Knee Replacement Recovery Tips

[QRTRHRS]

I will be two years out on my left knee replacement on Dec 12. I can work on my knees with good pads but I do better getting up with something handy to grab onto to help lift myself up.

I had a spinal block. I don't recall how long it worked? Perhaps due to the block they had to cath me a couple of times in order to urinate. I did not have much pain afterwards. I only took maybe two oxi pills.

I did have alot of stiffness so it took longer than I wild have liked to drive my full sized van due to a lack of leg room for my left leg.

The frozen water bottle trick for the chiller is a definate. The leg cushion would have been nice to have. I used pillows to elevate my leg. Very uncomfortable.

A higher hopper would be a good investment. Rather than just the supports, I would get a portable hopper with the funnel to direct your waste into the hopper below. That way you are elevated and have the arms to help you get up.

Additional to my therapy my workout started with what I could do on or from my bed. One I was able to, I added a stationary bike though I could not go over center right away. By the way, one of the worst exercises at therapy was the "wall crawl".

I added a power cage to my multi station gym in my garage. I used that cage in conjunction with a step that is normally used for step aerobics to maintain my balance and to strive for good form.

In April of 2023, i changed out the solid endwall on my 20 foot wide bath into two sliding doors. It took one strep at a time but that workout did help with my therapy.

Along with all of that, from Feb to May of 2023. I had angioplasty on both legs.

I did eventually change out my hopper for a 17 inch tall one (Danville from Lowes but I don't recommend that brand). I already had a verticle grab bar on one side of my toilet. That's all that I really need after recovery. If you are really tall, there are toilets up to about 23 inches tall online.

My stationary bike bothers my back. It would have been nice to have a recumbent with back support but there were others priorities.

I tell people that my knee is not as good as OEM but better than it was. I would have to go have it measured to see where I can bend it to? I do not believe that you get what you once had?

I would do it again in a heart beat. Good luck with your journey.

 

[Fladogman]

They'll cover everything with you prior to surgery. Had both of mine done 4 months apart.

Nerve block works for 3 days

Range of motion is paramount so keep doing the exercises

I used a small pedal thing off Amazon and a porch swing to keep it stretched out

Everyday you start back at ground zero but you get more range after stretching it out each day.

Ice is your friend

 

[jyoutz]

My wife has mobility issues. Three shower musts: grab bars, shower chair, and a hand held shower head.

 

[RSKY]

They will give you meds for pain, TAKE THEM!!

After being home a week or so I decided I could sleep thru the night without any pain meds and I woke my wife up screaming about 3AM. I've never felt such pain. Once the meds completely wear off it takes an hour or so after taking them to stop the pain. After that I set the timer on my phone to wake me up every four hours to take the meds. Then I slowly added fifteen minutes to the time every few days until I weaned myself off them.

Before the surgery make a trial run thru your house using your walker from the door you will come in after surgery to the bed. Then from the bed to the commode. We had to move a couch a foot or so for me to get thru the house.

Ice is your friend. Use one of the ice machines or ice packs, that helps more than anything.

Be careful. A friend had one of his knees replaced, decided he could walk out to get the mail, walked out of the house, tripped and fell on that knee on the sidewalk. The wound busted open all the way exposing the joint. His very small wife drug him to their car, wrapped the knee in towels and drove 90mph forty miles to the hospital. The friend was on the hospital board and had the surgeon's personal number. Called him and by the time they reached the hospital the surgeon had an operating room and crew waiting.

Use common sense and follow the surgeon's instructions and everything will work out good for you. They know what they are doing!!

RSKY

 

[EddieWalker]

I haven't had mine replaced, but my dad had both of his, my mom had both of hers, and then they redid one of them, and my wife had hers done last year. She'll get the other one done fairly soon.

The pain blockers work great for the first day or so, then they pain is horrible.

Therepy is the most important part for recovery. If you don't push it, make it hurt really bad, scar tissue will build up and it will be worse then before the surgery. That's why my mom had to have hers done twice!!

They all used a walking cane that stands on it's own. It has a rubber foot that spreads out with legs. This was really useful when adjusting yourself.

We tried a few things for the toilet. Adding a big plastic spacer between the seat and the bowl seemed to work the best. I think it's about 3 or 4 inches thick.

Showers got grab bars added to the walls and a seat was put in them. I also replaced the shower head with a hand held shower so they could bath while sitting down.

Have somebody around you to help that can ignore all the complaining. They all whined constantly about the pain, how uncomfortable they where, and how they would never do it again.

One day the pain goes away, movement gets better, then even better, and they all say how glad they are that they did it.

I hope I never have to get mine replaced!!!!

 

[RustyA]

Wife had right knee replaced 10-19-24. All our toilets are ADA height now. Added the armchair setup and she said it was a godsend for the first few weeks. Removed sliding glass doors from shower and installed a temporary shower bench so she could slide across and sit in tub to use hand held shower head. Mayo clinic required 4 legged walker with no wheels for discharge. It was also useful for entering and exiting vehicle and climbing stairs after a few weeks. Cane we bought has a larger foot that swivels for unlevel surfaces and stands on it's own. Walker was needed bad for two weeks, cane for three weeks. Now she only only brings the cane along just in case if we go somewhere. Ice machine was a blessing for the first week, we've used freezer gel packs since after exercising what physical therapist suggested. She's been religiously following DR and PT directions and it's amazing after 5 weeks no pain and no cane.

 

[duffer]

After reading all of the previous posts, its evident that everyone, and every doctor is different, as is the recovery.

I had my rt knee replaced in 2018. Still hurts on occasion to this day. Did the PT, took the meds, and it took a year to get 70%'ish range of motion. I still cannot squat at all. And my Dr told me I would never enjoy "kneeling" again...and he was right.

