Counting down til 2nd September

[Butterfly]

Carolina girl
Mimi

Thank you for your responses. I do have a raised toilet seat already, just not the kind with arms. I had to get one about a month ago because I could no longer use the toilet as it was, and I constantly feared I would get trapped there. So I could just get that frame from the internet. I already need it actually, my hips are both very bad and I have a very difficult time getting up and now I am making my knees sore.

My son also built me a wooden "box" to but under my recliner to raise it for me. He also put a cinder block under the two front corners of the chair so it would not rock forward (and thus lower the seat) when I get up. I can't get comfortable in bed, and my couches are way too "squishy" so the recliner is the only place I can get anywhere near comfortable.

Thank you for your prayers, Carolina girl -- I need them -- please continue to pray for me. I've still got a month and a half to go for my surgery and it is getting harder by the day. The operating rooms are very backed up here.

Peace and love to both of you, and thanks.

 

[ditzy dinah]

I would look into getting the raised toilet seat with handles and the seat for the shower. Oh and go out and buy a hand held shower head. These three things made my life bearable for months. You need them the minute you get home, don't wait

Hi Mimi I am sure the shower seat will be supplied, so I am not worried about that. I think I will ring the hospital and ask to speak to the physio dept to see if they can tell me about supplying the raised toilet seat and frame. I have got two loos that I will be using, one downstairs and one up, so I think I will purchase one set in any case. Fortunately when my mother was living with us we had a wet room installed downstairs for her use, and the shower we got has a hand held attachment as well as an overhead shower....so that's sorted! Thank you for all your good practical advice. i am thinking of also getting one of those memory foam leg raiser support for the bed. anyone find that useful?

 

[Mimi]

If Butterfly is a hip replacement, I don't know. I just think that that particular seat would be harder for a knee patient to use. Yes, I am talking about the seat you place on top. Mine had the arms at the side and worked well. The toilet needs to be high and safe,
https://www.jrsmedical.com/BATH_SAFETY/TOILET_SEATS_ACC/ISG1391AP/product.aspx?gclid=CNaZyvWS_rgCFUuk4

 

[ditzy dinah]

I rang the hospital today to ask to speak to the OT to try and find out once and for all what aids are going to be supplied. I couldn't get to speak to the her, she is not there all the time, but I did get to speak to the physio. He was a little vague...thinks definitely the raised toilet seat, but couldn't be specific about anything else! It is all about "you will be assessed at the time", but I want to get prepared ahead of time!

I really needed a raised seat with handles for months to use after my surgery. The bend at the beginning is very stiff and painful

You've convinced me so I am going to purchase one like that...I have two loos that I will use. Then if the OT dept supply me with another all well and good.

If you look up unilateral knee replacement in wikipedia there's a mention of shorter recovery time associated with PKRs.

This will interest you Rich, the Physio did say that partials do very well, more like arthroscopies really! That astounded me! and I am not going with that one! This does not reflect the experiences of others on this site! But however, it is adding some creedence to the possiblity of a slightly shorter recovery time if all goes well. I'm not placing any bets! and I'm not telling anyone that! This can be decided in hindsight! After all I am having bilaterals done. However any advantages I discover will be a bonus. I'm counting on the "better range of movement" that it is said partials produce. I am hoping this is evident right from the start, as it may mean less bullying from the physio! (hope my fears are maligning him unjustly, I will let you know on the other side!) However I expect this means overall i.e. post recovery.

 

[Carolina girl]

Dinah, I hope that works out to be true. I absolutely agree with your concern about having the toilet situation taken care of before your surgery. For some reason, I was obsessed with that. I think it was because I remembered how uncomfortable it was when I had a torn meniscus repaired. I think the one Mimi posted would be fine.it would raise the seat and provide lifting support.The thing I love about Amazon.com is you can read reviews of their products. I actually wrote one for the toilet support and the ice wrap I am using.

 

[Bionic woman2]

Isn't it strange, now that the good weather is here, (we've waited about 5 years for a good summer in the UK, and this year it finally decided to show up!) and everyone is wandering about is shorts, I have been gazing admiringly at everyones knees! Never thought knobbly knees attractive before, but I am looking admiringly at them now and thinking, yeah those look good, that pair will be working ok for you!

Dinah, I literally "laughed out loud" reading your post. You sound a bit like me checking out knees. I'm even comparing scars now. Hehehehe I use to want to have bow legs when I was a girl as opposed to my straight border line Knock-knees. Now I just wanna stand up without pain and be able squat again. I haven't done it in so long that I was beginning to think I never was able to. Then I found a picture of me squatting down by my oldest son when he was a toddler. He's 24 now. lol I'm hopeful though. :o) I even started looking at dresses just at the knee, or slightly above. Yes, these Battle Scars will be on display next summer. I gotta work on the Jello thighs next, they went with the knees.

