Knee Replacement? Please share your experiences.

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Keep talking, I want to know as much as possible so I can prepare. People have offered to drive me, but last time, when I did my shoulders, they started getting sick of it after the first few weeks, so it's good to know I may have to split it up.

How soon can someone do stairs? Or carry stuff? I will want to resume some duties asap, but not compromise anything.

My deductible is met for the year but I also have a co pay for appointments and therapy, so 20 bucks each therapy, now I can budget it. As well as price out walkers and canes at Walgreens.

My husband goes to the shak during deer season, I don't want to interfere with that, he does so much for me already. So I'm trying to get it done before or after.

 

[csneill]

I would imagine your PT at the hospital/surgery center will include stairs instruction so you will at least be able to navigate into/out of your home. I would imagine you could navigate your steps safely within the first few weeks- you'll be doing the step-to pattern for the first several weeks (versus step over step on the stairs)- you may already be doing this w weak painful knees! Carrying stuff depending on how heavy when you get rid of your walker. Your insurance will probably cover most of your walker/cane cost w a dr's prescription- otherwise see if you can borrow from anyone cuz you won't need them for very long probably. When is deer season and how long would your husband typically be gone? Maybe those last 2 questions are too much information- don't answer if you don't want- I was just thinking ahead as far as planning your help

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I do already take steps one at a time, so I'm familiar with that technique.

Deer season is the week of Thanksgiving, starts the Saturday before and runs until the following Sunday. So I was thinking end of September to October would be a good time, wait too long and everything is frozen and icy.

I would need to be able to do my own feeding and watering while he was gone, I would feel terrible if he had to miss it. I think watering would be the biggest challenge, especially if it's freezing by than. I could carry smaller amounts or use a hose. I can get quite ingenious if necessary. Or maybe ask my mother for daily help, she's almost 80 but in better shape than me.

 

[csneill]

I have a 90 year old grandma who is in great shape too! Lol. I think that's a solid timeline. If you give yourself 6-8 weeks for recovery before thanksgiving you should be pretty darn mobile by then. And yeah- don't wait too late in the season or you'll be dealing with snow & ice.

 

[tinakevin]

Is there any chance to have the physical therapist come to you. I made this decision and my insurance paid 100 percent of it. I also didn't have rides so this made it much easier. If you have stairs and a bike which I know you do then they can do the same thing for you at home as in the office. My physical therapist was appropriately named I'm not kidding his name was russel Payne. Every time he worked with me I told him he had the right name. But he was the best. Most of your therapy is walking and bending of the knee. I don't know where you live but I live in nh so I opted to have it done in June so when he came to work with me we would go outside and walk up and down my driveway or around my yard. I have some stairs to get out of my house and down to my driveway. Then we would go inside and he would work on bending the knee. Started out with holding onto the counter and doing some small squats. The sit in a kitchen chair and he would try to bend my knee back. As far as I would let him. It is a lot of work and they do tell u to take your pain meds about an hour before they get there so it won't hurt really bad. I think my DH stayed with me at home for a couple of days but after that I was able to go to the kitchen and get stuff if I needed it. I actually made a tray to place on my walker so I could use it for a small table as well. My DH brought our bed downstairs and turned our living room into a makeshift bedroom to make it easier. I agree that if you can borrow equipment that's the best route. Except for the raised toilet seat lol I bought that new. Maybe go to goodwill or the Salvation Army they may have some too. But don't get rid of it till after your next knee. I hope this helps. Before u even get to surgery u will go to a class that will explain all of this too. I actually felt like a spring chicken compared to all the others lol but it does put yor mind at ease. One more thing you will need A LOT of ice. They give you this thing that looks like a small cooler and it has a ice pack pad that you put on your knee I'm telling you this will be one of your best friends for a while. I hope this helps you out a bit.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You have definitely helped me. I don't think around here anyone would come out like that. It must have been nice. Did you still have good range of motion before? I have heard about the knee bending and that it's not very pleasant. My husband too is a great nurse, it does make things easier. My mother says she has a walker and cane from my grandma, so that's covered. The toilet seat I will check prices on. Hopefully I will get more information at my next appointment. I am definitely getting more comfortable with the process. Thank you.

 

[tinakevin]

Your very welcome. I had a lot of pain before the surgery. My knee had no cartilage so it was just bone on bone. I think I'm like you from what I gather. I didn't do any running or jumping but I was always active. I worked a 40 hour week at a hotel at the front desk so I was on my feet a lot. But it did take its toll. I don't work there anymore but now I have my own cleaning business and my knee doesn't act up like it used to. Don't get me wrong it will never be like a real knee and you may still get some pain but it's not an excruciating pain like arthritis. Nothing that Tylenol won't cure. It's more like a hurt. But this is my experience and everyone is different but your knee will only get worse so it probably better to do it now while your still young enough to bounce back from it. I do have to use some padding if I have to be on my knee so it feels comfortable. But these r little things I can live with. Again you won't believe the difference in the befor and after. Also my other knee doesn't hurt as bad now because it's not taking all pressure from babying my bad knee. I live about 20 to 25 min from the main town and they still came out. Look into if your insurance will pay to have them come out. I know my pt and in home nurses traveled all over the state.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I will look into it, I haven't heard anyone mention it before.

I haven't been able to kneel in 2 years, so if I could do some kneeling again I would be happy. I have had to give up most of my gardening, bending at the waist, and sitting and reaching has also given me bursitis in my hip.

I am used to always doing and moving, but now I spend more time sitting. I feel like my world continues to get smaller. Even my dogs or goats bumping into me hurts.

You have given me hope that I can at least do my walking again and maybe get off the floor without needing a whole strategy on how I'm gonna get up before I get down there. That bone on bone pain is something people won't understand until it happens to them, it's similar to the feeling of and expose nerve when you get a cavity and the dentist is poking around in it.

 

[csneill]

I am excited for you to see that doctor and get moving forward w this procedure. I think you'll be so happy to see how much bigger your world is going to get once you get through the yuck of the recovery. Things will be so much easier & just so much easier to get around. I've heard my patients say many times that the post op pain is bad but that the bone pain previous to surgery is worse... And at least w recovery post-op there's a light at the end of the tunnel for the post op pain!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I am excited for you to see that doctor and get moving forward w this procedure. I think you'll be so happy to see how much bigger your world is going to get once you get through the yuck of the recovery. Things will be so much easier & just so much easier to get around. I've heard my patients say many times that the post op pain is bad but that the bone pain previous to surgery is worse... And at least w recovery post-op there's a light at the end of the tunnel for the post op pain!

I am both excited and terrified. I'm hoping this second doctor is a better fit, otherwise I might go back to the other one. It should all be an adventure either way. I will keep you all updated.