questions prior to knee replacement

[Pa guy]

Just had a TKR revision on the 5th, i am finding many people looking to strengthen there muscles prior to a TKR .
My personal experience after 7 knee surgeries is not to strengthen your leg muscles at all, but stretch and light exercise to prepare for the recovery afterwords.
Strength will come during the healing process allowing it to keep up with your new knee(S) ability after surgery.
Allowing muscles to adjust to the knee, and not having the new knee adjust to the over strengthened muscles.
Any strength training should be to the upper body, helping to use Crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, Cains, and general means of getting around and back on your feet.

 

[backbay38]

Debbie, Jacques and anyone else having surgery this month (January). I am really curious (worried would probably be a better word but I'm trying to stay positive) about the first week post surgery. the 3 days or so in the hospital and then - if this is what your surgeon orders - your first few days at home. I will have a PT coming to my house at first. I am having TKR on Jan. 21 on my right knee. I am a former marathon runner and a gym rat and have tried very hard to do what I can to keep my bad leg strong. Lots of bike and elliptical trainer work at the gym, weights and isometric quad sets (which seem to help the most, along with leg lifts with ankle weights). But muscles don't respond when an injured joint sends them signals so it's difficult. I am told it will be difficult to bend and lift my leg the first week after surgery even if I can do it now with no problem because of tissue swelling and tension in the joint and incision area. Having MIS and gender-appropriate, hi-flex knee replacement with a surgeon who does nothing but knee and hip replacements, helped design the implant for Zimmer and seems to have very good outcomes.
Thanks for any info you feel well enough to write about.
Stephani

 

[beth1954]

Simon:

I guess I got a little carried away with the quad tightening exercises. My thighs hurt so bad that betwee my knee and my thighs I can hardly walk!!!
I have to learn about moderation!

 

[jacques1]

I apologize if my post shows a couple of times. I am usung my granddaughter's laptop and I find it very sensitive.

I received a call from my dr's office last Tue (jan 6) asking if I would like to go in on the 7th on Jan as they had a cancellation. So here I am, surgery done. I think,I am recovering fairly well. I do have a couple of questions that I hope someone can help me with. Am I suppose to take these lovely white stockings off at bedtime.
I came home with a dressing. The Dr said I can shower and place another bandage on. The nurse said "no, let the incision air.

I am getting around fairly well with my walker and wondering how much to walk, elevate. sit.
Debby

 

[calling_all_angels]

Wow Deb,
I bet you are glad to have it over. I am still on for the 14th. Tick tock LOL
We are having quite a snow strom here to day am hoping that it clears off tomorrow
so I can get a few more thing done before Wen. morning.
Ok my booklet saids that about stockings after the first 2 weeks you remove them at bed
time. But untill then you can only remove them for a hour or 2 every day.
Hope this helps. I hope I can get to surgery center Wen. I am thinking of going up tomorrow night if this snow is going to be back Wen. It would be better to stay in motel
by center then drive up there in the early morn.

 

[calling_all_angels]

Question........... I have noticed different wording here for knees I get the
TKR..... total knee replacment And I think that puting a L or R is (L for left
and R for Right) And P KR is a partial. At least I think I have these right but
What is a BTKR??? I feel like a dummy just can not get that one.
^i^

 

[1jt@atime]

It's Bilateral, meaning both knees replaced at the same time. You got all the other acronyms correct! Karen

 

[calling_all_angels]

Karen,
Thank you very much for the answer. I would have thought 2 at one time would
be LRTKR LOL Good thing I do not work in Dr.'s office
^i^

 

[Simon]

Calling all angles

If weather is a problem, I would go up the day before. I live 2 1/2 hours from the hospital and a friend would have to drive me and I did not want to have to get anyone on the road at 3 am so I stayed at a hotel. I then walked to the hospital the next morning.

Good luck.

Snow storms is one reason I had mine done in the summer as I need to shovel.

Simon

 

[calling_all_angels]

Thank you Simon,
I think that going to night would be a good idea too. But
hubby is a furnace man and he is out fixing furnaces. So
he will just have to get me there in the morning. And since
the MD Nurse told me today that the left knee is gone too
I will most likely get a chance to do a spring one too! LOL
Gee whizzz I am just so lucky!! I just got to buck up!!
And go in there tomorrow and get it done.
^i^