Help for Hips and Knees
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
6ZS, I can't advise but would be very interested in hearing how you get on pre and post Op.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Cheshire
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Duchy Hospital Truro
I need a new knee. Was going to do it 15 yrs ago when I left the RN but when my surgery appt arrived I chickened out when I read through the risk factors - it just wasn’t painful enough and I didn’t want to risk the replacement needing replacing in my early 70s. Lost some weight and acquired a dog and I have got by happily on the old arthritic knee. But now it’s started to become unstable, locking up regularly with bits of arthritic spur jamming the works, then frees up for a few days before the next cycle. Phoned Col Meyer’s sec to ask what his waiting list looks like and 10 weeks was the reply. My GP referral to the local (RCHT) orthopaedic dept has me an appt next week. As a replacement was deemed appropriate 15 yrs ago, I did not need to jump through a triage of hoops before being assessed and I’m hoping I will be quicker along the route than previously, which is currently guesstimated to be “months rather than weeks” in Cornwall. Question: after seeing the consultant next week, am I better off ( in terms of quality and timeliness) being asked to be re-referred to the Veterans Orthopaedic Service, or should I keep my place in the Cornish knee queue? Anyone able to advise,or comment?
Thank you for that Simmy. Yes, Mr Lee was my consultant 15 yrs ago and was always RNAS Culdrose’s go-to specialist when referring patients. Unfortunately I don’t see his name on the RCHT current list of orthopaedic consultants, so I guess he has retired or otherwise moved on. Interesting that you were able to choose the private hospital Duchy next door to Treliske. One area that gives me some cause for concern at Treliske is their poor record with infection. I know infection and knee replacements do not mix successfully.
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Thank you for that Simmy. Yes, Mr Lee was my consultant 15 yrs ago and was always RNAS Culdrose’s go-to specialist when referring patients. Unfortunately I don’t see his name on the RCHT current list of orthopaedic consultants, so I guess he has retired or otherwise moved on. Interesting that you were able to choose the private hospital Duchy next door to Treliske. One area that gives me some cause for concern at Treliske is their poor record with infection. I know infection and knee replacements do not mix successfully.
I had a Hip Replacement back in April....the first week was a genuine pain in the ass....as I had the Posterior Procedure (the old fashioned style) but within Ten days I was driving and getting around without a Walker or Cane.
If you are suffering real pain, cannot sleep well because of pain, and your daily routine is hampered by the bad Hip....go get the Surgery done!
I injured the other Hip which was going bad the same way the other Hip was....and now am in the process of getting the second one done.
When I awoke from the Surgery....I had pain due to the incision and all the disturbance of the muscles that goes along with the procedure....but the chronic pain from my poor ol' arthritic hip was GONE.
I "John Wayne'd" it on the Pain Meds....and will not do that again.
Get ahead of the pain with your Pain Meds....and use it until the is no need for it.
There is nothing that compares with laying in bed in the middle of the night "hurting" when that jar of pills is within arm's reach.
If you are suffering real pain, cannot sleep well because of pain, and your daily routine is hampered by the bad Hip....go get the Surgery done!
I injured the other Hip which was going bad the same way the other Hip was....and now am in the process of getting the second one done.
When I awoke from the Surgery....I had pain due to the incision and all the disturbance of the muscles that goes along with the procedure....but the chronic pain from my poor ol' arthritic hip was GONE.
I "John Wayne'd" it on the Pain Meds....and will not do that again.
Get ahead of the pain with your Pain Meds....and use it until the is no need for it.
There is nothing that compares with laying in bed in the middle of the night "hurting" when that jar of pills is within arm's reach.
SASless, couldn't agree more about how effective this surgery is. As the surgeon said to me, "you are in pain now, but in a few hours you will be totally pain free". I asked about having the surgery under an epidural, "Ha" he said. " you don't want that, I'll be using a hammer and there will be bits flying about, just go to sleep" An uncemented joint was a nuisance, six weeks non-weight bearing, but still going strong 21 years later.
