Knee replacement. Help!

Ouch you poor thing- yep- fits and starts (or as my friend used to say 's*its and f*arts') - keep that leg up as much as you can to help with the swelling.

There are several videos out there on stairs up and down- depends which leg, and if handrail or not, etc. Keep yer pecker up, it will get better soon. x

Jane hang on on there. My elderly, widowed neighbour had this op. and as her 'carers' often didn't bother to turn up, I went in a lot to help her.

So I know how hard it must be for you. Well done on your progress so far, and as you say at least you're clean. Do what you can and take breaks when needed.

I've just had a vision of you lying down and all the animals piling on top of you. That's what used to happen to me when I was doing yoga but I'm guessing you're not down on the floor.

Ought you to be walking backwards at this stage WB

Hi Jane, don't concern your self it is often 3 steps forward 2 back, but you will slowly progress, which is why a diary helps see the progress. As CG says you have had a big op and it will take time.

Not such a good day so far. Leg swollen so much that bending it very far seems an impossibility. Icing helps a bit. I think I must be swimming in cortisol (stress hormone) especially since my first attempt at a shower using a bath board over the bath. Anyway. At least I'm clean. I'll keep going with the exercises of course and give myself permission to have a quick lie down as required. Dressing off on Thursday and clips out next week. Eek!

The physio really confused me teaching how to go up and down stairs. All this 'up to heaven and down to hell'. I can't remember exactly what goes up to heaven, good leg? left stick, bad leg or right stick? We do have stairs I could practice on (and will!). Was told not to do the hanging off the bed thing but Jack Russells weren't mentioned. Our cat is confused easily and runs away when I do my exercises. Must be the swearing. He's a sensitive soul.

My Physio daughter says people with stairs are brilliant as they have to use them! She had a patient with a flat up four stories with no lift and he progressed really well! Keep up that physio especially getting the knee flat. I used to lie face down on a bed with feet hanging over the end with our Jack Russell lying on my calves. Agony but brilliant. Somewhere i have a pic. Physio laughed anyway!!!

No Jane10 you have had major surgery!

Yes Wobbly I'm feeling amazed at how wiped out I am after the tiniest effort. What a sissy.

Jane delighted your back home and the worst is now behind you. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

LOL Jane, I remember the relief of having a good s... Phoned the coastguard for them to put out a warning to shipping.

It won't do your OH any harm to do a few new things, like making tea etc. Enjoy it while you can.

I found the exercises, getting washed, showered etc, exhausting.

Keep a diary of what you can do and how you feel, you will then see just how quickly you are recovering.

Pompa xx

A day of tiny triumphs. Its nice to be home but am constantly frustrated by my inability to do various things. I hadn't realised how many little things I just automatically did. Neither did DH. It seems hard for him to realise that I can't quite manage various wee jobs. However, I do think that I will be able to soon. I'm used to sticks now (in a very short time). I've been planning my day ahead in detail as DH wants to know exactly what needs done and when! So now I've done my am drugs round, shortly I'll go back to bedroom and do exercises, wash, do surgical stockings, dress then breakfast. Have already had coffee and orange juice and (Praise the Lord), bowels have moved!
Elrel you'll soon know how all this feels!

Jane, all good wishes for managing at home.?

Swelling and bruising will indeed prevent your knee from bending more - the minimum aim is 90 degrees for stairs and 'normal' living- anathing beyond that is a bonus. I am at 110 now and hope it will continue to improve. As it was a more complicated op than normal due to all sorts of abnormal bone growths and atrophication of muscles and tendons due to severe accident 46 years ago - they all say to give it a whole year.

So try not to get too frustated and give time to time x

The hospital has also provided me with a good booklets with lots of info and full instructions for the exercises. Care has been VG.

I'm definitely continuing with physio. Sessions have already been booked for me. Am quite prepared to persevere with the exercises too.

I understand you live in a flat Jane so stairs won't be a problem. I now realise just how bad and lazy the physiotherapist I had was,
I just said to her that I was having a bed downstairs for a week and that was the end of that. I did tell the physio I saw in out patients and he apologized for her attitude.
Good luck when you get home and make sure everyone looks after you.

As you are aware I was not a physio but 60 degrees is not much- each hospital is so different. I do hope that you have physio when you are discharged because you cannot be expected, like ann obviously was, to do it all yourself without guidance.

When you are lying in bed, please make sure that your knee is straight and does not have a lag, ie a slight bend of 5 degrees. Press the knee down on to the mattress when exercising. Good luck.

I can bend it to 60 degrees. Physio thinks that's fine. I could probably bend it more but its so swollen its not physically possible until that has gone/drained away? Its like a completely overstuffed sausage! Also massive bruising etc. I did expect this as I have ridiculously sensitive skin.

Jane10 are you being sent home without being able to bend your knee to at least 90 degrees? That is something that you will have to work on at home.

For some reason I found that very easy and could bend to over 100 degrees the next day post op.

You will feel wiped out at home making yourself a cup of coffee but do not forget you have had major surgery and it will take at least 2-3 months to feel yourself, never mind getting your knee working again. The worst is over, you can only get better now.

Great news Jane. The effort and pain of physio is draining. keep up the work at home and you will be mobile before you know it. So please all went well for you.

wobbly
Just seen the physio. Am going home this afternoon after I've done stairs. Yikes! Am a bit shocked by how wiped out I feel after even a short session with physio.

When I was in hospital in London we had a blind physio. As soon as hw came into the ward he would say "Uncross your legs", I asked how he could tell, he said, "someone would have them crossed" !

WB I agree with you about physios being torturers and I am very grateful to them as I got my shoulder back to full function after the tendon repairs. It does require determination to work though the pain of the exercises. I got "nagged" as well.

Glad you are feeling better. Do you know when you are going home?