Re: Scheduled for 7/11/07 Knee Replacement

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the information, Pam. If you had your surgery on 6/14, it won't even be 2 weeks until this Thursday. Wow!See what's free at AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Sally, I do not know about knees but had both hips replaced. I found

it EXTREMELY helpful to spend one to two weeks in a rehab center which

is normally located in a nursing home and has wonderful PT staff to

assist you. This relieved my husband from taking time off from work

and tend to me for the first few painful days. Also, our insurance

company ok'd the rental of a hospital bed which I also found extremely

comfortable. We placed it into the walk-out finished basement, this

allowed me to stay on one level instead of having to creep up to the

second floor (or third from the basement) bedroom. I believe, a CPM

machine (which passively flexes your knee) is THE thing to have at

home, perhaps this can be rented.

>

> I am scheduled for a LTKR on 7/11/07 which is 2 weeks from tomorrow.

> I am currently getting my house and care ready but need some

> information. Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated.

> 1. I know most don't rent a hospital bed but I read where people

> sleep all night in recliners. Wouldn't the bed be more comfortable

> and convenient?

> 2. Since my surgery is on a Wednesday is it realistic to think I'll

> probably be coming home from the hospital on Saturday?

> 3. It looks as if you need someone staying with you when you get

> home from the hospital. Do you find that is generally true for about

> 2 weeks after surgery?

> 4. I have read that the pain is much worse after a knee replacement

> versus a hip replacement.......is that true?

> 5. It also appears that the first 2 weeks are the worst and that

> perhaps after that you can venture out.......is that true.

> 6. It sounds like 2 important things are surgery are pain medication

> and ice......anything else?

> Anything else you might add would be great.

> Thanks in advance.

> Sally

>

[Guest guest]

Sally,

> 1. I know most don't rent a hospital bed but I read where people

> sleep all night in recliners. Wouldn't the bed be more comfortable

> and convenient?

For me, there would be no way I could sleep in a recliner,,,I am

sleeping on a day bed and it is working out great. I do my exercise on

it and also use it as my 'sofa' for now.

> 2. Since my surgery is on a Wednesday is it realistic to think I'll

> probably be coming home from the hospital on Saturday?

I was in from Thursday thru Tuesday of last week.Just never know what

may come up with you personally, may need more or less. I have heard both.

> 3. It looks as if you need someone staying with you when you get

> home from the hospital. Do you find that is generally true for about

> 2 weeks after surgery?

My family was gone for a week, so I had a wonderful friend who stayed

with me in the day and another wonderful friend who stayed overnight.

I would not want to be alone, you could fall, and it helps to have

someone watch out for your needs you may be too tired to care about.

Like cold water (need lots to heal) food, remind you of exercise times

and meds. Plus just the knowing someone is there is a comfort.Each day

I got around more..but each person heals different and age could be a

factor as well. I am 49 so I am younger then the average to have this

done.

> 4. I have read that the pain is much worse after a knee replacement

> versus a hip replacement.......is that true?

No idea..I had a RTKR. I have pain, swelling, and stiffness. It hurts

but the ice and pain meds are wonderful for helping with this. For me,

it's less then what I was dealing with daily every minute before the

surgery.

> 5. It also appears that the first 2 weeks are the worst and that

> perhaps after that you can venture out.......is that true.

If that's true...I will be doing a lot more! Went to a hour of PT

today then afterwards to Bob to eat then to the General dollar

store for a few items. Did my exercises when I got home and then

napped! I'm a bit stiff and sore...but consideri8ng...not bad.

> 6. It sounds like 2 important things are surgery are pain medication

> and ice......anything else?

YES!!!!!ICE AND PAIN MEDS! And keep doing the exercises they give

you...I went through a lot to have this surgery so I don't want to

throw it all away by not doing the exercises.

>

Good Luck Sally! You won't regret it!

pam (who had hers done June 14th and so glad I have)

>

[Guest guest]

I had a hip replacement. The pain is substantial. If I had it to do over again I would def. get a recliner. The bed I have is normal and is just fine for a certain amount of time. The problem I had was being in the same room for too much time. With a recliner I would have been able to be out in the living area with my guests, thus getting "out of jail" for some time. Instead my guests were with me in my bedroom and they weren't too comfortable and I was getting "cabin fever". The things that kept me sane for first four weeks were a word search puzzle book, cable television, Netflix, pain pills, baby wipes, ice bags, chocolate and sleep. Not necessarily in that order.

In a message dated 6/26/2007 12:44:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Pimentel7@... writes:

I am scheduled for a LTKR on 7/11/07 which is 2 weeks from tomorrow.I am currently getting my house and care ready but need someinformation. Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated.1. I know most don't rent a hospital bed but I read where peoplesleep all night in recliners. Wouldn't the bed be more comfortableand convenient?2. Since my surgery is on a Wednesday is it realistic to think I'llprobably be coming home from the hospital on Saturday?3. It looks as if you need someone staying with you when you gethome from the hospital. Do you find that is generally true for about2 weeks after surgery?4. I have read that the pain is much worse after a knee replacementversus a hip replacement.......is that true?5. It also appears that the first 2 weeks are the worst and thatperhaps after that you can venture out.......is that true.6. It sounds like 2 important things are surgery are pain medicationand ice......anything else?Anything else you might add would be great.Thanks in advance.Sally

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[Guest guest]

Sally, I couldn't drive for I think six weeks. The PT recommended I not

drive till I was no longer on the pain meds, and till I felt comfortable

enough to hit the brake pedal hard if I needed to stop suddenly. My husband

works from 6 am to 3 pm so I scheduled my PT sessions for 4 pm, so that he

was able to drive me.

I did sleep mostly on my back at first, but then began sleeping on my side

with a pillow between my knees. I was cautioned not to ever sleep with a

pillow beneath my knee at the beginning of my recovery; it would have been

more comfortable, but would also have prevented me from extending my knee

straight, and that extension is vital.

Again, if you have questions, please ask. We're all here to help one another

out!

in WA

" Our animals shepherd us through certain eras of our lives. When we are

ready to turn the corner and make it on our own…they let us go. "

--author unknown