just in case the surgeon doesn't know where my knees are Post op (and still drowsy after the general anaesthetic) - had to leave these compression bandages on for 2 days And now - got to leave these plastic dressings on for 10 days Apparently I will be forever numb at the keyhole sites but that's fine by me, I won't feel the dogs smacking me with their skulls when they play right in front of me any more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robke Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Looking good there Val...I still have my 4 entry points visable on my right knee and yes numb they are the points that is.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Wishing you a very speedy recovery Val. Will be expecting you to take up a love of the mini skirt from now on to show off your kinda new knees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare70 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Glad it's all gone well. You'll be chasing those dogs around in no time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormy Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Great that it's gone well Val Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markulous Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Good to see they're going well...... both of them (seem to recall one was doing better than the other at one stage) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingsolo Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Hope its not to long before you're back on your feet xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormchaser09 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 it must bw such a relief to be painfree after all that time. hope the recovery continues to go well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val (Zebedee) Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Righty is still doing better than Leftie in that Righty will at least bend in the right direction but Leftie is definitely following Righty's lead and getting stronger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazz Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 you are much braver than I. Here's to a speedy recovery and a successful recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val (Zebedee) Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Been the docs this morning as Lefty decided to have a little weep last night, so I bandaged it up for compression & went to docs. They said there doesn't look to be infection as although swollen at the site of the incision, the surrounding tissue is not red or inflamed, so hopefully I haven't got anything nasty in it. I just need to rest it a bit more & have been signed off work for 2 weeks. Problem now is, it's my knees that won't work so getting around is awkward, but the mind is active & I'm getting bored quickly! I can't go out on my own so what to do stuck in here??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBELHOWLUC49 Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Read and read and read. I love to read. But I understand you frustration. I have no ligaments that work or tendons in my ankle.(spent sometime immobilised when I was about eight, hung my self up side down by my legs from the nursery bar windows twisted knee both sides blood to head, had a thing about this nearly broke my neck couple of years later hanging upside down from a tree. So nearly fifty I worry to about the woof walk. When I had my knee taken out by Bella last year it was so painful but I kept walking. Now I am no doctor but My Nanny (great Grandmother) always said carry on in the face of adversity she lived to over 90. So I flop flop walk. and stand tall to take the weight of my feet. I mean use you tummy muscles as load bearing. But as with everything docs advice is best. Bit of a disjointed answer but will power and belief will get you on your feet again. X p.s this really helps tell your mind you can do it. I have in my lower back a dip you can put your thumb in that cuts of my legs and employing my mind to stand tall has elevated this. I used to do archery but gave up after I could not walk to my car. but I am going to start up again with the old long bow again. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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