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← Return to Elevating legs after TKR
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Joint Replacements | Last Active: Feb 14, 2022 | Replies (13)
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My surgery is scheduled for February 10th. I'm a bit nervous about it so I want to be prepared with whatever I need.
Thanks for the response.
Replies to "My surgery is scheduled for February 10th. I'm a bit nervous about it so I want..."
Hello, Hope your surgery goes well. I had my first in Sept. 2013 (I was 58) and other knee Feb 2019. After my surgery someone told me to ask your surgeon for the pillows etc. that they use during you knee replacement surgery. that they just throw them all away anyway. Worth a try. You pay for them. Wish I would have known to ask for those items.
Good luck! You will do just fine! It is normal to be nervous. They will have you up and walking as soon as the nerve blocks etc. wear off and doing some PT before you leave the hospital. Lori
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Hi there @ktgirl, I understand the nervousness. I had my second TKR on August 12 this year. Then I had hand surgery on December 9. I try to lie to myself about how much time I have until surgery. Then all of a sudden, it is time and I want to turn around and run the other way. Both of these surgeries were seconds.....the 'other' knee and the 'other' hand so I had some 10-year-old experiences. I was pleasantly surprised at the way technology has changed the functional aspects of these surgeries......same day, minimally invasive, and using robotic techniques to ensure greater accuracy.
I would like to share a couple of must-do"s" with you. Exercise.......pre-surgery is just as much a critical activity as those you do with a PT post-surgery. In fact, you may already be making time for a series of 5 or 6 strength-building exercises twice a day. There are a couple that will help you meet your ROM "range of motion" goals more easily after surgery. Did you receive copies with how-to pictures?
The other must-haves are ice wraps. I always want a backup one in the freezer. And the wraps work much better than just flat gel packs. You also can prepare to elevate your knee while the ice wrap is on. I think Vive Health had the best wrap because it has special packs that fit in the back of your knee.
You will also need a walker and a cane. If you ask around your community you may find a bank or a church that loans out shower chairs and toilet risers so you don't have to buy them.
I am happy to help you with the preparation information. Just ask and hopefully, I will have a response or two for you.
What makes you the most unsettled at this point?
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris