Not offered my knee replacement

cobby

Morning all 
This morning I’m feeling very low because I was refused my chance of a knee replacement because my BMI was not at the right level for my height, I’m in a lot of pain with both knees , Hip’s hurt plus back all the time ! Pain killers don’t work and doctors seem to not know what to give me next 😔 told I need to loose weight and exercise 😤 but pain is stopping that , So really low today !! Feel like know one is listening, loose weight or that’s it . Has anyone on here been through this as well ?? 

ShirleyW

I have a friend who needs a spinal operation but it has been refused because her BMI is too high.

She just cannot physically exercise but she has joined a very supportive Slimming World Group a few months ago.  She has now lost 2 stones and is well on the way to getting down to the BMI the hospital have set for her.

I had a knee replacement 8 years ago and in just over a week I will be having my other knee replaced.  Luckily my BMI is in an acceptable range.  I've also had 5 other joint surgeries and gall bladder removed during the last 4 years.

I have bought a little pedal exerciser machine to keep my knees flexible and mobile.  You sit on a straight backed or dining room chair and put your feet in the pedals.  It does the work for you, you just relax and allow your legs to go round.  It has 12 speeds and the 1st one is extremely gentle.  It is quite easy to take your feet out if you cannot manage a full rotation.  It is not a weight bearing exercise at all.

I would recommend that you ask your GP or Physio if it's ok to use one of these sorts of pedal machines.  I'm not allowed to put an advertising link on but if you Google Senior Pedal Exercise quite a few come up.  Many of the companies offer VAT relief too for disabled people.

Also ask your Dr or Physio if you could do the pre-operation exercises.  These are all non weight bearing and will help to stop you stiffening up too much and keep you more flexible.  They will also help enormously in the recovery and rehabilitation period when you eventually get your knee operations.

These are the exercise I have been doing in the lead up to surgery but as long as your Doctor says OK then you could start them now.  
https://www.allinahealth.org/health-conditions-and-treatments/health-library/patient-education/total-knee-replacement/preparing-for-surgery/before-surgery-knee-exercises

I have severe osteoarthritis in most of my joints but I find that gentle exercise such as the above, gentle yoga and meditation helps a lot with the pain.  Start off very slowly and build them up gradually.  It will also help to distract you from the pain which I know from experience is quite horrendous.

poppy123456

It must be frustrating to hear this but i understand where they are coming from. It's not just you, it happens to a lot of people.

You don't need to excercise to lose weight. Just counting some calories and healthy eating will help with this. You can also speak to your GP to ask if there's any support available to help you through your weight loss journey.

cobby

Thank you all for the advice and support. 

Alex_Alumni

Afternoon @cobby and thanks for reaching out, I'm glad to see you've been finding the online community helpful. What's happened must be incredibly frustrating to say the least!

To help anyone else who's been in a similar situation, or going through something similar right now, I've just moved your post over into our pain management category, so it's easier to find. 

I'd encourage you to keep in touch with your GP and other specialists, and stay engaged with the process if you can, as there is support out there. 

Please ask if you need anything further, and we'll do what we can to assist  

cobby

Thank you . 

cobby

Thank you .

Jacksy

I was on a waiting list for total knee replacement, but the surgeon said I was too fat, but I couldn’t take him seriously as he was so big himself, he was sat in a computer chair and got up and the chair broke, I didn’t know where to look, so I thought he would have more sympathy, but he wasn’t so because I couldn’t lose the weight he struck me off the weighting list, 

cobby

😂😂 Thats what I call Karma. 

Poor you ! What do you do now for pain .