Good thing you're practicing with your cuff now, I had to jump right in because I ordered it at the last minute from BetterBraces.com. They have excellent customer service. I keep meaning to write a letter commending the guy who help me with my distress call. I have the motorized one, it wasn't cheap but it's worth every penny. Plus it's a far cry from the one the Dr recommended I rent for $250.00 for 2 WEEKS!! Yeah right... They say, there's a sucka born every minute... I was born in the day, but NOT YESTERDAY! Can you imagine dishing out all that money and only having 2 weeks with the thing!? I'm still using mine 8 weeks out and I'll probably REALLY need once I go back to work. I was just thinking about taking it work and using it on my lunch break lol Planning ahead.


Hey, it sounds like we need to get Josephine on your husband ahead of time so he'll know when to push and when to chill. I could NEVER have a super athletic husband, I love to dance and do fun stuff for exercise. Right about now he'd be all like this and I'd be like this then this Hahahahahahaha!
Speaking of bikes, I might need to check out Ebay for a recumbent bike. These tree trunk knees are a trip! I need to keep them moving. Okay, when I wake up they're stiff, so I do my stretches and they loosen up. Then I ice and elevate, and rest for a bit... they're stiff again. I stretch a little, get up and walk around, Voila! they loosen up... If I walk too much they start to hurt and stiffen up. The same goes with sitting, it helps, then it doesn't. It's like i have to play musical chairs/stairs/walk/ice/elevate/rest/stretch and start all over again. That's why my thread title is called Ground Hog Day. It's an American movie where the main character keeps repeating the same day over, and over again. If they decide to do a sequel, they can call it... Knee Replacement Surgery. I'm still glad I did it though, because my right leg is stronger than the left one and it WILL heal. Once I do the left one and it heals, I will start a new chapter in my life. Seems like I'm starting it now with this book I'm writing on here.

Right now I better go to sleep, because it's WAAAAAAAY past my bedtime. My son missed the bus today (I mean yesterday) and I had to drive him with 3+ hours of sleep, no meds and Tin Man knees. My reward was a trip to Starbucks. If he misses it day, he'll have to play hooky!

Goodnight, morning, day

Type to you later,
RaQia

 

[rah2435]

I'm counting on the "better range of movement" that it is said partials produce. I am hoping this is evident right from the start, as it may mean less bullying from the physio! (hope my fears are maligning him unjustly, I will let you know on the other side!) However I expect this means overall i.e. post recovery.

Better range of motion sounds good to me. Hope it goes well for you, keep me informed.


Sent from my iPad

MI-LTKR Sep 23 2013

 

[ditzy dinah]

Now I just wanna stand up without pain and be able squat again. I haven't done it in so long that I was beginning to think I never was able to.

Hi RaiQia, Wouldn't that be fine? I would love to squat....might be able to see what I have in my bottom cupboards! If I want something I think that's in the back of there, I have to somehow sit down on the floor to have a look. It takes me ages to get down, and then if no one is around to give me a hand, it takes an age and much effort to get up again! Not something to be undertaken lightly!

I gotta work on the Jello thighs next, they went with the knees.

Yes I've got a pair of those too! and a wobbly tummy to match. Will need some working on. However since I knew surgery was coming up, I have been working on the weight and have lost 15lbs! and feel much better for that..only 30 more to go! hmmmm...

rent for $250.00 for 2 WEEKS!! Yeah right

What!!! madness Hope noone gets taken in with that one! You can buy them second hand on ebay for less!!!

I could NEVER have a super athletic husband, I love to dance and do fun stuff for exercise. Right about now he'd be all like this and I'd be like this then this Hahahahahahaha!

Yeah However did that happen I ask myself? When we first met and I said I liked walks in the country he assumed I meant uphill!! when I really meant gentle strolls! A few hard slogs later he realised the truth...I mean the view from the top of the mountain is just as good if you drive up right! ho hum.. Yes I like dancing and the fun stuff too...why is it that sporty men who are so agile scrambling up the rock face are so clunky on the dance floor?? I mean he loves music but he just can't keep time!!! I like the bit about the bicycle. His project for me next summer is to get a bike and go on some rides...well I guess I'll go along with that because he has promised me flat scenic rides off road! of short duration! I must remember though, that while this op might give me pain free steady walking again, it is not going to turn back time and give me the elixir of youth! I mean I used to like cycling....about 30+ years ago, pre kids!!

