Getting up from a recliner after TKR?

[AZgirl]

Hi! I'm preparing my house for my left TKR and I started wondering if I'll be able to get up from the recliner (the seat is about 17 inches from the floor). Was this a problem for many of you in recovery? I'll have 3 days in the hospital and then recuperate at home with my husband. I was thinking about getting some of those lifts that they use under the legs of beds, but the legs of my recliner are 3" in diameter and I don't know if they make them that big. Maybe getting up is not an issue. What did you find? Would love to hear what you think.

Bridget

 

[loggon]

I am 4 months out and I still have problems getting out of the recliner, because mine is a rocker also, so it goes even lower when I slide to the front to get out.

At first I put a cushion in it from my sofa in my living room.
That worked good. But tired of my sofa looking messed up.

My recliner is in the family room and all the furniture in here has low seats.

It is a problem at least for me. Not much a problem on the other chairs.

 

[Texas]

I did to. I put pillows under my bottom.....I wasn't so sunk in then.....Or thats where hubby comes in heve ho, me right out of the chair..!!!!!...lol....Good Luck.. Sounds like your getting everything ready...Glad your husband will be with you...Actually my husband and I really became close during that time...Rough sometimes but he was real patient.....

 

[Josephine]

I have a recliner settee which is about 14" high! I managed by putting the operated leg out straight and just standing on my good leg. I'd also use my crutch to lever myself up, both hand on it or one on the crutch and one on the settee arm. Never had too much of a problem.

 

[FrogFeathers]

I had to put pillows under my bum to be able to get off our sofa. I also needed to use the arm of the sofa and my walker (for the other hand) because I couldn't just get up.

Luckily for me, at my parents' house for two weeks, I got to sit in my dad's "ez-lift" recliner. (he got himself and my mom ez-lift recliners right before I went in for my surgery).

Like I said in another thread, I had it EASY for two weeks after I got released from the hospital (which was also two weeks after my surgery).

 

[RickB]

Bridget,
I built a plat form out of two pieces of ply wood with 2"x6" boards in between the ply wood. Then I sat the recliner on top. Worked like a champ, I lived there for the first two weeks. By the way, this raises the recliner about 6 inches.

 

[loggon]

Wow never thought about that Rick. Think I will have hubby do that. Love my recliner but it is a B---- to get out of. I am at 4 months and have trouble. That is probably the the thing I am having the most problem with.

 

[Josephine]

Have you tried the technique I described above? It really does work.

 

[dcdowden]

We got some plastic bed risers from Bed, Bath & Beyond for about $15-20 to use on the recliner. They were great. I used them for my hip replacements last year where they were really needed to prevent me from violating hip precautions, but I plan to use them (and raised toilet seat, etc.) for my right TKR scheduled for August 14. I'm sure it will make things easier for the first couple weeks. From reading this forum, it sounds like a good exercise to increase flexion for the knee is to press forward from a chair or stool. So I expect to use a rolling office chair for those exercises as soon as I can.
Doug

 

[loggon]

Thanks I will look at BBB. Also the exercise that works best for rom is to sit in a chair to the front of the chair. Slide your foot back and forth and see how for you can get it under the chair.

Also, rocking your hip back and forth which makes your knee move back and forth is also good.

I never did any aggressive pt (pushing til it hurt) and I have great rom. Used very little pain meds after the first month.

Your idea for the bed risers for the raised toilet seat is a good idea.
I had a tall rise toilet put it and it is 18 to 19 inched off the floor compared to the standard which is about 14 to 15 inches high.

Good luck on your up coming surgery and Bonesmarts members are here to help 24/7

 

[loggon]

Jo I tried your idea but my recliner is a rocker and when I move to get out of it I am only about 7 to 8 inches from the floor and my left leg is just not strong enough to get me up.

I can get out of the other chairs as long as they are at least 14 to 15 inches up.

 

[Oldie]

I rocked in rocking chair and tucking my foot as far back as possible really helped increase my Rom , doesn't feel like exercising. I also never did any agressive PT, my PT was very gentle, did a lot of massaging which really helped. Good Luck

 

[Texas]

Hi Doug Welcome...Good luck On your up coming surgery. Everyone always has great ideas. Always willing to help as well. Please post anytime.....I never used the toilet raiser it was harder for me then the regular way....

 

[sykeRN]

Hi-thanks to all for suggestions for getting up from furniture. We do not have a recliner--our furniture is rather low (leather) in our great room where I will be sitting--plus we have some very comfortable Costa Rican rockers. I've been practicing with pillows and also learning how to get up from all chairs without using my left leg. I hope by practicing all these moves I will be able to hoist myself up after LTKR. Our bed is a perfect size to sit down on and then get out of bed--I've practiced there also.

I hope also all these muscle strenthening exercises will pay off when I get home. Nancy

 

[AZgirl]

Thanks everyone for all the good ideas for getting up from my recliner. I have ordered some "bed risers" from Bed Bath and Beyond and hope that they are big enough to fit around my recliners' legs. I love the idea from Don of a platform that he built but my husband doesn't love this handyman stuff so I will only ask if the risers don't fit my recliner.

Bridget

 

[AZgirl]

Sorry I think it was Rick who suggested the platform idea. I get confused because there are so many nice, helpful people on this forum!

Bridget

 

[Judles]

If you don't have any furniture....you can even rent those kind of recliners at a medical supply store! We did that for awhile.....it served its purpose, but when my restrictions were lifyed, I was happy to see that high barstool type chair go!!!

 

[beth1954]

I know this is kinda late, but i had someone build a platform too....out of 2 x 4's. It was PERFECT! It really helps. My mom had one made too just so that she can get out of her chair easier (she's 79 with one lung.)

 

[cindy88fan]

At first what I did was put a piece of wood under the chair on each side so it wouldn't rock and after practicing a lot of getting in and out of the chair, I then took the wood out from under the chair and I also put a pillow on the seat to give me a little umppphhh. I'm very short...5-1. Yeah my butt is closer to the ground but I don't have the legs to get me up. I just pushed like crazy on the arms of the chair and walked my feet in until I was up and able to grab the walker. Just make sure you have somebody there to help you until you get the hang of it. With having BTKR it was harder than I thought...it's my favorite chair and I knew one way or the other I was going to get into that chair.


Good Luck!!!!

___________
BTKR 7/20/09
Cindy

 

[loggon]

Have not tried the bed risers yet. I keep forgetting them when I go to BBB for my coffee K-cups. Going to have to write my self a note.

Great ideas here as usual