TKR Question?

[ACIM]

I live in the Attic of a huge four story home. I live with my sister and her husband. He is a trauma surgeon and I am grateful that he will be around. But because I live up two sets of stairs in the Attic I am concerned about getting up and down the stairs. Living on the first or second floor of this home is not an option during my recovery. I think crutches might be the better way to help me get up and down the stairs than a walker. I will have Home Health Care coming in for the first five or six days. Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Layla]

You're blessed to be able to recover under the watchful eye of your, BIL, a trauma surgeon.

Honestly...I find the living situation you will return to concerning. Without seeing the two staircases you need to navigate, imagining that they lead to an attic makes it sound very challenging and potentially unsafe. You're going to be dealing with a degree of pain, weakness and compromised mobility.

Wondering if there is a bathroom in the attic, or will residing in the attic necessitate multiple trips up and down throughout the day and night? If so, you'll definitely need a bedside commode. If it's an older home, I am imagining narrow steep staircases.

I am wondering whether your sister or BIL are willing to assist you going up and down early on. If you've mentioned this to your surgeon, wondering about his thoughts. Is there anyone else you can stay with for the first couple of weeks, at least, or is some type of transitional care a possibility for the first couple of weeks?

If you're able to provide a better description of the living conditions, more detail on the staircases, whether there is a bathroom or kitchen in the attic etc, we'll be able to better advise.
Hope to her from you soon!
@ACIM

 

[ACIM]

Hi Benne: I love my family but they are incredibly dysfunctional. This is why I am committed to staying in my upper attic space. Plus I have my two kitties up here which are probably the best healing power I could have, meow.
Yes, I do have a full bathroom up here. And yes, there are people here to help me get up and down the stairs if need be. My goal is to walk the stairs as little as possible. I may purchase a bit commode. I am definitely going to purchase one of those one burner little stove tops to keep up here because I absolutely have to have my coffee. Plus, I can keep cans of soup up here, crackers and I imagine my sister will be bringing me up additional food if I need it. I have a big long long table that I plan to put next to my bed. Both sides of the table are open sided, no backing on either side of the table. For this table that will be beside my bed I will be keeping a lot of stuff on it. It's a pretty good size table. I appreciate your feedback, I genuinely do. With Home Health coming they can probably help me down the steps and up if need be. Any thoughts? Thanks again so much Benne. Oh, and also my brother-in-law's mother lives right down the street from us and she does not work. She is always happy to help out and she has been a nurse for 40 years, although now retired. I know she would be happy to come over anytime I feel I need her. You know I had nobody to help me for my last three joint replacements. I did everything by myself so good to know I have several people around me this time.

 

[Jamie]

Is it out of the question to purchase a stair lift for at least one level of the stairs? I’m like the others and thinking that that last flight of stairs to the attic is probably very steep and narrow.

If not, I suggest railings on both sides of all of the stairways in the house where that is possible. This will give you plenty of support in the future as you’re getting stronger and maybe won’t need a walking aid. Then until you are very sure of yourself, I would navigate them sideways, one step at a time so that you have both hands on a railing. It’s good that you have a bathroom in your living area and the purchase of a hot plate would be good too so you can do some basic cooking. I’d also suggest a small “dorm” refrigerator. They even make a fairly small refrigerator with a no-frost freezer so you could have ice. You may want a cooler to store extra ice packs in for icing on your knee too. Your occupational health nurse should be able to help you with more ideas when she sees your space. Can you get this service before your surgery so your house is set up before April?

You might consider having crutches or a walker on each level of the house near the steps. That way you can go up and down without having to worry about using the aids on the steps. That creates more risk for you. It’s pretty difficult for someone to help you on steps because they are narrow. So it’s best to have a safe way to get up and down for the first several months. You can rent the additional walkers or crutches and shouldn’t have to buy them.

 

[EalingGran]

Wondering if there is a bathroom in the attic, or will residing in the attic necessitate multiple trips up and down throughout the day and night? If so, you'll definitely need a bedside commode. If

Agree with @Layla
I live in a three storey house without a toilet on the ground floor. I bought a commode as I found doing stairs more than once a day difficult for the first few weeks.

 

[Layla]

As far as bathing or showering, I suggest you do it with the Home Health worker within ear shot the first couple of times until you establish a routine.

