I will be reaching my 4th year after my Tibial Osteotomy in the next few months.
I’m so glad that I had this surgery rather than a knee replacement. Over the summer I met a silightly elder relative who had a partial knee replacement a year ago and it was noticeable that he was unable to walk as he used to. Now that may be due to that person no following his physio regime and picking up bad habits. The Osteotomy does defer a knee operation to much later in life. I’m glad to report that I do not carry those traits whatsoever; I took physio very seriously.
I’m still going to the gym and pushing weights. I do notice weakness at times and whenever I do hillclimbing, I’m always worried about being steady on my feet during a hill descend on uneven surfaces.
Over the last few months I am feeling pain in my left knee in a similar spot and thinking of seeing a specialist about an Osteotomy on my left leg…its not as bad as my right knee during the height of my pain but may kick this off in the new year.
4 years ago (2018), I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
On Sunday 15th May 2022, I tested positive for Covid 19, highly probable that is the friendly (!?) Omicron variant. I think I must have caught it on the Saturday whilst I was milling around in Elstree. I was watching the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday evening and I remember feeling like trash (or was it because I was watching the show) – eyes hurting, cough, cold, heavy chest.
I took the COVID test on the Sunday morning at home and it came back positive. Like many others, I did the test 2 more times, in case I had a dud result…positive.
I really experienced heavy aching limbs and tiredness. My right knee where I had my Osteotomy was swollen and really painful for most of the day. I was so tired and so I just laid on my sofa staring at the TV or sleeping . As the rest of the house were not positive, I put myself into isolation. Luckily our house is big.
Isolating in my room with my own stack of clothes, cutlery and medicine took me back to 2018 when I was recovering from the first Osteotomy operation and feeling pretty helpless. Being unable to sit with other people, feeling tired and just boredom doesn’t make for a happy person.
Anyway I am writing this post on day 4 of still being COVID positive. At least I am exercising again (I love the Nike NTC app and their exercise plans). Loiza tested positive today and its only PRIYA left in the house who has not tested positive.
We planned to take a city break in Boston MA on the 31st May – I am thinking this is not going to happen…We may be celebrating the Queens jubilee in the UK after all.
4 years ago (2018), I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
Red Alert or False Alarm?
The last 3-4 weeks in the UK have been pretty cold, albeit lacking with rainfall.
As part of my work routine, I normally go out for a 45 minute walk before I start work; also grabbing a coffee from the high street. I also get to the Gym most lunchtimes and spend 40 minutes. Using the treadmill is going well and continuing to use the weights does work
In the last 2-3 weeks, I have started to feel similar pains in my treated knee as I did before my operation although more focused to the front of the knee. Gauging the pain on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 is no pain), I would say a 3 or 4 as I know it is there. It’s not causing me issues in daily activity but it does raise questions and is beginning to play on my mind.
I am going to carry on with my routine and just monitor the pain for now and hoping its a combination of age (I’m not 25 anymore ! ) and weather. Things will get better soon
I may need to do a search other blogs to get a view of what I can do to push my confidence back up.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
In my last blog post I mentioned being diagnosed as being on the range as Pre-diabetic (type 2) – this means my last blood test showed my blood sugar to be higher than normal. This has made me urgently realise I need to make life changes to bring my blood sugar levels to a point that avoids me taking medication, or being affected by actually having Diabetes.
For the past 6 weeks I have worked on reducing my food portions, eating less sugary food and increasing my exercise intensity.
I have dropped 4kg in weight. My weight now is 105kg and my target is to get to 90kg in the next 60 days.
Eating less processed meat, eating more vegetarian dishes. For Diwali, we had Spinach Paneer, Pumpkin Curry and Roti.
I have kept my knee exercises on point also and with the recent weight loss, I am feeling less of the pain. Previously and on some days, I do feel pain around the scar, joint pain in the knee . This will not go away completely, however it has lessoned considerably since my weight loss regime.
As the weather has become colder, I feel a lot better than the same time last year.
This does go back to the advice that was shared post Tibial Osteotomy of losing weight and eating healthily. I have found it difficult but have found my stride (albeit via another health condition) and expect to continue.
I am thinking of taking up Yoga now; some of the stretch positions put the knee in some painful positions for me but I’ll give it a go to see how it fares.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
I walked for probably a mile along here. Picture taken in beautiful Wales as part of our family staycation, 2021
I’ve not been blogging recently and its not that everything is back to normal. Working from home on a permanent basis due to Covid-19 in the UK just makes every day blend into one another. It used to be so great commuting into London and being connected to real people, and not via Zoom or Teams. That really grates me.
So this week, my annual blood test results came back and I have been diagnosed with Pre-Diabetes. This means my blood sugar is on the borderline of being type2 diabetic, but not fully.
I need to change my diet and make changes so that I can get my sugar levels to a steady low-risk state.
I do go to the gym 4/5 times a week to work out. The leg strength training continues but I think I need to step up the exercises more in order to lose my weight.
I’m 108kg and need to get to 100kg as good marker. At present I can run on a treadmill for 30 minutes. I really want to start jogging but I am worried about the pain it will bring back.
Having just turned 51, recovery takes a while but I want to get to a point where I can run more freely while carrying less weight to shift.
For my Osteotomy, this is a must and I need to get on this journey asap. I have used the Nike training app to help with core strength training, I’ll have to look for some medium intensity work outs to help lose the calories.
My real test is to shed the weight, get running and fall of the “risk list” of diabetes
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
When I go out for a ride on my mountain bike, it feels like drivers have less care for other road users. Is it just me or are people becoming more impatient on the roads. Where exactly are they going during Covid lockdown??
Ok so I am in the same boat as everyone else around the world. Working from home, social distancing and COVID lockdown. Gyms are closed!! At least I have had my 1st COVID vaccination (hoorah!)
In recent weeks I have experienced scar swellings and on occasion knee pain in the same area as before. The swelling has kept me awake at night and have been tempted to scratch. Using a soothing cream has helped. I am hoping the knee pain is due to not being able to do specific weight training exercises, but it is troubling. I really do not want to get a knee replacement just yet.
I have found a good exercise app ( by a well known sports brand). I am doing 30minute exercise sprints on line that help build/maintain my core strength and stamina. It has helped in parts but I need to check in again on whether I need to go back to my specialist.
Anyone else experiencing a recurring pain a few years after the Tibial Osteotemy?
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
Hello all,
It’s been such a long time since my post and its not as if I’ve been jetsetting around living a rockstar lifestyle. Like everyone else, its WFH, lockdown and getting used to the world we have to live in during the pandemic.
My employers, DXC Technology is a decent company for employee work/life balance and support. I was able to upgrade my home office chair and get a foot rest for home working, courtesy of DXC. What a difference.
Good posture and feet positioning does have a positive impact on lower joints. I used to feel a little pained if i am sat for long periods of time, but not so much now
Good back support and positioning of knees really helps.
So, during lockdown, what have I been doing around exercising and and what is the knee pain like now post Osteotomy?
