My knee replacement was 3 years ago at age 57. I was so ready for the surgery mentally and physically, and so determined that absolutely nothing was going to get in the way of my recovery. I totally agree with all posters who have stated that you should not view yourself as sick. I was standing at the bedside within hours of coming back to my room after surgery, and took a few steps that first day. PT started the next morning, and I was walking great with a walker when I came home on the 2nd day after surgery. My knee was very sore, and my husband had to lift my foot to help me get into and out of our SUV for the trip home, as well as when we went out for that first day of outpatient therapy. Once I started excercising the knee, I was able to lift my leg high enough to get myself in and out of the SUV without help, and was able to climb the steps inside my garage without having to be driven to the back door. You will be taking a blood thinner for several weeks after surgery. My blood was very thin when I came home from the hospital, and the doctor cautioned me heavily not to shave myself, use any kind of knife, or even get a paper cut. Not once in the weeks after surgery was my blood ever at the level it should have been, despite the constant dosage adjustment to the Coumadin---my blood was always thin to very thin. Due to blood loss during surgery, I became anemic even though I took the iron pills as suggested; I needed to take B12 injections twice a month to get rid of the extreme fatigue that hit in the second week of PT. My suggestion is to get your home stocked and prepared in advance. I cleaned, prepared foods in advance, as well as purchased things my husband could cook for us, and I did not set foot in my kitchen that first week at home. I rearranged furniture and took up all rugs to accommodate my walker. I did not have to concern myself with anything but taking care of me in those first weeks. My incision was closed with 27 staples. Every day when I showered, I cleaned my incision with a nylon shower puff just for that knee, and baby shampoo. Once the staples came out, I used Vitamin E oil, scar gel, and massaged the scar multiple times a day, and my scar looks very nice. Pain is a given, as you will have much healing to do. Pain intensifies as you rebuild muscle strength thru PT; take the pain med as scheduled and always stay ahead of the pain. Your body will let you know when to start reducing the medication, which for me was after 6 weeks. My surgery was done just after New Years. For me personally, I would not have had the surgery before Thanksgiving if I were preparing a holiday meal for my family, or had big plans for Christmas. Looking back, my recovery experience was great, and I am very thankful for that, but I was prepared for things to be very different. I was using a cane by week 2, and did make quick stops at the grocery store, but my house was stocked with enough food for 2+ months, as any type of heavy duty shopping would not have gone well during those early weeks of recovery and intense PT.
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