Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Jan 6, 2022
Good evening @ktgirl. I would vote for the foam wedge for elevating. It does mean you have to learn to sleep with your feet on the block. However. I just had my second TKR and was glad to have it.
Are you planning on having surgery soon?
May you find contentment and ease.
Good evening @ktgirl. I would vote for the foam wedge for elevating. It does mean you have to learn to sleep with your feet on the block. However. I just had my second TKR and was glad to have it.
Are you planning on having surgery soon?
May you find contentment and ease.
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
Yes I have received the information about exercises with pictures. I purchased a toilet railing that has arm rests to help me to lift myself up. Also I purchased a riser for my toilet. So I'm getting prepared. I have a class next Tuesday where they have videos about the surgery and teach us how to do things. So hopefully things will go ok. Just nervous about not being able to do things for myself.
Thanks for the insights. I appreciate it.
Carol
I just looked it up and looks interesting. I was really impressed by the person who did the video. I might wait until Tuesday when I have my class and ask them about it. Thanks so much.
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
Thank you for your response. That's interesting about the pillows. I'll have to ask them when I have the class about that. I've had a couple surgeries before. Total shoulder and I had surgery on my elbow last May at Mayo. They cleaned out the joint to help with pain and range of motion. My shoulder isn't the greatest as far as ROM but pain is gone. My elbow is still painful. I can't lift a lot and it doesn't straighten. So that's probably why I'm kind of nervous about the knee.
Thanks again
Carol
Yes I have received the information about exercises with pictures. I purchased a toilet railing that has arm rests to help me to lift myself up. Also I purchased a riser for my toilet. So I'm getting prepared. I have a class next Tuesday where they have videos about the surgery and teach us how to do things. So hopefully things will go ok. Just nervous about not being able to do things for myself.
Thanks for the insights. I appreciate it.
Carol
@ktgirl, Now, I get it......you are nervous about being helpless because of the surgery. And perhaps you are thinking about not being a burden to a caregiver? Or....you don't want to be forced to reveal certain intimate factors and functions.
The cautionary note is to not take risks. If you are going in the bathroom with your walker at 3 a.m., make sure you have lighting that is on all night. I think that idea of the class is wonderful. We had one on Zoom last year about three weeks pre-surgery.
I would venture to say that you will be more than ready. And in part, because you have taken the time to prepare, you will be less anxious or nervous.
I made it through surgery. My leg is swollen a lot. Exercises are difficult but doing what I can. I have my first therapy session tomorrow. I'll see if I'm doing things right. Questions I have so far is how often should I elevate my leg and for how long? I try and ice it as often as I can. I'm taking 5 mgs. of Oxycodone every 5 hours or so and Tylenol 1,000 mgs. 4 times a day. I'm hoping I'm taking enough. I'm not sure how much pain is too much pain. When you have rheumatoid arthritis you kind of get used to pain. So I'm just checking in with everyone to see if anyone else has any suggestions or experiences
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Good evening @ktgirl. I would vote for the foam wedge for elevating. It does mean you have to learn to sleep with your feet on the block. However. I just had my second TKR and was glad to have it.
Are you planning on having surgery soon?
May you find contentment and ease.
Chris
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMy 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.
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
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsYes I have received the information about exercises with pictures. I purchased a toilet railing that has arm rests to help me to lift myself up. Also I purchased a riser for my toilet. So I'm getting prepared. I have a class next Tuesday where they have videos about the surgery and teach us how to do things. So hopefully things will go ok. Just nervous about not being able to do things for myself.
Thanks for the insights. I appreciate it.
Carol
https://kneerehabpros.com/ This is the one I purchased that came highly recommended by my exceptional physical therapist. Worked very well
I just looked it up and looks interesting. I was really impressed by the person who did the video. I might wait until Tuesday when I have my class and ask them about it. Thanks so much.
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
Thank you for your response. That's interesting about the pillows. I'll have to ask them when I have the class about that. I've had a couple surgeries before. Total shoulder and I had surgery on my elbow last May at Mayo. They cleaned out the joint to help with pain and range of motion. My shoulder isn't the greatest as far as ROM but pain is gone. My elbow is still painful. I can't lift a lot and it doesn't straighten. So that's probably why I'm kind of nervous about the knee.
Thanks again
Carol
@ktgirl, Now, I get it......you are nervous about being helpless because of the surgery. And perhaps you are thinking about not being a burden to a caregiver? Or....you don't want to be forced to reveal certain intimate factors and functions.
The cautionary note is to not take risks. If you are going in the bathroom with your walker at 3 a.m., make sure you have lighting that is on all night. I think that idea of the class is wonderful. We had one on Zoom last year about three weeks pre-surgery.
I would venture to say that you will be more than ready. And in part, because you have taken the time to prepare, you will be less anxious or nervous.
May you find contentment and ease.
Chris
I made it through surgery. My leg is swollen a lot. Exercises are difficult but doing what I can. I have my first therapy session tomorrow. I'll see if I'm doing things right. Questions I have so far is how often should I elevate my leg and for how long? I try and ice it as often as I can. I'm taking 5 mgs. of Oxycodone every 5 hours or so and Tylenol 1,000 mgs. 4 times a day. I'm hoping I'm taking enough. I'm not sure how much pain is too much pain. When you have rheumatoid arthritis you kind of get used to pain. So I'm just checking in with everyone to see if anyone else has any suggestions or experiences