Helpful tips for knee op

[frillseeking]

My mum is having a double knee replacement soon and I wondered if anyone had any tips or advice on practical things she might need or things that might help. For example I was going to get her a couple of loose fitting nighties from Marks, a dressing gown as I've heard it gets cold during surgery and a cosy fleece blanket to take with her when she's in hospital afterwards. Would be great to get any other tips. Thank you

For weeks of recovery;
Obviously crutches or a zimmer. But also -
For washing;
A stool to sit on.

A cover to keep dressings dry.
(she will probably have to avoid full showers whilst dressing/cast on, so eg flannels to wash with).
Hand sanitiser and hand cream - can make you feel a bit less yucky when you can't pop to wash your hands.
A bed arch (go by different terms, but they keep bed covers off swollen legs).
And chairs/stools around the house, eg to sit on to wash up.
I carried a rucksack around the house with bottles of water in (although I drink lots of water). Also had lip balm/wordsearches in here so near me.

Red Cross are or were helpful for borrowing equipment. Or you can hire from mobility places. Or buy (claiming VAT relief if long term issue, which sounds like it is).

Good luck to her!

Thank you @Datafan55, some really helpful tips. I think I found the bed arch on Amazon?

The surgeon & physio will tell her that she needs to get moving ASAP - preferably the day after the op.
When she gets home, don't wait on her and bring her things - she will need to move. Surgeons often say that family members mean well, but don't help the patient by fetching stuff for them all the time.

Actually anything like that might help her. All those muscles are going to be grumpy!

But I was thinking more of this type of thing (lifted wholesale from an email to my dad in the summer when he was about to have a knee replacement himself, so links might not be current). Covers can feel really constricting when things are swollen/bandaged up.

These are some examples of the things that keep covers off.
Either arch or on side (better in double bed).
Term is 'bed cradle'.
(arch)
^www.amazon.co.uk/Bed-Cradle-Blanket-Pressure-Bedroom/dp/B08KT98XCG/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1134HODMBJOXG&keywords=bed+cradle&qid=1664457202&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMi41OSIsInFzcCI6IjIuNDMifQ%3D%3D&refinements=p_76%3A419158031&rnid=419157031&rps=1&sprefix=bed+cradle%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-5^
(arch)
^www.amazon.co.uk/Bed-Cradle-White-Suspends-ventilation/dp/B00BQA9LRG/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1134HODMBJOXG&keywords=bed+cradle&qid=1664456903&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMi41OSIsInFzcCI6IjIuNDMifQ%3D%3D&refinements=p_76%3A419158031&rnid=419157031&rps=1&sprefix=bed+cradle%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-6^
(from side or end)
^www.amazon.co.uk/Blanket-Surgery-Adjustable-Recovery-Arthritis/dp/B092RX8NDJ/ref=sr_1_27?crid=1134HODMBJOXG&keywords=bed+cradle&qid=1664457232&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMi41OSIsInFzcCI6IjIuNDMifQ%3D%3D&refinements=p_76%3A419158031&rnid=419157031&rps=1&sprefix=bed+cradle%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-27^
(from side or end)
^www.amazon.co.uk/Adjustable-Assistance-Hospital-Accessories-Recovery/dp/B07PMVVSP3/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1134HODMBJOXG&keywords=bed+cradle&qid=1664457232&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMi41OSIsInFzcCI6IjIuNDMifQ%3D%3D&refinements=p_76%3A419158031&rnid=419157031&rps=1&sprefix=bed+cradle%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-8^
(from side or end)
^www.amazon.co.uk/Blanket-Adjustable-bedclothes-pressure-Eligible/dp/B00C1J0B5M/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1134HODMBJOXG&keywords=bed+cradle&qid=1664457232&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMi41OSIsInFzcCI6IjIuNDMifQ%3D%3D&refinements=p_76%3A419158031&rnid=419157031&rps=1&sprefix=bed+cradle%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-9^

She shouldn’t be in hospital long. I was in for only 4 days. My friend was in for only one night!
She absolutely must do the post operative exercises. They are very painful but for best result they are an absolute must.
She might not need a cage to keep bed clothes off the knees. Don’t buy anything until the need arises.
Sitting and rising from toilet will be very painful due to bending knees!
Take painkillers as directed to keep on top of pain. Don’t wait until the pain starts up. Take prophylactically.
Rest and walk, rest & walk. Don’t stand around too much. When resting keep legs up yo relieve any swelling.
A positive frame of mind helps. Mind over matter.
I hope all goes well. She’ll feel reborn and out of pain. It’s like a miracle!