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I recorded recently a whole knee replacement operation. Have only watched about 30 minutes of it so far but I reckon I will need one soon as just under 3 years ago I got right knee sepsis Arthritis and spent just under 8 weeks in hospital and had three knee wash outs
I have concerns about picking up an infection too so will delay until absolutely necessary as during my stay at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital I picked up a bug Carbapenem Resistant Organism which means if I ever go into any hospital I have to be isolated with enhanced infection control which means a single room and all visitors and staff have to wear long sleeved gowns and gloves!
Other than that I got excellent treatment but it does rather put one off having such an operation until really the bitter end.
I have concerns about picking up an infection too so will delay until absolutely necessary as during my stay at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital I picked up a bug Carbapenem Resistant Organism which means if I ever go into any hospital I have to be isolated with enhanced infection control which means a single room and all visitors and staff have to wear long sleeved gowns and gloves!
Other than that I got excellent treatment but it does rather put one off having such an operation until really the bitter end.
"Slow "is exactly right.....Orthopedic Surgeons took up that profession upon being denied entry into the Iron Workers Union.
A Doctor friend set me up with his Pal who is an Anesthesiologist at the facility where I h ad the procedure done.
When I was asked if had any questions at the Pre-Op visit....I reminded the Quacks that I did not wish to be there when the operation was done.
I had been told they would be injecting lots of numbing and doing a Spinal to deaden everything from the waist down (nature beat them to some of that) and they would then use my favorite drug called "Versed" which I saw used while flying Helicopter EMS.
Versed's many abilities includes creating amnesia....you cannot remember anything that happens.
It worked....I felt a couple of painful needle sticks....some mumbling by the Doctors, a very weird dream (the Recovery Room) and about two o'clock in the morning (Twelve hours after the Operation) being asked how I felt by a male nurse.
I felt great....having been to the other side for a while and realizing I still had to pay taxes was a relief.
My butt hurt...from the incision and the Nurse and I negotiated the amount of pain medicine he gave me....half pill or whole pill....if my perceived pain level was 1-6 I got half a pill....7-10 it was a full Pill........oh hell yes....9....9...9..9!
I admit it....I am not John Wayne!
Infections of any kind, and any Dental or Medical procedure that can lead to any kind of infection is a very real issue for Hip Procedures as bones are very susceptible to rejecting the implanted prosthesis if infection occurs.
I am just finishing a two week course of Antibiotics for an infection on the opposite foot caused by a laceration not healing well just in case it was infected.
A Doctor friend set me up with his Pal who is an Anesthesiologist at the facility where I h ad the procedure done.
When I was asked if had any questions at the Pre-Op visit....I reminded the Quacks that I did not wish to be there when the operation was done.
I had been told they would be injecting lots of numbing and doing a Spinal to deaden everything from the waist down (nature beat them to some of that) and they would then use my favorite drug called "Versed" which I saw used while flying Helicopter EMS.
Versed's many abilities includes creating amnesia....you cannot remember anything that happens.
It worked....I felt a couple of painful needle sticks....some mumbling by the Doctors, a very weird dream (the Recovery Room) and about two o'clock in the morning (Twelve hours after the Operation) being asked how I felt by a male nurse.
I felt great....having been to the other side for a while and realizing I still had to pay taxes was a relief.
My butt hurt...from the incision and the Nurse and I negotiated the amount of pain medicine he gave me....half pill or whole pill....if my perceived pain level was 1-6 I got half a pill....7-10 it was a full Pill........oh hell yes....9....9...9..9!
I admit it....I am not John Wayne!
Infections of any kind, and any Dental or Medical procedure that can lead to any kind of infection is a very real issue for Hip Procedures as bones are very susceptible to rejecting the implanted prosthesis if infection occurs.
