It has been almost exactly a year! - Montana Owners Club

HamRad · 09-21-2009, 06:53 PM

October 9th was the date of my hip operation.

It has now been about two weeks since I was able to walk! Woke up one morning and my right knee was swollen and very painful. I was not able to put any weight on it or even move it very much. Managed to get to the doctor and he said my knee was in awful shape. So we set up a date for a knee replacement. I go under the knife again on September 24.

Here's hoping it fixes the pain in the knee as well as the remaining pain in my hip. Apparently there are some shared nerves.

I've been following the various folks here on the MOC that have had a knee replacement and hope that my situation works as well as theirs.

We will try to keep you all updated as the process goes along. We are planning to be in Quartzsite in January and hope to see you all there.

Dennis

jjackflash · 09-21-2009, 07:18 PM

Dennis,good luck to you and of course you're in our prayers. Terry and I know you'll come out with flying colors,let us know how you're doing.
Jack and Terry

ols1932 · 09-21-2009, 11:10 PM

Dennis, though you and I have never met, I believe that you will come through this knee operation just fine. It's amazing to me how installing some metal object in our bodies can make it feel so good. The technology today has advanced so far that it's hard to believe. Just think back to the days when we had to live with these pains forever.

Just, as you already know, do the rehab.

Orv

David and Jo-Anna · 09-22-2009, 01:12 AM

Oh Dennis, so sorry to hear you are having these problems. We are hoping and praying that the surgery helps and that you heal quickly - we are looking forward to seeing you in Q!

exav8tr · 09-22-2009, 02:11 AM

Dennis, Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of need. We do hope everything goes well and you are back doing the jig in no time....

Phil & Cathy

Mrs. CountryGuy · 09-22-2009, 02:52 AM

You will be in our thoughts and prayers, ALL POSITIVE!!

rlwhit · 09-22-2009, 02:56 AM

Dennis, as you know my knee job did not turn out good. The Doc did a bad install. It will have to be redone. This is not to give you bad thoughts but to let you know that even with not the best results the sharp pain is gone. Take care and see you at Q. Now I know why we did not see you at the crab gathering.

Dick

Tom S. · 09-22-2009, 03:33 AM

It's a little late, BUT.... Research is your best option. Go to Google and look up your surgeon to see if there are any 'issues' out there about him/her. Another option, go to the hospital and ask the staff: "If you had to have this done, who would you choose?". The reason I raise this point is my dad had his knees replaced at different times by different surgeons. The first went great, the second was and remains a complete disaster. Decisions like these are too important to leave to chance!

Good luck and wishes for a speedy and complete recovery!!

HamRad · 09-22-2009, 11:42 AM

Thank you all for your nice thoughts. I really appreciate it.

I know I am not alone in this process. I've read of many MOC members that have already had this knee operation. Thankfully most all have been very successful. Dick I know you had problems and I am sorry you will have to have this done again.

The doctor and hospital I am using are among the best in the world. Dr. Herbert D. Huddleston in Tarzana, CA is a world renowned hip and knee specialist (hipsandknees.com). We had good results with the hip. I do have some pain in the hip but think it may be related to the knee problem or something that I did to cause the situation. I should know relatively soon after the knee operation whether or not the knee was/is causing any of the hip pain.

Again thank you all and I am so sorry to have missed the crab gathering for the second year in a row! I do hope we all are able to meet in Q.

Dennis

tim43 · 09-22-2009, 01:00 PM

Dennis, Best of luck on your surgery this Thursday. I just had my right knee replaced on August 27th and all is well so far. Just got to tell you that you must plan to be quite sore on the days of your PT following the surgery, but you learn to live with the slight discomfort. Having had both my hips replaced in 2002, I can relate to the pain you have been having in the leg above the knee. It took over a year each time for the muscles in my upper leg to fully heal after each hip replacement and that was with hitting the gym every day after work and either swimming or using other aerobic equipment and the machines. I have been lucky in that, to date, there have been no complications and fortunate that the same surgeon did all three operations. Hopefully the other knee won't go bang in the night and I can keep the remaining real one for a few more years. Keep us informed and we will keep you in our prayers.

H. John Kohl · 09-22-2009, 02:04 PM

Dennis, I would not normally tell you this but there is always an exception. Follow WayneM's example. I talked with him and he is doing well.

Seriously best wish to a successful and speedy recovery.

firetrucker · 09-22-2009, 02:13 PM

Dennis, at least it seems to be moving down the leg instead of up...maybe the next replacement will be the ankle, or big toe. I've heard that you should pick the surgeon and hospital that have done the most surgeries...experience pays.