When the gym was closed, i took to my mountain bike and averaged 22km a day during my lunch breaks. Keeping the weight off is still my focus. I have lost 3 kg but really need to drop another 10kg. I tried to avoid snacking and I now try to cut out excess sugar , and have switched to sweetener and low sugar/fat alternatives. My wife is now buying gluten free and lactose free produce in her quest to either torture me or help me lose weight.
Now that the gym is open again, its all about cross training and running on the treadmill. I did notice my calf muscle on my operated leg still lacks a little definition.
On cold days i do feel the pain of bone rubbing bone, but it really is not as bad as it was 12 months ago. The pain never really goes away 100%, but we just need to live our lives.
I think i need a new focus in 2021 to step up my momentum – a sprint tri or sportiv event maybe?
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
Oh, the memories of the metal plates supporting my tibia. I keep forgetting, its major surgery
With Covid-19 lockdown restrictions still in play in the UK, I have tried to keep up my fitness and exercise regime. Getting back on to my mountain bike and cycling on quiet roads on a sunny day, are great! I have been logging my activities on Strava and have covered 250km per month since march; not bad considering I cycled 200km in total between 2018-2019.
The activity I miss the most is weight training. The loss of muscle mass around my knee is telling and some pain has returned. At least the gyms reopen in July. I guess I lack motivation of weight training at home as I really want to get out of the house for a change of scene; especially when working from home.
I wanted to share the status of my operation scars. If you are part way through your recovery journey, it may serve useful to set some expectations.
My initial tibial Osteotomy was in January 2018, and in March 2019 I went back to hospital to remove the metal plates and screws.
As a reminder, this is my leg post operation:
metal pins applied where incisions were made below the right knee
What the scarring looks like today
Scarring shows up in the summer but not as prevalent
I am left with a 7.5 cm scar and using Bio Oil (or similar products) has helped in hiding some of the blemishes. The a vertical cut (as seen in the previous picture) and is barely visible. I am still experiencing loss of nerve sensation on my shin, but you get used to it.
Until my next post – I wont leave the next post too far away.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
If you enjoyed reading my blog entry, don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!
The last 4 weeks has forced all of us to live in the ‘new ‘ world and having to adapt to social distancing. For me, work is no different as I mainly worked from home and used tools like Skype for Business and Teams for meetings anyway. If anything, the working hours have started to get longer.
To exercise and to keep muscle strength at a decent level has been a challenge as my Gym has been closed for 4 weeks now. I have been doing some basic weight training and keeping the strength in the knee. I have started to feel the pain in the knee though and do miss the gym. It never goes away completely.
I did fix up my mountain bike ( got a decent TREK 6500 MTB from 2011) and have been cycling every other day and am able to clock up about 60km per week. I only have 45 minutes for lunch but fewer cars on the road does make cycling more relaxing.
In addition to the cycling, taking yoga classes (via Youtube) is helping with the stretching and muscle building. If folks are thinking Yoga is lame, I urge you to have a go, you will use and stretch muscles you never knew were weak. For stretching muscles in the legs and simply doing the breathing exercises does help relieve knee pains. I may start to do Yoga every morning (starting next week!)
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation as I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed an alternative to a knee replacement operation.
In 2019, I went under the surgeons knife again to have the metal plates removed from my leg. I am writing this blog to help others who may be starting their own recovery journey
If you enjoy reading my blog entry, don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!
Its been a while since my last post in December 2019. The rubbish winter in the UK has been extremely wet and damp, I did miss the snow. 2020 is my year to be surgery free and to get stronger.
At work my role changed to become the regional lead for the Microsoft Azure Professional Services practice for DXC Technology (large American IT systems Integrator). This does mean longer hours but at least I am able to work from home.
Working from home has allowed me to visit the gym more frequently and for 2 -3 days a week, I focus on weight training and it really has helped. The key exercises that made a difference are shown below.
Hamstring buildingLeg extension
I did have to take my time and build up strength gradually.
Prior to my operation, I never focused on leg weight training and it was only when I went through Physiotherapy the physio explained the impact of muscle mass improving stability and stamina.
For me it has helped with better leg movement, reduction of swelling and increased stamina. As the months have elapsed I have noticed the difference.
I am probably at 75% mobility in my knee and the pains have substantially decreased (but still not gone)
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
It has been a long time since I posted a blog, recovering from an umbilical hernia and then getting mad busy at work have caused distractions.
This is the second year of operations for me and requiring time to recover (removal of metal plates from leg and then an umbilical hernia repair) just makes things look shitty as you are forced to make life adjustments to make sure recovery is good. Now I have clear runway to do more challenging things..
I met with a good friend this week who wants to do a few triathlons, 10k runs and cycle sportive in 2020 and he got me excited – however a reality check is needed.
So…I have been scratching around on what I can do physically….I’d love to take part in running. I can run on a treadmill but road running is painful. Also my knee is still suspect to heavy workouts…if I walk more than 8km, I feel swelling and pain. I have been adding muscle mass to compensate but the pain is still there.
Cycling it has to be !
Maybe a few 30 and 50 Mile events in the UK for starters that commence in March. At least there is a target and a training plan to make up; from now until then..
Later in the year, would be great to take part in the UK Coast to Coast cycle, a few days on the road on a MTB. See here
Some days I feel like I can swim, bike and run, other days it feels like I need to get an electric bike and pretend to burn the calories.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation as I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed an alternative to a knee replacement operation.
If you enjoyed reading my blog entry, don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!
nothing like a good slip on the sidewalk !
In October 2019, I took the family to San Francisco for a 5 day break. Flying non-stop from Heathrow was great as the flight left the UK early and arriving in the USA at 1pm, this meant we still had a full day; however American immigration had other ideas as we queued for over 2 hours to go through passport control.
The holiday was going well, I was walking freely and pain free and I did forget about my operation earlier in the year until day 2 when we were walking to a breakfast diner and slipped on the pavement. As I walked over damp metal grating, I lost my footing. All I remember was trying to retain my balance as much as I could so that I don’t look like a complete lemon as I hit the deck.
I hit the ground with my right knee (my operated leg) and boy did I feel it. The kids and Loiza helped me up; I didn’t want to make a fuss.
As we sat in the diner, my knee began to throb and by the afternoon, I had to switch out from the trousers I was wearing and into a pair of shorts. My knee was aching and the swelling around the knee was excessive.
I didn’t take a photo of my own knee but the image below sums it up..
Sums up the size of my knee!
I felt annoyed and sorry for myself (stupid, I know). I am seriously doubting if my health can ever be 100% again if a simple fall can set you back.
I ended up buying a knee brace from CVS to help me walk (and cycle over the San Francisco Bridge) and taking Naproxin to reduce the swelling. 4 days on and the swelling and pain is under control.
Doubt is now creeping in about my recovery – thinking I am back to normal to soon.
On a side note, I did manage to walk up to the Coit Tower to take this amazing picture of the bay bridge.
This weeks blog is written by my daughter Priya, a budding blogger still at school.If you enjoyed reading her blog entry, don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!
