I have OA in my rt knee and the consultant has finally agreed for me have a TKR due to increased pain has greatly affected my quality of life . I am a bit apprehensive about the operation. What tips could people give me for post op recovery.
Thanks
Sara
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Comments
I had a bilateral TKR (ie both knees) four and a half years ago, and I've never regretted it; it literally gave me back my life.
Tips...
Don't be apprehensive, though you will be of course; the op is OK.
Post op...start doing the exercises they will give you as soon as possible. This is very important. You won't feel like it, but do it! You need to prevent scar tissue forming, as once it's there you can't get rid of it, and it will affect the amount of knee bend you get. I started the day of the op.
Don't overdo the exercising though. You need to rest, and you need to use ice if your knee swells up. Listen to your body; it's hard, but you'll learn.
Keep taking the painkillers to enable you to exercise.
Come on here and ask any more questions you may have, as everyone's recovery is a bit different.
So to summarise...exercise, rest, ice, painkillers, ask questions. That'll be a full time job for a short while. After that...but first things first...
Oh, and don't believe the people who tell you your new knee won't feel like yours, and won't bend more than 90 degrees. All lies, at least in my case.
Anything else you want to know?
I wrote a diary-type book after mine, which is available as a Kindle ebook; pm me if you want details.
Good luck!
Helen
I echo what the others have said. I'd also suggest that you prepare as much as you can at home.
Get as much non-perishable shopping in as you can store, get housework done; the day before the op change your bed and clear any outstanding laundry.
If you are not already internet shopping start - so that you get used to how it works - and can get shopping delivered.
Organise your home so that everything you'll need is in easy to grab places.
Pick up any rugs or mats - avoids slipping.
Get a reasonable amount of cash out of the bank in case neighbours/friends pick bits of shopping up for you, magazines, papers, etc.
Try and have a hair cut just before, and any other beauty treatments you usually have.
Pre-cook and freeze meals so you have at least 2 weeks' worth ready in the freezer to just re-heat when needed.
If you drive, fill the car with petrol so that when you do return to driving you don't have to worry about getting petrol.
If the car is due for a service when you'll be in those first 6 weeks post-op time, get it done before.
Invest in a flask-mug as you'll find moving around on crutches and carrying a cuppa almost impossible.
If I can help in any other way please let me know. The hospital will guide you through the processes. Oh - don't listen to any "horror stories" - everyone is different and the "horror stories" tend to come from those who ignore their post-op instructions in my experience!
GraceB
Sara
It is hard when it is first done, can't say I had terrible pain but I did take my medication regularly.
It is all down to having patience as it does take a lot of rest, ice and a bit of excercise.
I don't regret having it one bit as I am in very little pain with it now - infact I am about to get booked in for my other one to be done so it can't have been that bad.
.
Sara
Barbara
Next month; that's great news. I'm not sure about the going back to work. I'm a freelance writer working from home, so I just carried on almost immediately! But if you're on your feet all day I suspect you're thinking about something like 3 months off; I think I heard that somewhere. But I'm really not sure, and everyone is different, so hopefully you'll get some better answers soon.