Wellness

[Hellodemocrat]

On 3/23/2015 wismiss said:

I had my right knee replaced in November, 2012, and the left knee in June, 2013. I had to wait for three years to get other health problems resolved before I could have surgery. I, and everyone else I know who has had this done, have said the same thing----why did we wait so long?

I went to skilled nursery for about a week after being dismissed from the surgical floor, and I found that very helpful in my case. I was able to get PT twice a day, OT once a day, and had a chance to feel better before going home.

Recovery is not easy, and you MUST do the physical therapy in the office and especially at home. If you do not do the physical therapy you may as well not have the replacements. After I came home, I did use pain killers periodically----not so much during the day but more at night so I could sleep well.

After two weeks, I remember that I was surprised how much more I could do in that short period of time. After six months, I didn't even think about my knee replacements, and after a year, the knee was a part of me and it's totally mine.

This is a MAJOR surgery, and check out your doctor to make sure he/she is very proficient in doing this. My doctor was a reconstruction specialist for knees, which means he fixed the knees that other doctors had messed up.

Oh, one other thing----I started some preliminary knee exercises that my doctor had given me before the surgery. I did them for about two weeks before surgery. I'll try to find a site that might have them and post again.

You'll do wonderfully and will join the group of us who say "Why did I wait so long?"

Had my hip replaced 2 yrs ago. Wish my whole body felt as good as my hip!!

Next is my left knee. Really bad arthritis in it. I am 65 and my neighbors who were in their 80's had their knees done by my dr and did great.

If you are in the Nashville, TN area I will give you my dr's name.

[Lacey1]

Post-op and rehab will be easier if you lose some weight now.

[Winkk]

My sister just had her knee replaced and was back to work in 4 weeks. The doctor said it was one of the worse knees he has seen but he did an excellent job. She is 66 and had no problems. She had a day or two of rehab at the hospital and then they came to her home three days a week.

I know everyone's situation is different but 4 months seems like a long time. Good luck, I think you will be happy when you have it done.

[Chrystaltree2]

I also don't have any personal experience but I know people in their 50's, 60's and one 80 year old who all had knee replacements in the past couple of years. Every single one of them did just fine and bounced back pretty quickly and are better than before the surgery. Today's knee replacement surgeries are nothing like they were even 5 years ago. Smaller incisions and better hardware and speedier recovery times.

[lor]

I am also needing a knee replacement. Can anyone who has had this surgery advise if you can walk with a walker after surgery well enough to not have assistance at home. I live alone and am concerned if I will be able to manage on my own. Dr. said I wouldn't be able to drive for up to 2 months which concerns me. Thanks ladies.

[wismiss]

lor: In my experiences with TKR, I used a walker in the hospital but the PT was to get me to where I could use a cane and then gradually nothing. However, I still use a walker because of spinal problems that do not respond to the medications that they could use to relieve the pain.

My friend who had one of her knees done at the same time I had mine done, went home with a cane and eventually with PT was able to drop that. A lot of people I have met who have had TKR do not even use a cane. As I said, I do use a walker, but it is totally unrelated to the TKRs.

If you live alone, you may want to find out if your insurance would pay for you to go to a rehab center or a skilled nursing facility or a skilled nursing floor if a hospital has one. At the end of the extra week I spent in the hospital because I went to the skilled nursing floor, I think I could have managed.

Meal preparation can be a challenge, so make some ahead and freeze them. If your laundry is not on the main floor, you may have to hire someone to come in and do it or maybe a friend would volunteer to do it for you.

I was able to drive within a week when I had my left knee done because you don't use that when driving if you have an automatic. Right knee---two weeks and that could have been shorter, but it was the first one and I used pain medication more frequently. Can't drive if you are taking a narcotic pain med.

Keep asking questions. Someone here will have the answer. I found I had more anxiety about how to handle everything post op than the actual surgery. Am I going to be able to get in the tub, will I be able to use the commode easily, etc.

Oh, one other thing, get a riser for your commode so it easier to get up. Also, I used a shower chair. My friend had a transfer chair.

As someone said, keep reading articles about hints of how to handle before and after surgery and you will do fine.

[Stella Dallas]

Wow, what an interesting and informative discussion! I've had both my hips replaced and now one of my knees is giving me fits so I could possibly be looking at a knee replacement eventually. Thanks for the information.

[nomar]

Had my knee replaced in Aug. BEST THING I EVER DID!! Went through 2 years or more of hurting before going through the shots, braces and even mircro fracture arthroscopy surgery to put off having it done. Finally, I said enough was enough. The post op hurt less than what I had been living with. Just make sure you get in a rehab right away. Our hospital offers a Joint Camp.... meaning you start in with excercises the next day....not passive machine operated excersing. In 3 months I felt like I never even had surgery, but have a great working knee. And I am no spring chicken.

[harcon]

On 3/24/2015 lor said: I am also needing a knee replacement. Can anyone who has had this surgery advise if you can walk with a walker after surgery well enough to not have assistance at home. I live alone and am concerned if I will be able to manage on my own. Dr. said I wouldn't be able to drive for up to 2 months which concerns me. Thanks ladies.

I am 4 months post op on a TKR. I also live alone. I had home health care for the first 10 days which included PT and OT, a nurse to check on me and a week of meals on wheels. I made sure I had frozen prepared meals I could nuke...that was until I felt steady enough to stand and fix a regular meal.

Using a walker I found I could mostly take care of myself. I did have my daughter come over when I showered as a just in case. I found having a shower bench to be a big help as well as a raised toilet seat.

Since it was my left knee I was told I could drive after 4 weeks provided I could get in the car without problems. I could so then I drove to PT off premises 3 times a week for 6 weeks.

The surgery itself isn't bad. I loved the CPM machine and the ice machine. PT isn't easy but take a pain pill about an hour before and it helps.

If you have family or friends that can lend a hand, by all means take advantage of it.

Good luck!!

[shoekitty]

They get you up and walking in hospital, after surgery! If you are unable to get to the the rigorous therapy after surgery, the can place you in rehab for a week. A friend of mine who lives alone and has Kaiser, had therapist come to house everyday. She was back to work in 2 weeks. She is a sheriff

Most people who have trouble do not do the exercises. Either they are a little infirm, or don't want to. Physical therapy is a make or break deal with knee replacement.

I have a bad knee. I qualified for knee replacement, but I went ahead with them cleaning the joint. Removing meniscus, spurs, shaving the bone a bit. They did 8 different procedures. That was 8 weeks ago. I am doing good. We will see