Total knee replacement. Any tips?

[liverpoolnana]

I'm shortly to have a knee replacement due to arthritis. Does anyone have any tips to share , please? Obviously anything directly medical I'll go by what the hospital says, but is there anything else you found useful to know?

Not me but my DM. Top tip, be religious about the rehab. Do exactly what they tell you. DM has had both knees done, doesn’t do the prep, doesn’t do the rehab, complains that the ops were unsuccessful 🤷‍♀️

I believe it's one of the most painful ops, sorry.
Accept all the painkillers you're offered. Don't try to "be brave".
Good luck with the op and I hope the rehab goes well.

I agree about the rehab. You'll get far better results if you do your physio, and stick to your exercises.

Not me but from my Dad who had both knees done at the same time, a raised toilet seat was a godsend and if you’ve got a dressing gown with a belt use the belt to loop around your leg to move it if it gets stuck, oh and good luck with the op.

Hi OP,

My DM had hers done last week. She's on Day 8 now and doing well.

She's only 57 so pretty young. She's had a number of operations on her knee which is knackered from a life of sport.

Her surgeon finally agreed that a total knee replacement was needed.

As others have said, it's very painful but my DM is now managing really well on her crutches and her pain relief is down to codeine and paracetamol, with Oramorph (so?) once some nights (but getting less).

She was recommended a Cryo cuff which she says has been a godsend. I ordered this one for her from Amazon.

She also has a blanket raiser for bed which keeps the duvet off her leg, and a raised toilet seat thingie that makes it easier to sit.

She works for herself from home and has actually done a few hours work today. My dad is at home too to help lift things, carry things etc.

She has been doing her exercises religiously. She's very motivated to get active and back to the gym and I'm sure she will.

Very good luck.

My DF in his mid 70s had it done. Max out the painkillers so that you can max out the physio. He had an ice machine, which he used four times a day, after each set of physio exercises. Plus saw a physio every couple of days for the first few weeks (had to pay privately for this).

What worked for him was being absolutely bloody minded about the exercises and aiming to walk a tiny bit further each day. Less than a year on, he’s hiking 5 miles on rough paths, with no pain. Has to be a bit more careful going over stiles and on steep or slippery downhill tracks, but I’d say he’s 99% back to where he was before the knee issues started.

Oh yes - as @MrsDoylesTeacup said - my DM has a 'leg lifter' which is brilliant as she can't lift her leg into bed, onto the sofa etc.

My DF had one and before the op bought a home exercise bike to use in order to make the muscles as strong as possible before he had surgery.

Apparently it was pretty helpful

Sorry I thought. I wrote this and forgot, this x100

I had my hip replaced at 27 and my knee replaced NYE just gone, at the age of 31. I won't lie, as I wish I was prepared. The pain afterwards for a good couple of weeks really knocked me about. I was in hospital for 4 nights and then had to move in with my nan for another 4 as I couldn't do stairs. I couldn't lift my leg myself for almost 2 weeks, so a leg lifter was a lifesaver.

Getting the knee bent and straight are a must but really don't push yourself too hard.

If you would like to message me for anything at all please do.

Oh and ice. Ice, ice and more ice!

I had my left knee replaced in 2020, due to arthritis, aged 50.

My experience:

It wasn’t as painful as I’d expected, but I’ve had a mastectomy, chemo and radiation so perhaps my view of pain is a bit skewed. It was certainly uncomfortable but the pain meds work pretty well. It’s no walk in the park, but if you take your pain meds as prescribed, the pain is manageable.

Rehab is absolutely key. The physiotherapy is hard work (and can be very painful) but you have to grit you teeth and get through it. If you work hard in rehab your end result will be much, much better.

Be prepared to be quite disabled for a good while. My walking was slow and my movement pretty limited for weeks. My husband said it was like dealing with a very elderly person - everything you do takes so much longer!

But ultimately, two years down the track, I have to say I wish I’d done it sooner. I have zero pain, my movement is amazing, and I am able to do so many things I couldn’t before. People are always surprised when I say I’ve had a knee replacement, as you would never be able to tell - no limp, full range of movement, very active and strong.

Thank you, thank you so much for all the encouraging messages. My surgeon told me that 80 % of patients report that it was the best thing ever, 10 % say no change and 10 % are worse off. I certainly can't go on with this pain and disability, which presumably will get worse until I die. We had to dig into our savings to pay for it (over 13 k. ) but that covers quite a lot - three days in hospital, drugs, follow up checks - so there was no choice, really, as the NHS locally is at least five months on the waiting list and getting worse.

