Mum having knee replacement

[emsa1]

As above, mums in late 70s and quite frail. Any tips for helping her after the op? Ie comfy clothes for leaving hospital/first few days/weeks? Any tips at all welcome. Thanks

She should do the exercises the physios give her diligently. My mum did this, and hers worked really well. Other people she knew moaned about them or slacked off and then the knee just wasn't as mobile as it could have been afterwards.

Hi OP,

I recently looked after my mum (77) after her knee OP. I agree with PP, the exercises she will be given are SO important. 4 months later and my mum is skipping around like a spring (ish) chicken.
Ice packs help, big ones that can wrap around the whole knee, not just the front.
Plenty of paracetamol.
My mum felt quite sick for 3/4 days after and only wanted little snacks to eat. Plenty of fluids though.
She was given a raised toilet seat to use which was a god send!
She found the heal protectors I got her to be really helpful. After the first week she found overnight her heel was sore as she wasn’t moving in bed much.

If I think of anything else I’ll add to this!

My mum (mid 70s) had her hip done recently, so not her knee, but hopefully some of these tips might help...

Does she have a chair that she likes to sit in? When my mum had her hip done it wasn't feasible to get in and out of bed for the first few weeks so we bought a really nice low chair and matching footstool and she slept on that (and the cat really loved the footstool too - selfish little git!) We also got one of these for the toilet so that she could use it in an elevated position and didn't have to bend to sit: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7672149?utm_custom6=LIA&deeplink=true&gclsrc=aw.ds&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:278-707-7346%7Ccid:20213315256%7Cagid:%7Ctid:%7Ccrid:%7Cnw:x%7Crnd:6678834428730850803%7Cdvc:c%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1007460&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20213315256&utm_term=7672149&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=278-707-7346&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19672034294&gbraid=0AAAAAD9II9kMEcx5b0wB7Yx_GryZcFpX5&gclid=CjwKCAjw04HIBhB8EiwA8jGNbY1IhnZJkZoiR4P9aU9-MgzGO9u0fn7380jo_yJMCds_QIYV5lS4zBoChSYQAvD_BwE

What is she going to do during the day while she is awake? My mum has an iPad so we downloaded lots of stuff for her - TV programmes, podcasts, books and games (she is a bit addicted to Candy Crush now!) We also set up a mini 'refreshment station' in her bedroom with drinks and snacks so that she didn't have to move too far to get anything in those first few weeks.

As she won't be as mobile she will get chillier quicker so loose warm clothes are a must - maybe a nice new set of flannel pyjamas? We also got her slanket that she could wear over the top of her clothes if she was feeling chilly during the day because she didn't want to spend the day in her nightwear as she didn't want to feel like an invalid. We also bought her a couple of tracksuits to wear during the day as they were loose jersey fabric - first and last time I have ever seen my mum in a tracksuit!

As @Holesintheground said, the physio is really important. My mum was very good about doing the physio, even when it hurt (and it helps that she is a stubborn so and so) and it makes such a difference in terms of recovery - she had her operation last November and by Christmas she was like a new woman. Wishing your mum a swift recovery and a new lease of life with her new knee.

She needs to get moving ASAP. Don't wait on her. Don't offer to do things for her (eg to go upstairs to fetch her something), she needs to do it herself. Surgeon will tell you that the actual operation is only half the job - the rehab is just as important.

Definitely yes to being diligent around the physio - even when it’s hard/painful/just doesn’t fancy it. It makes a massive difference.

Raised toilet seat definitely helps. Also think about where she might sit during the day as a low sofa will be difficult to get in and out of. A higher chair with arms (like a carver chair) makes things easier. Slightly random but putting a big bin liner on the car seat when you bring her home makes it easier to swivel round more easily to get in and out of the car. I’m sure there are lots of other things but a long-handled shoe horn was useful.

If there are stairs in your mum's house, do her a big favour by testing out whether it is possible to safely walk up and down them holding a stick and with one completely straight leg , remembering that the leg will feel like a log of wood and not be easy to manoeuvre. A good handrail on both sides can make all the difference to safety and comfort.
Ditto about using the loo - is there space to get to it and sit down on it with that log of wood stretched out in front of you, or is a handrail or toilet surround needed? Is the seat high enough to sit down without bending the unbendable leg?
I speak from experience. Good luck to your mum.

I’m 6 months post op for a knee replacement I felt exhausted for the first 6 weeks also I struggled to get a good nights sleep with a combination of lying on my back, restless legs, nerve pain and pain generally.

Like people have said she must do her exercises, a physio told me it’s literally the difference between being able to walk like normal and being in a wheelchair or on crutches. Encourage your mum to get up and walk every hour around the house. Don’t forget to ice the knee

My knee felt very sensitive and I couldn’t have material of trousers etc on my knee so I wore short baggy trousers (I ordered them from cotton trader)

Get some bio oil or e45 to put on the scar once it’s all closed up - not while it’s still open
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Your mum may feel down and weepy and inpatient to make progress but she mustn’t push herself too hard and she should rest and sleep when she feels like it