Some of my memories of Mexico are that there are a lot of tourist souvenir shops that sell tequila, sombreros, magnets and decorative shot glasses. However there are a few boutique shops which sell some really unique and charismatic souvenirs which tell a story at first glance.
This decorative purple skeleton represents a typical Day of the Dead tradition. This festival is a Mexican holiday that celebrates the lives of the deceased. The holiday is actually celebrated for two days. The first day, also know as All Saints Day, is the day to remember the deceased children. The 2nd of November is known as All Souls Day, meaning remembering those friends and family who have passed away.
The pink skull below represents a typical sugar skull that would be made for the celebration. The skulls are meant to reflect the happy and joyful memories associated with lost loved ones.
Another souvenir we picked up on the way back from a tour was a mini Mayan mask made out of Obsidian stone. Obsidian was widely used in the Mayan and Aztec times and it is created by the rapid cooling of lava. It is a strong protective stone and in the Mayan era it was used to make sharp objects, such as spears and knives. As a family we all thought that this was an unusual stone and we liked the peculiar design.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
If you enjoyed reading my blog entry, don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!
Its been a while since I last blogged an update as my daughter guest blogged about our family trip to Mexico; she is writing another post and will appear once she is done.
OK, so my last post ended with me returning home after the removal of the metal plates that was conducted by Mr Minhal Chatoo at the One Hatfield Hospital in March 2019 (earlier this year).
Whilst at home I realized that I get a very bad reaction to Codiene so had to stop taking that pain killer; rather stayed on the Ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Lets focus on the recovery points..
2 Days after operation
The swelling had reduced. Pain killers were working and I was able to move around slowly on crutches. The arrow was drawn on my leg by the surgeon (so he doesn’t carve open the wrong leg).
2 Weeks after operation
Mobility was better as I was using the crutches on occasion and visited the gym to do light cycle work. I wanted to build up stamina. It did help that prior to this operation that I had continued doing the exercises given to me by my physio as well as the work done in the gym. This way I was moving and recovering much faster than the previous year.
3 weeks after the operation
So a close up of the scar and I am pleased with the outcome. No infection but just the pain expected from further bone healing after the removal of the plates and screws.
In my next blog I will return to a Q & A post sharing questions I was asked by friends and family.
If you are about to go into surgery or at home in recovery mode, why not shoot me a few questions?
This weeks blog is written by my daughter Priya, a budding blogger still at school.If you enjoyed reading her blog entry, don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!
Hi I’m Priya, and l recently visited Mexico with my family. When my parents told me that I was going to Mexico I imagined white sand beaches, poor WIFI and great beach selfies. Little did I know that Mexico had hidden wonders scattered all over the country.
I could have stayed chillin’ at the beach!
In my previous blog I talked about visiting Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula, which is a Mayan ruin and one of the new 7 wonders of the world. On the tour to Chichen Itza, our tour guide told us pay a visit to two other locations, one being Coba and the other Tulum. As a family we chose to go to Coba because we were able to climb the main pyramid.
From where we were staying in Playa Del Carmen, Coba was about an hour away compared to Chichen Itza which was almost 3.5 hours!!
Going to Coba was a quick journey, so for most of it our tour guide was giving the history of the Mayans and theruins. When we arrived, our guide told us it is a mile walk to the first pyramid and it was already 35° Celsius and it was getting hotter, so next to the visitor center were ‘tuk tuk’ bikes. They took us all the way to the main attraction.
The reason Coba was such an experience was because you can climb the pyramid. The central pyramid is 137 feet tall and has steps which are at least a foot high and extremely uneven so I suggest wearing trainers.
The view from the top is amazing, the surrounding areas is completely flat and other ruins can be seen poking above the tree line. On the way back from the pyramid on the ‘tuk tuk’ our driver took us round to the other ruins as he said we wont get to see them in the our tour it was a great experience going on the ‘tuk tuks’ and I highly recommend taking one instead of walking as it also helps the local people out as they are the ones taking you.
Our Tuk Tuk ride
Another great thing about Coba is that you are in the middle of the jungle and so there is tons of different wildlife. I saw lizards, gecko, loads of locusts and an eagle!! It is a great opportunity to see different wildlife in its natural habitat.
I am glad I went on this trip as I learned that Mayan civilization was advanced for its time but they died out quickly and suddenly, however a lot of their past life is there for us to explore and learn. I really enjoyed climbing the pyramid at Coba – it may not be open to tourists in the near future so if you have a chance to visit soon, go there before it becomes a site like Chichen Itza.
This weeks blog is written by my daughter Priya, a budding blogger still at school.If you enjoyed reading her blog entry, don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!
Hi, I’m Priya and I recently went to Mexico with my family. We stayed close to a small town near Cancun; called Playa Del Carmen on the Caribbean Sea.
As you may know there are many archaeological sites in that
area. If you visit Cancun, then I highly recommend you go and visit one of
these sights. They all belong to the native people of Mexico who are called the
Mayans.
So, who are the Mayans?
They are an ancient civilization who were prominent in
central America around 900 A.D. The Mayans were a huge civilization, at their
prime, it is said that their population reached 22 million. They used to build
temples for their Gods made from stone and only royalty would be allowed to
touch it.
2 hours from our hotel was Chichen Izta, which is a massive Mayan temple, and is one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Chichen Itza stands 98 feet tall and it has 91 steps on each side which totals 364 steps. Plus the one large step on the top, the Mayans created 365 steps – matching the number of days in the year. The Mayans were ahead of the game, by understanding time and how the earth rotates the sun. The temple is a huge pyramid like structure in the middle of a clearing in the centre of the jungle!
When I first saw it, I
was in awe of its size and condition, as it was very well kept. I stood there
wondering, how on earth did they build this. IT WAS SO BIG!!!
There are also other ruins on the site, such as a Mayan sport court. They played this game that was similar to hand ball (and Quidditch!) but much harder, they have to use all of their body to get the ball into a goal over 3m above them. It was very interesting to hear and see what they did for entertainment. Our guide told us that the winners would sacfrice themselves at the end of the game as a reflection of their devotion to the gods. I was surprised to hear that, as was everyone else. What an amazing place!
I learnt a lot from going to Chichen Itza and it was
definitely worth it.
My advice when visiting this site is to go as early as possible, many tours leave at 7am and get there around 12, at that time it is intense heat and very busy. If you want a calm cool(er) time then try and get there as early as possible. 😀
In my next blog I will write about my trip to the Mayan ruins of Coba.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy operation at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
If you enjoyed reading my blog entry, don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!
Returning in 2019 to remove the metalwork
The osteotomy had given me a lot of improvement. The physio work and muscle built around my knees in the gym has given me 90% of my life back. The knee issue hasn’t gone away but I feel so much stronger, some pain does remain but this differs from day to day – that’s just the ageing process!
RHS shows healed bone
As the metalwork in my leg did irritate me from time to time, I took my surgeons advice and booked myself in to have the metalwork removed on 27th March 2019. Mr Minhal Chatoo would be my surgeon again. He was brilliant.
