Health
As you get older you become more prone to all types of injuries and illnesses.
As a guide to your well being below are some suggested sites for your information.
Remember, prevention is better than cure.
Also see the fitness page.
As a guide to your well being below are some suggested sites for your information.
Remember, prevention is better than cure.
Also see the fitness page.
Andy Smith a senior member at Upavon Golf Club recently underwent knee replacement surgery. He has kindly allowed his blog to be published here for anyone who may be facing a similar situation.
KNEE REPLACEMENT RECOUPERATION LOG
Tuesday 21 May 2013 1930 at Home
Woken by the alarm at 0545.
Dash out to feed chickens, quick shower and general ablutions.
Last meal for 17 hours before my total knee replacement.
Wednesday 22nd May – The Day of the Operation
Leave for Bath RUH at 0630
Arrive 0730 and in operating theatre by 0830 - first on!
Receive fantastic attention here in the Bath RUH from all staff prepping patients for surgery and I am soon on my way with a Welsh porter who can't stop talking about rugby and the Lions!
The standard anaesthetic these days is a 'spinal' that numbs everything below the waist. (The wife asks 'well, what's new about that'?!).
The Anaesthetist is very informative and gentle.....................and while fully awake I have the sensation that my legs are floating in mid-air, but feel nothing else as cold spray is administered to check that all feeling has gone.....................................
I remained in a light induced sleep for 2 hours, happily conscious of some of what's going on during the operation and then come round and continue my dialogue with the anaesthetist.
Chatting to the hospital staff, I'm wheeled to the recovery ward and yet another team of nurses assess me and administer my post-op medication and do a few tests. The lead male nurse is an American and reminds me Uncle Fester from the Munsters, and talks like him too.
Slick, friendly and genuinely interested in my welfare I return to my original ward and gorge myself on dried fruit, bananas, apples and nuts, [supplied by my forward thinking wife], plus endless cups of tea.
8 hours after surgery I'm flexing the knee gently and looking forward to getting mobile for more exercise, anticipating going home on Saturday.
I then played yet another round at Upavon in my mind, shooting 59.
Great these new knees!
Thursday 23rd May
Heart rate had been racing a bit but now stabilising, blood pressure too low, but all gradually improving. They have a pill for MOST things........
Had a great night's sleep, [in between being woken for drugs on a regular basis by Rachel and Sandi!]
Thigh muscles very sore where the surgeons did their bit yesterday so had my first pain relief.
Breakfast on its way ..…
Surgeon visited this morning and confirmed all went according to plan – well what else would he say?
Been to x-ray to ensure the new knee is behaving and then the Physio arrived.
20 steps with Zimmer frame, 5 steps with crutches and then she gave me two sticks!
She said it had been 3 years since anybody had progressed that fast! [Probably bullshit, but it did my ego a deal of good] and said I could go home on Friday – great news.
Another visit from Physios to go over exercises to do at home followed by the Drug Man.
Can't believe how many pills I need to take each day – paracetamol, Tromadol, anti- coagulants, anti- inflamatories and gut liners – I feel like a tube of Smarties.
Nurse comes and renews my dressing – looks pretty ugly, [no, not the Nurse], but time is a great healer.
5pm and my transport arrives.......................................
Final briefing about the drugs which baffle me, but my wife Sarah is a nurse so she understands.
Leave a box of Celebrations for the ward staff for looking after me and I begin the long walk on my sticks to the car and home.
Home, food, relax and begin the rehab.....................
DRUGS
If in pain, ask for more pain relief. The purpose of the pain relief is to enable you to exercise the leg/ankle/thigh/toes to get the blood circulating round your body and reduce swelling from the operation.
Laying still and doing nothing will extend your rehab significantly and you will feel rough for longer.
Take your drugs regularly as prescribed so you keep in control of the pain.
My appetite was good for a few days, then went off a bit as the cocktail of drugs took over and the swelling became a little more uncomfortable. The swelling was accompanied by really sensitive areas on main muscles such as quads and calf, but the painkillers took care of those discomforts and allowed me to exercise and beat the discomfort as the swelling subsided.