@Datafan55 thank you, all the links worked 👍🏻

One thing she's worried about is not being able to get upstairs for ages. The nurse and other people we know who have had it done seem to think they'll get you going up the stairs quite quickly but a few other people have told her she'll be stuck downstairs for ages

If shes having both done at the same time recovery will be different than one knee being done as initially she wont be able to walk at all! Knee replacement is extremely painful to recover from and she will need a lot of help and care.

have the doctors given her any information about recovery?

@Warspite thank you. My FIL has had his done and he said it's 50% surgery and 50% the physio and exercise you do yourself post op. She has a tendency to leave things and not put herself first which is why she's ended up needing both done and been in so much pain so we've all really driven this point home!

Are you sure shes having a DOUBLE knee replacement? They dont usually do both together?

@bilbodog not massively. They've said recovery from two is not much longer then one. My concern is how do you even support yourself if you have both done but she seems to have built herself up to go for it. I was under the impression she'll have to be able to walk before she leaves the hospital and they've said 4 nights

@bilbodog yes she has been advised to have both done together as both knees are diabolical according to the surgeon. They keep giving out and she walks with a stick anyway and is constant pain. She can decide even on the day if this is what she wants to do but this is what they've advised and apparently 25% of patients have both done. I think she's veering towards going for it as she wants to get it over and done with but I am concerned it is a lot

How old is your mum? Ive had mine done but a year inbetween each one. I wouldnt want to do both together.

@bilbodog she's 75. If I was in her position, I'd have the worst one of the two done now and then the other one done later in the year. That's my concern tbh, a few people who have had it done have said they wouldn't have wanted both done together. I know you have to trust the surgeon but obviously you do listen to peoples lived experience

I had some sessions of hydrotherapy when mine were done - might be worth finding out if she can do that somewhere. Private hospitals sometimes offer this and you pay each time you go.

I had both knees operated on the same day. I really wouldn’t do it again by choice. Recovery is so much harder as you don’t have a “good leg” to take the strain.

anyway, previous advice is good. As carers, please recognise it is a fair bit harder than a single knee op.

i was downstairs on the sofa for about a week then made it upstairs. I was exhausted by it and didn’t come down again for a few days. She needs to be where she is near to a bathroom.

A toilet riser and stool/chair for the shower will both be useful. Make sure she takes painkillers to a schedule and doesn’t wait to be in pain.

and most importantly, do the physio!!

good luck to get!

@280NeuerNamen thank you. That's exactly what I thought about not having a 'good leg.' How long would you say it took you to recover?

I'd strongly advise her having her worst done first.

Agree with what @Warspite says about resting with legs up (above head if poss), doing exercises etc. And yes, some things might not be needed. Amazon one day/Prime is wonderful here. Toilet risers, agree, too!

When I had a knee op (ligament), I was living with my parents in their house. No downstairs loo etc. If I recall, I would be lucky enough to be brought breakfast/lunch upstairs (and/or I'd got in lots of snacks/dried fruit/bread/jam to keep up there). I went downstairs once a day, normally on my bum, with my rucksack full of lip balm/wordsearches/hand san on my back, and would spend several hours down there. When I was desperate for the loo and really couldn't wait any longer, I would load my rucksack up with water bottles for the evening/next day and go back upstairs. Thus I was using the stairs but to a minimum. She can adapt this to whatever she can manage, eg aim for downstairs, make a very simple dinner (ready meal if necessary), and a thermos to take upstairs for later.

They normally check you can do two steps as part of the discharge process. But then flights of stairs repeatedly are quite different.

