Total knee replacement

I live on my own and I have had both knees replaced, years apart.

I was using crutches the first time around and I did find it difficult cooking so I dined on microwavable food but I could not carry the plate to a comfortable seat so I dined and drank coffee where the machines were!

After the 2nd knee, I explained to SS and I was supplied with a trolley which I used as a Zimmer frame and what a difference.

I had a cleaner anyway so she did things like bed changing. Irrespective of what has been done you have still had major surgery and you get exhausted very easily.

My house is geared for me with a stairlift and a shower. I have always used a stool in the shower and a chair at the bathroom wash hand basin.

Try and think in advance what you may need but at least 9I hope) your DH can put food in the microwave and deliver the food to wherever you dine. I managed fine- I have no relatives so I had to get on with it.

Embrace your stick! I was always happy to use one. Hold it on the opposite side to your sore knee. Also, on steps, going up it's up to heaven (good knee first) but going down its down to hell (operated knee) knee first!
In car, have plenty of space so the door can open as far as possible. Sit on a poly bag for easier slide round to get out.

Thanks, Aveline - I’m sure I’ll be fine, and hopefully, if needed, one of my granddaughters will pop along.
Things can only get better, as the song goes! 🤞

Oh greenmossgiel I wish I could tell you it will be great immediately after the op. The first wee while you really might not feel great but you really will be glad you went ahead after the initial upset of it all. Make sure you've got all sorts of things eg raised toilet seat, grabber, ice packs (ice will be your friend) pile of spare pillows so you can rest with you leg up and slightly bent.
You'll have two sticks at first. Carrying things will be a problem. Have thermal mug with a lid.
Will family be able to rally round a bit for the first week? I hope so. Feel free to PM or email me.

Hello. I’ve been following this thread and finding it really helpful, though I’m getting increasingly fearful of how my impending knee replacement may pan out.
I saw my consultant in August and was told I could expect my op ‘within a year’. I’ve ’given in’ and am using a walking stick to get to local shops, because if I didn’t use it I would be staggering all over the place! I did feel very self-conscious at first, and am getting used to people moving out of my way and calling me ‘dear’.
I think my main fear is how I’m going to manage after the op. My husband isn’t in good health and probably won’t be able to do much for me, so I really will need to be as independent as possible. Pain is really quite bad at present, but have weaned myself off tramadol, because it had stopped working for me and am managing with naproxen and paracetamol.
Really looking forward to being able to walk properly again. Aveline, I know you’ve been through the mill - tell me there’s no need to worry!

Hi- any advice welcome!
I have been doing more than ok according to my physio/s.
I went to my first qigong class and had physio yesterday. Today I had to carry a light but large parcel. I am now in quite a bit of pain after weeks of no pain relief! The cold temperatures don’t help!
The original pain in my knee before the op seems to have returned. I realise that everything has to adjust, I'm walking without any support most of the time. I am doing the exercise
but also using my intuition. I have hyper mobile hips and no one can tell me if this changes anything? I’m 12 weeks into my TKR! The muscle to my knee and hip is painful and going to the physio helps that. I’m returning to swimming with a physio next week too!
Any advice would be welcome! My heart sank when the original pain returned! I also bought some new boots by Rieker boots which I bought might help! Thank you

I used the stairs in our block of flats for my exercise. Real movements not just repetitive passive ones.
After the op remember it's, 'Up to heaven (unoperated leg first) and down to hell (operated leg first).

grannysyb

I'm having a tkr on Thursday, and was asked if there were stairs at home during one consultation, when I said yes ,she said "good". I found them quite easy after my hip replacement, and the physios should show you how to use them. A raised loo seat is a must after hip surgery.

Yes, stairs are good. I spent time every single day, climbing nowhere!!

I'm having a tkr on Thursday, and was asked if there were stairs at home during one consultation, when I said yes ,she said "good". I found them quite easy after my hip replacement, and the physios should show you how to use them. A raised loo seat is a must after hip surgery.

Antol, thanks for this. And good luck with your knee. I’m hoping today will be a better day. What I was concerned about was the change in 24 hours!

All the very best and much thanks 💐🙏

Deaneke - I am 4 weeks in from TKR. Please persevere with very gentle exercises. Don’t do anything that hurts. Take as much pain relief as you are comfortable with. I am taking paracetamol and codeine as and when needed. Please speak to your Doctor if your tablets are not suitable for you. My knee also feels very tight too internally and externally, but ice, pain relief, gentle exercise and rubbing with bio-oil make me feel like I am helping everything move forward. I too have sobbed my heart out at times. It is all normal, you’ve just had major surgery. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Sending healing vibes.

deaneke

Hello-
It's been 3 weeks since my total knee replacement. Today I just feel this heavy weight in my knee. I have 90% bend but I can’t seem to lift my leg when lying down. I’ve been steady with my exercises too. It’s the first time I’ve had a cry and regretting my op as before I wasn’t in too much pain. I’m not sleeping great and taking minimum pain killers as it’s not severe pain. They make me feel fuzzy and my energy is very depleted. Am I expecting too much.

