Re: Re: New to group -- having TKR in September

[Guest guest]

Jack you made statements that mimicked my recovery. I felt that the

sticky Saran Wrap worked better to wrap the lerg in when showering.

Glad you are recovering well. I did also.

On Aug 7, 2006, at 4:35 AM, know_jack wrote:

> Hi ,

>

> Congratulations & best wishes on your upcoming surgery...I am 50y/o &

> had my left knee replaced in February(traumatic injury back in 1980).

> I'm sure you'll get a lot of good advice...So I'll toss mine in too.

>

> 1. Start doing a lot of stretching excercises now.

>

> 2. Get a pair of comfortable, rubber soled slippers. Some people

> recommend tennis shoes, but it is a lot easier to put on & take off

> slippers...Acctually, I bought a pair of deck shoes, inex[ensive & the

> soles had good traction.

>

> 3. I bought a couple of cases of bottled water (16 ounce size). The

> meds will really make you thirsty. I put 1 case in the fridge & the

> other in the freezer. I would take a frozen bottle to bed with me each

> night so I would always have something to sip on...Whnever I finished

> a

> bottle, I would refill it from the sink, but it was definitely easier

> to have bottled water than it is to keep filling glasses up.

>

> 4. Your sleep patterns will get really thrown out of whack, so be

> prepared sor that...I had a whole stack of books that I'd hoped to

> read

> while recovering, but the meds & lack of sleep made it hard for me to

> focaus for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time...I ended up reading a

> lot of magazines,,,the articles were just the right length for my

> attention span...Old Reader's Digest were the best.

>

> 5. The pain during your rehab will keep moving. One day it'll be your

> knee, another day it will be your ankle or calf....What really

> surprised me, was how much my butt hurt. It seems that there's a large

> muscle between your knee & lower butt & it really takes a beating to

> get it stretched back...I'm 6 months post-op, and my soreness now is

> pretty much confined to the outside of my knee & my butt.

>

> 6. I don't know where you live, but I had a choice of several PT

> Clinics & I visited a couple of them pre-op & was lucky enough to find

> a really good one.

>

> 7. Cellophane wrap really does work good for keeping the leg dry while

> showering.

>

> 8. I guess that's about it for now...Good luck,,,oh, & if you want to

> have a little fun, you can go to www.edheads.com & you can do

> a 'virtual surgery' on yourself...It's animated, so there's no blood,

> but I replaced my knee several times on-line & it really helped me to

> understand the procedure...They have also recently added a 'virtual

> hip

> surgery' also...

>

> 9...Oh yeah, the pain from the rehab was worth it. And although I'm

> still sore at times, I can at least walk, sit & lay down without being

> in constant pain...I can actually go for hours at a time & forget all

> about being sore. It's a wonderful feeling.

>

>

> >

> > Greetings. I am having total knee replacement of left knee in

> > September. I am eager to learn from your experiences about best ways

> to

> > prepare. Thanks!

> >

>

>

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace

of God will not protect you.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/7/2006 6:45:57 A.M. Central Standard Time, know_jack@... writes:

Oops, I forgot...Flexible ice packs & frozen vegetables... After each of my excercise sessions I would cover my knee, on top, underneath & on both sides with frozen stuff for about 10 or 15 minutes..One simple ice pack won't cover the whole area...I liked the frozen peas the best. I just kept refreezing them, but at least had the sense not to eat them,,,and although I hated to waste food, a few bags made all the difference.

OH yeah, at the hospital they gave us ice packs that you could re freeze. Ice will be your friend.

[Guest guest]

The local physio says to make your own flexible ice bags by placing 50%

metho and 50% water in a zip lock bag. Freeze.

The bag will be quite flexible when frozen, and can be reused many times.

Just don't fill them too full.

Aussie Margaret

RTHR 1990 revised 2004

Re: New to group -- having TKR in

September

| Oops, I forgot...

|

| Flexible ice packs & frozen vegetables... After each of my excercise

| sessions I would cover my knee, on top, underneath & on both sides with

| frozen stuff for about 10 or 15 minutes..One simple ice pack won't

| cover the whole area...I liked the frozen peas the best. I just kept

| refreezing them, but at least had the sense not to eat them,,,and

| although I hated to waste food, a few bags made all the difference.

|

|

| >

| > Greetings. I am having total knee replacement of left knee in

| > September. I am eager to learn from your experiences about best ways

| to

| > prepare. Thanks!

| >

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

[Guest guest]

There is also a new ice/hot pack by Icy Hot I believe that works

wonders for the knee and holds the ice in place. I got one and loved

it. Ice bag came with it.

