preparing for surgery

Hi, wish I had knowledge of this group before my PKR and TKR as they have been amazingly helpful. YES, get hold of the excercise series either online or from your doctor. Building up muscle and strength before definitely helps recovery. It also made me just feel better prior to surgery. Work out Both legs--as the good one will be doing lots of compensation...which probably contributed to the second knee TKR a year and half later. So being in good shape and weight loss might be helpful as well.

As far as the potty riser: it is a helpful appliance for a few weeks. A small thing that makes one wonder why "loos" aren't all taller not just handicappers! LOL! I only have tub with shower. Since I was told to keep the incision dry until the staples were removed, I needed the shower bench. So I would wrap the knee in plastic, a towel, sit on seat, hang leg out with shower curtain draped over it. The shower was a wonderful thing. That hot water and good scrub was very rejuvenating. Fortunately, my caregiver husband was at hand to help stepping in and out. Although with the one leg hanging out already, I could swing the other over and outside the tub and be in a good place for drying off and standing up. I become "tub independent" after one week. Once released to wash the surgical knee, (what a blessed relief!) it was a little difficult to drag the poor knee inside but that gets better too. So long story short- these items aren't too expensive. Maybe even available to borrow from someone or find at a second hand store. Long story short, I personally found these items gave me security and comfort. Having someone with you for a few days really is good to have. My doc and hospital required that I either have a caregiver or go to a rehab center for a few days just to assure my own safety from falling and follow up care. 

Hi there Ruth, and welcome to our little band! 

As youve no doubt worked out, Knee Replacements can differ massively from person to person (Ive had both mine done, and THEY were both different experiences!)

From my perspective, anything that makes your recovery easier and your life a bit more comfortable is vital!

I couldnt have managed without my bath bench - its on loan from the NHS, and a lovely chap came and fitted it acouple of days after I was discharged. The same with the over-the-toilet frame - I would have found things very difficut without them.

I used a rucksack to carry stuff round - meds, books, magazines, a bottle of drink, snacks.....youd be surprised what you need whan you cant get up to get it yourself lol! Some people use a big across-body bag, but I found that it swung round too much.

You need to consider the layout of your flat/house - if youre on your own, how will you manage to carry food/drinks from prep area to seat? I got myself a little walker thingy with a tray on it and a basket on the front - the family dubbed it my Chariot! It was very useful for quite some time. 

DEFINITELY start working on strengthening your knee and quad muscles STAT! I was better informed for my second surgery and worked like a demon - the difference was obvious within a few hours of coming out of theatre, when I was able to lift my leg up - it had taken several WEEKS with the first one.

I found a silk scarf draped over the scar was very comforting - some of us end up with hyper sensitive scars and cant even bear the bedclothes touching it, but a piece of whisper-light silk was nice. 

Leg-lifter and grab stick - absolutely vital for me. The number of times I got myself (relatively) settled in bed or on the sofa, and realised that Id left something I REALLY wanted just out of reach.....and the leg-lifter helps in the early days when your leg feels like an immobile log!

Bio Oil or some nice vitamin cream for when youre ready to start working on that wretched scar tissue!

For me, trying to hang on to my sense of humour helped - and I think a few people on here have said the same. 

Good luck with your journey, and dont hesitate to ask about anything at all - Im sure whatever the question, someone here will have the answer!

 

Hi Ruth, I'm 5 weeks post tkr, I had no idea of how much pain I'd be in!!! Horrible! But, take your pain meds regularly. You'll be tired, so nap when you can. The 1st 3 weeks I found awful, that cried every day. These last 2 weeks have definitely been better. I actually wanted to go to town today, and enjoyed it. Couldn't walk far but it was nice to feel normal again! I'm down to 1 stick or crutch now.

Don't expect things will happen quickly, they won't! Take your time, it can take up to a year to recover. But wishes

G'day Nurse Ruth,

Well, your're in for a walk on the wild side (no pun intended!). I am in Cornwall, UK. I was 'done' as an NHS patient in a private hospital, surgeon was a bloody great guy, medical team also bloody great, nursing team also bloody great .... physio  - total crap. Absolute crap ! Not fit for purpose. Beware !