The metal work extraction procedure would be a day case. The procedure would take up to 1 hour to remove the screws and plates. Due to the nature of the operation, I would be under general anesthetic, meaning the time in the operating theatre increases to allow for the time to recover as well.
Upon arrival and being allocated a room at the hospital, one of the nurses came in and read my BP, went through standard paper work, handed over a gown, pants and socks – I’m not sharing any pictures of that!
Shortly after, the anesthetist came round as well and confirmed that Mr Chatoo would be operating on me as the first patient of his day.
Mr Chatoo came in to mark my leg before the operation and we had a light hearted conversation. He mentioned the operation is very quick and low risk so was happy to proceed.
Once he left, I was taken downstairs to the operating theatre. As I walked down someone talked me through the procedure again and kept me assured.
Once I was asked to lay down on the bed, I was connected to the ECG and given the anethestic. In seconds, I was out.
Coming round after the operation
I felt groggy after the operation. It was about 10:20 am as I noticed the clock. They showed me the metalwork that was removed from my leg – 2 pins 4 inches long, 3 screws 3 inches long and 6 other smaller screws. They told me I was unable to keep the screws due to protocol; though I wish I could have kept them as a souvenir…
The pain was unbearable and the nurses gave me strong pain killers. 20mins later, it still felt bad so they gave me more – but I think it was codeine.
Shortly after I was taken back upstairs to my room and Loiza was sat waiting.
I remember falling in and out of sleep and still in pain. To me, this felt much more painful than the osteotomy last year.
It took a while for me to eat lunch (soup and a sandwich), just the tiredness from the drugs and the pain.
I remember the Physio “Saul” visit . He got me out of the bed and made me go for a walk. We made it to a stairwell and then down a flight of stairs. He did say the pain will be high but I will need to get moving sooner. The recovery period would be :
Next 2 days full rest and some movement
Use crutches for a few days after that
Walk without crutches thereafter
Keep moving and apply icepacks if there is swelling
The recovery period was a lot shorter but I kept in mind that there was a deep cut, stitches and several holes in my tibia that would take time to recover.
I was able to walk however I was very tired due to the drugs. I made it back to the room and then met Mr Chatoo again. I remember him telling me that he placed “wax plugs in the screw holes!” to reduce the bleeding from the bone.
Mr Chatoo also said the operation was uneventful- this is good news.
I rested again and of course, fell asleep. When I came round again I was still in pain and was given more painkillers.
The nurse mentioned that I could be discharged once Mr Chatoo comes round at about 5 pm. The discharge was quick and easy and everything was set for me to go home.
I was wheelchaired to the car – We drove home in my Audi. The ride was great as I was glad to be going home.
When I got home, we took the picture below.
I was exhausted. I slept in Aroon’s room and was out as soon as I hit the pillow. I know I woke up in the middle night and Loiza had to help me to go to the restroom – it was still to early and I was unsteady on my feet – the drugs were not helping and as it transpired I had a bad reaction to the codeine.
Just a short Blog this week. As per last week I wanted to share single point of view on the positive impact of the Tibial Osteotomy can have. The image below was taken from the One Hatfield Hospital’s monthly publication.
You can see in the left hand image the surgical requirements Mr Minhal Chatoo orchestrated pre-operation. On the right hand side you can clearly see the surgical correction.
Accuracy of the surgery has to be at 95-98%. For all the planning it really is up to the expertise and training of the surgeon. I cannot recommend Mr Chatoo enough. There are a number of experts like him in the UK and worth looking into this type of operation as it saves on having a knee replacement operation.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
In December 2018, I was thinking more seriously about going back into hospital to have my plates removed. In the last couple of months I was experiencing more irritation caused by the metal plates in my leg. My surgeon did mention this could happen when during my last consultation. I spent a lot of time thinking the knee pain returned, but simple self investigation by pressing on the affected area, it was clearly in the region of where the metal plates were located. The pain would appear in the following ways:
Swelling beneath the knee area – The remedy was to use ice packs to reduce the swelling.
Itchiness beneath the skin- not much I can do other than trying not to scratch the scar area.
In retrospect I didn’t really feel 100% fully recovered and did experience stiffness and pain in the knee area that was brought on by the following :
Tiredness caused by lack of sleep
Stiffness when sat in the same position in a chair in the office
Excessive exercise such as treadmill running.
Leg pain for standing up too long.
The remedy really was to take painkillers to reduce the swelling and of course, to rest. In conclusion I saw myself as 70% recovered – still much better than what I was like before the operation. I found my picture below from our family trip to Athens, Greece where I raced my wife on the ancient Olympic track. Who would have thought that Will I run again!
Just the action shot of me running . Ok Loiza beats me at the end
Clearly I can run again!
My thoughts on returning to the hospital were something else….it would be my 3rd operation in 3 years – I was fed up with going into hospital and then taking time out (a good few months) to rehabilitate thereafter. I am softy at the end of the day!
A lot of points to consider…..
Loiza felt I should go ahead with the plate removal. Due to my private health insurance, I would be able to go back to the same private hospital (the OneHatfield) and have the operation done on a day that is convenient for me. It would be silly if I did not do do this.
Well thats it for now….I need to find a simple view/photo of my Tibial Osteotomy showing pre-operation planning and the affects of the surgery. As soon as I find it, I will post it.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
So our family holiday in August 2018 was amazing, we ate, shopped and visited many attractions around the Chicago lakeside area. Going for a bike ride on the lakeside was my favourite experience.
We were lucky that our hotel had an indoor basketball court ( well, Chicago is home of the Bulls) so I was really able to test out the progress of my recovery and it was a success! I was able to play 1on1 with my son – run, jump, turn and shoot and it felt great!. We were in Chicago for 10 days and we played every other day. It had been over 2 years since I was able to engage in a physical sport in that manner, so this was a massive achievement for me.
In terms of strength building I was able to spend longer in the gym and I felt stronger than possibly 2 years ago. I was making a real effort to lose weight and to change my diet. Over the summer I did notice that if I drink alcohol, I do felt aches and pains the day after – so the message here is to drink sensibly ! 🙂
As the UK weather in autumn/ early winter changes to being colder and damp, I noticed the metal work causing me pain in the areas where the plates and screws were.
Sometimes there was swelling in the area and soreness around the scar but taking ibuprofen eased the pain.
Oh and in October, we decided to have a short holiday in Athens, Greece. Strong recommendation from me and the family!
To get to the Acropolis you negotiate a steep climb and in places, over uneven surfaces. Great fun!
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
I did get the chance to visit Chicago in the summer. Perfect weather!
By June 2018, I was signed off my Physio. He felt I made good enough progress to get my life back to a normal state and gave me some tough exercises to continue with. This was coupled with my surgeons recommendation to return on the 12 month operation anniversary (Jan 2019) to have the metal plates removed. This is a big deal as it means the cycle of pain in the knee could be reaching its end point. A weird part of me wanted to keep the metalwork in my leg as its a great conversation opener or filler (“I have a bionic leg”) however I was experiencing the odd skin irritation or swelling where the plates were located. Mr Chatoo (Surgeon) did mention a number of patients having the same experience. I set my mind to return in January for the final operation.