On Aug 7, 2006, at 1:40 PM, Margaret wrote:

> The local physio says to make your own flexible ice bags by placing 50%

> metho and 50% water in a zip lock bag. Freeze.

>

> The bag will be quite flexible when frozen, and can be reused many

> times.

> Just don't fill them too full.

>

> Aussie Margaret

> RTHR 1990 revised 2004

>

> Re: New to group -- having TKR in

> September

>

>

> | Oops, I forgot...

> |

> | Flexible ice packs & frozen vegetables... After each of my excercise

> | sessions I would cover my knee, on top, underneath & on both sides

> with

> | frozen stuff for about 10 or 15 minutes..One simple ice pack won't

> | cover the whole area...I liked the frozen peas the best. I just kept

> | refreezing them, but at least had the sense not to eat them,,,and

> | although I hated to waste food, a few bags made all the difference.

> |

> |

> | >

> | > Greetings. I am having total knee replacement of left knee in

> | > September. I am eager to learn from your experiences about best

> ways

> | to

> | > prepare. Thanks!

> | >

> |

> |

> |

> |

> |

> |

> |

> |

[Guest guest]

I hate to be so dumb but what is metho?

On Aug 7, 2006, at 1:40 PM, Margaret wrote:

> The local physio says to make your own flexible ice bags by placing 50%

> metho and 50% water in a zip lock bag. Freeze.

>

> The bag will be quite flexible when frozen, and can be reused many

> times.

> Just don't fill them too full.

>

> Aussie Margaret

> RTHR 1990 revised 2004

>

> Re: New to group -- having TKR in

> September

>

>

> | Oops, I forgot...

> |

> | Flexible ice packs & frozen vegetables... After each of my excercise

> | sessions I would cover my knee, on top, underneath & on both sides

> with

> | frozen stuff for about 10 or 15 minutes..One simple ice pack won't

> | cover the whole area...I liked the frozen peas the best. I just kept

> | refreezing them, but at least had the sense not to eat them,,,and

> | although I hated to waste food, a few bags made all the difference.

> |

> |

> | >

> | > Greetings. I am having total knee replacement of left knee in

> | > September. I am eager to learn from your experiences about best

> ways

> | to

> | > prepare. Thanks!

> | >

> |

> |

> |

> |

> |

> |

> |

> |

[Guest guest]

I have a Tilly Foodsaver and I can put the liquid in that and seal it.

They are really strong so I think I will do that. I just need to know

what metho is.

On Aug 7, 2006, at 4:55 PM, know_jack wrote:

> Hi Aussie Margaret,

>

> I have learned a lot in the last few months from your experiences &

> advice,,,so let me now take a moment to say " Thank you "

>

> I hadn't heard about the Metho-Water combination,,,but it makes

> sense...My problem is that I don't quite trust the 'zip lock bags' to

> not break open & make a mess in my freezer,,or else I would worry

> that I didn't quite 'zip lock' it properly(I guess that it's one of

> my personal paranoia's)...But I used at least 5 bags of 'frozen

> things' to surround my knee after every PT session, & I felt more

> comfortable with 'pre-packaged' items...

>

> On the other hand, I live in the United States, where everything is

> pre-packaged...(shame on us)... But anyone who's had TKR or THR have

> learned that every operation & recovery is different,,,and the more

> questions we ask, well, the better off we will be...

>

> Bob, or Jack....I answer to either name...

>

>

> > | >

> > | > Greetings. I am having total knee replacement of left knee in

> > | > September. I am eager to learn from your experiences about best

> ways

> > | to

> > | > prepare. Thanks!

> > | >

> > |

> > |

> > |

> > |

> > |

> > |

> > |

> > |

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the answer. I just think I will try it. I like the little

bit of history also.

On Aug 7, 2006, at 5:13 PM, know_jack wrote:

> Hi Elaine,

>

> I hate to sound dumb also, & so sometimes I just blunder my way

> through

> e-mails...But I think, and am fairly convinced, that what Aussie

> Margaret refer's to as " metho " , is what we would refer to as " rubbing

> alcohal " ....(my Mom used to rub it on my sunburns)...The

> 'alcohal'(sp?)

