My arm was the same as your, pre op and there was nothing left to do. I could not do basic things and it was my dominant hand/arm that was affected. It was worth it for me to do this as I gained back normal functions and lost all pain. Read my other post below for more info. Good luck!
Hi - My operation was done in June 2014 so I am quite a way down the line. It is great compared to what I was left with. Sometimes I wish I could lift heavier objects but if it is something a little bit heavy then I hold it into myself or under my arm or in a bag...or something. Very happy with it overall. No pain really worth mentioning,
Hi not sure who to reply to here but hopefully all interested will find what they need Jeanne55 hope you see this too
I read with interest all the comments in this forum, thank you all.
To sum up a thus far, a very successful right elbow replacement surgery September 10 2017.
History: elbow dislocation age 6 badly set, lived with it w limited motion and self imposed weight restrictions but pain and extremely limited mobility issues from jan 2017 changed things.
I was fortunate to get an excellent referral to Tom Lawrence and Chet Modi,
a specialist Orthopeadic team of surgeons (based at Coventry University Hospital UK) surgery done
and replacement w a Discovery elbow joint has been very successful for me.
Tips Pre Op
Found a fantastic traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture/cupping therapist before surgery and booked successive appointments starting 10 days after and then weekly for 2 months. I believe this has great improved the healing time, targeting inflammation and increasing blood flow to arm.
Buy a V shaped pillow, best for post surgery arm elevation elbow above heart to minimise pain swelling and provide a comfortable resting and sleeping position
Buy a plastic sleeve for dry showering
Organise pain meds’ in advance, there is no need for pain if you medicate properly
Ora morph liquid is fantastic stuff
Save the small oral syringe to take home for accurate dosing and easy reducing of moraphine ( you have to special request this to take home) ask for max pain meds while in hospital!
Explore meloxicam, a stronger anti inflammatory (pain is caused by inflammation, so any reduction will help) paracetamol was a waste of time for me.
Gabapentin to reduce nerve pain was also effective right after surgery and for the 4 weeks following
* Do your medication homework in advance, ask and you shall receive.
*Take earplugs or ear buds to distract from noise and an eye mask!
*Take chocolates or treats for your overworked nurses. Be a good patient.
*Leave the hospital w adequate meds and prescriptions. Get them filled from the hospital pharmacy as some prescriptions are only available from prescribing hospital!
*Codeine and surgery can be constipating, think ahead ...
AFTER SURGERY I left hospital w half cast and a sling...removed 1 week later,no stitches and then continued witha sling. No physio recommended... they can be too rough.
Arm is just gradually moving and motion w out pain being regained.
Wearing sling when out walking mainly to self limit movements and protect against outstretching in a fall.
This is life changing surgery.
Learn to use you other arm for lifting and carrying, door opening etc
be kind to your elbow and make it last. To wash my own hair, put on make up, cook, and drive and do so many things that i simply could not do without extreme pain or at all, is a gift, a technological miracle, i do not need to lift weights and bags of groceries to appreciate this wondrous improvement to my lifestyle.
if you are in pain, do it,
I am reading all the discussions on weight limitations and for me it was a small compromise.
Best of luck to all and thank you all for sharing, your advice and tips were so helpful to me.
How long are you in the hospital for this procedure? (Elbow replacement)
Everything I’ve read online says 2-4 days
I had the operation at 9:30 am and was home the next day at noon and I live two hours away from the Mayo. I had a full elbow replacement.
Hi Jayne - I know you wrote this post over 2 years ago but I just wanted to check in and see if you have any support yet, I too have RA and I know how lonely that can be but I do get support from my parents, my siblings could care less and my friends just don’t understand, but at least I have Mum and Dad. I do have a fantastic medical team that I’m so grateful to have.
i also have servere RA (two knee replacements) with an elbow replacement in May this year. Like you my glass is always half full and I still smile and laugh but do hope that you are not doing this on your own.
Just writing this to check in and ask, how are you and are you doing okay?