SWELLING
The Surgeons, [or Carpenters as they are sometimes known], need to significantly manipulate your knee to fit the new bits and this causes the muscle trauma. My leg was 2.5 times its usual size for the first 5 days and then it began to reduce significantly. This enabled me to gain greater flexibility during my exercises and walking around and quickly enabled me to walk with a more normal gait.
NO EXERCISE AND WALKING = LONGER ISSUES WITH SWOLLEN LIMBS
EXERCISE
After 5 days I adopted a regular routine – get up and shower; breakfast and pills; specific exercises to stretch and flex the leg/knee etc; walk to the shop and collect a paper – around 500 yard round trip using my walking stick; sit down and relax with leg elevated; lunch, rest and another walk of around the same distance in mid-afternoon.
All the while I kept flexing my toes, ankle, knee joints to encourage better circulation to help the body to naturally reduce the swelling.
HOW DID I FEEL?
I did not know what to expect after the operation. The amount of swelling was a big surprise, as was the limited discomfort I felt from the operation. The amount of bruising and muscular pain was a big surprise, but I kept taking the tablets that allowed me to continue to exercise.
There were times when I was sitting/lying on the sofa, leg raised, feeling no discomfort, that I did not want to get up a walk around the garden or do exercises as I knew I would get some pain from moving around.
Bit of mental strength is required to get you moving and keep moving.
I felt really tired and slept loads and was in bed during the first week by 9pm and got up around 830am. I stopped taking the heavy pain killer Tromadol in the day after 4 days and only took one when I went to bed to ensure a good night's sleep. These are strong painkillers and I felt much better when I reduced my intake and my appetite improved too.
CHANGES
Having to take things really easy for the first time in more years than I can remember is a challenge. Just had BT Vision installed with Sky Sport bolt on, so that's been good.
Have not had a drink containing alcohol for 9 days and still have no hankering for one. [Sadly they do not give you pills to get over that symptom].
Lost some weight, but that's not always a bad thing.
ROUTINE
As mentioned above, adopting a routine is key to a more rapid recovery – get moving and keep moving – you will quickly see and feel the benefits.
LOOKING AHEAD
May be able to drive 4 weeks after surgery – again depends on the progress one makes.
If you have an automatic it may be easier and even quicker, but I have no desire to go anywhere at the moment and the Cricket and Rugby Tests are due very soon.
My consultant said about 10 weeks off golf – we will see.
I have had no pain from the knee itself since surgery which is promising and it will be interesting to see when I can resume activities I enjoyed before my operation.
I'll give you an update in due course.
Tuesday 4th June
Off to Bath RUH for an appointment with the Physio team to assess progress.
Given 9 out of 10 but need to work on knee flexibility, but well on target in readiness for my appointment with the surgeon on 2nd July.
Wednesday 12 June – Three Weeks After Surgery
Swelling well down
Walking stick largely abandoned
Calf muscles working properly
Daily exercise routine gong well with additional exercises added to improve flexibility
Walking with a slight limp only
Feel really positive about the progress I am making which gives me the motivation to carry on doing my exercises and seeing gradual improvements.
I am looking forward to resuming driving next week. I could drive now, but the surgeon said 4 weeks, and my wife will ensure it is 4 weeks!
Walked a few holes on my home course at Upavon on Monday and it was good to get some proper golf fresh air. I was a bit knackered later in the day but the knee was fine.
I have been slightly surprised that I have not been frustrated by the lack of [golfing] activity, but I have been resigned to the fact that my knee has been ‘poor’ for a number of years and surgery will improve matters by extending the time I can play golf to a reasonable standard.
That of course remains to be seen when I get back onto the fairways……………………
Friday June 28th 2013
Five and a half weeks since the operation and the knee improves daily. Flexing the knee fully has taken time but bit by bit things are improving ahead of my visit to see the Consultant next week.
Been driving for almost 2 weeks which has enabled me to get out and about more.
Went to Wembley Stadium last Saturday to see The Killers, who were magnificent. It was also a great workout as our seats were almost as far up as you could go and I counted 270 steps!
Claimed disability on the way out and blagged a ride in the disabled lift.
In the last week I have been cleaning windows off a ladder, mowing the lawn, two dog walks a day, walked another 9 holes, and of course the leg exercises.
I have flicked a few sand wedges in the garden over the last three weeks, but yesterday went up to the practice ground and hit a few full 9 irons with no adverse affect on the knee which was very encouraging.