The numbing medicine they gave me during the surgery paralyzed my foot. I gave the Dr hell when he did his rounds the next day. Told me they probably got too close to a nerve and it would wear off. Thankfully it did about 16 hours later.

During my surgery they put a tourniquet around my thigh and exerted 350 lbs psi to minimize bleeding during surgery. My thigh, groin and most of my leg was black and blue for a couple of months.

For me, the first 2 weeks after surgery was hell. Especially the first 5 days after numbing medicine wore off.

Contrary to many of you guys Dr's, mine told me NOT to use a pillow or other device to elevate the leg when at home, but do exercises to try to straighten it. I did sleep on my side with a pillow between my knees however, or I would not gave gotten any sleep. (if a pillow is too big for you, get a piece of foam and cut it to a size that works for you)

Don't be surprised if your knee "pops" with every step you take. Mine did for months, and still does on occasion. Others in my PT sessions had the same issue.

A friend had both of her knees done a year apart. After the first surgery, she was riding horses in 5-6 weeks. After the 2nd surgery she had a very difficult recovery. Several months. Same procedure, same doctor. Go figure. Guess each surgery has its own unique issues.

Good luck to you. Hope yours goes as smooth as silk and a quick recovery!

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

- Thoughts on crutches/walker/cane/forearm braces for support in the first week or so?

everyone recovery is different. For me both knees. A walker I would say is a must! so is a toilet seat riser and walker and canes in short term. Especially if your toilets are low or you be a big boy.

- How long did the nerve block work after surgery? I'm a big believer in staying ahead in pain management after breaking bone in my foot in college and white knuckling the pain for 48hrs.

I was in the recovery room and pain block free first time after a few hours, went very well and pain was non issue.

second time almost within minutes I was moved out of surgery area to recovery. Pain free withing minutes. BUT I was very very wrong to rush wanting to get into the recovery room. The second time at about hour 2 my pain went from 0 to 10++ and raging beyond my widest expectations. By the time they got a pain management crew to me out of the surgery room that could admin. liquid pain med's it was many hours surrounded by 3+ people trying to get it under control. Was told if I stayed in surgical area they could of handled it better and quicker versus recovery area teams. Lesson learned not to rush wanting to get out of surgery area into recovery. i will always choose to stay with the high priced help in the surgical area before wanting to go to recovery ever again.

- Actual recovery time needed prior to returning to driving (right knee, automatic trans). I've driven many times with a full right leg cast before, but it was before big center consoles in vehicles became a standard thing. On the other hand that was also before cruise control really was a standard thing.

couple of weeks for me

- Thoughts on which is better for getting into and out of vehicles - Higher entry vs lower entry? We have a Subaru forester, an outback and a 'yoga Sequoia with higher entry.

I would not have been able to get into my F150 for first couple of weeks. Buick SUV/mini van was ideal. i am average height.

- Icing tips (should have a ice machine rented)

I own an icing machine. Never used it either time once I got home. In the hospital used it regularly.

- Tricks for showering?

sponge baths for first two weeks.

- Recovery time needed before being able to walk without a support device?

2 weeks for me. used the walker. Felt better safe than sorry.

- Getting in and out of bed without assistance? (have a slightly raised bed)

day 1. Hospital wouldn't release until I could show I could do some minor stairs and get in/out of bed and off a raised toilet.

- Brand/style recommendations for easy on/off sweat pants or PJ bottoms?

old fashioned night shirt / no bottoms for me. When you gotta go and you be moving slower than normal didn't want to worry about bottoms getting in the way.

- Is it worth investing in a dedicated leg elevation pillow?

not for me. too much fidgeting to settle in one position too long. A couple pillows and a quilt and I could adjust plenty good.



its a common surgery and care and all should be fine. Worst I hear is people who refuse to move afterwards cause they say it hurts. Not getting up / not moving / being sedentary afterwards I am told can lead to problems.

Endeavour to persevere and in short order you will be better off.

cheers

 

[QRTRHRS]

My cane was adjustable. My therapist commented that I had it at the right height and was positioning it correctly as I walked. Just a guess on my part but something to discuss.

I used plastic wrap to protect my leg so I could shower.

I am not vain but I decided to use one of the over the counter scar reducing treatments. It worked. You have to look close to see most of the scar.

 

[txdon]

I had both knees replaced in the last 4 years.
My block lasted from 24 to 36 hours.
No crutches are needed only a slide walker the first week and wheeled walker after that. MAKE SURE THE WHEELED WALKER HAS A TRAY SO YOU CAN CARRY THINGS, like food and clothes.
(I ordered a 3 wheeled walker with a tray that fit on top of the basket from Amazon.)
An adjustable cane is used for about a month for stabilization. Get one that stands by itself.
Install hand rails by the commode.
A recumbent stationary bike is best for PT afterwards. Adjust the seat as close to the pedals as possible so your new knee bends the most.
My Dr. prescribed a knee machine that flexed the knee while in bed, the first two weeks. It is not covered by insurance but was well worth it in the recovery process.
your leg from the hip to the ankle will turn blue black (bruise), don't be shocked.
Get some laxatives to counter the pain meds.
The ice pacs they use now stay colder longer and I did not need the ice water flow machine.
A leg baggie was used for sit-down showers with a hand wand the first two weeks.
You will be evaluated by a PT after surgery, if you are stable you can go home the day of surgery if not you will have to spend the night. First knee surgery was after noon and the knee was too numb and I had to spend the night, The second knee surgery I was able to go home, the surgery was early in the day and I was home by 3pm.
At home PT starts the day after you get home from surgery, last about 2 weeks then you start out patient PT.

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