Knee Operations - Whats The Verdict?

[jacksondonut]

I Have just been given a date for the first of my knee operations.. which is the 15th of May.. must be honest, I am rather nervous..

Its a arthroscopy with some work to be done on ligaments, I think... Both knees are affected, so I am having them done one at a time..

Know I will be out of action for a while, but have differing opinions. Consultant says around a month, friends say a lot longer..

anyone had the same op, or something similar..??

Jan

[senorita]

Originally Posted by jacksondonut

I Have just been given a date for the first of my knee operations.. which is the 15th of May.. must be honest, I am rather nervous..

Its a arthroscopy with some work to be done on ligaments, I think... Both knees are affected, so I am having them done one at a time..

Know I will be out of action for a while, but have differing opinions. Consultant says around a month, friends say a lot longer..

anyone had the same op, or something similar..??

Jan

sounds painful!! sorry to hear this.

I wish you all the very best

[jacksondonut]

Thank you Senorita... am shaking in my (dance) shoes..

[TiggsTours]

It all depends really on what they're going to do. I know people who've had knee ops and been up and dancing within a couple of weeks (fingers crossed this will be you), and others who have been out of action for months on end!

Whatever happens, take the doctor's advice! Dancing too quickly after a knee op, no matter how you feel, could put your recovery time back along way. Something that could have taken you 4 weeks to recover from could take 6 months, or even longer, if you push it too quickly.

Doctor's do tend to tell you it will take longer than it really will to recover, in my experience, and positive thinking is invaluable!

Best of luck Jan, hope all goes well.

[mikeyr]

Originally Posted by TiggsTours

It all depends really on what they're going to do. I know people who've had knee ops and been up and dancing within a couple of weeks (fingers crossed this will be you), and others who have been out of action for months on end!:

About 15yrs ago I had my right knee completely Rebuilt as the result of sports injury, the doctors said then the biggest key to my recovery was the muscle tone in the leg around the knee.

As you have known that at sometime this operation was due, hopefully you have been building up your Quadriceps. You should then have speedy recovery.

Obviously it also depends on what level of arthroscopy is needed. I hope you have the speediest recovery.
Good Luck

[Zebra Woman]

Originally Posted by mikeyr

About 15yrs ago I had my right knee completely Rebuilt as the result of sports injury, the doctors said then the biggest key to my recovery was the muscle tone in the leg around the knee.

As you have known that at sometime this operation was due, hopefully you have been building up your Quadriceps. You should then have speedy recovery.

Obviously it also depends on what level of arthroscopy is needed. I hope you have the speediest recovery.
Good Luck

Agree with MikeyR on this. The muscles around the knee are well worth cultivating both before and after the OP. You can get ankle weights and do simple excercises while you watch telly...or even under the desk while you're here in the forum.

Good luck Jan

Always happy to come round and supervise you...

I can be very strict.

ZW

[jacksondonut]

Originally Posted by Zebra Woman

Agree with MikeyR on this. The muscles around the knee are well worth cultivating both before and after the OP. You can get ankle weights and do simple excercises while you watch telly...or even under the desk while you're here in the forum.

Good luck Jan

Always happy to come round and supervise you...

I can be very strict.

ZW

mmmmm....... what sort of exercises....??? and yes, I DO need supervising......

I need VERY 'STRICT' to keep me on the straight and narrow..

[Donna]

Originally Posted by jacksondonut

I Have just been given a date for the first of my knee operations.. which is the 15th of May.. must be honest, I am rather nervous..

Its a arthroscopy with some work to be done on ligaments, I think... Both knees are affected, so I am having them done one at a time..

Know I will be out of action for a while, but have differing opinions. Consultant says around a month, friends say a lot longer..

anyone had the same op, or something similar..??

Jan

Hi!

Hope it all goes well for you and that you make a speedy recovery and back on that dance floor!

Make sure you get plenty of rest though! My mum has had a few knee ops and the best thing you can do to ensure it gets stronger is to exercise it. (which is something they'll make you do after an op anyway) They made my mum do plenty of swimming and climbing up and down the stairs. She was also advised by a top footballer to sit with her back up against the wall, legs straight out in front of her. Slightly tilt your foot out and locking the knee, gently lift the leg up, hold for 10 seconds (this is very hard to start with and can sometimes give you some discomfort in your thighs, but it's well worth it at the end!) then lower the leg. Rest for between 5-10 seconds and repeat 20 times. It will be a bit sore anyway but you'll find you'll be back on it in no time.

