Post operation care for knee replacements

nettoghetto

Hi there,

This is my first post so forgive me for butting straight in. My mum is due to have a knee replacement next week (she found out at very short notice 2 days ago). She has osteo-arthritis and is 58.

*Roughly how long do people need to stay in hospital after an op like this?
*On return from hospital can people manage stairs (wondering about whether I need to move her bed downstairs)
*Is there any kind of help that is provided in the way of home visits/physio sessions after an op?

I live and work 200 miles away and there is only my younger brother home to look after her. He's very capable but I'd like to get as much help as possible. She doesn't seem to have been given much guidance by the hospital.

Does anyone have any advice? Feel very much in the dark here!

Thanks

elnafinn

Hi NG

Welcome to the forum. I had my first TKR at 57 and my second at 59. I would stay in hospital as long as they allow because you can forget everything else except rest and exercise. I stayed in 5 nights but people stay in a shorter or longer time. Physio should kick in almost immediately post op in the hospital and you should not be allowed to leave until the physios are happy that you can do stairs and have at least an acceptable knee bend. Two crutches at first until you feel confident to move to one crutch. Physio should be arranged after you leave the hospital but this varies area to area. It is important to have physio on return home, that is my view, so I hope that will be put in place for your mum.

I have been most pleased with both my total knee replacements but it was a little tough at first, post op, I cannot deny that! Saying that some people sail through it all, no pain, nothing! We are all different. We get there in the end. For me to have had a second operation says it all really. It was a great success. Patience is often needed though!

Please ask as many questions as you like and I shall endeavour to answer them. I know what it is like to not live close to your mum and I definitely understand that you are concerned. I am sure your brother will be able to look after your mum ok.

Elna x

cherrybim

Hello and welcome Nettoghetto

I was just about to answer your questions but Elna's done it already.

In this part of the world the TKR patients are discharged after two nights in hospital but we do get daily care from the domicilary nurses for the following three weeks. They are also most insistant that we do the post op exercises. They watch over you like hawks, bless 'em.

As Elna says, yes it is tough but the results are well worth it and I won't hesitate when my name comes up to have the other knee done.

You sound a lovely caring daughter and your Mum will be delighted to receive your daily calls to check on her wellbeing, just as I was with my three boys Just tell your capable bro to spoil her rotten

dreamdaisy

I have not had a replacement but I had a very big operation on my left knee and could not manage the stairs for weeks (ours are steep and narrow). We put a bed in the dining room for me, luckily we have a ground floor bathroom, so I was nicely set until things were much better.

There is a thread on the top of this forum about going to hospital , I cannot remember its name but it was set up by mjking, I think, have a read thro that, it might have some ideas. Could you take some time off work, in the immediate aftermath, to help out at all? Your brother may need a steadying helping hand, a big op like that can leave the patient feeling very weak, teary and vulnerable. I wish your mum well. DD

stickywicket

I can only echo all that Elna said. I had a 27 yr old replacement knee replaced 2 yrs ago. The other's now 30 & going strong.

Exercise is the key. They're boring & very, very repetitive but they really work and it's important your Mum saves her strength for them instead of trying to do unnecessary things like housework too soon. It'll keep. It always does.

I'd think, if your brother's there she should be fine. I hope it goes as well for her as it has for me.

hileena111

Hi
Just to say welcome to the forum....I havent had a TKR just a THR....I was in 2 nights for that and no physio afterwards.....a sheet of paper and told to "do those" but when I came home and was on here I seemed to be the one....everyone else seemed to have physio. Good luck to your mam. You've got advice from others who have had a TKR so keep coming back and asking questions....someone will know
Love
Hileena

julie47

Hi NG
Just want to wish your mum good luck with the operation.
I haven't had a knee replacement but my motherinlaw (MIL) has.
She was in hospital a week and they started physio the very next day.
Luckily though my MIL is in a bungalow. OT did come out and gave her things to help. eg toilet frame and high seat. grab rails and a perching stool and a walker so she could carry things from one room to another.
(This stuff was returned to OT about 3 months later as she recovered very well, age 78.)
Take care
Juliepf x

wallysatt

Hi

I had my knee replaced about 18 months ago and it's the best thing I ever did.

I was 27 at the time and was in hospital for a week after the surgery although I know some people come out sooner than that. Before I left hospital they made sure I could do stairs and that I was safe.

I was great when I came out, I was still in some discomfort but after a few days I was able to go out for coffee (if someone gave me a lift) and after 3 weeks I was off my crutches and not feeling too bad at all.

A physio came to the house until I was well enough to be taken to the Dr's and I was discharged after about a month or so.

That said I think it took several months to feel totally well again and it is a long process but well worth it.

I hope your Mum gets on ok and I hope she has as much benefit from her new joint as I have.

Sally.

nettoghetto

Thanks everyone for replying to my original post. I took a week off and went home to look after her and I'm glad I did as she was ok but a bit nervous of stairs etc.

After the op, my mum was recovering well, doing her exercises etc, feeling a lot stronger in that leg than in the non operated leg but the wound took a long time to stop bleeding. After 10 days the staples were removed and it started oozing again.

She's gone back in today to have an investigatory operation to work out why this is. She will have to have general anaesthetic, not local and she was hoping for local, but hopefully things will work out.

Thanks everyone for all their messages so far!

julie47

Hi nettoghetto

Oh So sorry your mum has had to go back in for further surgery. I hope they can rectify the problem and she is home soon.

Send her my best wishes
juliepf x

tjt6768

Hi NG, missed the original thread, sorry... Not had knee replacement, have had a few ops on them though.. I am sorry to hear that your Mum has had to go back, let's hope it is something very simple to fix...
We are all thinking of you both,

best wishes

dreamdaisy

Oh dear, not such good news. I hope they can find out what is wrong and that your mum will make a good recovery. DD

tiggernut

Hi NG,
I had both my knees replaced in 1998. I was one of those who sailed through it I am pleased to say. No post op pain and I was walking around on crutches the next day. It does depend on the area but I was in for 7 days as my particular surgeon always kept his knee patients in that long. Having said that he done my 2nd knee 4 months later and did let me out on day 6 as I had a 45 degree bend (which is what they aim for) and I had no other problems walking etc.
Physio's are round every day and they like you to do as much excersie as you can on your own in between them coming.They make sure you can do stairs before they let you leave and teach you how to do stairs with crutches (well one crutch as I recall) but to be honest I found it easier to come downstairs on my bottom. You are allowed to drive after 6 weeks. I can't remember how long you have to use crutches for.It is well worth it it anyway my kness are still perfectly fine.
Hope your mum's op goes well.
Anita.