By the way, did you get a replacement for the ?arm? of your scooter? I guess a scooter checklist will have to go right along with the truck and trailer checklist. Sharon made a ramp flag for me since I lost three so far in two incidents. I put them on the bed of the truck and didn't immediately get up there and tie them down. Would have been ok if I had laid them on their sides, but no, I stood them up, and they just fell off the bed, probably at the first turn. Thank heavens no one got hit by them. Kinda like the shoe that you see on the road and wonder where the other shoe is, though.

Sharon knows very well that if everything isn't in balance there's pain to pay for.

Good luck with the surgery.

Bob

Wayne and Carolyn Mathews · 09-22-2009, 04:38 PM

You'll be in our thoughts and prayers, Dennis! My best friend just had a knee replacement last week and she is doing beautifully. I know you'll do well, too--attitude is SO important, and someone like you who seems to be full of smiles and good cheer certainly should do well with that surgery.

Wayne and Carolyn

Trailer Trash 2 · 09-22-2009, 08:20 PM

good luck Dennis

simonsrf · 09-23-2009, 03:43 AM

Guess we're a little late, but we sure hope everything goes well and we see you at Quartzsite.

Waynem · 09-23-2009, 11:17 AM

Dennis,
My knee replacement was September 15, 2009. Today, after therapy, I took my wife to lunch at a local restaurant. It's the first time we have "been out," since prior to admitting at the hospital.

With no complications, you should be walking on the new knee that next day, with the aid of a walker. My doctor got upset with me when I told him I could not put full weight on it yet. He asked why not and when I told him there was some pain, he replied, "No pain, no gain. I want you bearing your full weight on that new knee immediately."

Now, I have made it a little easier on myself. I started losing weight a few weeks before surgery, and I have dropped from 250 to 230, and I plan on keeping it off.

Am I sore? You bet, especially where the muscles and ligaments were pulled and stretched to make room for the removal and replacement. However, each day is just a little better. Just sitting here, doing nothing, my pain level is 1, maybe 2, on a scale of 10. When I exercise it increases, but it is not intolerable. One of the things they will give you is a PCM (Passive Continuous Motion) machine. It can flex you knew through a range of degrees. The past two times mine has been set to 86 degrees. That is when I take my nap, that's how easy it can be.

Prayers are with you. I don't think you will be sorry for having it done.

HamRad · 09-23-2009, 01:32 PM

Thanks Wayne. I appreciate your update and the detail about your situation. I'm hoping that mine goes as well as yours has gone.

I'll let you know in a couple of weeks.

Take care and keep enjoying the RVing lifestyle.

Dennis

embraceatrend · 09-25-2009, 03:48 PM

Knee surgery is very advanced in the world we live in now, and Gloria and myself wish you all the best, and we know that if we decide to go to our first visit to the camp circle at Quartzsite, we expect to see you and your lovely bride there.

Waynem · 09-26-2009, 02:15 AM

Well, Dennis should have had his surgery by now. We'll just sit back, exercise, and wait for an update.

Prayers are with you Dennis.

HamRad · 09-26-2009, 11:19 AM

Hello WayneM and others,
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. All are much appreciated. For those of you at the Fall Rally....... Thank you and I really miss the Fall Rally. We were at the very first one an thoroughly enjoyed it. One of these days we'll make it back for all the great MOCers and the great Keystone hospitality.

And to all the Crabbers at Winchester Bay..... what can I say except we really missed everyone and all the great crabs, of course! Maybe the third year for us will be the "charmed" year! We can hope!

The operation was on the 24th. Started about 8:30 and finished about 11:45. Today is the 26th and I am still in the hospital. Still have the air conditioner on the knee along with the complete leg bandage. Of course the "weep line" the antibiotic injection line and the great leg stockings! I love the massage leggings!

So far I've been able to "walk" with the walker along with some folks that come along to make sure I don't fall down. Made a couple of laps around the nurse's station and that's about it. The doctor will be in shortly to take off the bandage and remove the "lines" mentioned above.

Then he'll either keep me another day or let me leave tomorrow. Do not have a clue at this point other than all my vitals are good and I seem to be doing well with the procedure itself. I still have significant pain at the knee itself but otherwise I feel that the removal of the broken parts in the knee have relieved some of the related pain and movement. Here's hoping that it also has removed all the pain I thought was related to my hip.

I have a feeling that I will not be going home tomorrow but rather on Monday. I, of course, would rather go tomorrow but Monday will be OK.

Wayne I hope I am able to match your recovery performance but rather doubt I'll be up to that stellar performance! Keep us updated on your continued recovery.

Oh, I am also hooked up from time to time to the Continuous Passive Motion machine. And apparently will have one to use at home in the Home Health Care mode.

At least I think I'll now be able to walk. Even if it is only for a short distance.

Again thanks to everyone for all your concern. See you all on down the road and travel safely!

Dennis

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