Dreading the replacement

I had kind of a waterproof dressing too but was told to wait till staples were removed and wound was dry. 

I had staples once and stitches once, neither time was showering an option till they were out and all signs of drainage stopped. Too much chance for staph.

Guess it depends on where in world you are. I'm in the states and here they have you on your feet the next day on a walker and the second day the are teaching you to use the walker to negotiate stairs. By the 4th and generally last day in the hospital you are walking 4 times a day for some distance each time. I never used crutches either time and the walker was there until steady e rough for a cane. Either in home or outpatient physical therapy started almost immediately and I was driving 4-6 weeks. Therapist assisted one on one 3 days a week for the 1st 6 weeks is the norm then its reduced to 2xs weekly for 2-3 weeks then1x weekly. They expect you to do it on your own 2x's a day. They start simple and add new excercises each visit. Rarely do you see anyone on crutches for tkr. Therapists and docs never put you to go beyond a personal comfort zone as far as assist I've devices but are always pushing to the next level on excercise. If they feel hydro is warranted, they will get you in the pool.

Maybe that's what I mentioned that assisted walking can be done within 7 days. I don't know how it goes in States but the general norm here in India that we start steadily. Personally I haven't seen cases where you're walking on the second day itself after the surgery. The stitches will come apart and also the healing process will be severly impacted.

And also the implants require time to set in. Even a good ceramic implant requires time to fully settle in. If really want the TKR to be effective you need to start slow and let implants settle in.

I was walking with a frame the day after my op and with crutches the day after. We're encouraged to do so here in UK. Also started bending exercises day after surgery. 

Again, maybe its location. The day after I had my revision I fell and had a torque type  break of the femur(twisted the bone by rotation) and the prosthesis was already set and no damage to the joint incurred

 The glow ng day the had to insert a 1+" wide x 18" long metal plate affixed with 4-2" screws to the knee and 4 screws that went nearly all the way through the bone. I was on 25% weight bearing for six weeks and they had me on a walker using a toe heal touch method. One thing no one has mentioned as I recall, the placement of the incision. Some docs go directly over the top and others around more to the side, which is the method nearly everyone in this Parr of the country. Apparently this method puts less strain on the stitches

My incision is over the top, perhaps slightly to the left side (left knee). Interesting what you say about strain on the stitches. I had a slight bleed from the wound and was kept in for a couple of extra days. I'm sure it was caused by me doing the bending exercise over the rolled up towel in bed. My bend has been good so I suppose it was worth it but it makes you wonder. Gosh you've had some awful things to contend with. As I said before, you deserve some good times now 😊 

It's so. Strange to read how different countries deal with TKR

I  live in the UK and we are out of bed the next day and encouraged to walk with a walker.

although I was in hospital for 9 days  due to a few hiccups. .(..not with the TKR though) the usual stay in hospital is 3 days

i am now 8 weeks post op and still need the pain meds at night.

i've been discharged from Physio  and told I can drive

i haven't done so yet as it's my right knee and it still feels a bit numb.

my scar is so neat and I guess it will hardly show by the Spring 

this site has really helped me through the bad times ...thanks to all.

I've been accused of being a fountain of worthless information. I guess I should have something to show for taking up space and breathing in valuable  clean air

that seems to change all over the uk , i was oiut of bed only a few hours after the op ,although it was only for the toilet i still did it on my own ,and walked from there on with crutches , i guess every team has a different way of doing things .

 

I forgot to say my op wasn't until late afternoon that's why I was out of bed the next day 

 

that sounds better , thought they had been mean to me lol

 

They've been mean to all of us lol for giving us so much pain

but our nurse at the hospital said ....this is selective surgery ...you selected to have the knee done ..so get on with it

obviously she hadn't had this op 

Here in Australia, I wasn't out of bed the next day, I still had a catheter and drainage. The physio saw me after the bandages came off and we did some very gentle moves. I didn't get out of bed until the third day, using a frame. My stay was 5 days, but I could have stayed longer, the decision was up to me and if I could get a 90 degree bend, I forced a 85 and was allowed to leave.

We have a lot of empty hospital beds here, it's the staff we don't have.

Caz 6 weeks post TKR

I would be very cross if a nurse (or anyone) said that to me.  It's not selective surgery, it's the very last thing any of us would want. It is necessary surgery, so that we can walk unaided, and get on with life without being a burdon to others and ultimately to social services.  Who would choose to have TKR, it falls into the same catagory  as heart surgery and most other vital surgery.  Gastric bands, face lifts etc, are selective surgery!

Precisely, after loosing my parents this has been the most difficult and traumatic time of my life.

Lynn 19 weeks post op

Same for me, Lynn. How totally thoughtless of that nurse. I must say all the staff at the hospital I was in were brilliant. I was very lucky. Jen (15 weeks)

She didn't say it to me she said it to an 89 year old lady in the next bed to me.

and of course me being me told her what an insensitive person she was ...and would she speak to her own mother like that 

 

How disgraceful.  There was recently a nurse on this forum who admitted she had nursed many TKR's, but before she had one herself she hadn't got a clue what was involved. And for months after, too.

Omar

Have you had a TKR yourself?