You mentioned that you used a cream on the actual wound?

Yes, when the clips were out and the dressing was removed, I’d got like dead, dry skin on my knee. So I used some body lotion and just massaged. And I massaged the scar as well because I didn’t want any tightness or anything. And then at the top of the thigh I’ve got like a little knobbly bit. And it’s stretch, the, I don’t know, it’s a bit, it looks a bit tight. So I just massage some hand cream or moisturiser cream in there and just keep it moist and just keep massaging it.

Is there any message that you’d like to give to the health professionals at all?

Well, I think they’re tremendous, I really do, at the Nuffield [NHS hospital]. From start to finish really I’ve not been that worried. I’ve been reassured. Everybody’s been friendly. The hospital, the three days, nights that I had in hospital, it were like being in a hotel [laughs]. Having meals, and being attentive. And being in a room with four people was very helpful. Because four of us had different things. One had a back problem. I had my knee. And the other had hip replacements. And that was good because everybody was supporting each other.

And the staff were marvellous. They were friendly, sociable, attentive, did whatever you asked them to do. They, nothing were too much trouble for them, yes. I couldn’t praise them enough. And the doctor’s marvellous. Coming checking, making sure. Come several times just to make sure that everything were okay and there were no problems. And any questions. And you didn’t really have many because, you know, it was all planned out for you. So a success, yes.

When I saw the physiotherapist and she explained that there was a website that I could go on and it would explain the procedure. She showed me how to get on it and she gave me information about how to do it.

When I came home, I went on and had a look with the family. And, yes, it was really helpful and really good. All the questions that I might have had was on the tape. The assessment was on the video, but obviously I didn’t have information before then. But that was good. Each procedure, it showed me about the operation, what to expect. It showed me the part knee replacement as well as the full knee. Because he did, the doctor did explain that although it was only the left-hand side of my knee, I would have to sign for full consent for the full knee. So that was absolutely fine. I was reassured. I knew exactly what to take. I had all the literature telling me how long it would take. One or two days in hospital.

So did you look at the website on that very day then, after you came back, with your family?

Yes, yes. It, and it just looked so simple, so straightforward. Reassured you. You knew exactly what to expect. Even the, saying the doctor would be there, the nurse, the anaesthetist and the sequence of events was really helpful. Because you wasn’t anticipating what’s going to happen next. You knew what was going to happen. You knew what order it was going to happen in as well. So therefore you wasn’t just saying, Why is nobody talking to me?

So that was helpful. This is quite new, this, you know, using videos like this that the Nuffield [NHS hospital] are doing. Would you say then that it would be a good idea for every operation that people went in for?

I think so. I suppose people that don’t like to see something cut, and the open wound might not please some people. But in my case I found it, it was interesting to know what was going to be placed inside me, how it was going to be fitted, how it was going to work, the mechanics of it. So now I, instead of just looking at the outside of my knee I know actually what’s inside. Which is good, yes, really good.

As soon as you went in, you had a sheet telling you who you would be seeing. And then they’d tick it, sign it, just to say that you’d been. So you knew that you’d got like several people to see. Didn’t know how long you would be before you went in. So if you wanted to go to the toilet or anything, I thought that I would go to the receptionist and just say, I’m popping to the loo or, I’m doing this, doing that. It would have been nice if somebody had been there so that you’ve got someone to chat to. They could have gone and got you a drink while you were waiting. They was there so that you wouldn’t, I felt as though I’d miss a time slot if I didn’t go. So it would have been nice to have someone there. So if I did pop to the loo or just, you know, just out to check the car or whatever or a phone call, thered be somebody there. That would have been, would have just been helpful.

And you mentioned at that appointment you were told about the video. That you, you know, you could go online and on a certain website and then you would see a little video about the pre-assessment, about the operation and recovery?

Yes.

You were told at that appointment? But you didn’t look at it at the hospital? You came home and looked at it? Is that right?

When I saw the physio she put it on the screen for me. She showed me how to get it and she showed me the procedure. So I did watch. But I didn’t, obviously didn’t know about that before I went for the assessment. So she did show me it. Which I thought was good. And then when I came home, that’s when I went and I looked at the second video, which was about the operation.

Would it have been helpful to see the video about the pre-op assessment appointment? Would it have been helpful to see that beforehand?

It was nice to see. And, yes, if you were able to, it probably would have been.

So if you’d been sent a letter with the appointment for the pre-op assessment —

Yes.

— and then the web address?

Yes, yes, because people that are on the computer would find that easier than reading what to expect. But I did have a sheet with it all on. I read it all, understood it all. But, yes, it probably would have been nice to see it.

Beforehand?

Yes.

Then you came round. When you came round, how did you feel in terms of your knee? Any pain? Or could you feel your leg?

No, I can’t remember feeling any pain or anything. It was just the effects of the anaesthetic. So you’re sort of tired and groggy. Wasn’t, didn’t feel too bad. When I went up to the ward and they check things. Because I wasn’t aware that, it’s common sense that they would probably numb you, but I didn’t realise. And when they felt the bottom of my feet and the top of my feet and said, Can you feel that? And I’m thinking, Oh, its like pins and needles and, Oh, I’m not sure about that. And they prodded the rest of my leg and I couldn’t feel anything. And then I realised that I’d had an injection and then that was the reason why it was numb, yes.

Quite a few people actually haven’t been aware of that.

Yes.

So they might have told you but it wasn’t in, it wasn’t in the video, was it? This information about the anaesthetic and how your leg would be for a few hours, a bit numb.

Yes, I can’t remember reading anything like that.

Would that have been helpful?

Yes.

To have had that written down?

Yes, I think —

Sometimes you can’t remember everything on —

That’s true.

the day.

Because you did, was I was told’, was I told and I’ve forgotten? I don’t know. But, yes, I think that would be helpful if you knew. You’d expect it to be numb and you know that it’s going to come back. I mean I still have numbness now round the knee, which is taking its time to come back. If ever it does, I don’t know.

So then that was on the ward where it was numb? Did it start easing off then? Could you, you know, feel your toes and everything after a few hours?

Yes, yes. They make, they ask you to move your toes. I could move my toes. I could do everything that they asked me to do. Yes, that was fine.

The exercises, I tried to do the exercises at least four or five times a day. Because they did say, Do small amounts often rather than a huge amount. And you do get a leaflet telling you what to expect two we-, after two weeks, and then four weeks up to six weeks. So I did follow the book and I did do the exercises because I wanted it to get right as quickly as possible.

I think having the assessment in six weeks would have been better than having it in eight weeks. But I’m sure theres a reason for that. Just to know that I’m doing the right things. Because having the book and speaking to someone on the phone, it would be easier perhaps if it was on the video, showing you the exercises, or seeing someone. Just for that reassurance that, I’ve been doing these exercises for four weeks. Am I doing them correctly? When I went for the assessment, sorry, when I went for the last appointment, for the eight-week assessment, I couldn’t bend my knee. I was still 5 degrees off what it should be. And I couldn’t bend my knee flat. So she did give me some exercises that I’m doing now. Which I could have known earlier as I’ve gone two weeks not knowing that.