I've not long ago had a knee op and I kept a blog of how it went

Hi Pam,

Yes I've tried ice, but I was told by the physio people it doesn't really help in regard to the swelling, it's more a pain relief thing.  You're right about the elevation.  But again, there's a balance to be sought.  We're told to keep moving and exercise, and we're also told to elevate it.  Having had 3 months off work, I simply cannot afford to have more time off to rest and elevate my leg, so I've had to go back to work.  I don't have a physically demanding job, as it's mostly desk based.  But it's tricky putting your leg up on the desk and working!!! Hhahaha.  It's all very frustrating (for me).  I kind of envy those who've had it done and they're up and about like whippetts after a few weeks.  It doesn't seem to be working like that for me.

i found to have a chair next to you so that you can rest your knee on works well , and as for them that are up and about i really dont think there like whippets lol , just handle the pain different , on no 2 now and yes im up and about after 14 days but its far from painless ,but i can still do it .

 

Hi Debbie,

i am nearly 6 weeks post op , and doing well, I think . How long did you wait between each knee? I need the other one doing , I can't decide sooner or later lol 

hi pam     i had my first feb 17 th and the 2nd august 4 th , the consultant normaly wants a few months in between , but at the end of the day its up to him 

I think I may be around the same as you . How is your first knee doing now ? Do you still have any pain , can you walk stairs properly yet? , although with just having your second done that I suppose is unlikely . Any regrets on having them done so close ? 

Dear Pam

Wher did you buy the ice cuffs. Never seen them in hospital. 

I bought one of those sort of gel packs that you put in the fridge or the freezer, and that saves using actual ice (my freezer space is at a premium at the best of times).  That worked ok, but it didn't seem to reduce the swelling, merely dulled the pain a little.  I'm not using it any more.

As for having a second knee done!!!...Eeeeek....Fortunately my other one is fine at the moment, so that's not something I need done right now, but I have to say, I would have to think long and hard before I volunteered to have a second one done, in view of the nightmare this one has caused me.  I'm sure it will improve in time, but for me, it seems to be taking a lifetime!

If you see my post to Pam, you can get one of the gel ice packs I mention from ebay....they're about £3 if I remember correctly.  Or just google 'gel ice pack', and I'm sure there will be somewhere local to you to buy them from.

I got it online  aircast cryo knee cuff and cooler . It was not cheap , but as I need my other knee done too, I use it on both . It really has helped 

Was it easy to use? It looks very complicated

WOW!!!!...I just looked at the product you bought and it's £60....That's quite an investment!....I'd rather stick to my £3 gel pack....it does exactly the same job!...

Very easy , just put some water and ice in cooler . Wrap cuff around  knee . Push the connector from cooler into cuff . You then hold the cooler above height of knee and cuff fills up . There is a little lever on the top of the cooler that is up when transferring and down when you have used .you. Then disconnect  from cooler and you have ice wrapped around your knee . I leave it on for half and hour . You then transfer water back to cooler , shake it around the ice inside and repeat if necessary .. Much easier than thís sounds 

But you still have to have ice cubes.  so you need a freezer.

Yes you need to have an. Ice tray in you fridge at lease