Good morning everyone, I hope you’re all as comfortable as possible and are sharing the glorious sunshine we have here at the seaside today. I finally have my first knee replacement booked for 3rd March (21 month wait) and I’m after suggestions or recommendations for equipment to help recovery as the rest of my body is not good right now and I know I’m going to struggle. I’ve read up about continuous passive motion machines and I’m hoping that someone here has used one and can share their experience of it. Also read that cryo cuffs that can help so asking about them too. I’m usually very good with physio etc, and after previous replacement ops (hip and shoulder) the physios documented me as “extremely driven and determined” but I’ve had a difficult couple of years with multiple health issues and am not very good right now so I’m hoping that eventually getting both knees done will get me back to some kind of normality. I’m very lucky to have a wonderful, supportive husband and he suggested that I ask for advice here as he knows I read the posts everyday. I rarely post but I feel like I know most of you personally so looking forward to your input. Thank you for reading ☺️
Post op advice/suggestions : Good morning everyone, I... - NRAS
Post op advice/suggestions
I worked for many years as a ward sister in orthopaedics. To be honest the continuous passive movement machines, are really only needed for patients who haven’t done their physio to the extent that was needed, and they have had to have their knee manipulated to free up adhesions. For someone who described themselves as as driven and determined, you should do fine, just following your physio exercises. The cryocuffs are very good, in that you can dosvonnevt from the bucket, and mobilise with the sleeve on. How Vera bag of frozen peas or one of the gel packs are just as good. I have one that fits inside a sleeve, hat allows you to mobilise with it on.
A helping hand is essential, some Trusts provide them, others ask you to purchase. You also want a stool that will raise your leg above hip level, to keep swelling down. Never be tempted to put a pillow or rolled up towel under your knee, except for exercises. Otherwise you may not get the leg completely straight, and end up with a permanent limp. Getting it straight is more of a priority than the bend in the early days. Good luck, I would also advise doing exercises prior to the surgery to strengthen your quads, as that will make recovery easier.
Not sure what more I can add to Runnrig’s fantastic advice but a lady I my Pilates group has just had her second knee done. First time round she used bags of frozen peas then I have her some twist and use gel packs. Second knee she rented an ice machine which was so good she extended her loan.
Think the big thing is you absolutely must do your physio. She also did a few extra sessions with a private physio we know.
Good luck with it all.
Hi fruitandnutcase, thank you for replying. I’ve been toying with the idea of buying a small counter top ice machine. I always have a big bag of frozen peas for cooling inflamed bits of me but thought having a machine might be nice anyway as we rarely have ice for drinks etc 🤣 I know how important the physio is and will do my best to push through as always. I just wondered if the CPM machine would help but looks like it wouldn’t really.
I’m going to rent an ice/sleeve machine from gamerental. Take a look!
hi madmusiclover, thank knyou for replying. I just had a look at the Gamerental website and watched the video. It looks really interesting and I will run it by the physio for their input. A good excuse to buy an ice maker too haha 🤣
I’m limited on painkillers I can take so prepared to take the best of all the help available!
Hello When I had my knee joint replaced in 2020it was very swollen and I had it up most of the day. I put a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel onto my knee every hour for 10mins The next week every 2hrs and the next 3hrs and so on By 6 weeks it was so much better half the size! You will be able to fo some exercises tailored for you as some will be laying and sitting and later on standing You must get the swelling down first or otherwise the swelling stops the movement at the knee My knee was so much better. It was agony before so it was better even with the swelling I had sciatica in the other leg which was very painful but still managed the knee exercise so I'm sure you will be able to do yours Hopebyour new knee is fantastic
Hi zen and thank you for replying. My research has shown that total knee replacement is the most painful of all the replacement surgeries so I’m aware and ready for that and swelling. I was diagnosed with RA when I was 25 (symptoms have been tracked back to young childhood) and now my list of co-morbidities rivals my weekly shopping list in length but, fortunately, I do heal quickly and cleanly despite the suppressed dysfunctional immune system and all the meds for those various ailments. I have found ice packs to be helpful with my knees and other joints over the years so they will definitely be my go to. It’s good to read positive results of all these surgeries. I’m due to have both knees done this year and then my other hip - I’m aiming to be 50% titanium by my 70th birthday!!
