Wellness

[yellowrose]

@KACEE1115  Not much more I can add, just want to wish you luck.

I had my first TKR on 12/23, came home on Christmas day.

After coming home, I never needed to use a walker or cane, nor did

I need any pain pills, although PT insist I use a cane to make my walking

smoother.

@hckynut  had good advice about getting your legs in good shape.

I go to my ortho today for check up and for a second round of PT approval.

I've been walking (pre-surgery) with my knees bent, so my PT is not only

working on the bending of my knees, but the straightening of my  legs.

as SeaMaiden said, there's been lots of talk about TKR.

I was thankful to read about everyone's experience.

Best Wishes.....and just do your excercises. 

[chrystaltree]

I'm sure you received all the information and fact sheet and instructions you need from the surgeon's office.  The hospital where I had my TKR has an information session that was incredibly valuable and reassuring.  The RN who ran it had a TKR herself so she spoke both as an RN and a patient.  I dreaded it but it ended up being one the best things I ever did for myself.   My advice would be follow the instructions, take the pain meds even if you think you don't need them because you need to be able to do the exercises and do the walking and participate fully in PT and you won't be able to do that if you are in pain.   

[grandma r]

Wishing you the best!!!!

Advice, from experience, do your exercises.  Take a pain pill 20-30 min prior to PT and ice afterward.  Ice will be your best friend.  Bags of frozen peas work well and will mold to your knee.  Good luck!!

[Amaze]

I had my knee replaced. Barnes Jewish Washington U. they keep you overnight. That's it. Then you go home. You are all lucky tobe able to stay so long.

[chlema]

Everyone has already given you excellent advice.  Had both knees done last year, one in May, other in October.  Used a walker for about a week or two, then a cane for a bit longer and happy to report that since it was so nice the other day I spent over an hour getting my garden in shape for Spring, something I had not been able to do properly for 4 years.  Good luck to you, you will not be sorry.

[redwrite]

Ditto what @hckynut said, and good luck!

[janeec]

Get your house ready.  Make sure there is room to walk with a walker, crutches, or cane. 

Will you need a raised toilet seat? I

f you will be wearing sneakers for PT and they have laces, get elastic ones and a long shoe horn. 

Ice packs for the freezer. 

Comfortable clothes for PT, especially wider leg pants to accommodate bandage or swelling of operative knee.

If your bedroom is upstairs, you may want to borrow a walker ( you will probably get one from the hospital) as it is helpful to have 2.  One upstairs, and one downstairs.  

Ask the nurse or others who have had it done what was helpful for them.  Best of luck.

[bonnielu]

Common in my dance group... all are doing well.  Just follow the rules.  Blessings for a speedy recovery.  

[KACEE1115]

Thank you everyone for the words of encouragement. My doctor has told me that I will probably go home the very next morning. Surgery on Wednesday go home early Thursday and go to my first therapy lesson on Monday. I am going to stay encouraged and not worry about the pain.. My daughter will be staying with me Wednesday through Sunday And my 17 yo granddaughter will be with me on Monday and then during the week as she lives with me. Thank you again so much.

[RedTop]

@KACEE1115,

I’ve had both knees replaced; one in Jan. 2012 with the incision closed by staples, the other done in Oct. 2017 with the incision glued together.   The glue adhesive did not hold for me.   I had significant bleeding the morning after surgery, and at PT, but no one checked the incision.

As soon as the bandage was removed at my ortho recheck on day 15, my incision was splayed wide open above the knee.   My options were to go back to surgery to have the wound cleaned and closed, or let it heal on its own.   I opted to let it heal on its own, which took 3 months.  

I only needed 9 PT sessions to achieve my bend and flex levels; 5 were done prior to finding my open incision, 4 were done after, before I became a recluse and didn’t leave my house until healing was complete in February.  

I too urge you to take pain meds exactly as prescribed; NEVER let the pain get ahead of you!   

Sleeping in a recliner is much easier in the beginning.  I needed help lifting my leg to get on the bed to do my sessions on the CPM.   The person who helps you needs to understand you are not able to lift your leg on your own power for several weeks.