My Journey of a Total Knee Replacement (Part One)

After an injury about 18 months ago, I had been experiencing pain in my right knee and noticed that it was looking a little thicker than the other.

I telephoned my doctor who arranged for an appointment with a physiotherapist. He sent me straight to the local hospital for x-rays, and called the following morning to say I had developed severe arthritis and, in his opinion, would need a total knee replacement.

Could I Delay It?

To be honest, I was taken aback by this news. I had always been extremely healthy, and I knew a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) would mean a long recovery, something I felt I didn’t have time for. I wouldn’t be able to drive for between six and eight weeks. I live alone, with no family within a hundred miles. I wasn’t worried about the operation at all, but I was worried about how I would cope with being immobile for so long.

I decided I would try to delay it as long as possible. I felt the damage was already done, so I would just have to accept the pain, and do what I could to delay the inevitable. I took calcium and turmeric supplements, began a healthy eating regime, started aqua aerobics, and spent as long as I could in the sunshine.

Things Became Worse

Sadly, things became worse very quickly. My knee started giving way, and I had several falls. It also hurt a great deal and walking was extremely painful. I dropped from walking around 15,000 steps a day to about 500. I couldn’t even walk around a supermarket! As much as I didn’t want to accept it, I knew something had to be done.

Seeing My X-rays Was a Turning Point

I went to see my doctor again to ask if there was any other course of action other than the TKR. She showed me the x-rays on screen, indicating I had severe osteoarthritis, and said she could understand how painful it must be as it was bone on bone. The doctor explained that my options were: do nothing, injections, physiotherapy, or a TKR. In her opinion, the only real course of action was the knee replacement. Sadly, I was beginning to agree.

Operation Assessment

I was sent to a lovely lady called Sara Pearce, a specialist in joint replacement. She went through the operation, the recovery and the potential outcomes. She also agreed that a TKR was the only thing that would really make a difference long term.

It was helpful to have time to talk things through without feeling under any pressure. When I left the office, I was given a pamphlet explaining the operation and what I could do before – for example, exercises and getting my home ready – and also how to prepare for the long recuperation after the operation.

All Systems Go!

The following week I received a letter saying I could choose where I wanted the operation done. My local hospital was approximately a one-year wait, but I could go private and it would be a wait of only four to six weeks… and the NHS would pay! I had heard this might be a possibility and also met a few people at my aqua class who had chosen this opportunity, all extolling their fabulous care. All things considered, I was very happy :)

I called to make my pre-operation appointment and was given a date of September 17th. The operation would be a week or two after. So here I am… preparing my home, filling my cupboards, exercising my muscles and, most importantly, preparing my mind. I know going into this the more positive I am, the better.

Wish me luck :) 

Join the Conversation:

Have you had a knee replacement? What was your experience? Has it changed your life?