Depending on what the Consultant says next week I may hire a buggy and play some holes next week too………………………………………..
I have been surprised how tired I have been after walking a few holes – the undulating terrain may have something to do with it and a lack of fitness over the past 5/6 weeks due to general inactivity.
Overall, the knee feels markedly better each day and this is a really positive motivator to carry on working hard on the exercises and trying to ‘get back to normal’.
Tuesday July 2nd 2013 – Follow up with the Consultant
Arrive at RUH just after 1400 for my 1500 appointment time. 5 minutes later called to go for x-ray and shown into consulting room 5 minutes after my return from x-ray.
Meet who I assume is a Registrar, as the Consultant is not attending the Clinic. In fact Genevieve is a senior Physiotherapist, attached to the Consultant’s team specialising in knees.
Well – I get a bit of a blast from Genevieve over the next 20 minutes – doing well but not good enough!
I explain that I have been doing the exercises proscribed by the Physio in week two following my operation………….that cuts no ice either.
“Forget all those exercises and do these three. Get back on the painkillers and work harder to flex the knee to 110 degrees and to straighten in line with the other knee. There is no reason why you should fail either target”.
“Oh! By the way – if you do not achieve the flex and straighten by 12 weeks, you never will”.
Wake up call as never before………………………..
The added incentive from Genevieve was that I should be able to achieve the desired improvements in 3 weeks and if I did, I could can start playing golf again.
My knee has come on so much in the last 7 days, with a deal of discomfort as I do the new exercises and endure higher pain thresholds.
I can now walk up and down stairs – (it’s an old house with stair risers that are 9” high) – and can pedal a bicycle as the flex has gone beyond 110 degrees.
I am well pleased………………. am playing a minimum of 9 holes tomorrow, ( 7 weeks to the day after the operation), using a buggy and will enter the Seniors’ Club Championship at the end of July.
Summary
The knee episode has been a positive experience.
My knee no longer hurts, other than a bit of post operation muscle trauma.
I took the tablets to ease the pain and took loads of exercise as directed.
I have started golf 3 weeks before I expected to and feel really positive about the knee for the future.
It is hard work but with good personal incentives, self-control and will-power the recovery has been good and I can get back to my previous busy lifestyle.
I trust this helps a bit – but everybody will recover in different ways.
Andy Smith
July 2013
KNEE REPLACEMENT RECOUPERATION LOG
Tuesday 21 May 2013 1930 at Home
Woken by the alarm at 0545.
Dash out to feed chickens, quick shower and general ablutions.
Last meal for 17 hours before my total knee replacement.
Wednesday 22nd May – The Day of the Operation
Leave for Bath RUH at 0630
Arrive 0730 and in operating theatre by 0830 - first on!
Receive fantastic attention here in the Bath RUH from all staff prepping patients for surgery and I am soon on my way with a Welsh porter who can't stop talking about rugby and the Lions!
The standard anaesthetic these days is a 'spinal' that numbs everything below the waist. (The wife asks 'well, what's new about that'?!).
The Anaesthetist is very informative and gentle.....................and while fully awake I have the sensation that my legs are floating in mid-air, but feel nothing else as cold spray is administered to check that all feeling has gone.....................................
I remained in a light induced sleep for 2 hours, happily conscious of some of what's going on during the operation and then come round and continue my dialogue with the anaesthetist.
Chatting to the hospital staff, I'm wheeled to the recovery ward and yet another team of nurses assess me and administer my post-op medication and do a few tests. The lead male nurse is an American and reminds me Uncle Fester from the Munsters, and talks like him too.
Slick, friendly and genuinely interested in my welfare I return to my original ward and gorge myself on dried fruit, bananas, apples and nuts, [supplied by my forward thinking wife], plus endless cups of tea.
8 hours after surgery I'm flexing the knee gently and looking forward to getting mobile for more exercise, anticipating going home on Saturday.
I then played yet another round at Upavon in my mind, shooting 59.
Great these new knees!
Thursday 23rd May
Heart rate had been racing a bit but now stabilising, blood pressure too low, but all gradually improving. They have a pill for MOST things........
Had a great night's sleep, [in between being woken for drugs on a regular basis by Rachel and Sandi!]
