Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Hi Debbie I have had both hips and my right knee replaced and came directly home from the hospital each time. I rented a hospital bed for a month after each surgery, although most don't think this is necessary. Someone stayed with me for 3 weeks for the most part after each surgery. My daughter lives with me so she was here at night. Both hips done in 2001 and knee in 2007. I am 61 years old now. This is just my experience. Sally **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 With bi-lateral my Dr. and PT told me to plan on 6 weeks before going back to work. One knee - depending on the job, how you are doing, etc. they release the average person for work at 4 weeks. Since I work from home, had been " at work " very limited after about 2 weeks. But remember I'm the boss so got take naps, zone out, rest, etc. But they would not allow me to drive until 6 weeks. Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Hospitals will release as soon as there is no medical danger. At that point, you can be released to one's home, assuming that there is someone to take care of you. My personal experience is with a hip replacement although I have had a friend who had knee replacement. I live alone and am quite independent -- It would have been impossible for me to have gone straight from the hospital to my home unless I had someone there - hip replacement is quite a bit easier than knee replacement and I had an anterior approach but it was still difficult for me to get out of bed -- and it was comforting to know there was someone there if something happened - that's aside from the obvious need to have someone help with housekeeping and cooking. After about a week, I was good on my own. With knee surgery one is even more immobile and I don't think most people would want to do it on their own -- or would be capable. ly it boils down to economics for most people -- Insurance or medicare will pay for time in rehab for most people. It's not the most pleasant situation but there is the advantage of having physical therapy there every day. One can pay for someone to " babysit " -- a medical person isn't necessary -- but that will wind up costing whatever the going rate is in your area. Or one can ask friends or family -- I don't have any family in my area and although I have some very dear friends, there is no one who I would expect to drop their life and move in with me for a week (or more with knee surgery). On Jun 30, 2008, at 12:05 PM, ddobbs2008 wrote: > Hi All - > I interested in getting others experiences in how long before you > could return to work. I guess I thought that 4 weeks was the usual > time but from reading it seems that it might be longer. My job is > mainly a desk job - I am up and about on some days quiet a bit but > could stay at my desk a lot more if I needed to. > > Those of you that live by yourself: what did you do after you > returned from the hospital to take care of yourself (like stay with > someone, go to rehab, etc.). I am looking for ideas on things I could > do to take care of me. > > Thanks, > Debbie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 I used a non-medical companion care service when I was discharged this past March after my TKR. It was wonderful. Both of my kids are busy college students and it was a few days before my daughter could get here. Insurance doesn't pay for non medical companion care but worth every penny. They came to my house the day before discharge to clean and make ready, drove my car to the hospital and picked me up on discharge, brought me home, got me settled in, went to pick up meds, and then I kept them for day times to do meals, drive me to doctor's appointments, get ice packs when I needed them, clean, just sort of be there when I showered and walked with the walker because the pain meds can make you so woozy. The agency I used is called Home Instead Senior Care and they have offices all over the country. Another one in our area is called Visiting Angels. They usually charge about $12-15 an hour with a minimum of four. Annie On Mon, Jun 30, 2008 at 3:05 PM, ddobbs2008 <debbied@...> wrote: > Hi All - > I interested in getting others experiences in how long before you > could return to work. I guess I thought that 4 weeks was the usual > time but from reading it seems that it might be longer. My job is > mainly a desk job - I am up and about on some days quiet a bit but > could stay at my desk a lot more if I needed to. > > Those of you that live by yourself: what did you do after you > returned from the hospital to take care of yourself (like stay with > someone, go to rehab, etc.). I am looking for ideas on things I could > do to take care of me. > > Thanks, > Debbie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 One thing that was repeated over and over to me, prior to my surgery (for those that are thinking about being home alone) was DO NOT take a shower or bath when you are in the house alone. The med's effect you, the knees/hip aren't stable and all sorts of things can happen. The bathroom can be a dangerous place! They told me some real horror stories that would have made a great movie - so please have some one in the house and that they know what you are doing and about how long you will be so they can check on you. Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Annie, how many days did you engage the companion for? Did you get the same person every day? Lynn > > > Hi All - > > I interested in getting others experiences in how long before you > > could return to work. I guess I thought that 4 weeks was the usual > > time but from reading it seems that it might be longer. My job is > > mainly a desk job - I am up and about on some days quiet a bit but > > could stay at my desk a lot more if I needed to. > > > > Those of you that live by yourself: what did you do after you > > returned from the hospital to take care of yourself (like stay with > > someone, go to rehab, etc.). I am looking for ideas on things I could > > do to take care of me. > > > > Thanks, > > Debbie > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 They had a special deal for the hospital discharge, so that was four hours the day before I was discharged and then 24 hours after. After that, my daughter was here for a week. It's like getting over the flu combined with the post op pain management. You really need the help, all I felt like doing was sleeping and rehab/exercises with the home health PT. After left I had Home Instead for four hours three days one week then four hours two days the next, mostly again for housekeeping and driving me places, getting groceries, things like that. By the second week I was fixing simple meals, and attached a bag to my walker for carrying things, carried liquids in go-cups with lids, things like that. It was the same person except for one day, because I really liked the first lady that came, so I requested that she come back. Annie On Mon, Jun 30, 2008 at 4:24 PM, Lynn Badler <coalvilleut@...> wrote: > Annie, how many days did you engage the companion for? Did you get > the same person every day? > Lynn > > > > > I used a non-medical companion care service when I was discharged > this past > > March after my TKR. It was wonderful. Both of my kids are busy > college > > students and it was a few days before my daughter could get here. > > > > Insurance doesn't pay for non medical companion care but worth > every penny. > > They came to my house the day before discharge to clean and make > ready, > > drove my car to the hospital and picked me up on discharge, brought > me home, > > got me settled in, went to pick up meds, and then I kept them for > day times > > to do meals, drive me to doctor's appointments, get ice packs when > I needed > > them, clean, just sort of be there when I showered and walked with > the > > walker because the pain meds can make you so woozy. > > > > The agency I used is called Home Instead Senior Care and they have > offices > > all over the country. Another one in our area is called Visiting > Angels. > > They usually charge about $12-15 an hour with a minimum of four. > > Annie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 hi ya hope your feelen better...Everyone heal differently, I v'e been fighting my knee injury for 2 1/2 years.....2 surgeies.....1st failed still having pain, swelling, stiffness, wear a leg brace to stabalize it..when it gets tired..Some days are good some are bad, but alweays and i mean always i never make it through the night without pain and wanting to just lie down and give up.... They told me after the partial that i should be seeing results by 3 mths that is with pool therapy and land therapy..Do you have these offered to you, also an ice machine, and muslce and pain stimulator.Thses things do help..My doc says that it can take up to one year to fully see results in some people..I have heard many people do have good outcomes and go back to work right on schedule ...I hope you are one of them..... Don't push yourself to quick you'll regret it.. let it heal... > From: ddobbs2008 <debbied@...> > Subject: Others' Experiences > Joint Replacement > Date: Monday, June 30, 2008, 3:05 PM > Hi All - > I interested in getting others experiences in how long > before you > could return to work. I guess I thought that 4 weeks was > the usual > time but from reading it seems that it might be longer. My > job is > mainly a desk job - I am up and about on some days quiet a > bit but > could stay at my desk a lot more if I needed to. > > Those of you that live by yourself: what did you do after > you > returned from the hospital to take care of yourself (like > stay with > someone, go to rehab, etc.). I am looking for ideas on > things I could > do to take care of me. > > Thanks, > Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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