preparing for surgery

I did prepare by doing exercises for the quads.   Most important.   You don't need bath seats etc if you have a shower.  I had raised toilet seat for a few weeks but again, not vital.  You need done thing to lift the leg in and  out of bed.  I used a dressing gown belt myself, looped around the leg.  Have you a downstairs toilet, this is helpful.  I didn't want to pic have stuff myself.  I did have a grabber thing and a rucksack to carry pills etc is helpful.   

Sorry, have you anyone that can help for a few days.   When you first come out I think you need someone there.   It is daunting being on your own.  This operation isn't an easy one to get over.

Hi 

yes it's the best when I got a raised seat. Just take your tome it's a big surgery .. I wish you the best good luck !

Hi ,

  I had both of my knees done last year. I had no prombols with them.Are you having the true match done on them ? I had my TKR 3 months apart and i don't regret it..The only thing i used was my walker,but everyone is different. So good luck on your surgrey .

 

Hi Ruth, I wish I had found this site before my TKR as would have known a bit of what to expect. Yes doing the quad exercises would be a good idea as my quad took a while and is still healing. I didnt get aids for bathroom just used sink when at toilet but it was only a day or two then you find you can start to get up easier, the bath i was told is not recommended for a couple months as difficult to get out of. Shower if possible, at first i was told to have someone around when i showered incase you need them, you say you are on your own, have you a friend who can stay, just to be there, it is hard at first, you are so tired, sleep is hard, when you move you waken and then i found it hard to get back over. You will at first doing your physio, TAKE your medication regularly, dont let the pain get on top of you, drink plenty of water, ice knee elevate it regularly. Do what your body tells you, if you are tired rest, Even if you donot have someone to stay with you have you someone to come in, make food for you as you, for first few weeks will not feel/be interested in cooking and anyway will find it hard to stand to do it.

I was 50, 2 weeks after my surgery and best thing I have done, there have been hard days...lots of them but at 9 weeks I do feel i am getting there. Good luck x

Raised toilet seat and bath chair were very helpful!

 

Hi Ruth!

I didn't do much to prepare for surgery. I figured that I wouldn't know what I needed until I needed it!

My neighbor had hip surgery a year before, so she brought me her raised toilet seat and her walker. I ended up using both, so I greatly appreciated the loan!

My home-care physical therapist showed me how to loop a belt and slip my foot into it. She showed me how to use the long leftover part to help move my SURGICAL leg wherever I wanted it to go as I was sitting or getting into bed. Very helpful! Used that method for quite some time because LIFTING my leg high enough to get into bed or onto the couch was one of the biggest challenges for me.

I graduated from walker to cane once I found my walker ANNOYING. The cane was better, then THAT became annoying, so I practiced walking going from one counter to another in my kitchen and would hold onto furniture in the house if needed. I gained more confidence the more I did balance exercises at Physical Therapy sessions. Soon I wasn't needing anything as an aid. That was at about two months post surgery.

Ice packs that have gel in them and are longer so that they wrap around the knee are VERY HELPFUL. I got them from my physical therapist. I wrapped each in a towel so they didn't get too cold. I kept blankets near me because I got really cold when those icepacks were on me!

Yoga pants or any really soft fabric pants are very helpful. Your incision will be tender for awhile. One day I wore jeans. Bad mistake! I was very uncomfortable after awhile, and my incision got all red, too! Lesson learned!

Drink plenty of water.

Walk with your shoulders back so you don't develop a backache from leaning over.

Rest when you are tired.

Naps are GOOD! I got my best sleep from naps throughout the day in those early months.

Stay positive. Try to be calm and not worry.

Keeping a progress journal will help you see how far you have come.

Be patient, and if any exercise hurts, STOP! Many have regretted doing too much too soon. Your body will guide you.

Eat well. Avoid junk.

Let us know how things go!😊

Yr hospital occasion health team will sort what you need prior to surgery so it's in place for when you home at no charge but you will need help in the house n personal help for first few weeks x

Hi, If your in the UK occupational therapy will supply you with bath seats and toilet raisers etc on loan. They will check your needs before you leave hospital. I had my left TKR last June and am having the right one done beginning of this June. I'm doing quad squeezes and squats to try and strengthen up before surgery, but it seems to be luck of the draw how recovery goes. Just be realistic and take one day at a time. OFG has plenty of good advice, he's a veteran of TKR and knows his stuff, so he's well worth listening too 

I am on my own too, and it's hard to say how you will be.  Toilet seat might

Be a good idea, but bath seat that slipped over edge of tub was a life saver.  You can slide into the tub, and shower that way.  I took off shower head and used hand held unit for several weeks. If you are alone you really have to be more careful than someone living with a family.  Try to stand straight from the beginning when walking and roll uour foot.  Walk heel to toe right away, even if you go slowly.  This will help you walk so much better and you won't have to relearn.  Do have someone call you every day for the first bit, just in case. One slip or twist and it could be important to have help.  I borrowed the bathseat from my group, but check charity shops or rentals.  Won't cost you too much that way.

Hi Ruth. Had left knee total replacement on 29 April a little over 2 weeks ago. Like you I read everything to do with the after affects of the surgery but the reality although is as we have read, is quite daunting. I was advised well in advance to strengthen the quads and was given specific exercises to do prior to surgery. I have no doubt they have helped because I started my physio this morning and had a 90 degree bend which surprised me but was so pleased. I have an elevated toilet seat in the downstairs loo and bought the little bode that sits into I. I have a shower over bath so the top and tail downstairs was best xi could do. I got a suction grip bar for the bath which came in handy for my first shower there. You will definitely need someone to be with you for at least the first 2 weeks if not then maybe arrange a rehab programme? Hope this helps and all works out well for you. Regards Nuala.