Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portapotty

[knee]

Hi!

I am way behind the learning curve as I just saw with my own little eyes the MRI of right knee. I have degenerative arthritis..because all these years..I have been hyper flexible and flexed all my joints so much arthrtitis has moved in! So, on to the nuts and bolts.

What equipment at home proved most helpful? Besides the CPM machine and the ice cold machine? Did you need a toilet? Women mainly ..one that gewt up three or four times already to urinate at night? How did you get the CPM machine set up? On the bed? How much ice do you need daily to keep the ice machine going? Crutches versus walker? What to do if you have a flight of stairs up to your condo...when can you manage them to get up and down for going to the therapy sessions? What pain meds were most helpful? I have no tolerance for much pain of any kind..but do not want to be so dizzy and sick that I can't do the exercises. Did you get a TENS thing to help with pain? Did any of you have out of pocket additional therapist help to speed the awful recovery while at home? What hurts? The knee can't..its not yours...what the muscles up and below. Surgery not set, but left knee is acting up because of overuse...natch! Want supportive pro-active response! Thanks!

 

[Skeet]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

I had a toilet seat lift for a while (really needed it, too). I also have a seat for the shower and a hand held shower thing. I got a walker but never used it at home. I used crutches for a short while, then when to one crutch, then my cane, and finally nothing.

I did get a TENS machine and the rest of the family ended up using it more than I do! Glad I got it, though. I bought a small pedal exerciser that I could use sitting in my fav chair in any room. It was good. Also had a small medicine ball to roll around with my foot and lots of elastic bands for balancing work. I had a big exercise ball and I used that, too.

Got reusable ice packs at the drug store and those were a God send. I needed about 4 to make sure I always had one ready, sometimes I used two at a time.

For pain the doc gave me hydrocodone 10/325 and that did the trick for me (I'm a lightweight with pain, too).

The surgery is the easy part. It was painful (the bones and the muscles) for a couple of weeks (maybe 4), and then started getting lots better. I was never shy about using my pain meds and I used lots of ice, too.

I am so glad I had the TKR and would make the same decision again in an instance! It is so great to be out of pain! God bless you!

 

[referee54]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

The knee will hurt for a while, if you have to take care of the surgical adhesions. After that, it is muscular and the IT Band may be a little tight...my legs were slightly bowlegged, so re-alligning them was also somewhat ouchy.

My ortho didn't believe in CPM machines---so I can't help you on that one---I did not use one. Get a bedside commode---one that can go over a toilet---and will be able to be taken apart so you can use it as a seat in the shower.
You might want to also purchase a urinal

I came home with a walker, as I had a bilateral---your PT and surgeon will help you on that one, as well as your OT. You may have a walker or crutches or a cane---I do not know...again, they will help you make that decision when the time comes, based on your progress.

I didn't use an ice machine---I purchased several of the ice packs that they used on me after PT---they worked for me fine---I didn't ice my knee as much as I iced my quads. PT at home was for ROM---it hurt like a son of a #$%!!.. Out patient PT was also challenging, but definitely worth it. I was on oxycodone for a while

Be prepared for some sleepless night after you return home---it wasn't really pain, more of a "restless leg" type thing---even my ortho said that they didn't know why this happened. Do not fight it, just roll with the punches.

As for steps---I cannot help you there, as I live in a ranch--it was a while before I ventured down to the basement.

You cannot speed recovery. Your body heals on its own, in its own way, in its own time. You just have to work hard and be prepared for the long haul. You can work hard---the harder you work, the better---but I must tell you that rehab and recovery are like riding a roller coaster---there will be some great days and some days that really stink. Take them all as they come.

One thing that you will definitely need that you cannot purchase at a store is patience...you will need tremendous patience, as recovery takes a year. I had my bilateral 11/08/07---I am back to cycling, cutting down trees to use as firewood (that is how we heat our home), and umping baseball games, but they still wil stiffin up from time to time.

Tim C.

 

[Sue Z]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

KNEE,

Hello and welcome , I found this site to be most helpful so drop in often. I am almost 8 weeks post op with left knee replacement. The first two weeks were probably the most frustrating after that the problems are annoying, like the not being able to sleep part. Anyway. I opted for a high rise for the toilet and am very glad I did. After 3 to 4 weeks I had my husband remove it and boy was it kinda tough getting sat down that far...maybe I have a short toilet.. I am only 5'3 . I used a walker the 1st 2 weeks then moved to a cane. After 4 weeks I use neither. I did not have any other equipment to use at home except for the excersises the Ortho recommended and the ice pack. My ortho didn't even send me to PT. He said I was capable of doing it at home. No I did not have a quack for a Dr. I had it done at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,Mn. At this time I am doing okay. Not 100% yet but on the way.
Keep us informed and good luck

Sue Z

 

