Useful devices for everyday life following surgery

After knee or hip replacement, a toilet riser is definitely convenient to have, especially if you don't have one of the newer slightly higher (I think it's called the comfort model) toilets. Having the arms is really helpful. Some people use one of the bedside toilets, just placing the seat part of it over the bathroom toilet rather than using it as a stand alone unit using the pail part of it.

Getting up from the toilet is impossible without a riser for just the first few weeks after TKR. You'll definitely need one for that time period though.

Hello,
What I did when I had both hips and knees replaced was I took a standard walker and turned it backwards over the toilet and it will help for you lift yourself up. It was a must for me. Hope this helps

Thanks ! Trying to prepare

@avs, It is a smart approach to any surgery to look ahead and try to prepare your living space for your recovery. You may notice I edited the title slightly to "Useful devices for everyday life following surgery." You bring up a good topic about how to prepare your living space for your recovery after surgery.

These are some pretty good suggestions from @roxxxy2626, @shawndm, and @nrb1942 - do any of you have any other devices or items that were helpful for everyday tasks after surgery?

@avs, getting in and out of the shower is another area in the bathroom where you may need to careful as well, have you considered anything for this task as well?

Walker, cane for later, shower seat, toilet riser and if you can manage it, a ice machine is beyond helpful. It's not a must have but a definite game changer. If not, have lots of ice to make bags. I cannot express enough, ice is essential for awhile.
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In the hospital I was given a walker, I was also given a bedside commode that you could remove the bucket and put it over the toilet to raise the height. (since then my husband installed a higher toilet seat). Once you stop the walker you will need a cane for a time. I also had an ice machine that my insurance had set up at home for when I was released. I will add that you need to have some Miralax, or Dulcolax in the cabinet as the pain meds will constipate and I had a CT at 9 days and had to do a bowel prep from my gastro because I had not gone in 9 days and was really backed up. Nothing for me worked no matter what I did. Before you leave the hospital they should get you physical therapy...mine scheduled it all out for me where I had asked them to and in-house therapy I feel is the best if you can get there,. Best of luck

The things I found which made life easier were a small bed rail . It slides under your mattress and makes it much easier to get out of bed. Mine even had a pouch that went over it with pockets to put things in, Also a toilet seat riser is a must especially during the first few weeks. Also I bought a wrap around the whole knee ice pack from Amazon. It is perfect , it has a soft inside making it easy to put on your skin and 2 wrap around straps to hold it in place. Much better than one that just sits on the top of your knee. I found it very useful especially at night when the pain wakes you up, simple ,quick and easy to use. Hope this helps.

Some similar tips from those who have had shoulder replacements would be appreciated, too. I'm having reverse total shoulder replacement in October and want to be prepared. Fortunately I have a very helpful husband who took great care of me through knee replacements, but I'd like things to be as easy as possible for both of us.

I was sent home from the hospital with a re-usable flexible wrap around ice pack, and a leg lifter. The leg lifter is a semi-rigid long strap with a hand hold and a foot loop that you use to move your operated leg up into bed or onto a recliner footrest. It is also used to help with some of the prescribed exercises at home until your knee swelling goes down and you start to regain flexibility. Ask your surgeon's office if you will be provided with one, and if not, you can order them on Amazon or get at a medical supply store.