Second Knee Replacement - Advice

Here in the UK mobility aids are provided for you until you no longer need them. I had a chair with arms which was a good help, a toilet frame and a seat for the shower and a walker.If you lived on your own they would also provide other aids. I am very lucky as I have a very helpful and kind partner.I bought an Aircast Knee Cryo Cuff and cooler which was so easy to use. I just bought bags of ice quite cheaply from the supermarket.

One of the most useful aids which I took in hospital with me was a leg lifter. They are cheap to buy, under £10 here in the UK.It really helped me to get in and out of bed.

At home,at first, I stopped in bed in the morning and got up and sat in a chair in the lounge in the afternoon for a couple of hours. Sometimes it was in the chair with arms and sometimes in the recliner. As the days went on and depending how I felt, the time out of bed increased,

I am now fifteen weeks out from my second TKR and doing well.

Wishing all goes well with your TKR. You've been there before so you will manage much better the second time around.

Hi Christine,

Saralice is correct in saying that you will be given aids until you no longer need them (a walking frame, crutches, raised toilet seat). The one thing I would say is a must is probably what Saralice meant when she said a leg lifter. I used a dressing gown cord under the sole of my foot to help with getting on and off the bed or just anytime when you need to manoeuvre your leg. it really is invaluable and free of course. Other than that doing the exercises is a must. I've just had my 2nd tkr and its behaving quite differently to the first one so anything you can remember, forget it lol!! Good luck and happy healing!!!

Hi, no matter where you live it will vary from hospital to hospital, knee to knee and operation to operation. I had a RTKR Monday by the same surgeon in the same hospital I had the left done exactly a year ago. It's a centre of excellence only performing elective orthopaedic procedures. I took a therapy band in to use as a leg lifter and also use my walking stick upside down, hooking the handle under my foot to lift it. Quite a lot had changed in a year: pain meds, anti coagulation therapy, physio attitude and advice. Both times I had to fill in a form giving details of height of toilets, chairs, bed, arms, handles, degree of firmness etc.

I use my sofa downstairs during the day and my bed at night, only using a hard dining room chair for meals and exercises. My sofa is quite low and soft, but I managed last year with quite a degree of difficulty and this year no trouble at all.Both times I came out of hospital with 2 walking sticks, but no other appliances and managed. Your physio should be able to assess what aids you require before discharge.

The first knee was so much more painful than this one and it was quite difficult at times, but I just treated it as part of my exercise regime. I have heard of people who have a raised toilet seat etc and then find they can't cope when away from home, but use whatever is right for you and the advice given to you. The only thing that has been the same so far is the lack of sleep!

Most of the first 2 weeks is taken by resting, icing and elevating leg, exercises, walks to bathroom and kitchen, getting washed and dressed. It's amazing how much time it all takes.

I wish you a successful surgery and an uneventful recovery. Good luck!

1. Hi Christine, It sounds like you are getting good advice. I have had 4 surgeries on one knee in four years, two of the surgeries being knee replacements, (the first was the wrong size and yes, I am considering a law suit since I initially went in for a little meniscus tear)thus, I'm pretty familiar with needing to sit in the bed. So, number one advice is to have a good doctor. For me, each surgery required a walker and lots of PT. What I discovered was, although there are some basic guidelines to help toward recovery, nothing should be set in stone because everyone heals differently. I followed this forum due to my frustration, so many healed way faster than I. So, a good attitude, fortitude and determination to do the PT, with a dose of common sense to know your own limitations, the PT folks are trying to help but when I would swell for two days after doing all they asked, after the fourth surgery,I cut back on the amount of excercise repetitions until my own body said it was time. When appropriate , massage is wonderful to ease the scar tissue and places that get achy from sitting so much. And for me, prayer and meditation on walking through our fields is helpful....best wishes.

Thanks for advise

Thanks for all of your replies, they are very helpful. I did not have a raised toilet seat last time The Occupational Therapist that I saw did not seem to think that they were particularly useful.and I do not remember having a sock aid or a leg lifter. I know that a dressing gown belt could be used if I do need anything.

I am quite keen to start going for a very short walk with my crutches as soon as possible but not sure whether I will be able to do that straight away when I get home.

Thanks Deigh for your comments.

Christine, congratulation on your decision to proceed with the next step in your journey to pain free living. Similar to you, I had my first TKR in 2016, and the other knee surgery in June, 2019. Both TKR experiences were somewhat different, as the second one was a bit more cranky that the first, but come around at week three post-op. Both experiences were positive and successful. A few thoughts about what helped me in addition to formal post surgery PT: start your own PT on the first day home from surgery; eat nutritious meals with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies; drink plenty of water; ice, ice, and more ice; frequent movement, for example sit or lie down for 30 minutes, then get-up and walk in the house or outdoors for 5-10 minutes, repeat as often as you can; do extra repetitions and sets of the recommended home exercises between formal PT sessions; after 10 days post-op suggest finding a gymnasium to do chair yoga, and to cycle on a stationary or recumbent bike, as working the entire body helps it to heal quicker from the trauma of surgery as well as relieving pain; and, rest and meditation. With respect to sitting, I recommend a sturdy, comfortable chair with arm rests to assist with standing and sitting, remember no sitting for long time periods. With your excellent flexibility, putting-on socks and shoes will be a breeze. No suggestions for the hospital, as I only spent 1 night on both occasions. Best wishes and the Lord's blessings to you. Regards, RJ, Florida.

Hi Christine,

I am 7 weeks post second TKR, first one two years ago.

Remember that every knee (even your own!) may be quite different, but unless you are Super woman, I would take all the aids you can to make life easier. You may not need some or all of them for very long, but it's better to find that you don't need them, rather than wish you had accepted them if they were offered.

My two experiences have been very different. The first was very difficult (but now is brilliant) while the second one has been easier so far, and I am progressing quicker than with the first one.

O.T. let me have a really good chair and raised loo seat. A friend loaned me a prop to keep the weight of the duvet away from my feet in bed, and I would have really struggled without that the first time. Another friend loaned a perching stool which was also very welcome first time around.

Unless you have a crystal ball, you don't know how you will be, so plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Good luck, and let us know how you are getting on.