I found crutches much more cumbersome (but supportive) than a cane, when I was healing my fractured fibula. I agree a visual reminder so folks don’t bump you can be very valuable. My folks refuse to use a cane, tho mom clutches you with a talon grip if you are within arm’s length. I have to get her to release and reattach in less painful manner.
@oldmom4896 - my dh had his knee surgery five days ago and he is doing great. He is almost ready to give up the walker. He can go up and down stairs pretty good. The PT does tire him but he is working hard on it. The main problem we found was getting all the plumbing working again. Constipation is no fun! However, that is behind (sorry!) us and now he just has to keep working on his flexibility. Oh and pain wise, not so bad but he does take the drugs that have been prescribed.
Thanks, @Onward! I am counting down, surgery a week from today.
Best Wishes!
No first hand experience, but a friend’s H had his done recently. He said doing the exercises to maintain range of motion was key. It hurt, he said, but he wanted the best outcome. He got in the pool for walking and swimming as soon as his incisions were healed.
For in home stuff that we have used: walker, cane (for doing the two steps into the house), a bean bag heating pad (my dh’s back ached sometimes), a cold water pump (came from the hospital) and a cup with a straw (also from the hospital). We really haven’t needed anything else. Best of luck, Old mom
This is timely as my cousin who lives on the MA side of Rhode Island had her second knee replacement today. She was overweight and put the surgery on the first knee off as long as she could but she was really overdue when she finally did it. She was in rehab for maybe a week or less, did pt at home and her recovery did take some time. Since then she has retired, swims on a regular basis and is in better shape but still overweight. She is not going to rehab this time around after two night stay in the hospital, as she will have pt at home and she, a retired nurse said that there is a big issue with MRSA infections in rehab places. She knows the recovery process and will do what she has to do. Her husband is a hospital based pharmacist so he works alternate schedules and can be around a good deal.
@oldmom4896 - how are you doing?
Oldmom, I hope you’re out dancing on the new knee!
Alas, my surgery was postponed at the very last minute due to a medical issue. My surgeon is on vacation this week and next, so the next opportunity will be in March when my daughter has a week of vacation. I will keep you all posted. And thank you so much for all the great advice.
Just to update my query at last: After a false diagnosis of fatty liver disease and the removal of my gallbladder with many complications, I finally had my knee replacement surgery last Tuesday. I was discharged on Friday and went to stay with a friend who lives in an elevator building. I saw the home care nurse today and he said I’m doing remarkably well! I definitely need the Percocet as the 4-hour mark rolls around but I have learned so much about what to do and what not to do! The best thing so far has been the commode! It stands over the regular toilet seat, and it’s also an excellent chair at the desk or dining room table. And it will work in the tub tomorrow when I take a shower! Well worth the $15 copayment! I hope to go home in a week or so, by which time I’ll be ready to navigate all the steps in my building. Thanks, CCs!
Glad to hear that your surgery went well. My H did have his second knee done right after Thanksgiving. He was on crutches until about February/March and then went to regular walking, no cane or walker. Other than having to use a small blanket to cushion his left knee when he drives, he is doing pretty well.
For those who talk about the antibiotics, absolutely. Here’s another thing I learned - H takes blood thinners. He went off of them and onto injectable Luvenox before both surgeries. In March, he was having some dental work done. He was told to stop taking the blood thinners but not to use the Luvenox. He wound up in the hospital for a week with a DVT. Apparently, there is a side effect of blood thinners where when you restart after stopping, you might think you are at a therapeutic level but you aren’t and you can get a DVT. If H ever needs dental work again, he will have to use Luvenox.
I am currently 55 years old and I had both knees replaced in November 2014. It truly is the best thing I ever did! The doctors had told me several times for three years previous that it needed to be done, but I continued to put it off and had gotten to the point I was dependent upon a cane.
I had surgery on a Thursday, was discharged on a Saturday, went to rehab for two weeks, and then to outpatient PT three times weekly through the end of December 2014. The determining factors for them sending me to rehab versus home had to do with the fact that all of our bedrooms and full baths are upstairs. Because of that, and because I had both knees replaced at the same time, the physical therapists determined I needed inpatient care at the rehab center. While there, I had PT twice daily and occupational therapy once daily. Was there pain involved? You betcha, but it was a different kind of pain than I had before surgery. I knew the post-surgical pain would improve over time, and it did. My surgeon told me it would take one full year to heal and that was true, so patience is important. Anyone having knees replaced MUST follow PT schedule at home in order to maximize healing and flexibility. There were occasional tear-producing PT sessions where I was sure that I couldn’t bend my knee any farther, but the physical therapist told me I could and “helped” me do it. They were right and, though it was painful, it allowed me to regain full range-of-motion.
As you can tell from the time, it’s very late as I just returned from downtown Nashville where I, along with several thousand friends, watched the Predators beat the Penguins in game three of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. I’m tired and ready for bed, but there is more info I am happy to share. I promise to post more tomorrow.