If you are an NHS patient and in UK you will get delivered to your home a package, raised toilet seat, crutches, shower seat and a toilet frame -  a call to attend a Physio Assessment maybe a month before surgery ( I think) and things will be explained to you. You will need to bring your crutches and the physios will set the right height for you.

I was 'done' late morning, by early afternoon I was doing exercises in bed, by late afternoon was walking on crutches - THEN -  the surgeon came in and checked things over and said get in that chair and bend your knee and pull your leg back under the chair. Being stupid,and still half witted from anesthesia I did it  .... holy moly, the bloody pain! I was 'done' on 6 Nov 2015 and sent home on 9 Nov - which I gather is standard.

Here is my timeline - 6 Nov surgery; 9 Nov sent home; 19 Nov dressing removed by GP practice nurse; 24 Nov back to hospital for Physio assessment; 29 Dec back to hospital for surgeons review, throw away crutches and drove my car again; 26 January back to work. 29 Feb another surgeons review - Surgeon now doesn't want to see me until 1st anniversay of surgery which will be 1st week Nov 2016.

The only thing I got about exercises was a standard NHS booklet illustrating exercises and during the three days in hospital the physios marked each exercise with frequency of each exercise. Bloody useless. The physio in hospital and intensive - it was OK. To be honest I got more online than I did from NHS - I went onto Youtube -  a video of exercises is worth a thousand words.

For 8 weeks before surgery (at my own expense) I went and saw my sports injury therapist and she worked on strengthening my knee and leg before surgery in an attempt to get my leg and knee in best condition as possible pre surgery. Glad I did that. After surgery she worked on the knee too for some weeks, Worked intensively on the incision scar and manipulating the knee joint too. Big help.

Mind you in my view this should have been part of the NHS Rehab plan but wasn't. So if this applies to you and you can afford it go for it.

Living alone ........... hmmmm! Before hand look at the logistics of your home, set your home up for ease and comfort. Have a good solid chair with arms on. You will need this chair when you come home, by the way, a lounge will be too low for you to manage for a while. Your chair should ideally be about 18" high from floor to top of the seat. You'll need something like this to seat in and to do some of your exercises in, especially bending the knee. A tip - get a clean flat cooking tray and place on floor preferably carpeted, sit back in the chair at first, place your foot on it and slide your leg back as far as possible to get your foot under the seat of the chair. As you progress you can move your bum further forward and this will enable you to get your leg even further back, then as you progress even more sit right on the edge of your seat and repeat it, you'll then get your leg back even more. Try it now with the better of your two legs and see how it works. 

Stock up your freezer with frozen dinners, if you can do your shopping on line and stock up. Make sure you have more than enough pain relief and DO NOT use it like I did like a pill in the pocket only to be taken when needed. WRONG ! Take it as prescribed 24/7. I have a heart arrythmia and because I'm on Warfarin I can only take limited pain relief, mine of choice is CoCodomol 30/500.

Do your exercises regularly as instructed, don't let up on them at all. Ever ! Always RICE. Don't be in a rush to get off your crutches, use them, take your time, you will find inventive/creative ways of getting around your home - frustrating though it will be.

That said, I never ever did find a way of using both crutches while I cracked open a can of beer and carrying it back to my chair - Lol! Ditto for a mug of tea or coffee for that matter.

You won't have much appetite for a while, I lost quite alot of weight in the first month (bloody well put it back on now though), I was eating half childs portions of food. Thats all I could take.

Get a carry bag of some description to put on your crutches to carry stuff around with you. As I said, get creative. Start practicing now!!

Thats about it which combined with other posts should be a start for you.

May the force be with you.

John

 

Hi Ruth... hope all goes well with your surgery... I've had two TKR... If I can give you any advice it would be .. do as much muscle strengthening exercises as you can before surgery.. It really makes a differencealso take arnica... you can get them from health food shops or boots... I didn't take them 1st time round .. but I did this time take them a few weeks before op and a few weeks after.. I had hardly any bruising .. my wound has healed really well... I feel I am stronger due to the strengthening exercises... I paid for one session with a private physio who taught me lots of useful tips and techniques.. very best of luck. Mary