If I walk too much they start to hurt and stiffen up.

Well that sounds familiar!....so no change yet there then! It must seem at first post op that your legs are worse than before!! You have one healing, and one yet to do right? So there must come a time when the healing one recovering from its wounds passes the remaining arthritic one, and starts to feel better than it! Before that, the legs must be it the pits...OMG ! What am I letting myself in for??

Ground Hog Day. It's an American movie where the main character keeps repeating the same day over, and over again

Love it Love it! Its another one of my family favourites! Love to watch it over and over with my (grown up kids!) I'll think of it now when I am having my own GH days in recovery

my right leg is stronger than the left one and it WILL heal.

That's the spirit!! I hope I will be able to be that positive...I too want the fresh Chapter! Having them both done at once will be a real challenge, but at least I will only have to recover once (this I keep telling myself, over and over)

3+ hours of sleep, no meds and Tin Man knees

Oh dear oh dear! Tell your son to sort himself out!! er...how old is he?? get your rest and take your meds!! and go well.....

 

[Bionic woman2]

If I want something I think that's in the back of there, I have to somehow sit down on the floor to have a look. It takes me ages to get down, and then if no one is around to give me a hand, it takes an age and much effort to get up again! Not something to be undertaken lightly!

Yeah, The bottom back of my cabinets are reserved for my boys. I can get what's in the front and if I sit down on the floor, there's a whole lot of crawling, downward facing dog and grasping onto to anything that will hold me to get back up. Sure hope that ends soon.

I liked walks in the country he assumed I meant uphill!! when I really meant gentle strolls!

Surprise Surprise Mister, but he loves you anyway. make a deal with him that if he learns how to keep time on the dance floor, you'll ride alongside him in the car while to climbs up Mt. Everest.

Having them both done at once will be a real challenge, but at least I will only have to recover once (this I keep telling myself, over and over)

You got this and you have Rambo (another American movie) to carry you, should you need him to. I'm not gonna lie though, this IS undoubtedly the hardest thing I've ever done and I've had more trials in my life than most! The good news is, this trial brings a reward that I can see, feel and I know there's an end in sight. You'll get through this and be happy you did, but it's just gonna take a minute. Thank God for Bonesmarters to help us through this.

My kids have been helpful somewhat, especially when they're NOT MISSING THE BUS! The darn is 17 yr old and I let him slide because he hardly does it. Not to mention he had been staying up late over the summer break. I think he learned his lesson. Besides, he knows that if he does it after my second surgery and my grown son's already left for work... there'll be a whole lot of pre-dawn walking for him. Bring a flashlight buddy and get your exercise, because mum is NOT dragging two recovering knees downstairs and driving at 6:30 am! Not to mention, I'll be back on my Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds meds.

Speaking of dragging knees, I did a bit too much on Friday, a little bit of much on Saturday, so today is recovery day.

Hope you're having a good day and congratulations on the weight loss! I'm in the maintain stage right now. Which is kinda hard when you're not moving and you start doing the boredom eating thing. NAIL IT DOWN PEOPLE! Momma's on a eating spree. Seriously, for some reason I don't like to eat in the morning, but it make up for it later. I'm also getting back into my baking/cooking. MmmHmm I plan on taking Zumba classes next year to get this stuff off of me. Until then I'm watching my weight...go up. I actually think I have a handle on it now, but come next month after round two... I don't know. Not gonna worry about that now... she said as she logged off to look up a brownie recipe.

Have a nice day

RaQia

 

[ditzy dinah]

you'll ride alongside him in the car while to climbs up Mt. Everest.

Yeah done that! but it was Mount Whitney not Everest! Even that was quite an achievement for a Yorkshire Lad! But his name is in the book up there on the summit for all to see! those without arthritic knees of course!!

to carry you, should you need him to

Yes he already does that .....no worries there!

this IS undoubtedly the hardest thing I've ever done

Gulp!.......just remind me why am I doing this?????

You'll get through this and be happy you did, but it's just gonna take a minute. Thank God for Bonesmarters to help us through this.

I've got lots of minutes, it can take as long as it likes I've got time, just as long as it Does get there! and agree don't know where I'd be without Bonesmart...oh yes I do, I would be going into this believing the Physio like a lamb to the slaughter!!!! I would rather know the truth, scary though it might be! My brother in law who had a RTKR 3 weeks after a failed RPKR,about 8 years ago, is coming over on Wednesday. He now needs a LTKR and has done for some time, but he hasn't scheduled it yet. He is retired, so has all the time he needs to do it. That if nothing else gives me a clue!!

be back on my Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds meds.

