Total Knee Replacement

[joannie10]

Hi - my dad has to go in next month and get both knees replaced, likely to be a week apart if he is strong enough. He has been given lots of leaflets and I know he will be given advice at the time but from experience can anyone else advise anything else to help. Someone has suggested he takes arnica tablets which helps with healing and a friend who had a cesarian said she believes this does help but as i say just thought I would check on here! thanks in advance.

[tigerlelly]

Hi joannie,

Arnica is great as it helps with bruising. Also Aloe Vera Gel is soothing on scars as is Vitamin E Oil. I used all three when I had knee and stomach surgery.
Good luck to your dad.

[joannie10]

thanks for your response - so did you take arnica tablets in the lead up to the op? If so when should he start. I think it would take a bit of convincing to get him to do this as he is quite set in his way and will probably only do it if the doctor tells him but at least I could get him to ask about it. As I say a friend used around time of 2nd cesarian and was never sure if just a fluke but def felt helped speed up recovery.

[NoMercy]

2 joint replacements 1 week apart?

I took arnica when I assaulted and had extensive facial bruising - it did bugger all!

He should attend a workshop, probably at the time he goes in for pre-op assessment.

[joannie10]

thanks - he has been for his pre op assessment but was not a workshop. As I say got some leaflets and was told will get time with physio at the time. None of his paperwork advices when struggling with two operated knees but as I say know someone will go through this with him at the time but just trying to help in advance.

[NoMercy]

We book all hips and knees in for workshopping. Perhaps he should ring the surgeon's secretary and ask.

[joannie10]

we are in Scotland so not sure if different up here but no mention of work shopping. The delay with op is due to staff holidays so he has been told next thing to do is go on 3rd Aug for MRSA swabs and then in on 10th for op on 11th. I will tell him to ask re work shopping thanks

[Sqad]

C'mon........arnica?..........there is scientific evidence that arnica plays any part in the healing process.

Just forget it.

[joannie10]

thanks squad - I am not in the know so thought I would ask.

[evil__sheep]

i agree with sqad
the biggest thing is going to be getting over the anaesthetic
if he can stop smoking (even at this late time) that will help. When he comes round, he needs to do deep breathing every hour (or when he remembers) plus ankle exercises (as often as he remembers). Also, he should squeeze his bum cheeks together and hold for 10 seconds and do that 10 times., 4-5 times a day
Being in as good health as possible before will help, so good nutrition and good hydration. They will probably get him out of bed the same day and give him exercises to do on the bed (straight leg raise, knee bend) and he should follow the instructions given

[tigerlelly]

With all due respect to sqad et al. When I had bowel cancer there were four of us of an age on the ward who were at stage Duke's 3 (one more stage and you are dead) and mine was the most aggressive. I was the only one who researched and tried alternative medicine alongside the NHS treatment. There was no scientific evidence that any of the alternatives worked either but the other 3 were dead in 2 years and I am still here 12 years later. Ok, it might be psychosomatic but if it works, who cares! Arnica certainly won't make things worse.

[joannie10]

thanks evil_sheep and tigerlelly. I will pass on your comments. ps... he doesn't smoke and other than this is a particulaly healthy 76 year old!

[rowanwitch]

there was a suggestion some years back that non- homeopathic arnica can increase the risk of wound breakdown as it seems to affect the clotting cascade (the bruise reduction affect apparently being due to a slight reduction in clotting time) in some way leading to impaired perfusion of the wound site and a slowing in healing time
The homeopathic one is pointless as there is virtually no active drug left after all the dilutions

One thing I would suggest is ginger for postop nausea the crystalised type is fine

[tigerlelly]

Hi rowanwitch - I thought that suggestion had been refutted? If not, then I agree, don't use it.

[rowanwitch]

I took arnica at the time of my hysterectomy had a really bad wound infection and was ill for two years...probably a coincidence but I wouldn't chance it if I had to have an op of any kind in the future

[joannie10]

sorry, not been on here for a while but thanks for your response rowan x

[albaqwerty]

Make sure he does his physio exercises as soon as possible.

Hope all goes well.

Which hospital is he going to? If you don't mind me asking?

[joannie10]

yeh I think he is determined enough that should do as he is told. Dont mind you asking albaqwerty but worried bout saying incase you have any bad stories!?!? We are in Glasgow.

[albaqwerty]

Hubby tootled to Vale of Leven yesterday, absolutely brilliant. Excellent staff, excellent surgeons and anathetists (well obviously)

we're just outside of Paisley.

[joannie10]

it is Gartnavel he will be going to - we both have had good exeperiences there (if I can describe a hospital stay as that!!) Glad all went ok for your hubby

[albaqwerty]

Gartnavel is good. A Brother-in-law went there for serious treatment to hand joints due to industrial accident. Good staff and great care. Hope all goes well for your dad.

(He'll be line-dancing before you know it xx)