I am close to tears at the moment, at the sheer kindness of strangers responding to my plea for advice. If you think of any other tips, please continue to share them.

Again, thank you so much.

OP,

You can't go on like this so the operation is money well spent.

If you are on Instagram, there is a 'total knee replacement' hash tag with some great success stories.

In just a few months you'll be free of this pain and have a new lease of life.

My mum is on Day 9 and already so pleased the op is over and the progress can begin.

I have had 2 and agree with all of the above. The only thing I would add is to take your painkillers regularly for the first few weeks. Don't try to be brave. And ice, ice and more ice. I have a rubber bag thing that can be filled when you travel. Useful as I do get a little sore with walking and sitting in uncomfortable seats. You can usually get ìce on a plane or in a bar. Good luck, it will be really worth it.

You are all so nice. One thing I wanted to follow up is whether to get a raised toilet seat. I am managing by using the grab rail on the opposite wall, but if my knee is even worse after the op. if only for a short time (difficult to imagine as I am pretty disabled and in bad pain right now) then should I get one and if so, should it be the 4 inch rather than the 2 inch, and how do I know if it will fit.

Are you seeing OH pre op? They would normally advise on the loo raiser / chair raisers or anything needed.

I was just going to post physio, physio, physio but I think that message is already loud and clear! Doing the exercises gradually and consistently is the absolute key to a good outcome. Pool physio is really good if you can find one?

A daily routine of sleep, eat, exercise, sleep, eat, exercise, eat, sleep etc. is all you need to be aiming for at the start, you’re winning if you achieve this. Don’t expect or aim to do anything else really. Nothing wrong with a day time nap after lunch, all good healing and giving you energy to do those exercises again!

You might find the pain changed, the arthritic pain is gone immediately and that’s a great feeling. It’s likely to be replaced with some post op pain but that’s only going to lessen every day.

good luck!

OT, not OH!

The surgery is the easy bit - be prepared that the recovery is hard.
Do some prpeparatory leg strengthening exercises prior to surgery (I regret not knowing this)
Sleep might be difficult for a couple of weeks, rest in the day when you can.
Elevating the joint when it’s swollen is just as important as doing the physio exercises
Don’t overdo the recovery exercises - just do what is suggested. (Too much causes setbacks)
There’s a great Facebook UK page for TKR’s
I got continued improvememnt over a long time - right up to the 2 year point
The absolute best thing I found was getting back in the swimming pool after 6 weeks when the wound was healed - practising stretches, kneeling, gentle sitting crossed legged and gentle yoga type moves all in the safety of water, even using a fitness band to gently increase range of movement.

We have a 4inch one and it's universal.

I can sit on it fine, too!

Do the exercises exactly as prescribed
Do not skip them
One friend did & is fine, another friend didn't and never fully recovered.

DF had his knee done 15 weeks ago. He's back to full fitness out walking and playing golf as he was pre op.

He did a lot of prep exercises to strengthen his muscles before surgery which was commented on by his surgeon. He was also religious about his rehab and exercises.
He bought himself the cryo cuff knee brace and raved about it. Apparently healing tissue gives off a lot of heat and this thing really helped him feel more comfortable.
He didn't have to use painkillers for too long after the operation and was walking around the house without support fairly quickly.
The one thing he didn't do was try to ouch himself too quickly. He felt able to drive after 4 weeks but waited for about 6 to be safe.

He really should have had the surgery years ago but took himself off the list due to concerns the recovery would be awful. He's now considering paying to go private to get his other knee done (he's on the NHS list) so he can get it over and done with.

My friends went brilliantly! She did exactly as she was told.

My dad had bilateral replacements aged about 55. He was militant about doing his physio and got a really good functional result.

His sister had it done, didn't do her physio and hasn't got the benefit.

If you are lacking in motivation I think an investment in some private physio might be helpful afterwards to keep you going. If possible I'd also think about PT or pilates post op to keep you active and mobile.

Take your painkillers and don't try and be brave. Pain will reduce your ability to do the exercises.
Buy a cheap bag of peas/sweetcorn to use to reduce the swelling. Wrap in a tea towel first.
Always do your exercises.
I wouldn't necessarily go for a raised toilet seat. I'd rather prescribe a toilet frame. With a RTS you're not encouraging the bend in the knee. But really it's what you can manage post op. The OT should do an assessment.
You don't need a leg lifter. You could use a bath towel folded in half to assist. Or a walking stick upside down, so that your foot rests on the handle works well too. Then you lock your knee as you raise.