I expect pain of course, but how long does the pain last?

I’d even have some Miralax or Dulcolax in the counter in case softeners aren’t enough. Softeners don’t make you go. Just make it soft when you do.

Oh I always keep some in the fridge, just in case. Thank you again.

I was interested in hearing how the hospital PT got you up for walking. In the hospital I was in, they got me up, took me to the bathroom and then down the hall for about 299 ft. and back to room. I wanted to do more but was told that was all, no stairs, nadda

I think if my hubby had been there at the time they would have done more.

I KNOW better now for the next one, but after what happened to me, I want to hold off on it as long as possible..
I am the lady that had a PTK on recommendation f the doctor that failed the first time they got me up, leg went crooked at knee down, out of alignment AND the nurses still made me walk to the bathroom in extreme pain! I was so scared seeing that I couldn't stop thowing up. The nurse was not trying to help me get that under control, but just wanted to get me back to the bed. Terrible.

FLEET enemas work. Cheapest too. No bulky food and a lot of water

Not for me…enema and suppository didn’t work. Thankfully my Gastro did a bowel prep….have to be so careful with pain meds

Good luck! Diet is crucial!

Thank you very much. May I ask you to elaborate on this please?

Consider PT before surgery so that your muscles are up to par as well.

I will be having several sessions before my surgery.

I had knee surgery in January 2022. With help of a month of prescription pain meds which I took on a regular schedule, I was able to control my pain. I stayed the first night at the hospital. They got me up to walk, take some steps up/down stairs and do some exercises that first/last day I was there, before going home around noon. As far as meds, I took all the one month prescription given of Oxycodone as ordered on a regular schedule. Then I changed to Hydrocodone w/Tylenol for one PRN prescription for weaning off pain meds and was soon back to the occasional, then rare PRN med. The Oxycodone actually began to make me feel mentally compromised before I changed to Hydrocodone, and if that hadn’t bothered me I can see how one could become addicted to that med.
I was 81 at the time and live alone, although my son and daughter in law came by to bring essentials, bring take out, put out the trash etc. I also needed help emptying the bedside commode the first day or two at home. After that, since I was alone, I got 3 days of in-home PT, followed by several weeks of PT at the facility. The in-home PT gave me the confidence to move my knee to capacity. Luckily I only live about a mile from the PT facility, so I Ubered the first few times, then walked to and from until I could drive with the essential help of my cane purchased at the drugstore. (The doctor’s rule of thumb was that his patients could drive as soon as they felt confident they could slam on the brakes in an emergency. That gave me pause!)
I feel I had an extraordinarily smooth recovery which I attribute to three things:
1. My doctor used assisted robotic surgery. He is known among his patients for his good results.
2. I have a bed that has remote controlled elevation of the foot of the bed which was a big help. A big wedge at the foot of your bed could substitute for this but would take more effort.
3. A continuous flow ice machine which the hospital provided in my case, but can be ordered off Amazon.
These 3 things really gave me an advantage and I hope you can find a way to provide them for yourself. Gayle