Have a long, detailed talk with your surgeon about what to expect post op and for the foreseeable several weeks to months. This is usually a very painful surgery and I didn’t feel I was in any way prepped for what to expect re: swelling and pain.
Have a long, detailed talk with your surgeon about what to expect post op and for the foreseeable several weeks to months. This is usually a very painful surgery and I didn’t feel I was in any way prepped for what to expect re: swelling and pain.
Did your surgeon give you any pre-surgery exercises to do? If so follow the recommended amount to do and do them regularly, If not, talk to your surgeon about exercises that can help prepare you for surgery. My doc prescribed a bunch of exercises to do twice a day. BTW, I am 8 1/2 months from my right total knee replacement. Swelling is gone, leg is strong enough, and I am pain free. I am 78.
Did your surgeon give you any pre-surgery exercises to do? If so follow the recommended amount to do and do them regularly, If not, talk to your surgeon about exercises that can help prepare you for surgery. My doc prescribed a bunch of exercises to do twice a day. BTW, I am 8 1/2 months from my right total knee replacement. Swelling is gone, leg is strong enough, and I am pain free. I am 78.
Neither the surgical team nor the PT team suggested presurgery exercises. The PT said they weren’t particularly helpful. I have to say that this has been the ONLY but a VERY SIGNIFICANT failure by Mayo staff related to my health care.
These are my principle recommendations:
1. Figure out where you want to go for rehab now. You don’t want to do trial and error with this after your surgery. Try to find a place that will give you an hour twice a week. Your next choice would be half an hour three times a week. Have them evaluate your strength and give you prehab exercises now if needed.
2. Talk with your personal physician now about how they’ll help you sleep post-op, since most people have a lot of trouble sleeping. I could never get my pain under control, so I used a sleep aid, which overrode the pain.
3. Figure out where you’ll sleep post-op. If you sleep with your spouse, the blankets might be too heavy because your incision will be very sensitive. I slept in a twin bed in another room for the first three months with only a sheet to minimize the weight. If you stay with your spouse, arrange to sleep on the same side of the bed as your operated leg, even if that means switching sides.
4. Rent the ice machine when the time comes.
5. Buy yourself a bolster to elevate your leg instead of using pillows.
6. Buy adult diapers and use them as soon as you get home from the hospital because the poly meds will wreak havoc on your system.
7. Be prepared to lose your appetite and don’t stress if you crave unhealthy food. Get your protein any way you can.
8. Realize there’s a happy medium to doing rehab. It’s possible to try too hard, which will increase swelling and inflammation, so don’t do that. A good PT is worth his/her weight in gold.
9. Don’t expect a quick recovery. It took me seven months to be glad I had the surgery.
10. If you have a dermatologist, maybe consult them about whether it’s possible to minimize the odds of getting a hypertrophic scar like mine.
11. If you’re doing your right leg, make sure your car’s breaks are in good condition because you don’t want to have to press too hard on the pedal.
Good luck!
Did your surgeon give you any pre-surgery exercises to do? If so follow the recommended amount to do and do them regularly, If not, talk to your surgeon about exercises that can help prepare you for surgery. My doc prescribed a bunch of exercises to do twice a day. BTW, I am 8 1/2 months from my right total knee replacement. Swelling is gone, leg is strong enough, and I am pain free. I am 78.
Were the exercises home variety? No outside home PT? Wow, you are one of lucky few that had no scar tissue problems. Enjoy the results and thank you surgeon, as he did a good job.
Were the exercises home variety? No outside home PT? Wow, you are one of lucky few that had no scar tissue problems. Enjoy the results and thank you surgeon, as he did a good job.
Yes, exercises were home based, no outside PT. I am lucky. I have had both knees replaced. The most recent one was harder then the first, but the outcome is very good.
These are my principle recommendations:
1. Figure out where you want to go for rehab now. You don’t want to do trial and error with this after your surgery. Try to find a place that will give you an hour twice a week. Your next choice would be half an hour three times a week. Have them evaluate your strength and give you prehab exercises now if needed.
2. Talk with your personal physician now about how they’ll help you sleep post-op, since most people have a lot of trouble sleeping. I could never get my pain under control, so I used a sleep aid, which overrode the pain.
3. Figure out where you’ll sleep post-op. If you sleep with your spouse, the blankets might be too heavy because your incision will be very sensitive. I slept in a twin bed in another room for the first three months with only a sheet to minimize the weight. If you stay with your spouse, arrange to sleep on the same side of the bed as your operated leg, even if that means switching sides.