Hey Jaw, 5 kgs is too much. 2.5 is absolute max but my surgeon wants me lift only 500 grams for at least 2 years after surgery. Thought I should say something so you don’t hurt your elbow replacement.
There is now a new model that doesn’t require any revisions. Not all surgeons are using it yet but ask about the Nexus ones.
Hello I am getting to this post late, however I still think it will help. I had a accident 9 years ago and had total elbow replacement surgery. My pain after surgery was excruciating, made worse by the fact that I was given morphine throughout my hospital stay then over the counter drugs during home recovery. As soon as I got my cast off I noticed reduced motion, roughly 25% gone.
However, I have lived a life with little to no pain lifting weights and playing sports. I’m only worried about the durability of the elbow at this point in time because they are good for about 10 years
How long were you in the hospital? I’m scheduled got December 15. Really nervous! Do you think she matters with this?
Hello
I was in for 3 nights and happy about it Sept 8 2017
Friday surgery, Saturday recovery day stayed medicated out of my head, perfect, your body needs rest and healing occurs during sleep, they said I could have gone home Sunday but I was glad to stay another night . Get ready to move slowly and carefully. I hope you see my post about things to do in advance? Have a read, get the v shaped pillow etc and the meds advice...
I was afraid too, but all is perfect and amazing now.
If you medicate there is no need for pain. And find yourself a proper TCM traditional Chinese medicine doctor (acupuncture) to work with. See them before surgery tell them what is happening and schedule weekly treatments for after surgery this will help reduce the inflammation which will reduce pain and speed healing. This has really helped me immensely.
Find my “things to do” post.
This will be great. I am back in action in less than 3 months!
Good luck.
Thank you for all the advice. Do the doc give you a brace to wear?
Hello Doctor set arm in a half cast to keep it still at a bend angle and removed it 10 days later. Then no physio ( he does not recommend it they can be too rough) just wearing a sling and gradually motion returned and extension became full. Sling disguarded. Acupuncture helped alleviate pain and I was off meds early.
By the way Meloxicam (anti inflammatory) Was much more effective than paracetamol and can combine with Ora Morph . Get some now and try it and take it to hospital with you to add to your drug Arsenal
No need for pain!
Did you find the other post I wrote on things to do and know ?
Best regards
This seems to be key forum for elbow replacement discussions so I am reposting
PRE OP POST OP TIPS
info here...
To sum up a thus far, a very successful right elbow replacement surgery September 10 2017.
History: elbow dislocation age 6 badly set, lived with it w limited motion and self imposed weight restrictions but pain and extremely limited mobility issues from jan 2017 changed things.
I was fortunate to get an excellent referral to Tom Lawrence and Chet Modi,
a specialist Orthopeadic team of surgeons (based at Coventry University Hospital UK) surgery done
and replacement w a Discovery elbow joint has been very successful for me.
Tips Pre Op
Found a fantastic traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture/cupping therapist before surgery and booked successive appointments starting 10 days after and then weekly for 2 months. I believe this has great improved the healing time, targeting inflammation and increasing blood flow to arm.
Buy a V shaped pillow, best for post surgery arm elevation elbow above heart to minimise pain swelling and provide a comfortable resting and sleeping position
Buy a plastic sleeve for dry showering
Organise pain meds’ in advance, there is no need for pain if you medicate properly
Ora morph liquid is fantastic stuff
Save the small oral syringe to take home for accurate dosing and easy reducing of moraphine ( you have to special request this to take home) ask for max pain meds while in hospital!
Explore meloxicam, a stronger anti inflammatory (pain is caused by inflammation, so any reduction will help) paracetamol was a waste of time for me.
Gabapentin to reduce nerve pain was also effective right after surgery and for the 4 weeks following
* Do your medication homework in advance, ask and you shall receive.
*Take earplugs or ear buds to distract from noise and an eye mask!
*Take chocolates or treats for your overworked nurses. Be a good patient.
*Leave the hospital w adequate meds and prescriptions. Get them filled from the hospital pharmacy as some prescriptions are only available from prescribing hospital!
