New type of knee surgery!!

[KRBrouwer]

That will work to split the pill. BUT if the pill is not scribed from the manufacturer, the manufacturer is indicating that the medicine in the pill may NOT be uniformly distributed within the pill and the pill should NOT be split. It is very possible that one half will have all the medicine and the other half will have none. Don't split pills that are not scribed to be split.

Speaking as a Pharmacist, un-uniform distribution is not the reason you need to be careful splitting pills. The active ingredients are evenly distributed in all pills with the exception of ones that are timed release or delayed release. In these cases splitting the tablets may alter the timed release component, causing it all to be released at once (also the reason why you don't want to grind up a timed (sustained) release tablet), or in the case of a delayed release tablet, it may turn it into an immediate release - causing problems.

Ken

 

[k0ua]

So, RSKY, how is the knee doin? Are you out of pain now? Still on drugs? etc.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I am planning for a right hip replacement in May and following that a left knee ASAP, hopefully in August. My knee was hurt playing football in the 70's and deteriorated to the point that the right hip is now bone on bone. Not looking forward to it but I have an excellent surgeon. I go tomorrow for consultation. Just want to get it over with.

 

[k0ua]

I am planning for a right hip replacement in May and following that a left knee ASAP, hopefully in August. My knee was hurt playing football in the 70's and deteriorated to the point that the right hip is now bone on bone. Not looking forward to it but I have an excellent surgeon. I go tomorrow for consultation. Just want to get it over with.

Good luck with it man..

 

[AchingBack]

I've never understood how joints wear out in some people and not others. Perhaps it is a genetic deficiency, or a situation precipitated by injury, and never healed correctly.

When I first saw the title of the thread about a new type of knee surgery, I thought I would be reading about MAKOplasty. Everyday on local radio I hear an advertisement for it. Were I in need of knee surgery, I would definitely be interested in this robotic procedure.


MAKOplasty® Partial Knee Resurfacing | MAKO Surgical Corp.
The procedure is performed through a four to six inch incision over the knee. Tactile, intelligent robotic arm technology and 3-D visualization of the knee guides the surgeon in controlled resurfacing of the pre-defined knee disease, saving as much of the patient's healthy bone and surrounding tissue as possible.

Computer modeling of the patient's pre-surgical plan using CT scan data and, during the procedure, real-time visual, tactile, and auditory feedback facilitates ideal implant positioning and placement. It is this level of planning and surgical accuracy in treating earlier stage knee osteoarthritis that can result in a more natural feeling knee and motion.

In many cases, patients are permitted to walk soon after surgery, drive a car within two weeks and return to normal daily activities shortly thereafter.

 

[Eric6714]

I'm glad to hear that the doctor told me I need my left knee replaced now let us know how your doing

 

[milkman]

I watched the total hip replacement on Youtube AFTER I had the surgery, then watched the total knee replacement after both knees replaced. Sure hope the new stuff works, knee replacement recovery is rough, took a while for me to be convinced that it was worth it. It definitely was.

 

[RSKY]

Sorry to not keep up to date but after a week or two taking pain pills every three hours as instructed I decided to get off them. Went for checkup and PA told me I could switch to Naproxen Sodium or Aleve. So I quit taking the Oxycodone and promptly slept for three days. Wake up about 7:00, eat breakfast, take two hour nap. Get up and eat lunch, take two hour nap. Get up for supper, take two hour nap. Watch one TV show, go to bed and sleep until 7:00 next morning.

Anyway.

Stitches out, pain lessening, walking as normal but still limping some. What I didn't understand is that they drilled many holes nearly all the way thru the bone obove and below the joint. Takes a while to heal.

I can honestly say there is already some improvement though I am not pushing it at all.

They have one guy they have done the procedure on who did not show the weak areas in the bone as I did. He needs a replacement but refuses. PA said he could barely walk from the pain but is terrified of a replacement. So they are watching him carefully and hoping this will work for him too.

RSKY

 

[k0ua]

Sorry to not keep up to date but after a week or two taking pain pills every three hours as instructed I decided to get off them. Went for checkup and PA told me I could switch to Naproxen Sodium or Aleve. So I quit taking the Oxycodone and promptly slept for three days. Wake up about 7:00, eat breakfast, take two hour nap. Get up and eat lunch, take two hour nap. Get up for supper, take two hour nap. Watch one TV show, go to bed and sleep until 7:00 next morning.

Anyway.

Stitches out, pain lessening, walking as normal but still limping some. What I didn't understand is that they drilled many holes nearly all the way thru the bone obove and below the joint. Takes a while to heal.

I can honestly say there is already some improvement though I am not pushing it at all.

They have one guy they have done the procedure on who did not show the weak areas in the bone as I did. He needs a replacement but refuses. PA said he could barely walk from the pain but is terrified of a replacement. So they are watching him carefully and hoping this will work for him too.

RSKY

Thanks for the update, we will be following this. I was starting to get just a wee bit worried, not having heard from you for a bit. Glad you are doing better.

 

[dan ny escarpment]

Definitely stay on top of the pain and just as important, TAKE LOTS OF STOOL SOFTENERS.

Extremely important advice when taking opiods, one of the worst part of 2 hip resurfacings was the "Hoover dam" digestive effect of the pain meds. Second time around I took far less of them in favor of prescribed muscle relaxers and 8-hour tylenol, and was able to "git er done". The narcotics also screw up sleep patterns badly as mentioned above.

The most important variable in success of major orthopedic replacements/resurfacing etc is to find the most experieced surgeon possible. For examplem with newer and more complex hip resurfacing procedure (newer in the US) that's someone who has done many hundreds, or thousands. It's common for people to travel very far in the US including to Belgium (more experienced surgeon and way, way less expensive) to be operated on by a very experienced person. I was lucky to have one of the top 5 close to home at a hospital where the Mrs worked.