new knees/new hips

[mabeckoff]

Melissa, Does your spine surgeon know about the steroids?

As Eliza showed you, my surgeon is the one who put me on steroids and I am going to see him tomorrow

Thanks for caring

[Elisa]

Karen, this is Melissa's quote from another thread...
"He is putting me on medrol (like cortisone) for 6 days . If it does not help, he wants me to come in on Wednesday for Xrays"

BTW, that was very informative post about steroids. When my older boy had HSP when he was twelve and spent an entire month in the hospital, he was on a high dosage of prednisone to keep his kidneys from spewing protein (very inflamed) and he gained so much weight and got the typical 'moon face' and he was so hungry all the time. I noticed too that his behaviour was weird and he became a bit reckless and did things he normally wouldn't do, like jump off a two story balcony. I was advised about the weight gain and behaviour issues but never knew anything about how it affects your bones and healing. Interesting.

[Karen Ocker]

Steroids

I will try to go down on one knee instead of squatting. My recovery is not going well at all. I am in much pain. I was put on steroids yesterday

Melissa, Does your spine surgeon know about the steroids?

[mabeckoff]

Does your surgeon know about this?

Because oral corticosteroids affect your entire body instead of just a particular area, this form is the most likely to cause significant side effects. Side effects depend on the dose of medication you receive. Within days or weeks of starting oral therapy, you may have an increased risk of:

Elevated pressure in the eyes (glaucoma) Fluid retention, causing swelling in your lower legs Increased blood pressure Mood swings Weight gain, with fat deposits in your abdomen, face and the back of your neck When taking oral corticosteroids longer term, you may experience:

Cataracts High blood sugar, which can trigger or worsen diabetes Increased risk of infections Loss of calcium from bones, which can lead to osteoporosis and fractures Menstrual irregularities Suppressed adrenal gland hormone production Thin skin, easy bruising and slower wound healing .

Reduce your risk of corticosteroid side effects
Despite their side effects, corticosteroid drugs remain an important medical treatment. To get the most benefit with the least amount of risk:

Try lower doses or intermittent dosing. Newer forms of corticosteroids come in varying strengths and lengths of action. Ask your doctor about using low-dose, short-term medications or taking oral corticosteroids every other day instead of daily. Switch to nonoral forms of corticosteroids. Inhaled corticosteroids for asthma, for example, reach lung surfaces directly, reducing the rest of your body's exposure to them and leading to fewer side effects. Make healthy choices during therapy. When you're on corticosteroid medications for a prolonged period, talk to your doctor about ways to minimize side effects. You may need to reduce the number of calories you eat or increase your physical activity to prevent weight gain. Exercise can help reduce muscle weakness and osteoporosis risks. And taking calcium and vitamin D supplements and prescription bisphosphonates, such as alendronate (Fosamax) or risedronate (Actonel), can minimize bone thinning due to corticosteroids. Take care when discontinuing therapy. If you take oral corticosteroids for prolonged periods, your adrenal glands produce less of their natural steroid hormones. To give your adrenals time to recover this function, your doctor may reduce your dosage gradually over a period of weeks or even months. If the dosage is reduced too quickly, you may experience fatigue, body aches, lightheadedness and difficulty recovering from minor illnesses. Weigh the risks and benefits of corticosteroids
Although they may cause a range of side effects, corticosteroids may also relieve the inflammation, pain and discomfort of many different diseases and conditions. If you work with your doctor to make choices that minimize side effects, you may achieve significant benefits with a reduced risk of such problems

Whom is this directed towards?

[Karen Ocker]

Steroids??? From the Mayo Clinic:

Does your surgeon know about this?

Because oral corticosteroids affect your entire body instead of just a particular area, this form is the most likely to cause significant side effects. Side effects depend on the dose of medication you receive. Within days or weeks of starting oral therapy, you may have an increased risk of:

Elevated pressure in the eyes (glaucoma) Fluid retention, causing swelling in your lower legs Increased blood pressure Mood swings Weight gain, with fat deposits in your abdomen, face and the back of your neck When taking oral corticosteroids longer term, you may experience:

Cataracts High blood sugar, which can trigger or worsen diabetes Increased risk of infections Loss of calcium from bones, which can lead to osteoporosis and fractures Menstrual irregularities Suppressed adrenal gland hormone production Thin skin, easy bruising and slower wound healing .

Reduce your risk of corticosteroid side effects
Despite their side effects, corticosteroid drugs remain an important medical treatment. To get the most benefit with the least amount of risk:

Try lower doses or intermittent dosing. Newer forms of corticosteroids come in varying strengths and lengths of action. Ask your doctor about using low-dose, short-term medications or taking oral corticosteroids every other day instead of daily. Switch to nonoral forms of corticosteroids. Inhaled corticosteroids for asthma, for example, reach lung surfaces directly, reducing the rest of your body's exposure to them and leading to fewer side effects. Make healthy choices during therapy. When you're on corticosteroid medications for a prolonged period, talk to your doctor about ways to minimize side effects. You may need to reduce the number of calories you eat or increase your physical activity to prevent weight gain. Exercise can help reduce muscle weakness and osteoporosis risks. And taking calcium and vitamin D supplements and prescription bisphosphonates, such as alendronate (Fosamax) or risedronate (Actonel), can minimize bone thinning due to corticosteroids. Take care when discontinuing therapy. If you take oral corticosteroids for prolonged periods, your adrenal glands produce less of their natural steroid hormones. To give your adrenals time to recover this function, your doctor may reduce your dosage gradually over a period of weeks or even months. If the dosage is reduced too quickly, you may experience fatigue, body aches, lightheadedness and difficulty recovering from minor illnesses. Weigh the risks and benefits of corticosteroids
Although they may cause a range of side effects, corticosteroids may also relieve the inflammation, pain and discomfort of many different diseases and conditions. If you work with your doctor to make choices that minimize side effects, you may achieve significant benefits with a reduced risk of such problems

[debbei]

My son was complaining about sore knees soon after his second surgery and it lasted for a while when we got home as well. I also noticed he had quite a bit of swelling in his ankles and I was told that it was b/c he was so sedentary during his five week hospital stay. He was supposed to use his walker with the weights attached to it but he became too tall for it after a week or two (can't quite remember) and it couldn't be made taller otherwise it wouldn't fit through doorways so he did a lot of sitting instead and did some leg exercises. Once we were home and free from the halo/weights and he could walk around as much as he wanted to his knees stopped hurting, the swelling in his ankles went away and slowly but surely he's gaining back muscle tone and is getting stronger.

