Share review of Professor Philip Chapman-Sheath
I first saw Professor Chapman-Sheath around 18 months ago and was advised that my left knee needed replacing.
At the time, I wasn't ready to commit to doing this privately and wanted to pursue the NHS option as well.
Professor Chapman-Sheath suggested using an medial offset brace to ease the pain and enable me to continue until surgery.
I did get into the NHS system but was advised that as I was at least 40kgs overweight, and the waiting list was around 2 years, and it wouldn't be done anytime before then.
This gave me the incentive to get fit and within 6 months of joining a gym and swimming 3 times a week, I managed to loose 20kgs and felt fit enough to face surgery.
I had my surgery in early April this year and I am now 6 weeks post op and doing incredibly well.
The first 10 days were painful, but after that, I barely needed any painkillers, was bending my knee and walking on it reasonably well.
Within 2 1/2 weeks, I was back in the swimming pool, swimming around 750 - 1000 metres without any problem at all. I have also been doing the hydrotherapy at the Nuffield which has been incredibly helpful.
I firmly believe that the time spent getting fitter pre surgery has been the biggest help in my swift recovery. I have previously had a knee replacement 9 years ago and it did not recover as quickly as this one has.
So good to hear of your fabulously speedy recovery and the value of pre-operative fitness and weight- loss - an important message for future knee replacement patients Well done on your weight loss goal and your determination to get better sooner