Thigh muscles very sore where the surgeons did their bit yesterday so had my first pain relief.
Breakfast on its way ..…
Surgeon visited this morning and confirmed all went according to plan – well what else would he say?
Been to x-ray to ensure the new knee is behaving and then the Physio arrived.
20 steps with Zimmer frame, 5 steps with crutches and then she gave me two sticks!
She said it had been 3 years since anybody had progressed that fast! [Probably bullshit, but it did my ego a deal of good] and said I could go home on Friday – great news.
Another visit from Physios to go over exercises to do at home followed by the Drug Man.
Can't believe how many pills I need to take each day – paracetamol, Tromadol, anti- coagulants, anti- inflamatories and gut liners – I feel like a tube of Smarties.
Nurse comes and renews my dressing – looks pretty ugly, [no, not the Nurse], but time is a great healer.
5pm and my transport arrives.......................................
Final briefing about the drugs which baffle me, but my wife Sarah is a nurse so she understands.
Leave a box of Celebrations for the ward staff for looking after me and I begin the long walk on my sticks to the car and home.
Home, food, relax and begin the rehab.....................
DRUGS
If in pain, ask for more pain relief. The purpose of the pain relief is to enable you to exercise the leg/ankle/thigh/toes to get the blood circulating round your body and reduce swelling from the operation.
Laying still and doing nothing will extend your rehab significantly and you will feel rough for longer.
Take your drugs regularly as prescribed so you keep in control of the pain.
My appetite was good for a few days, then went off a bit as the cocktail of drugs took over and the swelling became a little more uncomfortable. The swelling was accompanied by really sensitive areas on main muscles such as quads and calf, but the painkillers took care of those discomforts and allowed me to exercise and beat the discomfort as the swelling subsided.
SWELLING
The Surgeons, [or Carpenters as they are sometimes known], need to significantly manipulate your knee to fit the new bits and this causes the muscle trauma. My leg was 2.5 times its usual size for the first 5 days and then it began to reduce significantly. This enabled me to gain greater flexibility during my exercises and walking around and quickly enabled me to walk with a more normal gait.
NO EXERCISE AND WALKING = LONGER ISSUES WITH SWOLLEN LIMBS
EXERCISE
After 5 days I adopted a regular routine – get up and shower; breakfast and pills; specific exercises to stretch and flex the leg/knee etc; walk to the shop and collect a paper – around 500 yard round trip using my walking stick; sit down and relax with leg elevated; lunch, rest and another walk of around the same distance in mid-afternoon.
All the while I kept flexing my toes, ankle, knee joints to encourage better circulation to help the body to naturally reduce the swelling.
HOW DID I FEEL?
I did not know what to expect after the operation. The amount of swelling was a big surprise, as was the limited discomfort I felt from the operation. The amount of bruising and muscular pain was a big surprise, but I kept taking the tablets that allowed me to continue to exercise.
There were times when I was sitting/lying on the sofa, leg raised, feeling no discomfort, that I did not want to get up a walk around the garden or do exercises as I knew I would get some pain from moving around.
Bit of mental strength is required to get you moving and keep moving.
I felt really tired and slept loads and was in bed during the first week by 9pm and got up around 830am. I stopped taking the heavy pain killer Tromadol in the day after 4 days and only took one when I went to bed to ensure a good night's sleep. These are strong painkillers and I felt much better when I reduced my intake and my appetite improved too.
CHANGES
Having to take things really easy for the first time in more years than I can remember is a challenge. Just had BT Vision installed with Sky Sport bolt on, so that's been good.
Have not had a drink containing alcohol for 9 days and still have no hankering for one. [Sadly they do not give you pills to get over that symptom].
Lost some weight, but that's not always a bad thing.
ROUTINE
As mentioned above, adopting a routine is key to a more rapid recovery – get moving and keep moving – you will quickly see and feel the benefits.
LOOKING AHEAD
May be able to drive 4 weeks after surgery – again depends on the progress one makes.
If you have an automatic it may be easier and even quicker, but I have no desire to go anywhere at the moment and the Cricket and Rugby Tests are due very soon.
My consultant said about 10 weeks off golf – we will see.
I have had no pain from the knee itself since surgery which is promising and it will be interesting to see when I can resume activities I enjoyed before my operation.