[Rowdy66]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

The Toilet Seat Lift Was By Far The Most Helpful Thing For Me. I Am Lucky I Have My Own Bathroom And It Has A Walk In Shower And That Was Wonderful Too. I Don't Know How I Would Have Managed One That I Would Have Had To Step Over The Side To Get Into But I Had Both Knees Done At The Same Time. My Family Got Me A Hospital Bed Too But That Also Was Because I Had Both Knees Done And That Was Great For About Three And A Half Weeks. Other Than That I Didn't Really Need Anything But My Walker For A Few Days And Then I Didn't Use It, Went With A Cane For A Few Days But Even That Was Short Lived. I Think It Depends On You And You Should Have Whatever Makes You Comfortable And Feel At Ease. We All Are Different And Different Things Will Be Make You Comfortable And You Should Feel Free To Use Those Things. The Important Thing Is To Get Better At Your Own Pace. This Isn't Something You Cannot Rush. You Just Need To Work Hard And Be Good To Yourself. Rowdy

 

[Josephine]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

knee, I moved this thread into the Knee Recovery Forum as it fits there better.

 

[Turtlelady53]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

Knee,
I'm two weeks out of bilateral TKR and think by far the most useful piece of equipment was the raised toilet seat. It also doubles as a shower seat, but I just couldn't seem to fit it in the shower stall very well. I have a small stall, so the seat was almost rammed right up against the edge of the stall (not much leg room for legs that don't bend!). I keep the walker just outside the shower in case I need something to grab onto. I also have an ice machine. I stopped using the walker at about day 10, but sometimes still need it to elevate myself out of a chair. On my first day home, day 6 post-op, I went straight upstairs. I can manage the stairs, but it is a very slow process. I have 2 handrails, and I go down backwards. When I move to the main level, then my family has to bring down my whole cache of stuff (toilet seat, icer, meds, etc. etc. etc.). That's the biggest problem with multiple levels. I have been sleeping in a spare bedroom which is very close to a hallway bathroom. I'm just not ready yet to get accidentally kicked in the middle of the night by either hubby OR dog! On the flip side, getting served breakfast/coffee/newspaper on a tray is something I could get used to!

Good luck to you. Sounds like you are doing all your homework.

 

[edk]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

I only had one knee done and never used a potty lift. Luckily all of our
bathrooms have something to help me lift. One has a door across from the
stool and I could pull myself up at the hinge. Another has a vanity next to
it. I would suggest you could try getting up on one leg presurgery and if you
can do that a potty lift is probably not necessary. Also, I actually found I
spent a lot of time with my chill machine on the sofa in the family room.
Putting a pillow on the arm does a great job of raising your knee above
the heart and so did all of my icing there.

 

[Cathie]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

WOW ! I had the potty chair and think it is the best invention ever!!! I had a real tough time getting off of it without the chair. I think that was the worst part of recovery sometimes!!!!
I used a walker for a couple weeks, then graduated to the cane. I am 8 weeks tomorrow and still sometimes use the cane if I feel shaky or if in a store and have to stand for a length of time.
I did not have the CPM or ice machine. I did however get a bunch of the "techno ice" to keep in the freezer. Used them lots! I still do.
As for stairs - I have 3 sets of them, short ones, maybe 7 stairs each and that was a real chore for me. I still have some difficulty at times, but I take it slow and do what I can. I stayed on the lower level where there is a bathroom and the sofa and tv for 6 weeks. Then moved upstairs. I am now putting one foot in front of the other most times. There are still times where I am too swollen and it hurts. But, as they say, one day at a time..... one step at a time......good luck.
Cathie

 

[Linda2]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

My right knee has been a pain (ha ha) for years. My husband changed out the toilet in the main bathroom to a "tall" toilet. They aren't that expensive, and they don't scream "invalid". I'll be glad to have it after my surgery! Now that we're actually in July and I am going to donate blood to myself on Monday, I'm really getting nervous!

 

[lgobrien]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

Linda -
When we remodeled our bathroom last year, my husband also put in the taller toilet. It's not that noticeable in looks, but I didn't need the portable raised toilet seat after surgery, this one we have did fine. Besides, in just a couple days, you really do need to try and start bending it.

I did have a small stool in there incase I needed to elevate or rest my leg sometimes...

Laurie

 

[Linda2]

Re: Pain meds most helpful, where to put all the equipment and what kids..incl portap

Linda -
When we remodeled our bathroom last year, my husband also put in the taller toilet. It's not that noticeable in looks, but I didn't need the portable raised toilet seat after surgery, this one we have did fine. Besides, in just a couple days, you really do need to try and start bending it.

I did have a small stool in there incase I needed to elevate or rest my leg sometimes...

Laurie

I figured there are many other chairs and situations where I can make my knee bend--I don't want to worry about getting off the toilet!