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Ice Therapy Machines

Posted by doll53 @doll53, Aug 5, 2023

Hello, group! I’m new here. I bought an ice therapy machine to use after my TKR only to find out my doctor doesn’t approve of them. He won’t give me any guidance on how long on and how long off to use it, how often, etc. All I can find online is follow your doctor’s recommendations. Anybody use one and if so, how did you use it? Can’t find any negatives about it. Had 3 therapists tell me they’re great. But they work for the hospital/doctor, so….
Thanks!

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dmk | @dmk | 6 days ago

Hospital gave me a Don joy for my reverse total shoulder and a different brand for my total knee two years later. Best pain control ever I imagine about any brand is good being mine are different brands and worked well. Be sure to get one that is not gravity , plugs into wall and get the appropriate attachment in your husbands case for the knee you can buy them on amazon

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bunnybear | @bunnybear | 6 days ago
In reply to @cknee415 "My hospital gave me the Donjoy Iceman Classic, though I probably paid for part of it...." + (show)
@cknee415

My hospital gave me the Donjoy Iceman Classic, though I probably paid for part of it. There's a well you put some water in and then four frozen water bottles (with some water taken out so they don't split in the freezer) are added to keep the circulating water icy cold for a few hours. I found 4 bottles was way too cold so later in recovery, I only added two new ones that were frozen solid.
I'm at 10 weeks out from TKR and still use it after walks. I sometimes lie on the pad that has circulating cold water for back pain too (another problem of mine.)

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@cknee415 I have not seen the pad with circulating cold water. I have to just use frozen packets on my back at times. Where did you get it? Thanks.

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cknee415 | @cknee415 | 5 days ago

Just type either ice therapy machines or Donjoy Iceman Classic in the search bar and I saw many models, mine was the Donjoy iceman class but there are many pad shapes. Mine was not designed for use on my back but it helps. Can't use on bare skin.
Looks like mine cost $170 with cooler, hoses, pad and 2 velcro straps to hold it around my knee. You put some water in the small cooler and then add frozen water bottles to keep the circulating water icy.

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cknee415 | @cknee415 | 5 days ago

Very strange! My surgeon prefers circulating ice water in a large pad to taking more painkillers, of course.

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1 reply
cknee415 | @cknee415 | 5 days ago
In reply to @cknee415 "Very strange! My surgeon prefers circulating ice water in a large pad to taking more painkillers,..." + (show)
@cknee415

Very strange! My surgeon prefers circulating ice water in a large pad to taking more painkillers, of course.

Jump to this post

I think the time was 15 minutes every hour or so but it was so cold I couldn't leave it on for the full 15. I took short breaks with the switch off, or only added two new frozen solid water bottles to the cooler.

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roxannenewton1916 | @roxannenewton1916 | 5 days ago

Hello! A NICE1 machine with a timer (20 mins on, 20 off) with customizable levels of cold & compression therapy optimized my TKR recovery, reduced need for medication, reduced swelling for better PT, allowed me to sleep with it continuously operating.
Rented for 8 weeks at $10/day. Easy to use, quiet operation, for me a must-have tool for recovery.

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tiredoftkr | @tiredoftkr | 4 days ago

Here are my thoughts. I am 10 weeks out TKR.
My surgeon was older and did not send me home with an ice machine (he sent me home with a continuous motion machine instead which I thought saved my mind especially the first two three weeks).
Anyway; using ice rather continuously you will find ultra helpful.
But the machine is cumbersome and time consuming.
I just rotated the use of four 5x9 ice packs.
Now if you are someone who is ‘blown up’ with swelling and that might take precedence (dvts etc) then use the machine.
But ice packs are doing a fine job.
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