topic Re: Home after knee replacement in Among Friends

Home after knee replacement

Vivian — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 23:32:41 GMT

After postponing my surgery three times because of illness and catastrophe (my mother’s broken hip) I had my knee replacement surgery late Tuesday afternoon. I came home this morning. I’m in pain but it’s normal pain, and meds help take the edge off. The surgery went very well; my lovely and talented young surgeon said she was very pleased with the results. I made it up my steps to my bedroom with no trouble at all, so now my husband can run up and down the steps with my food and my laundry, just as I did for him when he had his knee replacement surgery several years ago. I have plenty of PT ahead and I know recuperation is long but I think it was a good decision.

Re: Home after knee replacement

Bird mama — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 23:33:57 GMT

@Vivian I'm so glad the procedure went well for you Viv.

Re: Home after knee replacement

Drythe — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 23:46:19 GMT

@Vivian

Congratulations & all good wishes!

There is light at the end of the tunnel, I’m about 3 weeks ahead of you, still some pain, but NOTHING like pre-surgery. 🔦

Don’t get all frisky and over do!

Re: Home after knee replacement

tansy — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 23:51:26 GMT

Welcome to the faux knee club, @Vivian.

I was most uncomfortable at night, always wanting to shift position. I would read with my kindle until I could drift off to sleep, then wake up, rinse and repeat.

Re: Home after knee replacement

webbgarner1 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:09:34 GMT

So glad you have had good results and are on the mend. Best of luck to you and hoping you will be kicking up your heels soon !

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kivah — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:19:37 GMT

So glad the surgery is over --- now it should easier and easier to walk around. I'm a couch potato - so I don't expect that I'll need that surgery.

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Peaches McPhee — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:20:56 GMT

Congratulations on your good outcome! My sister had this done earlier this year so I know how difficult the recovery is. Stick to your PT but allow yourself some pampering and down time too.

Re: Home after knee replacement

Meowingkitty — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:29:02 GMT

Mine was almost 7 weeks ago. I’m still going to therapy because my insurance is paying for it. Once the first of the year hits I will stop because I don’t want to start with the deductible again. The second day was the worst as far as pain goes. I was off pain meds in 2 weeks and walking unaided in 2 weeks. I would say for me the majority of pain was gone in 4 weeks. Icing regularly was a key. Now at 7 weeks I have stiffness pain but no surgery pain. Therapy works wonders. My range of motion is 120. I also slept most of the time for the first week or so. I actually have no memory of my first therapy session. I probably slept 20 hours a day for the first week only getting up to eat and shower. I still don’t sleep like I did before because my knee starts to ache at night because it’s not moving so it has little spasms but I will put a heating pad on it and that helps. Good luck to you and take it easy.

Re: Home after knee replacement

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:35:42 GMT

I'm so glad you are home and doing well. On May 1st I had both of my knees replaced at the same time.

It was easy and I didn't have any trouble at all. I have a very, very bad back so that's what hurt me, not my knees.

There is a major artery that runs down the back to the back of the knee. That sometimes bothers me when I sit on something hard for awhile.

But my knees never did hurt. I'm so glad you are doing well.

I live alone. My house is large and it's a split foyer. I was in rehab for 23 days because my daughter asked me to go there since I live alone. I did as she asked then I went to her house for about 1 week.

I couldn't wait to get home. I never used the walker thing and only used the cane for about 1 or 2 weeks and that was to balance me.

People shouldn't be afraid of knee replacement. The procedure is so that there isn't much to it anymore. If someone is in the kind of pain I was in (and probably you), it's a walk in the park afterward.

Re: Home after knee replacement

Goodie2shoes — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 01:06:35 GMT

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, don't miss any physical therapy appointments, take your pain meds as directed when needed and you will be back up and going. I am trying to put off my right knee replacement as long as possible, left done in 2015 with good results. Take care, happy holidays.

Re: Home after knee replacement

colleena — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 02:43:20 GMT

So good to hear from you that you had a good outcome. Keep up w/the pt, pain pills when needed & take care of yourself. I had hip replacement in September & today if I could I'd be doing cartwheels as I feel so much better. Good thoughts for you, your mom & rest of the family.

Re: Home after knee replacement

chrystaltree — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 06:14:56 GMT

Good to hear from you, so happy to hear that the surgery went well. I assume you'll have at home PT for a few weeks and then hospital PT. That's what's in store for me. The physical therapist from the VNA made a home visit to me yesterday to assess our home and make recommedations. I have to buy a shower bench and a raised toilet seat and she said the hospital would order the walker and cane for me and bill my insurer. I'm looking foward to getting the knee taken care of so I can get back to being my real self. Thanks for posting, keep in touch.

Re: Home after knee replacement

chrystaltree — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 06:31:14 GMT

@Meowingkitty wrote:
Mine was almost 7 weeks ago. I’m still going to therapy because my insurance is paying for it. Once the first of the year hits I will stop because I don’t want to start with the deductible again. The second day was the worst as far as pain goes. I was off pain meds in 2 weeks and walking unaided in 2 weeks. I would say for me the majority of pain was gone in 4 weeks. Icing regularly was a key. Now at 7 weeks I have stiffness pain but no surgery pain. Therapy works wonders. My range of motion is 120. I also slept most of the time for the first week or so. I actually have no memory of my first therapy session. I probably slept 20 hours a day for the first week only getting up to eat and shower. I still don’t sleep like I did before because my knee starts to ache at night because it’s not moving so it has little spasms but I will put a heating pad on it and that helps. Good luck to you and take it easy.

Wow, super woman. Walking unaided in two weeks. I can expect to be on a walker for about 3 weeks, longer if I need it and then I'll progress to a cane. My packet says the average patient can expect to walk unaided in about 12 weeks. My friend says that was her experience, a few weeks on a walker and then the cane. She was off the cane around week 10 or 11. Resting doesn't seem to be part of the plan. PT and OT will be at my house the day after discharge and I will also have exersizes to do myself throughout the day. I've been absorbing these personal experience stories. I do better with things when I know what to expect. Glad to hear that things are going well for you, appreciate the post.

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Nataliesgramma — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 10:17:15 GMT

Best wishes for a Speedy recovery!!!

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hopi — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 10:23:08 GMT

So happy you are pleased and all went well, such a blessing.

Hope you Mom is doing better.

We are here for you when you get bored.

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AuntG — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 10:31:52 GMT

So glad it went well. Not so sure you'll be able to get much help from your husband, but I'll hope for the best.

Re: Home after knee replacement

meallen616 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 11:21:23 GMT

Re: Home after knee replacement

MarieIG — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 12:35:45 GMT

Glad you were able to get the surgery done. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to you and your DM.

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CalminHeart — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 13:27:49 GMT

Be sure to do all the PT and do it at home every day. It really helps.

I had a knee replacement 3 years ago. It was so worth the surgery. Before, I couldn't walk or straighten my leg and my knee was permanently bent at a 28 degree angle so I limped and it hurt all the time. Now I can do things I haven't done in a very long time. I retired and now work parttime on my feet for hours at a time and don't have any pain.

Re: Home after knee replacement

151949 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 13:36:58 GMT

Keep it iced , do your PT and keep a positive attitude.