Knee replacement surgery

sabandrusty · ‎03-25-2010

I get such good information from this forum, I wonder if I can ask the community if anyone has had knee replacement surgery - and if so, if you have any suggestions for someone going thru iit for the first time.

For example, I'm trying to prepare my house for recouping. Are there any tricks/tips to help me get around, bathe, etc. I have a walker ready. Also, fortunately I have a automatic lift chair that will keep my leg up.

Here's a question - the doctor's office asked if I wanted the "ice kit" to go around my knee while in the hospital. Its not covered by insurance and is around $200. You'd think the hospital can at least give me ice!

Thanks in advance!

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

I had knee replacement surgery in December. I’m doing well. I think the most important thing in my case was being active before the surgery. It definitely helped my recovery. I will tell you that the first few days are painful but my surgeon and the nurses in the hospital did all they could to alleviate pain.

I stayed in the hospital for three days. They started PT immediately. For the first couple of weeks I had PT at home and a visiting nurse came too. You will be put on blood thinner for a few weeks and that needs monitoring. It is very important to keep moving, even in bed. Do ankle circles or extending and flexing your foot and do all the exercises the physical therapist gives you, even if you have to divide them up throughout the day.

Before I had the surgery, we bought a special seat to put on the toilet so that I didn’t have to bend my knee very much. It really helped. Try to find one with hand rails to help you get up. I was able to go up and down steps from the beginning so the bed we set up downstairs was a waste, but I didn’t realize that 40 years of going up and down the steps prepared me to do steps immediately. I did them one foot, then the other foot on the same step, one at a time.

i would definitely get that ice machine. I bought one and used it constantly. Also, it is very helpful during the first week or two at home to have an exercise band...not to do exercises but to lift your leg into the bed. It was painful to get my leg up and over so using the band around my leg and using my arms to lift it up really helped. Good luck!

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

@sabandrusty I had both knees replaced at the same time last May.

It sounds .... well...a bit much...but it was actually very easy. Not many people have them both done at the same time but I talked my surgeon into it.

I was in rehab for 20 some days. The place was awesome. The care/Drs I had were wonderful. Every day I had a routine, my own room, etc.

They had 'markers' I had to complete before I left there. Things like ways to get in and out of a car (in the beginning), how to put on shoes and socks, pants, etc.

There are so many new items that one can buy that helps make everyday chores easy(ier).

I don't want to bore everyone here. I'd say do your homework before.

As far as what we in my family call the ice machine I just gave mine to my daughter. I bought the machine but never needed it at home.

My daughter (2 weeks ago) broke her leg in 2 places skiing). I sent her the machine and she says it's amazing (the surgeon told her she needed one).

I also sent her one of my hurricane, that grabber thing you see on TV, it's amazing for picking up things, and various items I'd used.

Soon, if you do the work (and it is work) to get those knees moving again, you won't even remember you have one or two (in my case) bionic knees. Ha!

Please come back on and let us know how you are doing. Annabelle.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

