TKR advice

Ditzydori · ‎03-10-2010

i am finally scheduled to have my knee replacement surgery on September 12th.

They have me taking iron and folic acid supplements and vitamin C. Just routine for them, nombloodworkmwas done. I guess they are trying to build my blood,,although I'm not anemic. The iron is killing my stomach even though I take it with meals. I didn't take it yesterday, and I'm thinking of not taking it today. I'm already being a bad girl. Were any of you prescribed supplements to take? Also they gave me exercises to do, which are ok. Not too hard at all.

I would just like to know what kind of clothing should I take to the hospital. I have jogging pants and knee length shorts. Is that good? I know to take sneakers, nightie and robe, toothbrush etc, anything else? Any advice is great. Thanks

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

Do you have safe to walk in shoes? Tennies you tie, do they slip on? I know you'd need sure footing. That just crossed my mind. I'd think you've got it, just make any hospital visit, easy on, easy off. But you should have safe shoes to walk in. Good luck on that!

RinaRina · ‎03-13-2010

Unless you're going to Rehab, you don't need to take a lot of stuff. Where I live, you HAVE TO LEAVE the hospital (and go home) on day 3.

Unfortunately, I FELL the day after my surgery, so I had to go to Rehab. I wasn't prepared and I ran out of clothes.

"The less you respond to negative people, the more peaceful your life will become."

spent2much · ‎03-10-2010

@Ditzydori My knee replacement is Oct. 3. I'm DREADING it. I've had 14 surgeries in my life and I think it's ENOUGH! ARGH Thanks for letting me vent. Anyway, yes, I have been advised to take iron and a couple other things. I'm not sure why. I was reading the booklet I was given yesterday and I had to put it away before I got upset. I'm just SO sick of all this!!! I wish you the best.

@RinaRina So sorry about your fall. Hope you're recovered now.

ETERNITY: your choice... smoking or non smoking!

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

My knee surgery was done in the month of January; I wore gowns in the hospital, but came home in pajamas and my hooded robe. I took my comfortable Birkenstock sandals to walk in, as they made me feel stable and secure on my feet. If I were having my surgery in September, I would take pull on shorts or capri's, and t-shirts to wear in the hospital. You want very comfortable, easy to pull on clothing, as lifting and bending the knee is quite painful. My husband had to help lift my foot for me to get in our SUV when I was discharged, as I could not bend and raise my leg that high for a good week.

My surgery was done in the facility where I worked, and while I was very comfortable with the level of cleanliness in the facility, and acquired infection rate, I did take Clorox wipes to clean every surface I would touch in my room---one wipe to every surface. I also made sure all staff cleaned their hands coming and going, and that no one touched me without clean hands or gloves.

My preliminary blood work was very good, so I did not have to taken any supplements before surgery. The amount of blood lost in this procedure will drop your iron level, and my B12 level was also affected. I took iron for about 10 days after surgery, and needed B12 injections for several months as well. I always take iron after my heavier evening meal, as I experience no stomach upset with a meal of heavier carbs.

@Ditzydori @spent2much, best wishes with your surgeries.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@Ditzydori

I have no personal experience with this surgery. However, one of my good friend that is a Sports Medicine Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, and he specializes in hip and knee replacement surgeries.

He did a TKR on one of my adult hockey league players(this doctor friend also plays in my hockey league). The hockey player that needed the TKR was 64 at the time, had it done in the hockey off season. I believe he had it in May.

Through Physical Therapy by a friend of my surgeon doctor, his Physical Therapist was also Certified in Sports Medicine. He started he rehab not too long after his surgery and was able to skate within 10 weeks. His surgeon gave him the okay to start playing hockey again, 7 months after surgery, which seemed like close to the New Year.

He has played for many season since without any serious issues with that knee. Now he went into surgery in top physical condition, other than needing the surgery? Like someone else mentioned in their post here, the better your condition one is in pre surgery, the recovery is usually much quicker for them.

My surgeon friend says the most problems he sees from his patients are directly connected to how serious they are in following their post surgery Physical Therapy. He has told me that too many think, before they are truly recovered as far as they can be, they quit doing the necessary therapy to completely recover.

No personal experience with TKR, but I have done tons of Physical Therapy for back surgeries/Patella Tendonitis, and the worst for me being a tie between: Plantar Facsiitis and Tenosynovitis(which is inflammation of the sheath surrounding the tendon(which joins the tendon that connects to the shin bone). I am talking months, not weeks of intense 3 times per week Physical Therapy, and also daily, sometimes 2-3 times daily, of home exercises

If nothing else maybe something I said in this long winded post will give you something you may not have known.

hckynut(john)

JasoninBoston · ‎02-18-2012

@Ditzydori wrote:
i am finally scheduled to have my knee replacement surgery on September 12th.