4. Rent the ice machine when the time comes.
5. Buy yourself a bolster to elevate your leg instead of using pillows.
6. Buy adult diapers and use them as soon as you get home from the hospital because the poly meds will wreak havoc on your system.
7. Be prepared to lose your appetite and don’t stress if you crave unhealthy food. Get your protein any way you can.
8. Realize there’s a happy medium to doing rehab. It’s possible to try too hard, which will increase swelling and inflammation, so don’t do that. A good PT is worth his/her weight in gold.
9. Don’t expect a quick recovery. It took me seven months to be glad I had the surgery.
10. If you have a dermatologist, maybe consult them about whether it’s possible to minimize the odds of getting a hypertrophic scar like mine.
11. If you’re doing your right leg, make sure your car’s breaks are in good condition because you don’t want to have to press too hard on the pedal.
Good luck!
Yes, I took time to choose my surgeon because I previously had surgery for an enlarged parathyroid gland that resulted in a paralyzed vocal cord. I didn't need any more complications. My surgeon is very good and also a wonderful person. I was lucky to find him.
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Have a long, detailed talk with your surgeon about what to expect post op and for the foreseeable several weeks to months. This is usually a very painful surgery and I didn’t feel I was in any way prepped for what to expect re: swelling and pain.
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3 ReactionsI agree completely. No one told me how long the recovery would be. Ask alot of questions.
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1 ReactionDid your surgeon give you any pre-surgery exercises to do? If so follow the recommended amount to do and do them regularly, If not, talk to your surgeon about exercises that can help prepare you for surgery. My doc prescribed a bunch of exercises to do twice a day. BTW, I am 8 1/2 months from my right total knee replacement. Swelling is gone, leg is strong enough, and I am pain free. I am 78.
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsNeither the surgical team nor the PT team suggested presurgery exercises. The PT said they weren’t particularly helpful. I have to say that this has been the ONLY but a VERY SIGNIFICANT failure by Mayo staff related to my health care.
These are my principle recommendations:
1. Figure out where you want to go for rehab now. You don’t want to do trial and error with this after your surgery. Try to find a place that will give you an hour twice a week. Your next choice would be half an hour three times a week. Have them evaluate your strength and give you prehab exercises now if needed.
2. Talk with your personal physician now about how they’ll help you sleep post-op, since most people have a lot of trouble sleeping. I could never get my pain under control, so I used a sleep aid, which overrode the pain.
3. Figure out where you’ll sleep post-op. If you sleep with your spouse, the blankets might be too heavy because your incision will be very sensitive. I slept in a twin bed in another room for the first three months with only a sheet to minimize the weight. If you stay with your spouse, arrange to sleep on the same side of the bed as your operated leg, even if that means switching sides.
4. Rent the ice machine when the time comes.
5. Buy yourself a bolster to elevate your leg instead of using pillows.
6. Buy adult diapers and use them as soon as you get home from the hospital because the poly meds will wreak havoc on your system.
7. Be prepared to lose your appetite and don’t stress if you crave unhealthy food. Get your protein any way you can.
8. Realize there’s a happy medium to doing rehab. It’s possible to try too hard, which will increase swelling and inflammation, so don’t do that. A good PT is worth his/her weight in gold.
9. Don’t expect a quick recovery. It took me seven months to be glad I had the surgery.
10. If you have a dermatologist, maybe consult them about whether it’s possible to minimize the odds of getting a hypertrophic scar like mine.
11. If you’re doing your right leg, make sure your car’s breaks are in good condition because you don’t want to have to press too hard on the pedal.
Good luck!
Were the exercises home variety? No outside home PT? Wow, you are one of lucky few that had no scar tissue problems. Enjoy the results and thank you surgeon, as he did a good job.
Yes, exercises were home based, no outside PT. I am lucky. I have had both knees replaced. The most recent one was harder then the first, but the outcome is very good.
Thank you...such good info !!!
Good for you. That's rare as I read all the troubles with TKR. Don't forget your surgeon at Christmas!
Yes, I took time to choose my surgeon because I previously had surgery for an enlarged parathyroid gland that resulted in a paralyzed vocal cord. I didn't need any more complications. My surgeon is very good and also a wonderful person. I was lucky to find him.