Never had any of those before!! I asked the nurse at my pre op what I would be on, and it seems I will go home on Tramadol (Tramcet?) and co-codamol 30/500 (codeine and tylenol combined) plus an NSAID. Its Tramadol I have never had before....that's the one that might send me away with the fairies, and stop me fron doing all the fun but sedentary things I have planned! :rolleyes:

I'm also getting back into my baking/cooking

I love all that but just now it involves too much standing for comfort, so I'm keeping it short and simple.Though I have made some jam, blackcurrant and raspberry that has come out extremely well and should last all year, if I can hang onto it when the kids come round! Bro in law is a widower, so he better have some too!

I plan on taking Zumba classes next year

Sounds good...I plan to do something like that too, but might start of with something a little more gentle! Will have to see what is on offer locally when I am ready!

All my kids are grown up now and left home 2 girls 32 and 30, 2 grandsons to my eldest 21 months and 10 days!! My son is my baby at 25, he was just here for the w/e as it was my birthday on Friday and he and my husband took me out to dinner!! We had trials and tribulations on the way, yes and missed buses too! but they have all turned out great!!

 

[Coppernob]

Hi Ditzy. I've just been catching up on your thread following your post in reply to mine in a different thread. i have just a few comments/suggestions to make.

I don't think the recovery time for partials is any different from full replacements. Both will take as long as they take!

In my case the criteria for discharge from hospital was 90 degree rom and able to go up and down stairs.

I had physio whilst in hospital, but nothing further arranged on discharge. However my GP referred me to a local hospital where I went for several weeks. A simple exercise I was given to do at home was, whenever I was sitting down, to gently roll a plastic football backwards and forwards to get the knee used to bending.

I was sent home from hospital with a pair of sticks, a raised toilet seat and frame, a long handled shoe horn and a long handled grabber. Of course there have been cut backs since I was last in, so things may be different now. I only used a walker for a couple of days in hospital and then I was on sticks.

I didn't buy any particular equipment. For icing I used two bags of frozen peas which worked well.

When travelling in the car, I found that putting a foam pillow in the footwell helped to absorb the jolts and bumps and protected the knees a bit.

Whereabouts in N Yorks are you, and which hospital are you going into? I live near Bradford and have had all my procedures at BRI. I know it wouldn't be everyone's first choice, but I can't fault the treatment and care I've had in the dedicated orthopaedic unit there.

Hope all goes well on 2 Sept. I look forward to hearing how you get on. Linda x

 

[ditzy dinah]

I don't think the recovery time for partials is any different from full replacements.

Hi Linda! Thanks for catching up with me! and you would certainly be in a position to make that comment from experience, as you have had both!!

In my case the criteria for discharge from hospital was 90 degree rom and able to go up and down stairs

Yes that is just what I have been told. Did you find this difficult to acheive? How long did they keep you in, to acheive this? I must admit this is one of the things that worries me, as some folk on this site, have struggled to acheive 90 so soon. Did you find it easier to achieve after the partials, than after the TKR or did it make no difference?

I had physio whilst in hospital, but nothing further arranged on discharge

I think they are sorting some follow up physio for me, hopefully locally, I'm hoping at my gps surgery, which is just down the road. The unit I am going to for the op is 30 miles away, so I don't want to be going there, there is a local hospital 7 miles away, so I could manage that.

A simple exercise I was given to do at home was, whenever I was sitting down, to gently roll a plastic football backwards and forwards to get the knee used to bending

I like that one! Good tip. I have a new plastic football I got for my little grandson when he comes round, so I could use that!

I was sent home from hospital with a pair of sticks, a raised toilet seat and frame, a long handled shoe horn and a long handled grabber. Of course there have been cut backs since I was last in, so things may be different now. I only used a walker for a couple of days in hospital and then I was on sticks.

That is reassuring to hear.I have got a grabber and several walking sticks. My mother died in March, and my mother in law in January, and knowing this op was likely, I kept everything I might need. So I have got two walkers too! But I am hoping I won't, like you, need to use a walker, it would be too eerie using my mothers walker when the memory of her using it is still fresh! I have ordered a raised toilet seat, and am thinking also of getting a frame. I have two loos I will be using, one upstairs and one down, and I thought it was unlikely that I would be supplied with two sets, so it is reassuring to hear that I might be loaned one!

When travelling in the car, I found that putting a foam pillow in the footwell

Good idea! I was intending to buy a couple more pillows! I'll leave them in the car for the journey home!