I had my knee replacement surgery on 1/19 and even though I am still recoverning, I am thrilled with the results. Honestly, the ice kit should be the very least of your concerns now. I did not get one, I did not know they existed until the physical therapist came to my home. They used ice packs when I was in the hospital and I used ice packs or a a bag of frozen peas when I came home. It was fine. Icing is big..big part of recovery. If I knew about the ice machine, I would have bought one. My hospital PT was surprised that the hospital did not give me one. He said most hospitals do. I suppose hospitals and surgeons do things differently. In my case, the hospital guided me along the way from A-Z and even now I get weekly emails with tips, advice, reminders. I bought a toilet seat riser and and a bench shower chair. I still use the toilet seat riser because the toilet in hour bedroom is so low down. I had a nurse visit the day after I came home and I had PT and OT come to my home 3 times a week for the first three weeks. I used a walker for those first three weeks. The OT showed me how to take a shower with the shower chair. A month before my surgery, the VNA sent a PT to my home to advise me. I didn't have wires or cords or throw rugs or pets or anything else that could make me fall. She did suggest a straight back chair with sturdy cushion and strong arms and I had an occasional chair like that but I did purchase an egg crate seat cushion to use on the chair. But by the 2nd week, I could sit in and rise from any chair that had arms. I never needed to elevate my leg, actually it was the opposite. After week 1, it was walk walk walk around the house. And do the exersizes 2 times a day. They want you up and moving, not sitting. Ask your surgeon about pain control. My surgeon promised me that I would not have any pain or very minimal pain after the surgery. He believes in pain control because he wants his patients up and active and doing the PT from the day after the surgery and patient's can't do that if they have pain. So, prescribed Oxycodone for 30 days and I could take Tylenol and Motrin as needed. I had...and still have some stiffness but no pain. Not all doctors do that. I was off the walker on a cane after three weeks and then I had my PT at my local hospital (not the hospital where I had the surgery) and I had PT three times a week for 3 weeks and then 2 times a week for 2 weeks. I'm off the cane now but I will use it if I go to the mall or something. I'd also use it if I had to go up a long flight of stairs. I haven't taken or needed an pain medication for weeks. It's a miraculous feeling because I was in so much pain from that knee for 2 years and I took something every single day. I'm also walking better now than I did before the surgery. And it will get better and better for a year. My PT said that it can take up to 6 months for the stiffness and the numbness in my knee region to go away. Also, mentally I'm always thinking about my knee. He said by the 1 year mark, all of that will be gone and I will have reached my full potential and I won't even think about the surgery anymore.

sabandrusty · ‎03-25-2010

Thanks Annabelle!

I had a bad experience in rehab after my back surgery (it was actually just a nursing home) , so I'm going home right away with some help at home. I envy you having 2 knees done at once since I'll need my other knee done eventually!

Thanks for your comments on the ice machine. I'll rethink that expense if its portable and can be used again!

Meowingkitty · ‎06-19-2010

I had mine last October and feel great. The ice machine is a God send. Well worth it but you can buy them off Amazon. The company that supplied them to my hospital billed my insurance and it was paid for. I guess it’s all in how they code it. I went to therapy four days after surgery 3 times a week for 10 weeks (until the end of the year because if I went into 2018 I would have to meet the deductible again) I was off all pain meds two weeks later and walking unassisted within two weeks also. I have had some ankle pain but my doctor said because he had to straighten my leg (I am extremely pigeon toed) I am having to use muscles I didn’t use before so that is causing odd pains. I still get tired if I walk to much but I’ve tromped around the Renaissance Festival, the Phoenix Zoo and a few other events without problems. I did not have any special equipment other than the walker and a cane. No special toilet seat, chairs or anything like that. I did make sure throw rugs were removed and we had plenty of food in the house but other than that didn’t really do much. I was only in the hospital overnight.

SXMGirl · ‎07-07-2010

@sabandrusty, I have not had knee surgery, but my ortho thinks that I will need it soon--thanks to exercising too much. Anyway, my workout partner did have the surgery and says that she regrets not doing the exercises at home. She went to PT three times a week and thought that was enough. She says that if she had to do it over that she would do the assigned exercises twice a day, just like her friend who has completely recovered. So, my only suggestion is to do those exercises at home since they help to strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee.

The next time that I hear salt and ice together, it better be in a margarita!

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@sabandrusty

You might also post this on the Wellness Forum. There are many that post only there, and have a lot of experience with this particular surgery.

A good friend of mine Specializes only in Hip and Knee Repair and Replacement. He has told me many times that no 2 patients go through the exact same experiences because each patients joints are not exactly the same.

I have no personal experience with this, but should that time ever come, I will do it and the sooner the better. For me it is: Find the source of the problem/set a date, and think only about recovering. That is how I handle, and have handled, many physical and mental issues for decades. For me, that has always been my best way to approach these issues.

Best to you,

hckynut(john)

grandma r · ‎10-26-2010

@sabandrusty Wishing you the very best with your surgery and recovery.

I had both knees done; it will be 9 years in June. I don't know what an ice kit is, but, ice will be your best friend! I used frozen bags of peas wrapped in kitchen towels.

A shower chair may be helpful.

The most important advice I can give is to do your exercises from PT several times a day and ice. Moving will become less painful when the staples come out. But, moving is important.

Try to keep a positive attitude and try not to get discouraged if you can't do something right away. Remember that you will have mobility back before you know it.

I wish you all the best!!!