*Codeine and surgery can be constipating, think ahead ...
AFTER SURGERY I left hospital w half cast and a sling...removed 1 week later,no stitches and then continued witha sling. No physio recommended... they can be too rough.
Arm is just gradually moving and motion w out pain being regained.
Wearing sling when out walking mainly to self limit movements and protect against outstretching in a fall.
This is life changing surgery.
Learn to use you other arm for lifting and carrying, door opening etc
be kind to your elbow and make it last. To wash my own hair, put on make up, cook, and drive and do so many things that i simply could not do without extreme pain or at all, is a gift, a technological miracle, i do not need to lift weights and bags of groceries to appreciate this wondrous improvement to my lifestyle.
if you are in pain, do it,
I am reading all the discussions on weight limitations and for me it was a small compromise.
Best of luck to all and thank you all for sharing, your advice and tips were so helpful to me.
Here is the tip sheet
This seems to be key forum for elbow replacement discussions so I am reposting
PRE OP POST OP TIPS
info here...
To sum up a thus far, a very successful right elbow replacement surgery September 10 2017.
History: elbow dislocation age 6 badly set, lived with it w limited motion and self imposed weight restrictions but pain and extremely limited mobility issues from jan 2017 changed things.
I was fortunate to get an excellent referral to Tom Lawrence and Chet Modi,
a specialist Orthopeadic team of surgeons (based at Coventry University Hospital UK) surgery done
and replacement w a Discovery elbow joint has been very successful for me.
Tips Pre Op
Found a fantastic traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture/cupping therapist before surgery and booked successive appointments starting 10 days after and then weekly for 2 months. I believe this has great improved the healing time, targeting inflammation and increasing blood flow to arm.
Buy a V shaped pillow, best for post surgery arm elevation elbow above heart to minimise pain swelling and provide a comfortable resting and sleeping position
Buy a plastic sleeve for dry showering
Organise pain meds’ in advance, there is no need for pain if you medicate properly
Ora morph liquid is fantastic stuff
Save the small oral syringe to take home for accurate dosing and easy reducing of moraphine ( you have to special request this to take home) ask for max pain meds while in hospital!
Explore meloxicam, a stronger anti inflammatory (pain is caused by inflammation, so any reduction will help) paracetamol was a waste of time for me.
Gabapentin to reduce nerve pain was also effective right after surgery and for the 4 weeks following
* Do your medication homework in advance, ask and you shall receive.
*Take earplugs or ear buds to distract from noise and an eye mask!
*Take chocolates or treats for your overworked nurses. Be a good patient.
*Leave the hospital w adequate meds and prescriptions. Get them filled from the hospital pharmacy as some prescriptions are only available from prescribing hospital!
*Codeine and surgery can be constipating, think ahead ...
AFTER SURGERY I left hospital w half cast and a sling...removed 1 week later,no stitches and then continued witha sling. No physio recommended... they can be too rough.
Arm is just gradually moving and motion w out pain being regained.
Wearing sling when out walking mainly to self limit movements and protect against outstretching in a fall.
This is life changing surgery.
Learn to use you other arm for lifting and carrying, door opening etc
be kind to your elbow and make it last. To wash my own hair, put on make up, cook, and drive and do so many things that i simply could not do without extreme pain or at all, is a gift, a technological miracle, i do not need to lift weights and bags of groceries to appreciate this wondrous improvement to my lifestyle.
if you are in pain, do it,
I am reading all the discussions on weight limitations and for me it was a small compromise.
Best of luck to all and thank you all for sharing, your advice and tips were so helpful to me.
no brace very tight bandage keep your fingers and wrist moving in a week u should have some kind of movment this takes work to get things moving again therpy will help greatly the pain goes down a lot after 2 weeks have a great day ronnie
Thank you again for all the information I will keep you posted on how it goes
Hi . How long did it take you post op to gain full range of motion ?
I'm 11.5 wks post op . I can nearly straighten my arm and raise it up to my shoulder I just can't touch it as I have hardly any range
Hi can I ask what part of your elb