[cicamica]

Hi,
I have had a knee operation back in October. I had seriously injured myself though doing the Brighton champs back over a year and a half ago. Not realising the seriousness I hva got back to dancing. It was more or less ok but the injury re-occured in august last year, and that is when i found out that my ligament was torn and was not holding the knee. So i had the op to have it regrafted from my hamstring and also fix a few other bits i have damaged. It took many months of religious training in the gym to strenghten up the muscles (it is indeed crucial) and also to work on balance. That is also crucial (stand on one leg, then when you can do that comfortably then do it with eyes closed). I have just started going back to dancing after 7 months of not much action. However this time i have not pushed it too far too soon. All I can tell you is to be patient. Push yourself but within limits. Use the time to get stronger. Good luck!

[Gojive]

A friend of mine had an arthur, and made a very speedy recovery. Within 24 hours, he was swimming, horse riding, and playing golf....which was amazing, because he could never do those things before!

Sorry, I guess you don't kneed that kind of reply It's just that they do say laughter is the best form of medicine....unless of course you're diabetic, in which case maybe insulin is better?... OK, I'll stop now

Hope everything goes well for you, and that you do make a quick recovery

[Zebra Woman]

I have just thought of something else Jan.

I took Codliver Oil capsules with Glucosamine and Chondroitin for 3 weeks before I went skiing this year. An unexpected side effect was, they made a massive difference to the way my knees felt when I went out dancing. Instead of being fearful of straining them in the first half hour (before I had warmed up) I found they were as good as they are when they were warmed up right from the off.

Someone put me into a dip in my first dance and I felt no pain at all. Amazing stuff IMO, well it definitely does something for me. I have continued to take them just as a preventative measure.

Don't take them with a hot drink though, I did that once and had burps that smelt of cat food all afternoon .....UGH!


ZW

[Rhythm King]

Eat a lot of cat food, do you ZW?

[jacksondonut]

Originally Posted by Rhythm King

Eat a lot of cat food, do you ZW?

Hang on a minute.... whats wrong with a nice bowl of whiskas (rabbit flavour of course)

Beats cod liver oil anyday....



ps thanks folks for all the great advice/tips and general nice wishes.. you lovely bunch you...xxxxx

[Donna]

Originally Posted by jacksondonut

Hang on a minute.... whats wrong with a nice bowl of whiskas (rabbit flavour of course)

Beats cod liver oil anyday....

Uuurr.. I feel (burp) sick!

[Gojive]

Originally Posted by jacksondonut

Hang on a minute.... whats wrong with a nice bowl of whiskas (rabbit flavour of course)

Nothing - it's purrfect. Hope you're feline ok soon

[jacksondonut]

Well, thank you folks.. your kindness is appreciated..

suppose the good news is I can still go out dancing at the moment and just suffer with stiffness the next day..

and... of course spend lots of time on the Forum when I am recovering...
its starting look up..

[Rhythm King]

Originally Posted by Go-Cat

Nothing - it's purrfect. Hope you're feline ok soon

Furry funny

[Lorna]

Hi,

I have just been referred to an orthopaedic surgeon.

Knee injury, cartilage. The physio I have been seeing has been fab, was part of the physio team at Salt Lake City. (I went private, wasn't sure how long I would have to wait for NHS appointment). Anyway, she thinks I'm borderline and may also need an operation. But she said I would be in and out the same day, be driving within the week but may need to take up to a few weeks off my dancing. She has really made me feel quite relaxed about the whole thing, considering I have never had an op in my life.

She has decided not to give me exercises. Wants to wait for the outcome of the MRI scan first. Instead she has been using ultrasound treatment and massage. This combined with Glucosomine Sulphate has done wonders already. (Have only had 3 treatments)

However I have forgotton to take the Glucosomine this week and the pain has come back. So I agree that this stuff works miracles.

So I wouldn't panic about the op. I have been assured that it is a very simple procedure nowadays.

Good Luck.

Lotsa love Lorna x-x

[Lindsay]

Loads of dancers seems to have knee probs. Lindy Hop just about caused me to have long-term issues with my left knee, which is why I stopped it a few years' ago. MJ certainly puts less pressure on the knees (IMO) than Lindy. West Coast Swing is by far the most gentle, as your legs are straight most of the time.

Good luck with the ops Lorna & Jan, the prognosis after arthroscopy work is usually extremely good.

Glucosamine is great... here's the science bit: "...a joint lubrication and cartilage-building nutritional supplement that helps rebuild damaged joints, tendons, cartilage and soft tissue. Unlike pharmaceutical products that offer only symptomatic relief, it helps not only to reduce pain and inflammation, but also aids normal repair and regeneration of ligaments, the synovial fluid, tendons, joint and bone repair, and helping improve connective tissue elasticity".

[jacksondonut]

Well, I now have a date of the 15th May as a definate op date.... Its the day after I return from the BFG!!

I will just have to make sure that I have the most fab time in Scotland. It just means I will have to return home on the Sunday...

Still feel nervous..