The gym workouts were going well. I was able to run 5k on the treadmill, lift and pull leg weights that was a clear improvement to pre-operation. I kept to a routine of fitness as well as cutting down on my alcohol intake and losing as much weight as possible, through healthier eating.
In July, I had to take time out from work to help my parents. My dad went into hospital to undergo a Quadruple Heart Bypass operation.
My dad is doing well 12 months on but it was a very tough time for my immediate family. Thank you to the NHS!
At the end of August and as a family, we decided to spend our 10 day summer vacation in Chicago, Illinois. For a Brit living under the cloud of Brexit some destinations were becoming very expensive and we felt that Chicago was a great location and is excellent value for money. Also we booked at the last minute and found a great value deal.
I felt much more confident in travelling and doing more outdoor activities; a real turning point as I felt my confidence was coming back.
Yes, there are some great beaches on the lakeshore. Fresh water also!
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
So in late April 2018, I went on an overseas business trip to Detroit, Michigan and stopped over at Chicago on both legs of the journey. I would strongly advise to call your airline to explain your condition and request assistance – it takes a lot of stress out of the travel.
After my surgery, I had booked 12 physio sessions with the One Hatfield hospital (https://www.onehealthcare.co.uk/hatfield/) and had completed 10 of the sessions; I tried to keep to a visit every 2 weeks and the physio ensured he pushed me hard with challenging exercises. Here are a few that I still do today:
Bosu Ball – hop on and hop off on both legs
Strengthen calf muscles – slow raises holding a weight dumbell. Alternate on both legs
Strengthen hamstring with leg raises and using resistance from a large (elastic) band
Lunge exercises
On the treadmill, jog – I am now getting to 5km
Cycling
All leg weight training in the gym.
It is fantastic that I am exercising a lot more. It helped with the swelling being reduced (not using icepacks as much), stamina and my mental health.
May 2nd 2018 marked the 6 month review with my surgeon Mr Minhal Chatoo. I was booked in to have an x-ray prior to my consultation.
He had received feedback from my physio and so he knew I had been pushing myself. He then took me through some strength tests and was pleased. He then shared the X-ray results (below)
He explained the bone healing was progressing as planned and filling out correctly. He also mentioned the correction was 97% accurate to his planning.
Within the blue circle you can see the faint grey – bone growth.
I shared the following concerns I had over the last 6 months:
Swelling does flare up from time to time . RESPONSE – the bone is still healing, it will when tiredness sets in.
Feeling pain that feels similar to that prior to the operation. RESPONSE – irritation can be caused by the metalwork and that can swell, so the pain is really where the metal is located on the leg.
I had lost sensation from the front of my leg (shin). RESPONSE – the operation is intrusive and some nerves are affected. He recommended I keep track but no action to be taken as it was not affecting my day to day life. Nerve endings need time to heal, so the sensations may eventually come back.
He recommended I should not hold back and get back to full activity (other than playing football and hard surface running) BUT also to lose as much weight as possible, At 6ft tall, I was 110 kg and had dropped to 105 kg – he recommended to get to 96 kg for body longevity.
My surgeon then recommended the following :
book in for a 12 month review
plan for the removal of the metal plates as a ‘day case’
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
By continuing physio exercises at home every day is making a big difference. I took advice from the Physio and bought a Bosu Ball.
Amazon.com is the best place to get a Bosu Ball
Among previous strength building exercises were :
walking up and down stairs holding the banister
simple lunges
balancing on 1 leg
Using the Bosu Ball , the key exercises I practiced were:
Stand on 1 leg and balance (as the image below) – this is good to build up core strength. Alternate on your legs as you would have lost strength on your good leg.
Jump and hop onto the Bosu ball and then jump off – this is harder the first time, but the shock impact is needed to build core strength.
No, its not me, but shows what is needed
I gradually built strength in my legs so I could stop using the single crutch. In part I used the crutch as a “”safety blanket” as I had restarted my commute into work ( a 20 minute train ride to Kings Cross, London) and had to make my self visible to keep people at distance and not bump into me. However I also found that by the end of the working day, my leg was painful; I still needed the crutch.
At the start of May I had to travel to Detroit for business – this would mean 2 flights to get to my destination; London to Chicago (7.5 hrs) and then Chicago to Detroit (1.5 hours). Three weeks before my travel, I met with my Physio and asked for advice on how to stay on top of things and he recommended the following:
Take at least one of the crutches to help in case I get tired
Keep moving my leg by walking around
Don’t sleep for too long on the flight
Drink lots of water
I was flying with British Airways from Heathrow Terminal 5. I decided to park my car at the POD car park. You get a driverless car taking you straight into the airport terminal. As my flight was at 8am, the the whole airport was quiet at 5am. At the baggage check-in desk, I was advised to call a service line after security check-in so that a porter can take me to the terminal in a wheelchair.
Security was simple as the staff helped me pass through the scanners. When I met with the porter, he wheeled me across the large terminal; he warned me that people are ignorant to people in wheelchairs and he was not wrong! So many people are in a dreamland state and either do not move for you or bump into you – and its your fault!
Anyway, the nice chap helped me board the aircraft as one of the first passengers and the BA hostess gave me an aisle seat within a row where I had nobody sitting next to me. At least I could stretch out. Great job BA!
In my next blog, I’ll share my time on the plane, the connecting flight out of Chicago onto Detroit and the state of my knee.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
As a follow on from last weeks blog, I am sharing photos taken from pre-op to 6 weeks after. During the process of finding the pictures after 12 months and knowing that I am much better now, it does bring memories back of the journey of recovery and change. When you are in the moment, it is tough but as I noted in a previous blog, the human bodies capability to repair is incredible. The is light at the end of the tunnel!
Day 3- 5 Swelling and bruising
#After 3-5 days, expect bruising and discoloring to appear – the healing process
Days 6-8 I want to remove the bandaging!!
So in total I have 16 metal clips. Awesome!
Days 14 Metal Clips are out
Removal of clips are not that painful. Now I can think about Physiotherapy
Week 5-6 and the wound is healing well!
Healing in progress and Physio kicking in.
I hope the helps you out there. If you have any questions shoot me a message. See you next week!
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
For this weeks blog, I am sharing photos taken from pre-op to 6 weeks after. On creating this post, you have to realize the human body has amazing recovery capabilities, the repairs to the bone, muscle, tendons and skin are simultaneous!. When you are going through it on a daily basis it can feel like sh!t – don’t worry, you will get better!
Pre-Op mark up
Pre-op and before the leg shaving, Mr Chatoo marked my operating leg.
Post Op – compression bag on leg to reduce swelling
May be 2-3 hours after i came round from the op, you cannot feel a thing.
After 1 day, compression bag removed
There is a lot of bandage, but where is my other leg?
Day 2 – Getting ready for home, remove the bandages
This is the best part, time to go home.
Looks like I have run out of space, stay tuned the next post will continue the journey.