They have me taking iron and folic acid supplements and vitamin C. Just routine for them, nombloodworkmwas done. I guess they are trying to build my blood,,although I'm not anemic. The iron is killing my stomach even though I take it with meals. I didn't take it yesterday, and I'm thinking of not taking it today. I'm already being a bad girl. Were any of you prescribed supplements to take? Also they gave me exercises to do, which are ok. Not too hard at all.

I would just like to know what kind of clothing should I take to the hospital. I have jogging pants and knee length shorts. Is that good? I know to take sneakers, nightie and robe, toothbrush etc, anything else? Any advice is great. Thanks

I had my right knee replaced last December and these would be my suggestions:

1) Don't be shy about taking the pain medicine! My Dr. kept telling me that the knee replacement is one of the most painful procedure's that they do and if you're in pain--tell them and take the medicine.

My mom kept telling me that I should try to not take it so I wouldn't become too dependant on it! But the only person who is going to be able to know what you need is YOU and don't feel badly about taking it.

Also, some people have trouble tolerating oxycodone. So if you know you may have issues with it upfront--talk to the DR before hand about other options.

2) Be patient with yourself.

For several weeks after the operation--I really had very little energy and would sometimes just want to rest--not sleeping, not reading but just lying in bed. My mom kept saying--why don't you read something---and again I just needed to rest .

I had to keep saying to myself--it's okay to just not doing anything!!

So if you need to not doing something or just rest--that's okay--only you will really know how you feel and what you may or may not be up to doing.

3) If you're going to a rehab facility try to make arrangements BEFORE you have the operation. I ended up going to a horrible place and wish I had been somewhere else or even just went directly home.

The hospital I went to actually suggested not going to a rehab facility...

4) Make preparations ahead of time to make your return home easier! I had a bunch of things lined up including extra cleanings from my house cleaner and even some special meal arrangements. Doing this in advance really helped.

5) Do the PT

I have been in 3 times per week since the operation. I elected to just continue it since I need to have the other knee and both ankles operated on at some point soon. That said, getting the knee to bend initially wasn't easy and sometimes before the PT apt I would take a pain pill and then they were able to work with me more. Remember if you are in too much pain for PT they won't be able to bend the knee as far as you need to.

I am one of the youngest patients that my Dr has ever operated on and I have to say this past 6 months hasn't been easy. Having the support from your family I think is key and then finding the balance between pushing yourself through the PT and then being sure to rest as often as you need to.

Ditzydori · ‎03-10-2010

Thanks so much for all your replies and and sharing your experiences. I spoke with several people who have had the same Doctor that I have and everyone raves about him. He does not send his,patients to rehab, though. The rehab comes to the house every day or every other day, depending on how you are doing. He would only send you to rehab if you were having a problem.

I hope all goes well and that I can some day, walk normal (and dance) again.

Once again, thanks.

JasoninBoston · ‎02-18-2012

@Ditzydori wrote:
Thanks so much for all your replies and and sharing your experiences. I spoke with several people who have had the same Doctor that I have and everyone raves about him. He does not send his,patients to rehab, though. The rehab comes to the house every day or every other day, depending on how you are doing. He would only send you to rehab if you were having a problem.

I hope all goes well and that I can some day, walk normal (and dance) again.

Once again, thanks.

They provided for home nurses and home PT for about 3 weeks after I was home from rehab. I ended up not needing the nurse so that stopped after two visits but the home PT continued for 3-4 weeks. Then after 4 weeks I was able to go to regular PT. My gym has a PT area so I just used that.

BriggsiePeawiggle · ‎03-09-2010

I had two thr in the past year (different times). There were lots of knee patients on the same floor and in rehab with me on the hospital floor. While these operations are similar they are not the same, but some things are. As some have stated, take SLIP ON, comfy shoes. I wore Ugg moccasins for both -- even though they are lined in sheepskin. They are soft and sturdy with a rubber sole. Also, I would be sure to have looser fitting pull on shorts if it were my knee. I brought pull on pants with me, and they worked well. Because mine was a hip and the incision was right in the front of my leg where it bends, I didn't wear underwear for a couple of weeks. It pushed on the incision a little bit and made it uncomfortable. You won't have to worry about that though, but make sure the opening where you are putting your leg through is big enough so it won't hurt your knee incision. DO NOT BE SCARED. Seriously.....I was both times so it seems odd for me to say this, but you should not be scared. They will take really really good care of you. Be prepared for some pain, but since we are all pain warriors before we even go in for our surgery, this pain is tolerable, and they have good meds. USE THE MEDS. It helps to lay in a good supply of food that you can prepare when you get home. I have to be gluten free, so I got a lot of gf frozen entrees that I could just pop in the microwave. I also bought a snap on tray for my walker that flips up. It really helped a LOT. When you are using a walker you have no free hands to carry things. I am now loaning it out to a friend who needs it for a short while due to problems with her MS. You will be fine.....just do what they tell you.....take the meds they give you and do the exercises. (I had to take iron after surgery and then recently had some blood work and I'm low on iron. Doc says it's from having 2 bloody surgeries kind of close together, so I'm taking iron again.)