> will never freeze, & mixed 50/50 with water will allow a lot of

> flexibility & is totally reusable....It is kind of like putting

> antifreeze in your car's radiator, but dilluting it with a little bit

> of water...The " Anti-freeze " is 2/3rds " Metho " ,,,but you can stretch

> it

> out by mixing in some water....This is a frozen tundra mechanic's

> trick....But it has served me well over the years....

>

> Bob...(Not actually Jack...)

>

>

>

> >

> > > The local physio says to make your own flexible ice bags by

> placing

> 50%

> > > metho and 50% water in a zip lock bag. Freeze.

> > >

>

> >

>

>

" Relying on God has to begin every day as if nothing had yet been done. "

[Guest guest]

metho is aussie for metholated spirit. alcholol rubbing lotion has a fair

percentage in it.

Not sure what else to call it.

Aussie Margaret

RTHR 1990 revised 2004

Re: New to group -- having TKR in

| > September

| >

| >

| > | Oops, I forgot...

| > |

| > | Flexible ice packs & frozen vegetables... After each of my excercise

| > | sessions I would cover my knee, on top, underneath & on both sides

| > with

| > | frozen stuff for about 10 or 15 minutes..One simple ice pack won't

| > | cover the whole area...I liked the frozen peas the best. I just kept

| > | refreezing them, but at least had the sense not to eat them,,,and

| > | although I hated to waste food, a few bags made all the difference.

| > |

| > |

| > | >

| > | > Greetings. I am having total knee replacement of left knee in

| > | > September. I am eager to learn from your experiences about best

| > ways

| > | to

| > | > prepare. Thanks!

| > | >

| > |

| > |

| > |

| > |

| > |

| > |

| > |

| > |

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the answer Margaret.

On Aug 8, 2006, at 12:48 AM, Margaret wrote:

> metho is aussie for metholated spirit. alcholol rubbing lotion has a

> fair

> percentage in it.

>

> Not sure what else to call it.

>

> Aussie Margaret

> RTHR 1990 revised 2004

>

>

> Re: New to group -- having TKR

> in

> | > September

> | >

> | >

> | > | Oops, I forgot...

> | > |

> | > | Flexible ice packs & frozen vegetables... After each of my

> excercise

> | > | sessions I would cover my knee, on top, underneath & on both

> sides

> | > with

> | > | frozen stuff for about 10 or 15 minutes..One simple ice pack

> won't

> | > | cover the whole area...I liked the frozen peas the best. I just

> kept

> | > | refreezing them, but at least had the sense not to eat them,,,and

> | > | although I hated to waste food, a few bags made all the

> difference.

> | > |

> | > |

> | > | >

> | > | > Greetings. I am having total knee replacement of left knee in

> | > | > September. I am eager to learn from your experiences about best

> | > ways

> | > | to

> | > | > prepare. Thanks!

> | > | >

> | > |

> | > |

> | > |

> | > |

> | > |

> | > |

> | > |

> | > |

[Guest guest]

i would guess methanol (alcohol) but plain old rubbing alcohol from the drug store is the easiest to look for. unless there is a discount liquor store close by then everclear or even cheap vodka will work well too

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the suggestion.

On Aug 8, 2006, at 6:40 AM, Coffey wrote:

> i would guess methanol (alcohol) but plain old rubbing alcohol from

> the drug store is the easiest to look for. unless there is a discount

> liquor store close by then everclear or even cheap vodka will work

> well too

>

>

" It is risky to go out on a limb but that is where the fruit is. "

[Guest guest]

The feeling about the group is mutual. Just when you need information someone seems to give it. Or you find someone going through the same things you are. You people are always there for me, and that is pretty special. >>> I couldn't agree more Margaret! Certainly does save ones sanity! Nice having family & friends by your side through the experiences... but it's funny how others you don't even know become just as close to you through the process and help you even more so then those you know in your day 2 day life! I suppose it's one thing to "try 2 relate" to what someones going through... it's more reassuring when someone has actually WOREN THE SHOES your preparing to buy!

[Guest guest]

On Aug 7, 2006, at 7:55 PM, know_jack wrote:The local physio says to make your own flexible ice bags by placing  50%  metho and 50% water in a zip lock bag.  Freeze. What's metho?Thanks - the advice is helping. Z