In January 2018, I underwent a Tibial Osteotomy at the One Hatfield Hospital in the UK. I had been suffering from the onset of arthritis on my right knee and needed a solution that would avoid a knee replacement operation and get my life back to some level of normality.
My blog charts the diary I kept as I went through the rehabilitation process. I am not a medical expert and is only my experiences that I share. Please click through my earlier posts using the menus on the right!.
I applied all the advice from my physio Craig into practice to build my muscles up. Loss of muscle mass and body control after an intrusive operation means getting back to normal needs a lot of work.
Lets keep this in perspective, an Osteotomy is a major operation
Feeling more stable on my feet and better stamina is making the recovery feels more real.
I am now able to walk correctly (with crutches) but the funny thing is ‘relearning walking’…to put the foot on the ground with the heel and moving the foot in a smooth rolling movement is key; I wanted to avoid dragging my foot or worse still, walking like a penguin; I really have to concentrate. At best it will improve posture, avoid back pains as well as ruining my other leg/knee.
I am able now to walk to the coffee shop and walk further without getting tired. Working is still the pain, as its cold outside, and laying on the sofa – cabin fever, the irritation of medication and mobility just ends up with being negative to people at work. I expect this to subside as well. Just need to keep the routine going.
So this blog is written by Priya. We met with my surgeon Mr Minhal Chatoo at the One Hatfield hospital on 8th May and he recommended Priya interviews me to share how life has changed pre- and post- Osteotomy.
Hi, Priya here. I thought of a bunch of questions to ask my dad about his progress.
This is Hertford Castle, near where we live and where we went for a walk.
How has the pain around your leg changed since the Osteotomy operation? Every day and every week I notice that the pain is getting less. However I do notice new pains appearing. The swelling in my leg is still there but is gradually reducing. The Osteotemy does entail bone cutting, drilling, cutting deep into flesh, muscle and many nerves. It does take a long time for the healing process to complete.
What life changes have you made since your first diagnosis?
I have made an effort to lose weight and eat the right foods. I have cut down alcohol, sugar and some types of meat. I have had to stop jogging due to the impact on my knees however I have now started going to the gym more where I run on the treadmill, use the cross trainer and lift weights to strengthen my core. If I can lose more weight I may be able to run again.
How has the operation influenced your life now?
To be more aware of long term health. I know I cannot run as much or kick a football about as much, so I need to find new sports/pass times to get involved in. Also life is about longevity so doing the right exercise is key.
How might the operation impact others around you?
As his daughter I have seen a urge in my father to lose weight and really exercise more. The effect this has on me is that as a family we go out and walk in different new locations on a weekly basis. This is a more active effect on my life and it’s for the better, as we are also eating healthier and experimenting more activities.
How do you think you can help others?
If you are young enough and want to continue having an active life, there is an alternative to a knee replacement surgery. The operation does give you the chance to defer such an intrusive operation for a number of years. The psychological impact of getting your life back to a normal balance is very important.
Recovery in weeks 3 and 4 (Feb 2018) In the weeks surrounding returning to work, I did find it tiring in the afternoon. I was able to work from home for a reasonable period; it helps the sense of things returning to normal.
Trying to balance a laptop, having a bag of frozen peas (to reduce swelling) and laying flat as much as possible does get uncomfortable – be aware. The swelling is getting less and some mobility was returning. I am going out more for a walk around also.
Starting Physiotherapy (at last!!)
Physio day (at the One Hatfield hospital) was something I was really looking forward to. In the same week, the UK was being braced to abnormally cold weather. Very challenging journey indeed to the hospital!
Loiza was worried on the day to drive. The outside temperature was around -1 to -3 centigrade on the day but snow was very light. In my mind I was completely set on going and would have driven myself to get there. I say this because I had set my mind to get to this milestone- its where the expert can tell me if my recovery is going well and what i need to do to get better. Having stopped work at 2pm, we set off.
I have to say that just sitting in the car and going for a drive is something i really enjoyed.
We waited for the physio to arrive and sat with a coffee.
We met with the resident physio, Craig. He started by testing my strength, assessed flexibility. He then went over additional exercises. Examples for strength exercises are :
Lying on the floor and lifting the leg up 6 inches and lowering slowly
Tensing the Quads and pushing the knee down
Bring the knee to your body
Roll up a towel, rest under the knee and straighten the leg
Stand up and hold a ball behind the knee and push the leg back
Craig said he was happy that I had been exercising- he could tell.
The final task was to walk and alternate the walking sticks – aiming to move me off 2 crutches and onto 1.
Having concluded the session, the task was to continue at home on a regular basis and get some core strength back.
On the 14th February ( and yes on Valentines day!) we returned to the One Hatfield Hospital for the removal of the stitches/ metal clips.
The resident nurse took us away. I had Loiza and Priya as my support team; or rather for Priya to watch me pass out and make a mess of myself.
The nurse was very helpful and knowledgeable. We didn’t know that Osteotomy’s in the past resulted in patients having their leg in plaster for over 8 weeks. She mentioned surgery now is much more accurate and less evasive. I have to thank the surgeon Mr Chatoo for his expertise.
Initially I thought the removal of the clips would be very painful, it was the opposite. Using a pair of metal clips, she pinched the clip in the mid point and that forced the clip to bend and pull out. Out of the 17 clips, only 3 hurt when they were removed. I didn’t have any local anesthetic.
The wound feels very raw but the good thing is it is healing without an infection.
Clips now removed. Another milestone achieved
And a closer look where you can see the ink marks from the surgery. External healing is definitely a “work in progress”
As a treat for Valentines, Loiza took us to a well known fast food establishment serving fried chicken- this is payback for when Loiza and I were dating at University and i took her to this place when I was broke. Anyway I loved it!
On going to bed, i asked Loiza to add a bandage to cover the wound as i didnt want it to catch or split whilst i was asleep.
The pain in the knee and ankle remains however the shooting pain on my shin is less painful. Also the red bruising on my calf muscle has almost gone. For the pain, Loiza set up a call with a GP who administered stronger pain killers. This is working, the swelling on the knee is less so and i am able to walk a little easier. However the ankle pain remains. That will need gravity and ice to give me movement back over the coming weeks.
I thought I would take time out from my diary blog in order to answer a bunch of questions that friends and family have asked me in the past.
Q: Was the cause a Sports Injury?
A: When I was younger, I was very active. Loved Martial Arts so trained 3-4 days a week; did this for over 12 years to a high level. I also played Soccer, Basketball for school, college and clubs. When I got older (into my 40’s) I took on Sprint Triathlons and 10k runs. The training takes its toll. Also I would consider myself overweight (or heavy boned 🙂 )
Q : You had an Arthroscopy and Debridement – thought that was the fix?
A: You would think that, but in effect brought on the pain more, my right leg became bow. (keyhole surgery where they wash lose cartilage from within the knee and shave some bone)
Q:Who recommended you for the tibial osteotomy?
A: I was undergoing Physiotherapy for my arthroscopy at the time and I complained the pain was getting worse. At this time, the physiotherapist recommended me to arrange a consultant session with a specialist, Mr Minhal Chatoo. He was doing some great work in surgeries that avoid having a knee replacement. I was referred to Mr Chatoo.
