knee replacement op?

I was lucky having had my bathroom and downstairs loo refurbished not that long before my surgery and I bought raised loos for each. I agree, even with the taller loos it took me ages before I could get off one comfortably.

I had my first knee replacement on the 10th June so now 12 days post op. I am 59 years old and have been unable to walk more than around the house without pain for the last year to 18 months.

I had a spinal anesthetic which helped with the initial pain but do ask for painkillers. I was only in hospital for 2 nights and my knee was exercised by a machine that moved it gently whilst I was in bed. I was out of bed and sitting in a chair ( leg raised ) 7 hours after the op and a short walk with frame the next day plus physio's showing me exercises. Not going to say it is not painfull but very important to do all excercises regularly as this increases the chances of a good recovery.

I came home on the 3rd evening. I had to be able to get up and down stairs, I found this fairly easy. Also to be able to bend the knee 90 degrees which is not easy and quite painfull but after that initial time I am trying to get a little closer each day.

I have managed all washing and dressing on my own ( including hair ) but like to have someone on hand when having a shower. Standing up in one place is not painfull

A combination of moving around, resting with leg raised and bent, exercises seems to be working and I can see and feel small improvements each day. One thing I find very soothing is to have an ice pack on my knee when resting and this help reduce swelling.

I'm sure I have missed some things so please feel free to ask any other questions you may have and I will try to help.

I have no extra height on the loo but do have to hold on to the cupboard to get up.

I have already taken washing off the line but need help to carry it in, and by perching on a suitable stool have managed to iron and peel veggies.

Weren't you amazed how quickly the pain wears off ginny ? After 2 0r 3 bad days I found I was coping with just paracetamol - couldn't believe it!

Isn't it all amazing, Deedaa? I now have over 110 degrees of bend in my knee!

One other thing - the hospital supplied me with an ice pack / compress, and for the first couple of weeks it was so useful to settle pain and swelling. Because it has Velcro straps it meant it stayed in place.

Hip next.....

Ice pack is brilliant.

I am now 15 days post op and can see small improvements in movement of my knee every day. I have been doing all the exercises and I know that the physios' can tell if you have been !

I am managing most things on my own and although I still have crutches I am trying not to put too much weight on them.

I am taking co-codamol , first thing in the morning as knee feels quite stiff and this enables me to push a little more with the exercises and then another in the afternoon but only if I have been very mobile .

My knee is still quite swollen but I am told this could take a while yet to go down.

The thing that amazed me most was that there has been no bruising on the outside at all.

Ladies a very much appreciated thank you to you all for your advice for suey , the latter comments particularly useful as they are all current from ladies recently operated on.

Please has anyone used nstant cold packs ? I live alone so will not be able to get downstairs to get to the freezer(kitchen on first floor, freezer on ground floor). I know they are very expensive but....
How big should an ice pack be? How often do you use icepacks for and how often each day? I want to know how many to buy.

I used my ice pack for pain relief and swelling round the incision - this does happen but it easily dealt with. The one the hospital gave me was good because it has straps and Velcro, so stays in one place. But in your case, suey you'd need at least two, and if they don't supply them they are expensive. But maybe two might equal the cost of the instant ones? It is called an Aircast, and they have them on Amazon. Of course.

Can't help with this sort of ice pack. I used ordinary 'picnic' ice packs wrapped in a clean tea towel. 3 or 4 times a day at first and now 18 days post op' , about twice a day usually after lunch, as I am now moving around much more, and when I go to bed.

I found the stairs one of the easier things to do after the firs few days so you may find you are able to get to your freezer easier than you now think.

I bought two "Kool Paks" last year when I had a bad shoulder and arm. They cost just under a £5 each and came with a small bag to put the pack around your joint with a velcro tab.

Because they are made of a gel substance they are flexible and comfortable to "wear." IMO they are far better than a hard ice block or bag of frozen peas and very good value. I think I bought mine in our local coop chemist.

www.koolpak.co.uk/products/reusable-hot-cold-pack-5/

I would fully recommend them. Two are best one on the joint one in the freezer.

Has the op' been done yet ? Do let us know how it goes and if we can help with any further questions.

Ginny thanks for the interest suey has the operation just now ie it was scheduled for today Monday at 4,30pm I will be visiting her and will post on progress.

Bimbadeen

Hope all goes well.

Ginny sorry forgot to ask how are you doing, it's not so long since you had the op is it.

Bimbadeen thinking about you and your sister and all goes well and she recovers soon. Send news when you can (I am due for a knee replacement in a couple of years- due to damage in a car accident when I was 19- and I have to say I am absolutely dreading it).

Bimbadeen.. my recovery is going well. 4 weeks tomorrow since the op'.
I am using just one stick now and trying not to use it indoors .
Still working hard at the exercises which can still be a little painful but are paying off. My knee in general is not painful but still feels stiff. This is probably due to the bruising inside and the swelling, which although less now can take months to go down.
I am amazed with the look of the scar, very neat and seems to be fading quickly.

Granjura... don't dread it. I am already feeling some benefits. The first few days are the hardest. I need to have my other knee done ( probably in around 6 months) and this one hasn't put me off.

I found it took a long time for my knees to feel normal again ginny not painful or anything, just odd. So glad I had it done though, it's made such a difference.

Yes, you are right Deedaa. I have no pain in the knee that has been done but it feels stiff even though it is moving well. I think it is the inside bruising and the muscles getting used to working properly again.

Thanks ginny. It's just that my mum's was a total disaster, and another person around here had a really bad experience... Of course my mum's was quite a long time ago, in the early days of knee replacements, and things have improved no end since.

Very hard to decide when to get it done. An artificial has a max life of about 30 years, and nowadays still can't be re-done (unlike a hip)- so can't do it too early. I am amazed though that here they often replace knees in people in their late 70s or 80s- which I think is too late for most people, as to get the best results you need to be fit enough to do all the hard work afterwards, both physically and mentally. Definitely want to have it done when I am still in my 60s. The other knee will probably have to be done too- as it has had to 'carry' my damaged and much shorter leg for all my adult life (had car accident in 1970).

Any news Bimbadeen? Where did she have it done, RI or LG?

Spoke to her this am , feeling a little after effects of operation but I have told her it can only get better from now on...I believe it was a NHS op carried out at the old Bupa hospital on the Gartree Rd . Staff sound to be good and that is only from phone calls with them and you can visit at most times.

She will be 71 in a few days time think the other knee may also need doing.

I had my hip replaced four years ago at the Leic Gen'l and they made a super job of it, don't need a stick to walk with at all some friends who had it same time are still using a stick.

Good news. The Bupa hospital on Gartree Road had a huge revamp a just before we moved- if I remember well.

Great to know your hip replacement was a great success. Hips are very 'simple' to do, 'just' a ball and socket- knees on the other hand are very very complex in comparison.

We fetched Suey from the hospital this morning so she is now home , has daughter and son in law on hand and others available to help her get around. Was very pale when we picked her up but a chat with family and being back in her own place has put some colour in her cheeks . She knows she must do her exercises and walk when she can .

Great news and ... bonne chance.

Wishing her a speedy recovery.