You have a list of items we suggest for recovery and this isn't your first surgery, so I'm certain you recall all of this anyway. The bedside table will be useful for all you need such as water, snacks, meds, tissues, phone, charger, all within reach.

The hot plate will be useful as would the small refrigerator, Jamie, suggested and depending upon the space, a small microwave for heating / reheating could come in handy also. Stocking up on Protein Bars, Nuts, Crackers and canned goods along with some items like Tuna Salad and Cracker Snack Packs you mix yourself. Oatmeal Packets, Protein Shakes, Pre Cut Fruits and Veggies, small snack packs of Olives to Go to name a few, would likely all come in handy and keep you satisfied without needing to navigate stairs as often.

 

[ACIM]

Thank you all so much for your feedback. Found out today that I can actually have the surgery done a week earlier than initially planned. My new surgery date is now April 9th, 2 weeks from Wednesday.

 

[Jamie]

That’s GREAT news!!! You’ll be in recovery before you know it.

 

[Layla]

We've edited your signature to reflect the new date.
I hope the earlier date makes you happy! Not too long now, ACIM
Lots of comfort to you as you wait.
@ACIM

 

[mendogal]

Hi! You're not going to want to live in bed, nor will you be comfortable sitting upright more than a very short time in the initial weeks. If you don't have a recliner chair, is it possible for you to rent one for one or two months?
A motorized push button would really be a huge help especially one that lifts you to semi stand!
Also elevated toilet seat, with arms if there's no grab bars in reach. Your commode can double up as a stable elevated toilet seat.

 

[ExRunner1973]

Thank you all so much for your feedback. Found out today that I can actually have the surgery done a week earlier than initially planned. My new surgery date is now April 9th, 2 weeks from Wednesday.

I’m 9 weeks out and actually told by my surgeon I could do the stairs immediately by going up with good leg and down with the new surgery leg.
My PT however told me not to do the stairs the first weeks, but when I did try it I found it was ok doing the 19 steps with husband watching!
I did however sleep on a recliner about 7 weeks as my hybrid mattress was too soft!
If you are on a bed elevate, ice often, take your meds plus listen to the advice here on BoneSmart! Despite being in medicine I learned so much here!! Their support got me through a difficult period! My cousin whose surgery was a week ahead of me joined too!
I think I’m finally on the upward able to walk cook etc!! I’m so grateful to BoneSmart!!!

 

[Layla]

I’m so grateful to BoneSmart!!!

Thank you for that, ExRunner! We appreciate it and are grateful for your support.

ACIM, since we're on your thread. Wishing you both a Happy Tuesday!

 

[ACIM]

You guys are so awesome. I know that once I'm down in bed after the surgery I'll be on this forum so much more than I can be now. Right now I am working and of course with the bad knee and the pain I'm exhausted by the end of the day and pretty much come home and sleep until the next day when I go back to work. Please forgive me. It is now 7:45 Eastern Standard Time in the United States and I haven't had dinner yet. Going to eat and then probably going to bed.
No, I do not have a recliner. But there is one to floors down with the magical button that lifts or lowers you however far you want to go. Also purchased a little mini refrigerator freezer, a burner to heat up soup and stuff and a little mini exercise bike, without the seat; you just sit in a chair and put your feet in the pedals and start pumping.
I love the feedback on getting up and down the stairs too as it is Springtime here and we have a large front porch that I will be spending time on. I would address each of you separately but then I would not be eating dinner before 11:00 p.m., haha! Blessings blessings blessings to all of you.

 

[RunA42K]

Hello ACIM, my very first TKR was in late March of 2011. As it happened my birthday was mid March so with surgery in mind my husband gave me a new iPad for my birthday and you are so very right…once you have your surgery you will spend a lot of time on here. I would read other people’s threads to see how they coped and would get ideas from what they were going though. Besides all of the good advice it is a wonderful place to make (online Bonesmart) friends with those going through the same, encouraging each other.

I found that stairs were a very difficult challenge. Even though I’d been athletic all my life, I thought I’d heal fast with no difficulty. With all bedrooms upstairs not only were they very difficult but it took me weeks to even want to try them alone. I guess what I am saying is that you should have ‘Plan B’ ready just incase this is harder than you think. Eventually we moved to a one story house where I had 4 more knee surgeries but without any stairs. I wish you the very best in your upcoming surgery.