Choosing an Inpatient Rehab Center!

[RestAssured]

Oh yes I do understand.

I also understand people who choose inpatient rehab though. Sometimes, it gives them the kickstart they need to get ready for their new knee. Yes, infection played a role in the first two, MRSA pneumonia when I had the left one done, and then MRSA in the knee with the second. I am so thankful that they are finding ways of eradicating MRSA so hopefully in the near future, MRSA will be a disease of the past!

 

[Celle]

Two to three hours a day of physiotherapy so soon after a TKR sounds like far too much to me.

I can understand needing help with Occupational Therapy, so that you can manage for yourself when you get home - that's basic post-op rehabilitation - but all that PT sounds as though it goes against the theory that your wounded knee initially needs time to recover, without being further stressed by too much exercise.

I was in hospital for 5 days after my TKR, during which time I was shown how to get out of bed, walk to the bathroom (with crutches) and get back into bed. They also taught me how to negotiate a small staircase safely.
As far as actual exercise, I was shown ankle pumps, heel slides, leg extension (try to push back of knee into the mattress) and to try straight leg raising. I didn't need to be shown how to make myself a cup of tea - I figured that out for myself, once I could get out of bed. I guess all that could be done in a rehab centre, if you do not stay in hospital as long as I did.

I'd avoid like the plague anything that sounded like boot camp and I'd also be sure to look for a place that specialised in recovery from knee surgery.

 

[referee54]

I had PT and OT twice a day while I was in the rehab ward. However, the PT was more of the gentle kind---they never pushed or hurt me---and always allowed me to take things only as far as to the point of discomfort---no further.

OT helped me learn how to get in and out of a car on two surgical knees and how to get up and down steps correctly...the kitchen stuff was interesting, but I did not venture there until a while after my BTKR.

I also had several DVT's, so they had a team looking after those, too.

 

[RestAssured]

I never considered it to be a "boot camp." Quite the opposite. We would be in wheelchairs going to and from therapy, and at least they let me roll myself up and down the hall! They had gentle methods to work on getting strength back, and I never felt like I was doing anything I couldn't do. They worked slow and methodically depending on each patient.

 

[Celle]

I never considered it to be a "boot camp." Quite the opposite. We would be in wheelchairs going to and from therapy, and at least they let me roll myself up and down the hall! They had gentle methods to work on getting strength back, and I never felt like I was doing anything I couldn't do. They worked slow and methodically depending on each patient.

That's OK then! It's just that someone described it as being like boot camp and other people mentioned 2-3 hours of PT a day. That all sounds like my worst nightmare immediately after a major operation.

Sorry if I misinterpreted it!

 

[RestAssured]

Oh I still had 2 hours of PT and 1 hour of OT. But the part I liked, was they looked at each case individually! When I told them I would like to "try" crutches for instance, they explained to me that it takes a lot of practice and balance to use them! (Something I had already mastered but had "forgotten" to mention!" Imagine their surprise when one is holding the iv pump, the other is holding the suction pump to my knee, and I take off! They are running down the hall trying to catch up! LOL. I tell you, I still go visit, and even though I am shy, every person that was there when I was remembers me! They laugh and remind me that a job is still open when I graduate!

 

[Celle]

That all sounds good to me.

I also had a little discussion about crutches. The hospital where I had my operation only used forearm crutches, as they were aware of the potential for nerve damage caused by leaning too hard on underarm crutches.

I had been measured for and issued with underarm crutches when my PKR failed dramatically in Quebec City. I'd already been using those underarm crutches for 3 months prior to my Revision, and I told the PTs that I intended to continue to use them. I'm somewhat older than you, and my wrists did not take kindly to the strain put on them when I tried my son's forearm crutches, so I knew they would not work for me.

I'm about as shy as you , so I kept my full length crutches!

 

[Kavan]

That's OK then! It's just that someone described it as being like boot camp and other people mentioned 2-3 hours of PT a day. That all sounds like my worst nightmare immediately after a major operation. Sorry if I misinterpreted it!

I was the one who mentioned boot camp. I didnt mean it in a bad way. The two hours of PT were actually great. I o believe the PT moved my recovery along. Also like Sonja I appreciated that they took each case on a one on one basis. By week two I was ready to go to a cane as I had been using one for years. Based on my muscles they felt wasnt ready, but they let me try and it turned out I walked better with canes.

 

[Celle]

OK. Your boot camp was good. I guess I'd accept one, as long as the PT was not too severe, didn't hurt, and didn't inflame wounded tissues.

Was the 2 hours continuous, or broken up into several short sessions?

 

[Kavan]

One hour or PT in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. They were broken up so you had time to relax and ice for a long while between sessions.

 

[referee54]

I had an hour of each in the AM and in the PM. Somebody would show up with a wheelchair---I joked that he was the "executioner"---and took me down. I tried to figure out where it was in the hospital, but I was pretty much zonked on meds and, for the life of me, I could not tell you where it was.

Something else about the rehab center---after my BTKR, I was not ready to take care of myself for a while, so it allowed my wife to continue to work and to visit me after work---and I was not home alone until later on after my time at the rehab center. It was great for the both of us.

 

[Grammy59]

Hi jduda01, and welcome! I had BTKR May 31st, in hospital for 4 days, then on to skilled nursing facility. I based my decision on recommendations for the PT department, and they were everything I heard that they were. I had PT twice a day, anywhere from 1 hour to an hour and a half. If was difficult, but it was what I needed. I'm soooo glad I went to a rehab facility. I was there for 2 weeks, didn't have to worry about anything but getting better. The staff was wonderful and all I had to do was ask if there was something I wanted or needed. And big plus, they were good at giving me my pain meds on time. I would set an alarm on my cell phone, and for the most part, they either brought me my meds on time or even a little early. Prayers for a successful surgery and smooth recovery. Take care and keep us updated.