Whereabouts in N Yorks are you, and which hospital are you going into? I live near Bradford and have had all my procedures at BRI

I'm in Pickering, and was offered James Cook at Middlesbrough, Scarborough or York. I opted for York, as the Unit there is a Private one leased to the NHS, so the facilities are good. It is a stand alone Orthopaedic Unit doing hips and knees. There is only one ward, and it has a 0% MRSA record so that is very encouraging. I also picked York as I lived there for 8 years and did all my nurse training there, so I have friends there who will visit! I also have a son and daughter living in Leeds, so it will be easier for them to visit also. My daughter is also a nurse, did her training in St James and LGI, and then staffed at LGI. She is not working now having just had her second child, and I don't think she is keen to go back, the cuts have put even more pressure on the staff.
I'm glad you have had such good care at BRI. DD x (Alison)

 

[rah2435]

excuse my ignorance but - what is a knee "washout"?

thanks,
Rich

 

[mrs cricklewood]

I am having my knee replacement op on September 2nd too ! * GULP * Wish I wasn't such a wuss !

 

[VancouverUSAgal]

I know... give you the willies, doesn't it?

I know just how you feel!

 

[VancouverUSAgal]

"Speaking of bikes, I might need to check out Ebay for a recumbent bike. These tree trunk knees are a trip! I need to keep them moving."

You might want to look for something called a "flat foot" bike - it's made for "re-entry" bike riders (meaning us older folks). The petals are set forward and therefore the seat can low enough so that your feet touch the ground - kind of like a recumbent bike. I have one that I rode a lot until my knees and balance got so bad that I was scared to continue. Last time I rode, I fell and couldn't get up by myself so lay in the middle of the road until some neighbors drove by and tugged and pulled and heaved me up - SO EMBARRASSING!!! I've been guiltily eyeing that bike in the garage and thinking I might as well sell it but now that I'm finally getting surgery, I have hope that maybe next summer I'll again be able to ride it.

Best wishes to you.

 

[VancouverUSAgal]

Oh forgot to say that one brand of the "flat foot bikes" are made by Electra. Here's a link: https://www.electrabike.com/Bikes/townie-bikes-electra

 

[ditzy dinah]

I absolutely agree with your concern about having the toilet situation taken care of before your surgery.

Hi Carolina girl. I have ordered a frame just like the one you sent me a link to! Found one being sold for a good price on Amazon. I thought long and hard about this. I have also ordered a raised toilet seat as Mimi suggested. I decided in the end not to get one that fixes on permanently, as my husband and daughter will be using the toilet also, and they won't want to be perched up so high! I also went for a 4 " one, as Mimi suggested. This is a lightweight one, and fixes on with velcro tabs, so should be easy to remove. Now my husband is worrying that it will be too high for me!..he is worrying that I will perch up there and my poor little feet will be dangling and not touch the ground so I could slip off!! Groan...
I don't think that this will be the case, I maybe short 5'2"...but that is not that short! Everything I do he just wants me to wait for the OT, but I would rather not have the worry, or the wait if there is a delay in getting things to me. If the OT is able to supply me with these items this will be just fine as I have two loos that I will be using! Thank you for all your good advice!

 

[ditzy dinah]

but - what is a knee "washout"?

Hi Rich, Is this what they do when you have an infection in your implant? I think I have read about this in the book I am currently reading...one more knee replacement manual...my husband thinks I am obsessed, I probably am! Seems tha'ts what happened to Copperknob, so maybe she will tell us.

 

[ditzy dinah]

I am having my knee replacement op on September 2nd too ! * GULP * Wish I wasn't such a wuss !

Hi Mrs Cricklewood, Nice to meet you, good to have a surgery buddy!! I was beginning to think I wouldn't find anyone having surgery on the same day as me, as I suspect 2nd Sept is a Bank Holiday in the US, Labor Day I think, so our American friends would be unlikely to have surgery on a Bank Holiday!
I don't think you are a wuss at all! This is major surgery we are having! I for one have never had major surgery before, so yes it is a very scary prospect...I think being scared means we are just normal! It is not just the surgery, but the long and painful recovery period too that worries me! But we will have the support of one another facing this, and all the support from the wide Bonesmart community to spur us on, so we won't feel alone! there will always be someone here to help out with any queries or worries we have both pre op and post op! So we won't have to spend our time confused and/or worried. As well as first hand experience of what we are about to go through, there is a wealth of professional experience on this site too! So good luck with your preparations, and I'll be following your progress, and we can compare notes!!