NB This is all for one knee only. I have no idea how you'd cope with two at once.... I mean, people do do it, but it takes a bit more planning.

My Dad had just one knee (part?) replaced and ended up being in for a week (got a blood clot) (I think that's fairly common; she needs to know what to look out for). Some moaning about pain. I saw him drive for 2hours the other day though (4.5months on).

I did rip my knee repeatedly last year and contacted the local council's social services. After a three month wait, they assessed my flat and even provided odd equipment (bath board, which you use to sit on, swing your legs round), and handle for the wall.

She will be able to support herself but the muscles will be very weak.
I presume she has pre op exercises she’s doing to strengthen thigh & knee capsule muscles which right now are probably very weak?
If she is not very active now, she needs to show a bit more will power post operative. Don’t do every thing for her! She must move.
Took me six weeks before I could go back to work. For a start the anaesthetic takes a while to leave your body! I was very pale & sickly looking before I felt I’d turned a corner.
Dont baby her. Tough love or she’ll end up in a wheel chair & there’s no need for that! Knee ops are very successful snd as your FIL says, 50% surgeon and 50% patient.

Do lots of the exercises before surgery to prepare.
An exercise bike useful.
Within a day or two of surgery they will have her walking up steps.
Lots of work post op exercises, ice, sleep, exercise, ice, sleep ...
My mother got one done few years ago. For few weeks post op very little time for even phonecalls she had so much physio work to do followed my time to ice and then rest.
The more work put into it the better results.
Arrange a private physio to meet discuss pre and post op exercises.
Best of luck to her

No pre op exercises have been mentioned. Thanks for raising this, I'll pass this on to her. Very useful to get all this advice and tips. Thank you

If she can- get her to do as many exercises BEFORE the op to strengthen the muscles around the knee.

An extra long show horn

A grabber stick like this : www.argos.co.uk/product/6732114?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=ixilqwqtq&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7cacid:278-707-7346%7ccid:16617947461%7cagid:135646442558%7ctid:pla-1073530845992%7ccrid:588782485810%7cnw:u%7crnd:18415418430773849154%7cdvc:c%7cadp:%7cmt:%7cloc:9045062&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=16617947461&utm_term=6732114&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=135646442558&utm_custom2=278-707-7346&gclid=Cj0KCQiAiJSeBhCCARIsAHnAzT-VFZoZcuwLtEDH9yg-dCZNivtkic8bIOyha6n2sOygVohMaLz8BcQaAhv4EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I bought my mum a device to help her put socks on herself. You put the sock into it, roll the sock down the sides and slide your foot it. It was utterly useless! A light knee high type stocking worked, but any type of normal sock didn't, the device slide around the room and she preferred to go barefoot that try using the device.

Has she ever had an occupational therapist at the house for an assessment? If possible, get one in to look out for rugs which her feet might get caught on, suggest additional hand rails or other aids to make her life easier.

With regards to exercise bikes... You can get 'mini bikes' that might be easier for someone older or post-op to use as you sit in a chair and put them on the floor. How good they are can vary, but easier than trying to get on to a bike with bad legs/bad balance. Might be good to get one before; she can try positions at least.

remembering all the stuff I should be doing for my crappy knee and aren't

Difficult to compare exactly as I didn't have knee replacements but I had fairly major surgery on both knees. I was also in my 30s so more fit overall.

Again the surgeon said it wasn't much harder with two than one but he was about to retire and I think just wanted them done. It was 8 weeks until I was off crutches and able to drive, I still used a crutch from time to time as one knee was a lot more troublesome than the other, more like 6-8 months before I was fairly normal and a good year to be fully recovered.

Another thing someone said which I found really helpful is that recovery from orthopaedic ops is not linear. There will be great days and bad days, it can feel like it's two steps forward and three steps back at times but as long as you expect that it's not so devastating when you have a bad day.

Yes, and I had a private physio who was brilliant. If she can afford it I would definitely recommend. It's probably around £50-60 per hour. I went twice weekly for about a month then weekly for a good while. Thankfully covered by insurance.