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G'day to all of you Parkinsons People on the wonderful great information superhighway. I feel completely overwhelmed by the enormity of it all! Have read lots of stuff over the past couple of weeks from everyone, but felt it time to reply to my (almost) namesake: Grete Pasch on 5th May said: >I would really appreciate any comments related to knee replacement >or similar surgery. My Father has PD. He had a knee replaced one >month ago, with two major negative consequences: About 3 years my husband (mid sixties) who has PD had a knee replacement. He was able to walk with the aid of a cane, even felt well enough to store 3 pints of his own blood for the operation. He was able to drive his car and was pretty good really. It seems like a dream now. The general anaesthetic caused him to lose all his short term memory and the hospital staff had a terrible time even keeping him in bed. His reabilitation was just hopeless as he was not "with it". He fell and ruptured a ligament in the newly operated knee and although the doctors tried 3 times to repair the damage, each anaesthetic made him worse. He still cannot walk and is confined to a wheelchair. Partly due to the physical damage from the operation and partly due to the mental damage. I think anyone with Parkinsons should think twice (or three times) before having a general anaesthetic. On a different topic it was nice to read a few words of encouragement for us carers, appreciate that. Cheers, Greta