Hi there. ...
Just a few words from my experience of have both knees FKR Nov 2024 / April 2025.
Like you I did some due diligence ... getting 4 Orthopedic opinions, having
severe bone on bone in both and excessive amount of pain for more than a 6 year period.
One leg was bowed, and the other seemed to be heading in the same direction. I was also informed that I had a Immuno Thrombocytopenia (Which delayed the surgery until the cause of it and remedy could be implemented )
KEY PREPARATIONS
> Stretching 3X daily
> Strength Training
> Dietary Corrections
> Home Ergonomics
>Bedroom Logistics
> Physical Therapy
> Schedule
I ve always been a gym rat... with 40+ years at my hobby. Knees that are so bad that you are almost crippled. Definitely put a dent in your activity level, especially for doing legs, but I will tell you that any and all training that you can do upper body as well as the lower body will enhance your body's ability to heal... as well as make you stronger so that you can support yourself through the difficult work that must be done.
The areas above identified were key to me. Crushed ice in quart & gallon zip bags in the Bedroom freezer / frig kept the swelling DOWN.. hence pain down. Get off the narcotics by 4 - 5 days to avoid addiction... 800 MG ibuprofen was my ORTHO prescription.
Official PT was 2X/ week... but I did 4 sessions/ day at home with their exercises...and a few of my own... for 5 days/ week.
●Very important to get up and walk with walker within 2 - 4 hours of surgery to AVOID blood clots
● Very important to take ice cooler to hospital room as theirs may be insufficient
● A large bath sheet to wrap around ice packs great to keep isolated and control swelling days 2 - 15
● Walker that fits through bathroom & Bedroom doorways critical.. and an attached cup holder & carry pouch on walker best!
● Sooner you schedule & begin PT ( 7 days ) from surgery best
● Stock up pantry & refrigerator with some pre-fixed items / get arranged help for coffee / meals / ice
● Walk limited to 3 - 4 minutes first week / session! DON'T OVERDUE IT! Walk each week to add 20 - 40 more steps than prior week.
● IN bed ankle flexes, knee flexes, leg raises all aid CIRCULATION & STRENGTH... do both legs... one first 8 - 10 reps... then the other
● Consume all fresh foods, low carbs, high lean protein, lots of vegetables, minimum processed sugars, good amount of fruits, lots of colored vegetables & fruits, salads, multi- vitamin, magnesium supplement if allowed medically. ( Sugars feed inflammation so avoid them mostly )
Just one note. My surgeon includes an ice machine in his fee. It gets delivered to my home two days before the operation. The ice machine comes with a wrap making it much easier to use than ice in baggies. It is included for two weeks. After that I either return it or pay a rental fee myself.
If your surgeon doesn't include one, consider renting one yourself. My surgeon currently uses the "Game Ready" ice machine.