I'll give you an update in due course.
Tuesday 4th June
Off to Bath RUH for an appointment with the Physio team to assess progress.
Given 9 out of 10 but need to work on knee flexibility, but well on target in readiness for my appointment with the surgeon on 2nd July.
Wednesday 12 June – Three Weeks After Surgery
Swelling well down
Walking stick largely abandoned
Calf muscles working properly
Daily exercise routine gong well with additional exercises added to improve flexibility
Walking with a slight limp only
Feel really positive about the progress I am making which gives me the motivation to carry on doing my exercises and seeing gradual improvements.
I am looking forward to resuming driving next week. I could drive now, but the surgeon said 4 weeks, and my wife will ensure it is 4 weeks!
Walked a few holes on my home course at Upavon on Monday and it was good to get some proper golf fresh air. I was a bit knackered later in the day but the knee was fine.
I have been slightly surprised that I have not been frustrated by the lack of [golfing] activity, but I have been resigned to the fact that my knee has been ‘poor’ for a number of years and surgery will improve matters by extending the time I can play golf to a reasonable standard.
That of course remains to be seen when I get back onto the fairways……………………
Friday June 28th 2013
Five and a half weeks since the operation and the knee improves daily. Flexing the knee fully has taken time but bit by bit things are improving ahead of my visit to see the Consultant next week.
Been driving for almost 2 weeks which has enabled me to get out and about more.
Went to Wembley Stadium last Saturday to see The Killers, who were magnificent. It was also a great workout as our seats were almost as far up as you could go and I counted 270 steps!
Claimed disability on the way out and blagged a ride in the disabled lift.
In the last week I have been cleaning windows off a ladder, mowing the lawn, two dog walks a day, walked another 9 holes, and of course the leg exercises.
I have flicked a few sand wedges in the garden over the last three weeks, but yesterday went up to the practice ground and hit a few full 9 irons with no adverse affect on the knee which was very encouraging.
Depending on what the Consultant says next week I may hire a buggy and play some holes next week too………………………………………..
I have been surprised how tired I have been after walking a few holes – the undulating terrain may have something to do with it and a lack of fitness over the past 5/6 weeks due to general inactivity.
Overall, the knee feels markedly better each day and this is a really positive motivator to carry on working hard on the exercises and trying to ‘get back to normal’.
Tuesday July 2nd 2013 – Follow up with the Consultant
Arrive at RUH just after 1400 for my 1500 appointment time. 5 minutes later called to go for x-ray and shown into consulting room 5 minutes after my return from x-ray.
Meet who I assume is a Registrar, as the Consultant is not attending the Clinic. In fact Genevieve is a senior Physiotherapist, attached to the Consultant’s team specialising in knees.
Well – I get a bit of a blast from Genevieve over the next 20 minutes – doing well but not good enough!
I explain that I have been doing the exercises proscribed by the Physio in week two following my operation………….that cuts no ice either.
“Forget all those exercises and do these three. Get back on the painkillers and work harder to flex the knee to 110 degrees and to straighten in line with the other knee. There is no reason why you should fail either target”.
“Oh! By the way – if you do not achieve the flex and straighten by 12 weeks, you never will”.
Wake up call as never before………………………..
The added incentive from Genevieve was that I should be able to achieve the desired improvements in 3 weeks and if I did, I could can start playing golf again.
My knee has come on so much in the last 7 days, with a deal of discomfort as I do the new exercises and endure higher pain thresholds.
I can now walk up and down stairs – (it’s an old house with stair risers that are 9” high) – and can pedal a bicycle as the flex has gone beyond 110 degrees.
I am well pleased………………. am playing a minimum of 9 holes tomorrow, ( 7 weeks to the day after the operation), using a buggy and will enter the Seniors’ Club Championship at the end of July.
Summary
The knee episode has been a positive experience.
My knee no longer hurts, other than a bit of post operation muscle trauma.
I took the tablets to ease the pain and took loads of exercise as directed.
I have started golf 3 weeks before I expected to and feel really positive about the knee for the future.
It is hard work but with good personal incentives, self-control and will-power the recovery has been good and I can get back to my previous busy lifestyle.
I trust this helps a bit – but everybody will recover in different ways.
Andy Smith
July 2013