Mr Minhal Chatoo, Consultant Surgeon
Q: What happened during the first meeting with Mr Chatoo
A : Prior to meeting with Mr Chatoo, I went for an MRI scan and a full leg X-ray (starting from my hip down to my foot – 2 X-rays merged to 1). Mr Chatoo analysed the X-ray.
On meeting with Mr Chatoo, he shared his diagnosis and then outlined the course of correction that an Osteotemy would provide and more importantly deferring a knee operation. He also shared success stories of his previous patients. He considered me as a candidate as I was young and capable of making the right recovery.
Q: At high level, what would the surgery entail?
A : I am no expert so can only share my recall…….Mr Chatoo used software to outline where a line of gravity should pass after surgery (A line should move from the hip, down the middle of the knee and to the middle of the ankle). There was a lot of wear and tear on the inside of my right leg/knee. As my leg was bow he showed me where the line of gravity was passing versus where it should be. To achieve this, he will cut my tibia and remove enough bone (in a triangle) to allow correction. Steel plates will be applied to allow the bone to grow back and straighten my leg and to conclusively reduce the pain caused the rheumatism. I was a borderline candidate but Mr Chatoo was confident of success.
Q: Why did you proceed with the Surgery, sounds painful
A: The surgeon, Mr Chatoo was the reason. He was caring, knowledgeable, confident and human. He has a great success rate and convinced me of a decent recovery.
Right, that’s it for now, I’ll post more in a few weeks. If you have questions, post them to me and I’ll add them to another post.
Hello there! I took a few days off from blogging as the weather in the UK is just amazing.
Shoreditch, London. Keeping the rich out of our common places
Forcing a routine of getting up and resting is just something that has to be done. As Loiza and others tell me when I become impatient, the importance is for a full recovery of :
(1) the soft tissue beneath the skin
(2) the bone that is missing coupled with the metal work
(3) tendons and muscles that are affected by the surgery
It is so important to recover well in order to have the right level of mobility, otherwise the surgery will not be as effective.
The overarching pain at the moment is the joint pain. My knee is still stiff and swollen. Slowly movement is coming back but I am conscious of keeping my muscle mass however it will be noticeable that I am losing muscle. My ankle now is the most painful. The swelling (and blackness of the bruising) is more painful and keeping my knee above the rest of my body is easier said than done.
I am now negotiating the stairs and taken showers by sitting on the stool – the stair climb is painful as pain is felt on the outside of the knee (as the alignment takes effect).
On the 12th February Loiza took me out for a walk and I covered the longest distance (ok it was about 20 metres there and back). Compared to the last time I went for a walk, I have trebled the distance. The issue is the continued pain in the knee.
Get some loose clothing and get some exercise.
The pain in the evenings is interesting, I get shots of pain from the top of the tibia to half way down. A throbbing pain as well as the area around the stitches. If this is the healing process then great but they are heavy bursts of contracting pain. I really cannot wait for the clips to be removed, I won’t miss the protruding metal clips i can feel within the bandage.
Nothing to do with my operation, but a snap from my holiday to Langkawi, Malaysia in 2017.
When you are unable to walk and get out of the house for a number of days, it does drive you a little crazy. There is only so much daytime you can take before insanity sets in. I also noticed that my swelling from the leg has traveled to my ankle. Late in the morning, I was sat on a stool in the kitchen in the sunshine as my mother lunch. I must have been sitting for 30 minutes. After I sat back at the sofa, my ankle did begin to hurt.
Additional bruising, the case for gravity.
One of the more consistent pains I am experiencing is the pain of standing up. The shin area of my leg is really tender and when I stand up, that area becomes overbearingly painful for a few minutes. So much that I am unable to walk. Do watch out for this after your op.
Loiza planned to replace the current bandages and so we took off some of the tape around the wound to see if we could proceed. Unfortunately the replacements provided by the hospital were too small so had to wait. What we did see (as below) are metal clips. The points where the skin are pinched together still look raw and I can understand why I have so much pain in my shins.
Markings made by the Surgeon and the staples appearing. Too soon me thinks.
February 8th (Day 8)
My nights sleep was very uncomfortable, a combination of heartburn and leg pain. I also felt that I was coming down with the flu. I did go back to sleep after a warm glass of milk but felt rough in the morning.
My breakfast routine of tablets, porridge, fruit juice and fybrogel continues. Today my mother took over as Loiza went to work early,
My parents were going to leave to day, a little sad but i think my dad was getting a little tired. I will miss them as they helped me during the day and kept me company.
Today I found walking even more painful than normal, walking by sliding my foot just made it easier for a short time. Unbearable today. Also I fell asleep on the sofa with my leg resting above my head; i jerked my leg for no reason and woke me up. The pain was a 9 out of 10 – right on the stitch lines on my leg. It took 5-10 minutes for the pain to die down.
Once Loiza returned from work, we removed the bandages and had a chance to look at the stitches. There was also blood on one of the stiches – may have been a result of knee moving while I was asleep earlier
Ok, so it is a major operation guys!. Recovery will be gradual.
I didnt want to speak much for the rest of the evening; also the pain and swelling from my ankle was at a 8 out of 10. Loiza gave me a salt bath to soak my ankle. Helped a bit
I may have woken once last night for painkillers and so felt well rested. The pain was less and felt like I had some more mobility. I was able to wash and change by myself however Loiza did helped me. I sat in the day room and watched Priya get ready for her Saturday league football match. Aroon was going to stay with me for the morning and keep me company. I felt a lot stronger today and walked a little with the crutches. The exercises and movement are so important and really helps psychologically. Having watched The Punisher on Netflix (which is just awesome) I fell asleep for an hour – tiredness hits you and comes in waves. I know it helps with the healing.
The key thing is to remain mobile and to keep the joints moving. I have started doing ‘light weights’ to keep the upper body muscle mass although need to be careful as not to pull any tendons in the leg.
I stayed up until 10pm and then was helped to bed.
February 4th (day 4)
I only woke up once last night for painkillers (3:42am) and I could feel the pain. Waking up at 7:20am thereafter and I was really thirsty. I did drink ¾ of the water bottle but could not go back to sleep. This morning the pain level was very high.
The length of my tibia was painful. Loiza also noticed that I had new bruising on the back of the knee. Also the swelling is more prevalent this morning and appeared purple and red towards the bottom of my leg.
Red bruising appearing after the operation
I did get a chance to walk more. Distance and frequency is improving but the stiffness around the ankle and knee is still there.
February 5th (Day 5)
Monday morning and I woke up at 7:20am. I was able to sleep on my side although felt uncomfortable when i woke up. Loiza still had to help me out of bed and had to take the day off; it was the right thing to do. I cannot manage by myself just yet.
I think i have one more day of the co-didromel pills afterwhich i am on 400mg ibuprofen and the paracetamol.