Yes The number of issues build up through the years especially when the RA has started when you were young Mine started at 22 so same for me. I had an elbow replacement last year and a cervical spinal fixation but luckily like you I heal quickly and they were both successful
Hi HevsK. Lots of good advice already. Having had a hip and a knee replaced I found physio was much more important for my knee and as Runrig said getting your knee straight is very important. I am a fan of the cryo cuff. If you do get one rather than filling it with ice I found that by having several small plastic bottles 3/4 full of water frozen in the freezer I could put these in the cuff reservoir to cool the water. Then just replace the melted ice bottle with a new one- saves on buying an ice machine!
My cuff was gravity fed but a friends was a later version which had an electric pump that replaced the warmed water in the cuff with fresh iced water every few minutes. Worth a look. Good luck with your op.
I’ve had two knee replacements and for both had help from local physio who gave me exercises like leg raises etc. best to see what’s right for you. A little regularly seemed to work for me. But simple didn’t need complicated apparatus- hope you do well
C
Hi Cathie, thank you for replying. I’ve not used any aids before for physio, just relied on exercises etc but just concerned about being able to do enough this time. As you say little and often will probably do the trick
When I have my first foot done the instructions on leaving the hospital were to put a bag of peas on it for 10 minutes every hour. But peas were sacred in our house, it was the only vegetable that my autistic son ate at the time, so we weren't going to waste them!
So I used my flexible ice sheets. I bought them many years ago from Lakeland but they don't do them anymore, but I see there are other brands out there. I had two, so first thing in the morning I would do a round of the house (I was non load bearing) with a basket picking up what I would need until lunch time when my son got up. The ice sheet would last with the 10 minutes on ever hour until lunch when my son would swap it around. Although it would have been good for several more house if I wanted.
And just a thought about ice machines, if you are in an area with hard water then you have to have to descale.
I have had Rheumatoid and Ankylosing Spondylitis for 40 plus years and had a knee replacement 2 years ago. I didn’t have a pulsating ice cuff post op but my knee was very swollen and it helped when I hired one for a month. It was expensive to hire and since then I have bought a more basic version with a cuff, bucket for ice and plug in devise that applies intermittent pressure. I too was told after surgery to do the exercises but make sure the knee is straight in between times. The first 2 weeks are tough but I’m pleased with the result.
Hope all goes well.
Hi Ankspon, thank you for replying. I’m definitely considering buying or hiring some kind of ice maker or cryo cuff, it sounds like they’re worth every penny. I hope mine is as successful and heals quickly so I can get the other one done. I really appreciate the input so thanks again x
I had a knee replacement a year ago. I bought 2 x hot/cold flexible gel packs (they came with a cover with velco strap which was really useful for icing the side of the knee) One stayed cold enough to do 10 mins top, back, side of knee with other in deepfreeze. I also bought one of those sock putting on thingys and didn't use it) and a "litter picker", which I didn't really use either. My son stayed with me for the first week, after that I was on my own so I also bought a decent travel mug that sealed properly - I found you could hang a small-ish gift bag (or freezer bag with handles) off the crutch handle to take a cup of tea and biscuits from kitchen into living room 😀. The hospital couldn't schedule any physio until 9 weeks post op so I ended up paying for private physio, but once that got too expensive I started swimming 3 x week (I really recommend this) and that really helped with movement and building up leg muscles. If I get my other knee done I will start swimming as soon as the wound is properly healed. Good luck x
Hi veg_c, thank you for replying. Lots of cold and ice sounds like the best way forward. Although swimming would be good our small local pool is more of a social venue. I’m not strong enough to go when they’re seriously swimming in lanes etc and other times the pool has little groups gathered around putting the world to rights. It’s always been a dream of mine to have one of those extended hot tubs where you could swim against the current but now that we live in an apartment with communal gardens it’s never going to happen! In the summer perhaps I might go swimming in the sea, my husband goes regularly in warmer weather but it’s never appealed to me so far.
Feeling sad and worried 
update prev post 
I’m back😁. Used to be Dtech.
Post-op Question
Advice re treatment
