Hi, I'm due to go in for a TKR tomorrow {Fri 18th Nov}
I'm terrified......I dont know why. I've already had 2 Hip replacements so you would think I would be used too replacements
but no I'm scared. Should I read this forum do you think
Sorrythat post finished suddenly. Like I said above should I read this forum or will it make me worse 
Love
Eileen {UK}
Hi Eileen most any operation is not pleasant and frightening to us all. I had a laminectomy (back op) in 2014 and I sailed through it with very little trouble. When I was waiting for my tkr I too was terrified! I suppose mainly due to the unknown and that I'd heard it would be very painful. Just do what the doctors say and you will be ok. Good luck and a speedy recover 😊
I had my TKR just over 5 weeks ago. I had it by epidural - no problem - in fact it was quite a pleasant experience. The pain was kept under control.... I was up and about in no time - a struggle yes but it was ok. The exercises are difficult but nothing to worry about.?
Gee lucky you. First month wasn't so good...things have improved over time...im 7 weeks post op and messed things up a bit by driving on Monday. All the best for your recovery.
What you find here are honest situations of people who have had issues. People who have had the text book sutuations.....back roarin' n' goin' aren't on here. Being terrified can mean a couple of things....one, you haven't been fully appraised of issues by your Dr or two, you arent in enough pain to say let's get on with it.
Make sure you and all the medical staff are on the same page.
As far ascreadingvthis forum.....that's up to yo. You can get a world of advice from those that have gone through it. People here are non judgemental, from all over the world and can fill you in on how your medical system . I'm from the central US and even here protocols vary from area to area.
It's sort of like the old saying that its never as bad as the worst or as good as the best but somewhere in between.
If you decide to not read it now and you have question later, come back.
For some cute a godsend....otherwise a pain.. You can make it your
own
Hi Eileen. The surgery is the easy part. Recovery is tough. I'm in the US, 10 weeks out ( Sept. 6, 2016) RTKR. I just let go and let the surgeon and team do their thing. PT, rest, ice, sleep will be your life after that. Your mental approach to that and feeling helpless will determine how recovery goes. Patience and faith go a long way towards sanity. I tend to be impatient so had some minor depressing times. Getting pretty mobile now, but a ways to go. I wish you the best.
Hi
I think you should read it , as it would seem total knee replacement is worse than a hip.
We are all different, no way of calibrating pain thresholds. So I wish you all the best , but your next 10 weeks will be a little painful and sleeping will be interrupted.
I hope your operation then recovery goes well.
Regards
Hi Lesley, I have just read your post and thought that's interesting, like yourself I also had a Laminectomy back in 1985, reasonable sucess untill the last couple of years, but i have also got a knee problem and have been told i need a TNR, could you offer any advise if this will affect the back issue, i only ask as i'm not sure if this back problem is causing the pain in my knee, I would not wish to go through the TKR only to find it was conected to my back problem, i know your not a consultant but your experience might help in my final decision. regards Hugh
Hi Hugh actually knees and hips go together....perhaps it would be an idea to have your back checked out first. I've just come from my Chiro now....he checked the strength of both back of thigh muscles whilst lying face down. He said they were very tight and the problem was with my back. A bit of manipulating and the problem sorted! I don't really have back problems as such any longer but the two seem to go hand in hand. I presume you have had knee x rayed?
Apologise....knees and backs!!
Don't be scared. It will be okay. Soon your knee will give you your life back. Stay strong.
Well done Michelle! Hope all going well 😊
Hi Eileen
I'm 2 months on getting better do you exercises and ice
You're b up and about in no time , Dancing round the Christmas 🎄 tree
Good luck
Take care
Rob x
I had a hip replaced in 2009. After the hospital and rehab joint, I did a full recovery (ROM + strength, off meds and walking aids, like it never happened...) in six weeks (5 hours a day, 6 days a week PT, gym and therapy pool). Thought I was ready to handle a TKR...right?
WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing and no one prepares you for this...period. Still scared? Don't be. Yes, it is tough, yes it is painful, yes it takes 6 months to a year...or more...to fully recover... BUT WE ALL DID IT!!!! And you will too, This may help...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
Stay strong, take your meds, go to PT, do your home exercises, eat healthy, lose weight, HYDRATE, sleep a lot. After you reach your ROM goal (post-PT), hit the gym to get your strength back.
Your enemies are depression and inactivity. Read the Post-Op Depression Section in my link to handle the former. Once you know what it is, kick its a$$. For the latter, get up and move. Do NOT just lie around and let your muscles atrophy! Other than that, take your mind off the knee. Read books, play games, wipe out aliens on x-box, whatever... Just don't lie there. The mind can only focus on one thing at a time...don't let that "thing" be your knee.
Most of all: Do not compare yourself to anyone else. While most of us are off the opioids at 3 months, walking pretty well at 6 months and virtually beyond it in a year, there are some people on either side of that timeline. One lady was off the pills in 10 days and had full ROM in two weeks...we should all be so lucky. My guess...I don't think the clicking in my knee will ever go away even though the doc says to give it 12-18 months. Don't compare...own your recovery.
Remember...
"Never give up. Never surrender." - Tim Allen, Galaxy Quest
Hello Eileen, wishing you the very best. It certainly won't make you feel worse to read this forum, do read it. Read CHICO MARX's https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499 It's full of useful information. I hope it goes/went well. Stick with us for lots of positive info. xxx
Hi Eileen!
Sending prayers of calm and strength to you tonight! 💟
TRY to visualize yourself in a month or two when you are feeling bettet rather than thinking about the you during surgery and recovery. Temporary inconvenience; permanent improvement.
Hi
I'm sorry I havent got back to this thread. I've had problems with the site.
I dont mind reading everything.......good and bad. No one is the same.
I dont know if it makes a difference but I've two Hip replacements and 4 weeks post op 2nd hip replacement I was doing an NHS exercise and my leg gave an awful crack. Hospital.....was told I had a fractured greater trochanter bone!!! {up beside the femur somewhere} I was also told it would never heal and I would be on crutches ........that wass 4 years ago almost. Still on the crutches. Quite happy and can manage on them except for pain which is hard to control. They eventually put me on a small dose of opoids which seemed to help. I also have osteoporosis.
During the TKR I had units of blood but all in all the surgery went well.
Its hard to tell how well I'm recovering becaue of the crutches that I have had for so long. Oh I was always driving before the TKR crutches or not.
Its the recovery thats not so good. Its about 9 weeks now and I'm still very sore. Wakenb up with pain. Have a lot of pain during the day and cant drive much now. It hurts. and now to cap it all the other leg is getting sore LOL
I will read those links. Havent had time and its now breakfast time. I will get back to you all after I read them
Love
Eileen UK
Its now almost 6pm here and I'm wakened now 
Oldfatguy1.....I dont know what it was but certainly it wasn't lack of pain.......bone was rubbing on bone so believe you me I was in pain.
I've just being going over your posts again ....thanks for them.
Whoever said that TKR's were worse than THR's was so right. I couldnt believe the difference in pain.
I had a spinal block and that was fine.
I've just been out driing today. Not far but at least driving. Thats a start.
Anyway.......that and the previous post covers everthing I think
Love
Eileen
Hi,
Apart from this thread its been ages since I've been on this site. I'm sure I used to get alerts in my inbox that I had a reply???? I cant remember now how toget those. Help please?? Most sites you put a tick at the bottom of the post to say you want a reply.
It willbe interesting to see if someone replies to this and I get an alert
Love
Eileen UK