On that note, my daughter joked this morning about how I still make his bed and clean his room for him even though he's fifteen and in high school now but I explained to her that it's quite tricky for me who has not had spine surgery to make his bed b/c it is quite high off the ground, the mattress is super thick and the sheets barely fit on them and I have to flop myself on his bed and roll over to stretch the sheets and pull them tight otherwise they slip off; I feel like a contortionist. She had never even thought about how hard seemingly simple tasks can be especially when you've just had 'major' surgery(s).

that does sound like a tricky bed to make. I thought I'd never be able to put sheets on a bed again. However, much to my surprise and my husband's delight, I can do so now without a problem. LOL I shouldn't have tried and then hubby would still have to do it on a regular basis. (not that he won't if I ask him--it's just the point).

Just goes to show you how much you can do after this surgery that at one point you thought would always be an impossibility.

[mabeckoff]

Melissa, Hold onto a table or kitchen counter when you go down on one knee. It will be much easier for you.
Sally

I will try that
Thanks

[loves to skate]

I will try to go down on one knee instead of squatting. My recovery is not going well at all. I am in much pain. I was put on steroids yesterday

Melissa, Hold onto a table or kitchen counter when you go down on one knee. It will be much easier for you.
Sally

[mabeckoff]

I'm so sorry to read about your pain. Please just lie down and ride it out and I hope it improves quickly. Regarding knees. My knees vaguely hurt for a few weeks after coming home and I really thought I was in line for replacement, but it was just that they were getting used to the extra load of work that spinal fusion puts on them. Pretty soon the pain went away and now I'm thinking they'll last me out.

What pain meds are you at at the moment?

It's still so early for you. It can be a horrible time. I hope tomorrow is much better.

Thanks Jennifer

[mabeckoff]

Melissa,
You will have to gradually build up your quadriceps muscles and that will protect your knees. Try to go down on one knee rather than squatting as squatting is very hard on the knees. I have had knee problems since age 40, but by keeping my quads strong, I am hoping to never have a knee replacement. When you are sitting in a chair, do some leg lifts. That will help strengthen the quads.

How are you feeling now that you are home? I hope recovery is going well for you.

Sally

I will try to go down on one knee instead of squatting. My recovery is not going well at all. I am in much pain. I was put on steroids yesterday

[Elisa]

My son was complaining about sore knees soon after his second surgery and it lasted for a while when we got home as well. I also noticed he had quite a bit of swelling in his ankles and I was told that it was b/c he was so sedentary during his five week hospital stay. He was supposed to use his walker with the weights attached to it but he became too tall for it after a week or two (can't quite remember) and it couldn't be made taller otherwise it wouldn't fit through doorways so he did a lot of sitting instead and did some leg exercises. Once we were home and free from the halo/weights and he could walk around as much as he wanted to his knees stopped hurting, the swelling in his ankles went away and slowly but surely he's gaining back muscle tone and is getting stronger.

On that note, my daughter joked this morning about how I still make his bed and clean his room for him even though he's fifteen and in high school now but I explained to her that it's quite tricky for me who has not had spine surgery to make his bed b/c it is quite high off the ground, the mattress is super thick and the sheets barely fit on them and I have to flop myself on his bed and roll over to stretch the sheets and pull them tight otherwise they slip off; I feel like a contortionist. She had never even thought about how hard seemingly simple tasks can be especially when you've just had 'major' surgery(s).

[JenniferG]

I'm so sorry to read about your pain. Please just lie down and ride it out and I hope it improves quickly. Regarding knees. My knees vaguely hurt for a few weeks after coming home and I really thought I was in line for replacement, but it was just that they were getting used to the extra load of work that spinal fusion puts on them. Pretty soon the pain went away and now I'm thinking they'll last me out.

What pain meds are you at at the moment?

It's still so early for you. It can be a horrible time. I hope tomorrow is much better.

[mabeckoff]

Melissa,
You will have to gradually build up your quadriceps muscles and that will protect your knees. Try to go down on one knee rather than squatting as squatting is very hard on the knees. I have had knee problems since age 40, but by keeping my quads strong, I am hoping to never have a knee replacement. When you are sitting in a chair, do some leg lifts. That will help strengthen the quads.

How are you feeling now that you are home? I hope recovery is going well for you.

Sally

I am home but recovery is not going well at all. I am in much pain . My surgeon does not want me to do anything until October 5th when he will see me

Thanks for asking

Melissa

[loves to skate]

Melissa,
You will have to gradually build up your quadriceps muscles and that will protect your knees. Try to go down on one knee rather than squatting as squatting is very hard on the knees. I have had knee problems since age 40, but by keeping my quads strong, I am hoping to never have a knee replacement. When you are sitting in a chair, do some leg lifts. That will help strengthen the quads.

How are you feeling now that you are home? I hope recovery is going well for you.

Sally

[mabeckoff]

Has anyone had a knee or a hip replacement done after a long fusion? I feel my knees not lasting forever with the extra kneeling that I do now.

Melissa