Total knee replacement

[Lynnee1964]

I am having a total knee replacement in jan and an so nervous about painful recovery

[Hidden]

Hi Lynnee,

Yeah well, any form of knee replacement is always a challenge.

I had a partial knee replacement in Nov 2015 and one of the most important things to bear in mind is to always ensure you have adequate pain control at hand. Once discharged from hospital, usually the third day post op you'll be sent home with a shedload of exercises to do. You'll have a very hard time doing these OH SO IMPORTANT EXERCISES without pain relief, but its not impossible. The extent you'll have a successful recovery will depend on how well you do these.

Every day after surgery is a winning day, any pain will be nothing compared to the arthritic pain that caused the surgery in the first place. Do not fall into the trap of thinking ....oh I don't like taking drugs so I'll cut back on pain relief. Especially during the exercises (5 times a day at least), but you'll be told what exercises to do and how often to do them, take the pain killer exactly as it says on the packet and take them up to the maximum permitted dose per day.

Get yourself an orthoglide (Amazon) or a clean metal cooking tray (if you have carpets at home) and before you go for surgery and practice dragging your operated leg back under a chair. Get a dining table chair and sit on it, orthoglide on carpet, heel into orthoglide and practice dragging your heel back under the chair. This aims at getting the bend back in the knee. How do you know when the bend is right, well use your non operated knee as the guide. Be prepared eventually to learn how to walk again too. practice now in slow motion - put heel down first, then ball of foot then toe. Heel, ball, toe, heel ball toe. This is a slow motion exaggeration but is useful to know how to get your right knee and leg too working properly.

Also when in recovery, and after the dressing has been removed and you are cleared of infection (about 10 days after going home), see a sports injury massage therapist and get him/her to massage the incision line and all around the incision line. This is vital to prevent scar tissue forming within the incision ... if scar tissue forms then it will prevent successful exercises.

Also get onto Youtube and type in search box ............ "exercises after knee replacement surgery". This will give you an idea of what and why you MUST do the exercises. These short videos will help you understand - most important.

Am sure you'll have more questions - if so - just ask me.

John

[Lynnee1964 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your help

Really grateful

For any tips on how to recover xx

[Cat33]

What a wonderful reply from carnueny

I've just had a second hip replacement it's always scary before you go in worrying about the pain but they will help you control it

Good luck and hope you will be up and about very soon but don't rush anything

Take care x

[Lynnee1964 in reply to Cat33]

Thank you

Yes it is always very scarey

Xx

[AudibleCurve]

Hi Lynne,

I had a total knee replacement 6 weeks ago today and totally agree with John about the exercises and pain relief. I tried to cut down on painkillers but it prevented me doing the exercises.

Some days have been better than others but each week my bend and straightening has improved and the pain has been more manageable. My motivation for doing the exercises is that if I don't do them I can't expect to heal with full movement of the joint.

Best of luck with the op and recovery.

Diane

[Lynnee1964 in reply to AudibleCurve]

Thank you I’m so nervous about going into theatre and then if I’m honest the amount of pain recovery will be

It really helps to talk to someone who has had it done thank you xx

[AudibleCurve in reply to Lynnee1964]

I was nervous too and was the last patient so had to wait ages before I went in. I had a epidural which I recommend. My anesthetist also gave me a sedative and I went to sleep and woke up as they took me to my room. It was so much better than I expected. X

[Lynnee1964 in reply to AudibleCurve]

Hi

I have just been for appointment with anethiatist he was lovely

He said I will have a spinal then be put to sleep but not a deep sleep

I panicked and said will I feel anything he said no we will look after you

He was lovely

I feel even more nervous now xx

[FraBryDewhurst]

I found the ice pack on the knee really helped with pain relief and swelling. Also get yourself a stool or something to raise the leg. I've gone on finding that useful for several months. Pain does go!

[Lynnee1964 in reply to FraBryDewhurst]

Thank you

I know everyone is nervous but I am so so nervous already

Thank you I will get a stool if that helps