I found that taking the painkillers helped keep me positive about my progress. I was a few weeks post op when I was just fine, no more pain management at all -- it will happen. Stay the course.

I exercised, slept, iced, ate good protein, slept, drank water, slept- it ended. You will get there and be thrilled with your knee.

Aveline

As previously stated I did none of the exercises, excellent result, no more pain and mobility restored to normal.

As you know from previous discussions, there are very diverse opinions on this, fro specialists, physios, and patients.

Each KR is different- depending on the patient, age, fitness, motivation , reason for need of KR- earlier accident or not, etc, etc, etc. I have had 2 KR, and both totally different, in pain, time to recover and result after 5 years. One is still painful at times, and the pain post op was massive. But it was very badly injured when I was young, in a really bad car accident. They had to shave tons of extra bone during the operation- and some bone has started to grow around the prosthesis. I can walk for miles without pain, but not sit in the car or at the cinema for long in a still position. The second one, not injured in the past- was so easy peasy and I have full movement, can kneel on that one (on soft surface) - and absolutely no pain.

Rest, ice and elevation. Important to drain off all the fluid that develops to protect the traumatised joint. I do remember that tight band feeling though. It will wear off.
One day I was sitting at my desk writing and I realised that my knee was fully bent and my foot was well under my chair. Improvement sneaks up on you. I'm sure that will happen to you too one day when you're not thinking about it.

Thank you everyone. My knee is so very tight, I have less movement and it’s comes on today. I’ve no idea why. All the exercises with he tight knee seem very challenging. Any suggestions.

As previously stated I did none of the exercises, excellent result, no more pain and mobility restored to normal.

I've had both knees replaced, with great success. I followed all the rules, exercises, did as told - pain ended, life is good.

Carolinerose2

Having a total knee replacement soon, does anybody have any tips about how to manage at home post op? I live in a small house where the bathroom/WC and bedrooms are on the first floor. There is no space downstairs for a WC and I know the stairs are going to be a big problem for me. I am a bit squeamish about asking DH to empty a commode! Thanks

My two ‘new’ knees are coming up to ten years old now and I’m SO glad I had them done, I have my life back again.
I wasn’t allowed out of hospital each time until I’d proved that I could manage stairs. If I were you I’d stay upstairs for the first few days. Use plenty of ice, I took ice bags in a cool bag with frozen ice packs in it so I could change them overnight without having to wake Mr Moon. We did sleep in separate rooms as well, I was terrified he might bump into me and touch my knee!
Tip….prepare and freeze as many meals as you can beforehand, my OH doesn’t cook but did absolutely everything else as well as care for me for 3 months. The deal was he’d do it all as long as I exercised and rested exactly as the hospital advised. The result was two very well healed knees with a good bend so we can now enjoy our walking and cycling holidays together again.
Re kneeling….I CAN kneel but because I don’t have the same bend as before I can’t balance, so need to hold onto something. This means kneeling isn’t really an option because I don’t have two hands to be able to do whatever I wanted to do whilst kneeling.

To help lifting my leg just after knee then hip ops I reversed my walking stick, hooked the handle round my foot and swung my leg over and out of bed or into bed at night. It worked well. Didn't need to be done for long. I'm sure you'll be having much less trouble soon Deaneke

I've had two TKRs, in 2019 and 2021. It takes time to recover but you will 🙂.

Deaneke when I had my knees done 10 years ago lifting my leg when laying down was the last thing I managed. It took a good few weeks.
I am now nearly 6 weeks on from a hip replace and it is only the last few days that I have been able to lift my leg o ff the bed.

My surgeon told me that knee implants are not for kneeling on. Hence I don't kneel. I manage absolutely fine without kneeling.

Re kneeling I have not had knee replacement but have had two hips
Prior to the op it was postponed for nearly a year for various medical reasons I had steroid myopathy and was using crutches. And my point is I could not kneel Started by kneeling on all fours on the bed and moving gently backwards and forward. They gradually improved and can now kneed on floor

Hello-
It's been 3 weeks since my total knee replacement. Today I just feel this heavy weight in my knee. I have 90% bend but I can’t seem to lift my leg when lying down. I’ve been steady with my exercises too. It’s the first time I’ve had a cry and regretting my op as before I wasn’t in too much pain. I’m not sleeping great and taking minimum pain killers as it’s not severe pain. They make me feel fuzzy and my energy is very depleted. Am I expecting too much.

Depends on your stairs- are they steep? You must make sure that your learn how to use crutches on stairs and practise going up and down before getting home.

Stairs were fine for me, but they are not deep and not steep and a good ramp, and I was taught how to go up and down safely.

Do you have a shower over bath? You may struggle with this- so may have to skip showering for a while. If stairs are steep and deep, you may have to sleep downstairs for a while, and make necessary arrangements. Depends on your age and fitness too.

If you don't want OH to empty commode, maybe you will have to organise help to come in twice a day. We are all different, different stages of fitness and strength, and certainly different stairs.

Do you know how long you will be in hospital?