Sitting with Loiza today and i am continuing with the icepacks on the leg. I did notice that my knee is stiff and getting new pains in the knee. Also as the picture below, more new bruising is appearing and this time in the back of the knee.
Further bruising appearing on the back of the leg
I was able to walk a little more than yesterday so at least my mobility is improving however by lunchtime I am exhausted. I know that movement is still needed otherwise mobility in the joints reduces and becomes harder.
My parents arrived at 3pm and so i sat, chatted and stayed awake until about 10pm.
The One Hatfield Hospital, Hertfordshire, where the Osteotomy was conducted
Last night I only woke up twice in the night. I was given stronger pain killers and the sleep was so much better. I was able to go to the bathroom by myself, major result in getting some independence back
Later in the morning I met with the resident doctor, pharmacist and physio again. The doctor mentioned 6 weeks recovery for the bone and 2 weeks for soft tissue. This sounds tough but I need to recover properly. I guess I will be house bound for the initial duration of 2 weeks at the least.
I was taken for a walk with the physio at 10:46am and they got me to walk much further. This was tiring but a great milestone reached.
Other than the nurse washing my leg this morning I really want to go home.
Right now it is dealing with tiredness, loss of leg muscle mass and taking drugs to control the pain is what I need to acknowledge. I need to make sure I am doing exercises every hour to ensure recovery is fast.
Loiza arrived just after 11am and we chatted; I was excited about going home. People came and went to check my BP, O2 and administer more pain killers. The pharmacist came round and mentioned providing me with Co-didromol and ibuprofen. The pain will be high for the next week or so as the soft tissue heals.
Mr Chatoo came round at 1pm, he helped remove the bandaging and reassured me again on progress.
He recommended ice packs to reduce the swelling and pain killers to manage the pain. I was happy to hear from Mr Chatoo, a person who does take his work very seriously.
At Lunchtime, I was discharged from hospital. At last!
Getting into the car was not as painful as I thought and Loiza. I really enjoyed the ride home; I was finally out of hospital and moving around.
As I made it into the house, I felt relief of being back home; sitting in a hospital watching daytime TV drives you mad but also have my own creature comforts around me as well as the kids.
I sat on the upright sofa for a while and then lay flat once the pain started.
Movement is getting better but the swelling is causing discomfort in terms of knee movement and feeling my skin stretch across my calf. This in turn causes me to itch.
The pain and tiredness came in waves today and after having dinner (lentils) i fell asleep whilst watching tv at about 9ish. I just could not get warm and could not tolerate the cold peas. Hoping tomorrow would be better
Feeling misty, can see things in the distance, but slow down, its a journey!
I woke up at 6:30am and watched some television and read the Economist magazine that Aroon left me. The article on Google, Facebook and Amazon becoming larger than economies and becoming monopolies questioned their business ethics in terms of acquisition was rather interesting. I remember reading that the new bargaining currency of DATA is a dangerous issue – this will cause governments to sue these large companies – they are no longer immune…..
Anyway that was my riveting morning as well as developing constant hiccups.
I sat up on my bed and could not see any change in swelling around my knee but I did see a big change in my leg’s alignment. My only worry is that it has been overcompensated, but the swelling on the inside of the leg (where the op took place) is surely distorting it.
Breakfast arrived at about 8am and had an English fry-up – polished it off as well as 2 cups of tea. The doctor came round with the pharmacist and physio. The doctor explained what happened to me the night before and he explained to me the cause. He reassured me it was a cause of the drugs and I should not have another episode.
The physio mentioned she would return later and that due to the nature of the operation, they will take it very carefully. She wanted to start me on a walking frame followed by desired crutches. They removed the pillow under my leg and mentioned they will return later in the day
I waited for Loiza to arrive and when she did , she brought magazines with her as well as her smile. We read some magazines and my lunch arrived and was the best meal so far in hospital – chicken with gravy.
Later on the physio arrived. They got me out of bed and with crutches added weight to my leg. As I stood up the pain in my leg was felt. My calf muscle was hurting as well as my ankle. They helped me walk with the COGS process (Crutches, Operated leg, Good leg, Step). It worked. As Loiza recorded me walk i made my way out of the room and in to the corridor. It was a relief to be able to walk however the pain was immense. I could feel the tightness of the skin and my bone was hurting.
As I sat on the chair for the first time, i had to remember that I had taken strong pain killers to numb the pain. After the physio left, Loiza let me walk a little more in the room. I also called my parents to give them the good news that i was able to walk.
Physio Staff at One Hatfield Hospital starting the rehab
The physio returned to help me walk up a flight of stairs. We walked a longer distance (as I had now changed my clothes and wasn’t wearing a revealing hospital gown) and went to the stairwell. I stepped down and then back up, The joy was felt as well as the pain. The 2 physios brought me back in a wheelchair. It was at this point that I decided to stay another day in hospital as I was not ready to go home. My tolerance to pain at this moment was low, and I did not want to risk any damage by being at home.
The Physio team are critical post operation, they are key to focusing your mind on the power of the human body and the program of activities that inevitably impact on a speedy recovery.
Thanks again to @OneHatfield Physio team and to Mr Minhal Chatoo.
Initially the Osteotomy surgery date was meant to be on 17th January but the surgeon had to push the time back as there was a risk of overrunning on a more complex surgery that was planned earlier in the day. For me, I had programmed my mind (at home and work) that surgery would be on a specific date so felt prepared. With that moving, it was tough trying to adjust and refocus on work but it had to be done.
Work for me this month was very manic; recruitment, interviews, dealing with sales staff in the corporate world is stressful. Also, with my manager being unable to take my workload, this didn’t help the stress levels. This actually helped me avoid thinking about the surgery.
So now i am sat at 6:30pm on Tuesday feeling a little numb. I’m not sure how to react other than to ‘go with the flow’ tomorrow.
In terms of the ‘what will i do after the surgery’ quandary, not too sure what that would entail. The thought of the surgeon drilling through my tibia, taking a 1.1cm width of bone out, drilling holes and adding metal plates is daunting. What will the pain be like after a few days? How will i go to the toilet, shower and dress myself. Also being stuck in the house with a wounded legs for a week or so is not riding well.
I’m not sure what Aroon or Priya are thinking. Aroon is wrapped up in his own things and Priya is busy being a girl. As long as they support Loiza, thats all goodness.
I’m going to go early to watch Priya at football practice and see how the day ends, Its NIL BY MOUTH 12 hours before the surgery and need to get to the Hospital by 7am.
I am Jayesh (“Jay”) Lad, married to Loiza Lad and we have 2 children, Aroon and Priya.
We live in a suburb just outside London, UK where we have joys of being very close to the countryside and 20 minutes away from London, one of the greatest cities in the world. We live an active lifestyle and enjoy spending time together as a family and with extended families.
Life is about staying healthy, bringing up the kids, paying the mortgage and going on holidays.
In 2018 I underwent a surgery called a Tibial Osteomety at the One Hatfield Hospital on my right leg. After a year of recovery I decided to blog on my recovery process with the aim of helping others who may be thinking of taking their journey, or like me, on their journey right now,
Will I Run Again 