After knee replacement surgery

I have found the anti-inflammatory Aleve best for me. Compression stockings & 325 aspirin to avoid clotting.
Sleeping is a challenge yet for me too, but getting better.

@gailfaith Interestingly they told me to not use it when I was in bed! If I could have it probably would have been more tolerable. I will be interested to see what is recommended by my current ortho.
JK

@maryx1937 Mary, good for you, it sounds like you are doing great. I went straight from a walker to walking independently in a few weeks because I found both canes and crutches were difficult for me! I liked the home PT a lot, the young man I had developed a real bond with me and we hugged when I had to let him go. I had to though because as long as they come to your home you have to be home-bound and I needed to get out. Thankfully the PT at the outpatient center was also great.
JK

@maryx1937 Unfortunately after transplant the only over the counter pain reliever I can take is tylenol, in a limited amount. People, even some doctors, are always surprised that I can take tylenol because tylenol taken in larger doses, particularly if drinking alcohol, can damage your liver. I am not sure what the other meds do.
Have any of you with liver transplants also been banned from taking other pain relievers, and if so do you know why you cannot take things like ibuprofen?

Check the mg. in Aleve. Stockings: a friend was told by Dr. leave them under pillow and do not get out of bed, put them on, then get up.

@contentand well.. I wonder if you and I are referencing the same machine? (passive motion machine???) I can't imagine being even able to use it in any other way as your leg is strapped onto the machine. As i mentioned, I woke up from the anesthesia both times with my leg already on it! And both times I left the hospital both times with more than 100 degrees of bend, I never had any pain while on the machine either!!!!!.And as they increase the bend they do it slowly so after a few bends I felt NO discomfort. The second time I left the hospital with 113 degree of bend and without the machine in that nursing home was up to 123 degrees and left the nursing home with 134 with just PT and no stretching of the knee .....just general PT so I lost no strength lying in bed.. That was 11 years ago and my present therapist measured it recently ( and both knees are about 5 degrees more than the last figures i knew.

@gailfaith Gail, maybe it is not the same then. I do not remember having it in the rehab center (which does not necessarily mean I did not, memories are vague) but I was supposed to use it at home. It was strapped to my leg with the knee at the center. There was some plush fabric that went with it which they did not take back since when it was rented to new patient they would give her a new one. It was uncomfortable and I really did not feel it helped at all. I do remember thinking that it would be less of a nuisance if I could use it while sleeping. When I called to turn it in after just a month (I actually only tried it for about two weeks) I was told it receives mixed reviews from patients, some love it and some find it useless.
JK

@contentnandwell. Will have to ask my therapist if he knows of any other kind of machine used to bend the knee? Will let you know if so! Cant help but wonder if you were told to only use it in the bed, not out of the bed! especially since you say that you think it would have been more comfortable to use in the bed!!!!. gailfaith

This fall I'm undergoing TKR, my first. I'm currently talking with Mayo Rochester MN. (Was previously scheduled for 4/14/17 in Roch but 4/11 my appendix burst and I almost bit the dust.) Ten years ago my husband had both of his replaced (in Illinois--we've moved), six months apart.

Ten years ago: he used the passive motion machine for both knees, both in hospital and home; he had an electronic ice machine (like a cooler with a motor) that pumped ice water through the giant pads; he went to physical therapy for a few weeks, that after he had in-home therapy for a couple weeks. But my, how things have changed! Also ten years ago his doctor said if he didn't have TERRIFIC pain control he wouldn't do what he was supposed to and his knees would not heal properly.

For the most part the passive motion machines have been done away with as *many studies showed that a year or two after surgery there was no difference in those who used one and those who didn't. Many docs believe using your own muscles more quickly begins the resuming of strength more quickly. There is more to recovery than degrees of bend; strength matters too. So, no machine for me since doc doesn't believe in them. Guess after wrangling around with that giant machine after my husband's surgery, I'm inclined to think doing without makes sense.

The only people I know lately who've used an electronic ice machine purchased one themselves. I'm assuming this has to do with insurance. ??? They were a God-send for my hubby so I'll be getting one on my own dime whereas he was given (well, insurance paid) a new one with each surgery.

I'm now being told I will not have any official therapy unless my at-home, on-my-own post-op therapy is not productive. My Mayo doc said there are too many too-aggressive therapists, and there's nothing you can't do at home that's done the same with a therapist watching. It's discipline that matters--PLUS being very gentle with the leg that first while, which is apparently when we're most vulnerable to a therapist over-doing things. I have heard stories on both sides of this coin, but more than not people did admit their therapists pushed so hard, the pain was so bad, that they sometimes had to skip the next day's work. (Other side of coin: my husband loved his therapist who he partially credits with how well he did. He also had a terrific surgeon.) I've also heard there is a case to be made that we are more susceptible to infection at therapy facilities. I guess that makes sense.

Today pain meds and their abuse are under fire. However, if you're in too much pain to properly do your exercises, where does that leave you? I do know there's certain amounts of pain we just need to gut through. But good pain control so I can properly exercise will be something I'll go to bat for.

All this to say ... My how things have changed.

I wish everyone well and am firing up prayers and healing thoughts as I type. I notice nobody mentions Doc names. Perhaps there is a rule? It would be great to compare docs' thinking.

It's good to hear your success story. Yes, I will be ready to get out by the end of this week I'm sure. Thanks.