The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

greenbee

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

foot support too is a problem - and trainers are easier. I sympathise with the "style to wear" if foot support is needed too. I have my fathers flat feet (darn it) and got told years back by a foot guy I needed orthotics.

I've muddled through over the years and not worn them when footwear style dictated I couldn't do so. Having to try again now - as knees are being slightly dicey and I need them to get back to normal. So yesterday, for instance, saw me putting on a pair of "Mary Jane" style shoes with inserts in and having to remove inserts because it meant the strap was rubbing the top of my feet. Fortunately - I wear jeans a lot by choice anyway - so trainers are okay with them. But I do have a problem when I wear skirts and dresses - and so have to wear normal shoes/sandals/etc. I tend to work on an 80/20 basis there (as they advocate for food - ie if I have to settle for only wearing orthotics 80% of the time what can a gal do? <shrug>). So I try the orthotics in shoes and, if they wont go in, wear the shoes anyway.

That leads to panic in case I'm upsetting my knees - particularly having been told knee replacements don't get your knees back to normal (ie as you cant then bend the knee - with present-day technology?/what the NHS give you?).:shocked::huh:. Very odd that flexible replacement knees don't seem to have been invented yet...

You can get flexible knee replacement - a friend in her 70s has just had a triathlon knee fitted.

As for orthotics, a good podiatrist may be able to use them to permanently correct the problem if combined with other therapy (biomechanics, therapeutic massage, physio etc), and change the orthotics gradually over time as your muscles adapt so that you no longer need them.

[Deleted User]

I used to be a size 7 but now am a size 8 and stick to flat shoes, can't walk properly with a heel of any kind. Find that HOTTER shoes are available in different widths and can usually find a pair that are the same shape as my feet so therefore comfortable. I have no interest whatsoever in fashion so as long as they are an acceptable colour and I can go walking in them it's fine by me. In the summer I've found that a good (and unfortunately usually expensive) brand of trekking sandals are practical and comfortable and as others have said a decent brand (again usually expensive) pair of trainers/approach shoes are worth having too along with a good waterproof pair of walking boots and with wellingtons you have everything you need.....at a price! I'm lucky in that if I can find a pair of shoes that fit well I can wear them instantly and still be comfy, I must be a 'standard' size 8! I'm also lucky in that knees and hips seem to be going along fine as I age but maybe part of that is staying active and having always had the dogs to walk along perhaps with being lucky genetics wise, whatever the reason I'm grateful!

nursemaggie

I have never heard of knee replacements you can't bend. There would be no point in having them if you can't. They used to fuse the joints together before they developed replacement joints. You do not get inferior replacements with the NHS. You get the best.

If you have met someone who cannot bend their knees it is because they did not do their exercises after the op. It is essential to be climbing stairs within a week of the op and doing it several times a day.

I know someone who went dancing three weeks after both knee replacements. She worked really hard up and down the stairs nearly every hour.

silvasava

Second Nursemaggie with the physio after an op. Many years ago DH smashed his heel up into his ankle. Major surgery and lots of screws but he religiously did his physio. Surgeon told him if he didn't they would have to fuse the ankle or remove the foot!!! He's just got a bit of arthritis in it now but has no trouble walking. The physio was painful at times but the alternative was worse!

mardatha

When I was really ill with ME I spent a year flat on the couch and another year mostly there, and since then my feet have changed. All that time indoors and not walking outside must have done something.. now I have trouble with all shoes hurting , and if I'm out I need to change them in the middle of the day.I spend a fortune on shoes and they still hurt.

mancbird

Morning everyone! Hope you are all OK?

I'm feeling a bit better today, hubby let me have a lie in and took eldest to school We are off to town shortly and will have our dinner whilst we are out. We are going to do our menu plan and list before we go New regime here!

srn

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

foot support too is a problem - and trainers are easier. I sympathise with the "style to wear" if foot support is needed too. I have my fathers flat feet (darn it) and got told years back by a foot guy I needed orthotics.

I've muddled through over the years and not worn them when footwear style dictated I couldn't do so. Having to try again now - as knees are being slightly dicey and I need them to get back to normal. So yesterday, for instance, saw me putting on a pair of "Mary Jane" style shoes with inserts in and having to remove inserts because it meant the strap was rubbing the top of my feet. Fortunately - I wear jeans a lot by choice anyway - so trainers are okay with them. But I do have a problem when I wear skirts and dresses - and so have to wear normal shoes/sandals/etc. I tend to work on an 80/20 basis there (as they advocate for food - ie if I have to settle for only wearing orthotics 80% of the time what can a gal do? <shrug>). So I try the orthotics in shoes and, if they wont go in, wear the shoes anyway.

That leads to panic in case I'm upsetting my knees - particularly having been told knee replacements don't get your knees back to normal (ie as you cant then bend the knee - with present-day technology?/what the NHS give you?).:shocked::huh:. Very odd that flexible replacement knees don't seem to have been invented yet...

Delurking to share my experience with knee replacements. I felt I had to do this in case anyone was having a replacement in the near future and was worried that they would not be able to bend their knee(s) after it. I have had both of my knees replaced, on the NHS, and can fully bend both knees, live an absolutely normal life and returned back to work after both replacements. I did follow physio and consultant instructions re exercise and found stationary cycling, with very little resistance, the best exercise. I still cycle daily, but on a proper bike now. I found a wonderful website/forum for knee and hip replacement support - Bonesmart -. It did used to be frequented by a lot of Americans, so their aftercare is very different to the more gentle approach that we have here, but one of the administrators is an English retired theatre nurse, who has recently had her second knee replaced I believe, and there are now lots of British people on the site, so the support and advice does now tie in to the advice which you will be probably given on discharge, which you must always follow in the first instance.

Going back to lurking now, hope you don't mind me chipping in, but I had to try to reassure anyone due a replacement that there is a great and full life after the op. If you need one go for it, it's the best thing I ever did.

moneyistooshorttomention

That's reassuring to read those comments - as person I am thinking of is adamant they can no longer kneel down for instance.

Good to hear that is just their personal experience.

srn

Regarding kneeling after knee replacement, and I am only speaking from my own experience, my consultant told me that there was nothing that I couldn't do but be guided by my own instincts and how my knees felt. I do kneel, but I must admit that it felt strange at first, I've got used to it now. Personally I wouldn't attempt anything that may cause me to fall over a lot, such as learning to ski, but I can ski and have done so post-replacements. I wouldn't learn to ski at my age, knee replacements or not, due to the falling over! Be guided by your consultant and your knees.

ivyleaf

Very interesting to read this, as my brother had both knees replaced a few years ago and says he can't kneel down. He lives in Germany, so they may have a different approach to physio etc. He had to go to a rehab place for 3 weeks after each knee op and they wanted him to do things like have a mineral bath (which he was then unable to get out of as it was a big deep tub, so he had to yell for help!).
At least he knew to refuse that offer the second time around!

ETA mancbird Glad you're feeling a bit better! Good luck with the new regime

Lyn I usually need a 7 1/2 shoe, wider fitting if possible, but found that with Hotter ones I need an 8 in their Standard width.