Diane's Knee Quest finally the real deal

[dianehelen]

Yep I have read hers and so many others that make me a believer. The most credible are those that have had born knees done, one the old way and the other the bonesmart way, and the difference always shows the latter superior. That's why I spend hours a day reading and learning here.

as for the elevation foam, I think pillows would be a pain in the neck, to shuffle around from bed to recliner, etc.. I dont mind spending some money, even if for a few weeks. I also really like the idea of the ice machine, so if medicare wont pay for that, I will just buy it for my convenience. After all I wont have to spend any on walkers (have 2, one from a broken leg 15 years ago, one from my hip replacement in 2014) and my raised commode, that fits over the toilet, a valuable aid from hip nightmare days.

 

[newlybionic]

I bought one of those pillows online. It looked perfect in the picture but when I received it it just wasn't comfortable at all and for some reason my leg didn't wind up fitting on it. I went back to the pillow stack. I had three cheap pillows and cases I bought just for elevation.

I agree with Jo about giving your OS copies of reports here. I'm going to see my OS for three month check next week and after he examined my knee I'll tell him about my exercise routine. I followed the bonesmart way.

 

[dianehelen]

Anyone hear of or read this book

https://tinyurl.com/Thekneebook

 

[Tabbycat]

Look for 'book reviews' in the knee replacement pre op area under sticky threads. Lots of reviews of this book.

 

[dianehelen]

Question of the day. My surgery is August 17. I know everyone is different, but what do you think the chances would be, that by the weekend of October 7-9 I would be ready to spend 2 nights in a resort? That weekend is my breast cancer survivors annual reunion weekend at a resort in Orlando, so it's local. I really want to go, and wished my surgery was earlier, but this was the first available date.

Any thoughts?

 

[newlybionic]

It would depend upon what activities you want to participate in. I would think that if you can ice and elevate your knee and you don't have to walk a lot that it would be doable. You might want to invest in a wheelchair for the weekend.

 

[dianehelen]

@newlybionic walking not an issue, there are a few of us are "walking challenged" including my swim buddy who had polio as a child, and a couple others, so the resort knows us and provides golf cart transport for anywhere we want to go on the property. Not sure how much I'd be able to ice & elevate, at the various functions, dinners etc. Also wonder if I'd be able to get in the pool at the resort by then. Other than that, the nights are room parties where we do sit around and drink, I guess I could sit, drink, ice, elevate.

 

[newlybionic]

It would probably be hard to use regular pool steps but some pools have walk in steps. Others have a hoist to help people who can't use the ladder get in and out of the pool. As long as your incision is healed you probably would enjoy yourself in the pool.

 

[dianehelen]

Yes, the pool has very shallow, graduated steps and a grab bar. The resort does not have the chair hoist, but the gym pool I swim in has that. Thanks for your input, now I guess, just see how it goes.

Oh ya I had another question, I'll add here and tag for @Floridagal and @sistersinhim or anyone else newly re-kneed ;-) , are you having to wear those miserable compression stockings? I had those for my hip and hated them. I have not seen anyone here mention them.

 

[uva55]

Diane, let's think positive,you may not be able to do the cha cha, but you should be able to enjoy yourself, my OS told me I can't get into any bodies of water until incision is 100 healed, but I think that yours should be healed by then

My OS told me I had to wear those horrible stocking until I saw him on the 28th

 

[dianehelen]

Thanks Clara @uva55 . I could never cha cha anyway so, haha no big deal there. But someone here, I forget who is about a month out and has beed in a pool, so, I'll be hopeful. How are you doing? Getting ready for your big day very soon huh? I will be routing for you!

 

[uva55]

I am as ready as I can be...a little anxious, I think is normal, getting my house ready, and grocery shopped for a few items, thanks for asking!

 

[dianehelen]

Do you have help at home? Ya, I am sure anxious is normal.

 

[newlybionic]

I did get in pool at two months out. My incision was healed by then with no scabs. As far as the compression stockings there is an article about them in the library. Let's just say mine had a terrible accident when I got home and they 'inadvertently ' wound up in the garbage. I just made sure I did ankle pumps and walked a little bit every couple of hours when I went to the bathroom or to get a drink. Josephine could weigh in on the subject.

 

[Happydale]

Dianehelen, I'm trying to do the same thing: gird my loins for the onslaught of PTs and friends who will tell me to push through the PT pain. I haven't had my surgery and I've already heard from them! I've been looking at as many research studies I can find about this issue. According to the National Institute of Health, physical rehab is an understudied aspect of TKR, but my crude summary of my reading is that there may be slight differences in outcomes between high intensity and low intensity PT at 3, 6, & 9 months, but at 12 months, just about everyone recovers to the same point. Apparently stairs can continue to be a challenge. And the really good news is that one study showed there are only about 6% of all TKR patients who weren't happy with their outcome at 12 months. One study found that aggressive PT is not medically harmful, to which I say "so what!" Who wants to torture themselves if they can get to the same place without it? If you want to poke around yourself, I suggest the PubMed website, which has a handy search engine. I used key words like total knee rehabilitation, and it gives study summaries in fairly layman's terms. Here's the link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

Let's link arms and forge forth in our peaceful rehabs!

 

[dianehelen]

Here's the link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

Let's link arms and forge forth in our peaceful rehabs!

Great info! Arms likned. All the best to you next week. I wish mine was sooner, just to be on the other side with all the june bugs. But I guess I'll have to wait & watch you and others and learn from all your experiences

 

[uva55]

Diane... Yes I have help, my wonderful husband, he helps me now not only with my issues with aches and pain but also with my 86 yard old father which we are his primary care takers, even though he is still really with it, he lives by himself, but I shop, cook, and keep tracks and goes with him to all his doctor's appointments, and make sure he gets his meds, an my husband is my backup...my daughter is a school teacher, she is off for the summer and has also offered to help, so I'm covered!!!

 

[dianehelen]

Oh that's great. I have one of those too ;-). Wonderful husbands are a great thing to have. That's great that he can help out with your dad too. Seems you have that area covered.

 

[dianehelen]

I did get in pool at two months out. My incision was healed by then with no scabs. As far as the compression stockings there is an article about them in the library. Let's just say mine had a terrible accident when I got home and they 'inadvertently ' wound up in the garbage. I just made sure I did ankle pumps and walked a little bit every couple of hours when I went to the bathroom or to get a drink. Josephine could weigh in on the subject.

Oh GREAT on the pool.

And hahaha even GREATER on those "expletive deleted" stockings. Love, the "accident" story. That is SO encouraging, cant tell you how miserable I was with them.

 

[dianehelen]

@newlybionic can you post the link about the stockings, I cant seem to find it in the library. Thanks