I am just finishing a two week course of Antibiotics for an infection on the opposite foot caused by a laceration not healing well just in case it was infected.
Midazolam, marketed under the trade name Versed, among others, is a medication used for anesthesia, procedural sedation, trouble sleeping, and severe agitation. It works by inducing sleepiness, decreasing anxiety, and causing a loss of ability to create new memories. It is also useful for the treatment of seizures.
I’m looking for advice from anyone living in Scotland who has successfully managed to get a referral to Lt Col Meyer’s Veterans’ Clinic at RJAH. I only ask because the advice on the RJAH website says that funding must be agreed by the health board before referral. I spoke to my GP today (I’m already on the hip replacement waiting list in Scotland) and he didn’t know how to apply for funding. He also said that it was difficult to get approval for anything similar between Scottish NHS regions so thought it was very unlikely that any referral would happen. . . not really what I wanted to hear and not good for veterans in Scotland.
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People here might be interested to know that the dedicated centre for veteran's orthopaedic care, the Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre at the RJAH, was opened for business on Friday following a Remembrance service.
https://www.rjah.nhs.uk/about-us/new...iness-at-rjah/
https://www.rjah.nhs.uk/about-us/new...iness-at-rjah/
It is hard to imagine a "Waiting List" for hip replacement surgery....I could have been in...and out....of surgery within three days had I the nerve to give the go ahead.
The delay was in getting the Veterans Administration (VA) authorization which took about two weeks....due to the sloth like pace of the bureaucracy within the VA.
Cost to me....Zero.
The VA paid for all medications, the surgery, hospital, and physical therapy.
The VA back charged much of it to the government run Medicare system which I am entitled to due to my age.
I purchase a Supplemental Coverage Insurance that covers the 20% shortfall of the payments built into the Medicare Insurance program which means my only cost are the monthly premiums for the Medicare Insurance and the Supplemental Coverage..
The delay was in getting the Veterans Administration (VA) authorization which took about two weeks....due to the sloth like pace of the bureaucracy within the VA.
Cost to me....Zero.
The VA paid for all medications, the surgery, hospital, and physical therapy.
The VA back charged much of it to the government run Medicare system which I am entitled to due to my age.
I purchase a Supplemental Coverage Insurance that covers the 20% shortfall of the payments built into the Medicare Insurance program which means my only cost are the monthly premiums for the Medicare Insurance and the Supplemental Coverage..
Gentleman Aviator
RJAH is brilliant, and the Veterans' unit particularly so - and it's only about 40 minutes from Teetering Towers.
And it's NHS! I asked the boss (a Reserve RAMC Lt Col) why the waiting lists were so short. Simple he says: you give a soldier (or sailor or airman) or veteran an 0900 appointment, he (or she) will be there at 0845 to make sure they're not late.
Apparently an astonishing 40% of NHS Out Patient appointments are no shows, with no contact with the hospital........
Which accounts for some of the waiting list ..........
And it's NHS! I asked the boss (a Reserve RAMC Lt Col) why the waiting lists were so short. Simple he says: you give a soldier (or sailor or airman) or veteran an 0900 appointment, he (or she) will be there at 0845 to make sure they're not late.
Apparently an astonishing 40% of NHS Out Patient appointments are no shows, with no contact with the hospital........
Which accounts for some of the waiting list ..........
Gentleman Aviator
Apologies for giving the wrong info - it's 3 or 4 years (fortunately!) since I've been; obviously different now.......
86 Week waiting period for a hip replacement....that is simply terrible to consider.
We are talking about a month from the visit with the Primary Care Quack to hobbling up the stairs back home post operation.
That was each Hip replacement procedure.
Our VA earns its crriticism....but it appears it is much better than the UK system.
We are talking about a month from the visit with the Primary Care Quack to hobbling up the stairs back home post operation.
That was each Hip replacement procedure.
Our VA earns its crriticism....but it appears it is much better than the UK system.
