Hospital Stay for Knee Replacement

Winkk · ‎03-15-2010

My sister is scheduled for knee replacement tomorrow and due to the virus she might be coming home later in the day. I couldn't believe it. When I had my knee done I was in for 2.5 days because I had to do 3 physical therapy sessions before they let me leave. Then I had a few weeks of at home therapy. That was 3 years ago.

But, now in order to get patients out faster they are sending them home. Then they have home visits from physical therapists. I guess it makes sense but it's almost like knee replacements are an out patient procedure now.

I was wondering how it was where you are? Do they follow that same procedure?

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

My MIL had knee surgery several years ago...she's in her 70's. She was given the choice to go home and have PT there or go to a different facility for a couple of days and then go home. She had to discharge from the "regular" hospital. She opted for PT at a different facility. She didn't find out till the very last minute when and where she'd be going because they wasn't any rooms available.

Catch71 · ‎03-09-2010

Had total knee replacement 11 months ago; right before pandemic began. I stayed overnight but went home the next day with in-home PT for the first 2 weeks.

CrazyKittyLvr2 · ‎05-11-2013

@Winkk I had a knee replaced in Nov. of 2019. I was 69. My surgery was at 1:30 in the afternoon on a Wed. and I was home the next afternoon.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

My girlfriend had her knee replaced in June. She felt great so they released her that day. She then had her second knee replaced in September. I could not believe it - she said she walked out of the hospital the day it was performed. And she felt so good that she went into the drug store on the way home and got her prescription filled.

She is going through PT. And she is 69 years old.

Winkk · ‎03-15-2010

@ScrapHappy wrote:
My MIL had knee surgery several years ago...she's in her 70's. She was given the choice to go home and have PT there or go to a different facility for a couple of days and then go home. She had to discharge from the "regular" hospital. She opted for PT at a different facility. She didn't find out till the very last minute when and where she'd be going because they wasn't any rooms available.

It used to be like that here too @ScrapHappy. You would have your knee replaced and go to a rehab hospital for about a week before going home. But, they changed that. If you are able to get around on your own or have someone help you the insurance companies prefer you go home. Actually, I think it's better for most people. All you do at a rehab hospital is get two therapy sessions a day and then you just sit around. You can do that at home.

Winkk · ‎03-15-2010

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
@Winkk I had a knee replaced in Nov. of 2019. I was 69. My surgery was at 1:30 in the afternoon on a Wed. and I was home the next afternoon.

@CrazyKittyLvr2 Did you have home visitations for physical therapy? When I had my knee done I had home visits for several weeks which was good.

Three years ago they considered knee replacement as major surgery. I don't know if they still do.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

In December 2019, a friend had both knees replaced at the same time. He was home the next morning and received PT from a home health agency in his home for a week or two afterward.

CrazyKittyLvr2 · ‎05-11-2013

@Winkk I had someone come and check me every other day for 2 weeks. She give me exercises to do at home.

As it turned out I ended up doing exercises at home solely. My husband had died that June and it was my right knee, so no driving. Rather than try to line up someone to haul my backside to PT 3 times a week, my Dr. said to just do the exercises at home.