Knee replacement
Posted , 25 users are following.
Hi, I'm waiting for a knee replaceent, will I be able to use my upstairs toilet? I don't have one downstairs.
0 likes, 35 replies
Posted , 25 users are following.
Hi, I'm waiting for a knee replaceent, will I be able to use my upstairs toilet? I don't have one downstairs.
0 likes, 35 replies
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jenny80029 jocoley
Posted
lawrence34984 jocoley
Posted
If you're proscribed Opioids for pain you proly won't need to go but once a month..![rolleyes](https://patient.azureedge.net/forums/emoticons/rolleyes.gif)
CHICO_MARX lawrence34984
Posted
Well...almost true. The two big opioid painkillers are based on hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, etc.) and oxycodone (Percocet). Some docs in the UK use cocodomol which is acetaminophen (Tylenol) plus pure codeine. The first two have the same painkilling power but...
"Adverse effect profiles were similar, with the exception of a higher incidence of subsequent constipation with the use of hydrocodone." - US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health
If you're having problems with constipation, ask your doc to switch from hydro to oxy.
PS: The chemistry of it is that hydrocodone is based on the codeine molecule while oxycodone is based on thebaine. The codeine has good cough suppressing effects but has that higher possibility of constipation.
lawrence34984 CHICO_MARX
Posted
I had three weeks of oxycodone, tylenol, Ibuprofen and a stool softener. Good times.
jocoley.....first couple weeks my knee was also prone to give out, donno about going up and down stairs though. Maybe you could practice going one step at a time with the cane before the surgery.
jenny80029 lawrence34984
Posted
😀😁😂😃😄😅
mona92713 jocoley
Posted
Its very difficult after TKR to use the stairs. I'm at 7.5 weeks and still have some difficulty going downstairs as I slipped on the steps butt first. My knee buckled. Thank god it didn't hit on the steps or onto the floor. It bend backward! And I hold onto handrail. Going upstairs is no problem to me. I would have someone come live with you for a few weeks or get a portable toilet. I will not try the stairs or your knee can buckle.
cheryl86544 mona92713
Posted
cheryl86544 jocoley
Posted
Hi jocoley, my house is 3 storeys and there's no one storey I could limit myself to. At my presurgical appointments (I've had both knees done) I told them so this time I had 10 days in hospital then to rehab for 3 weeks. They worked hard on helping me with the stairs and they kept me in until I could do a whole flight at a time. Basically the same with the first knee but didn't have the complications I had the second time around so not as long in hospital before going to rehab. I hope you can get similar assistance. They made we walk up/down stairs with crutches and I'm so glad they did. I've been home 10 days and I can walk up and downtairs with only one foot per step!
ellen57898 jocoley
Posted
You will be in pain meds that makes your brain fuzzy. The chance of falling is great the first couple of weeks. You don't say if you will have help. Highly recommended. If you do the steps early in your recovery, having someone walking with you is necessary.
Have you considered a stair lift? I looked into them and found you can rent them. They are not adhereted to walls or banisters, move up stairs.
Ellie
lyn32416 jocoley
Posted
Hi lovee. You have some good advice here. If you are able to use a bucket/bowl for peeing it may be wise for first few days home. Rather like camping, but without the fun!
The drugs do usually constipate and moving around, oats, fibre, prunes all helped me. My sister, with her first knee replacement, managed 12 stairs twice a day up and down. Amazing. Me, with bilateral TKR's, could do only three in 2 weeks post op. Agree with many here, plan for the worst, expect the best. Good fortune to you! xx
audreys130 jocoley
Posted
I had a bilateral knee replacement on a Wednesday and got out on Monday. I had to prove that I could do stairs before I left the hospital. I had no choice but to use the stairs at home as the bathroom and my bedroom were on the 2nd floor. I will admit that the stairs weren't easy but I did them. I limited the number of times I went up and down them though. You can do it.
lmacfrd jocoley
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carol94892 jocoley
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mommermom jocoley
Posted
I took a joint replacement class prior to my recent TKR. We were told that if we had stairs to climb we would be accomplishing this before we left the hospital- including a second story bedroom! I was shocked as this is a big change since I had my first knee replacement in 2008. In my case, however, I only had 5 stairs to master to get into my house. The day after my surgery PT had me on the stairs practicing to ensure that I would be able to go home. Stairs didn't prove to be a problem for me but then I wasn't going up and down them several times a day. Best of wishes to you with your surgery and recovery.
Midge65 jocoley
Posted