How long did you have to wait?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi there!

I am desperately in need of total knee replacement surgery and after the 4th visit in a year to emerg they have referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon. He called me the next day to set up the consult. I'm wondering, on average, what the wait time is for the surgery.

How long was your wait? I'm on crutches and am non weight bearing and am not able to sleep through the night from the pain. I'm currently on my 7th day off work. I know the wait is different for everyone but I'm just wondering if you guys can share your experience😊

2

It depends on the doctor but I had my surgery within a week after I saw the specialist.

3

Wow! That's so fast! 

I hope you are feeling much better. 

Thank you for the reply!

4

Emma it varies hugely in different parts of the country and different hospitals.  You can often look up waiting times in hospitals, so it might be worth you seeing what it's like at the hospital you've been sent to, and also see what the options are in your area.  Mine was one of the fastest (Midlands) when I waited just over three weeks to see the surgeon, and the wait for the op is 8 - 12 weeks - but I'll know more after my pre-op on Monday.

5

Thank you for the great advice! I'll look into the hospital wait times. I got an apt with my surgeon in less than three weeks so I am happy about that. Also I live in Lindsay ON which is a small town so that might be a benefit.

6

Hi Emma I think a lot depends on the NHS in your area, I was an urgent referral got an appointment in November last year. Ended up with yet another cortisone and more physio. Didn't solve anything ended up back at GP, again urgent referral only to be told by hospital it would be at least November before I could even get an initial appointment letter, so I bit the bullet and went private. Am currently 2 days post op and am so glad I had it done

7

Well I do wish you good luck with a faster appointment:-)))  Some hospitals are taking patients from further afield, but you need to see what areas they're covering.  The hospital I'm going to is one of those - it's an hour away, when there are four hospitals closer, but the one I chose is an orthopeadic hospital, which lots of people had told me good things about, so that's why I'm going there:-)))

8

Hi Emma

I waited 2.5 weeks to see the consultant initially & 6 months on the waiting list. I am in Hertfordshire, the East & North Hertfordshire Area Health Authority.

Waiting is different in other areas of the UK. You can checkout you local hospital online or take a look at NHS choices for advice.

Marilyn

XX

9

I had Medi-cal that covered my surgery. I had it done at the County hospital. Those two reasons coupled with a busy Surgeon, I waited about a year to get it scheduled.

10

Hi Emma

I waited a couple of weeks for a consultation then x rays and mri that was in May last year had my TKR 1st of September i live in bury lancs i got the choice to go to a private hospital in salford i had heard a lot of good things about the surgeon there but it was done on the NHS.

wishing you a speedy outcome and recovery.

11

I waited 5 months as my os is very popular along with the knee he uses for the replacement,

12

I'm on the waiting list been 14 weeks

13

Hi Emma!

I'm in Ohio, USA. I made my appointment for my first TKR at my first appointment with my orthopedic surgeon. My surgery was scheduled for three weeks later. I scheduled my second TKR surgery at my six week appointment followup for my first knee. Surgery followed three and a half months later.

My knees were BOTH very, very damaged with no cartilage and bone-on-bone. X-rays SCREAMED "YOU REALLY NEED SURGERY!!!"

My two knee replacements were the two best things I have done for myself. I have my life back!

Wishing you much success as you move forward to eliminating pain and getting YOUR LIFE back!❤️

(TKRs June and October 2015)

14

emma, when you see any Dr always ask for the Dr.s note for that office visit.  When you do this you will be able to see what the doctor attitude is like and what he thinks you might have.  I do that with every doctor; it is your right.  It has saved me time and I will always be able to look back on what I had done; since I'm 72 that is important...what was your name ha ha ha...

 

15

Hi Emma

Need to say which country you are in the forum covers the world.

Good healing