TKR Right TKR Headed My Way!!

[HoldenOn]

October 18th is my date. I have been reading BoneSmart for about a year now knowing I would be facing this eventually. There's really no other forum that comes close to having the organization and personal touch you find here. Right knee is bone on bone since about 2014. I've been living on cortisone shots every 3-6 months. Lately, they only last 2ish months.
I also have RA, diagnosed when I was 26, so it's had a long time to percolate! Both elbows have contracted fairly significantly (one more than the other). I "test drove" a regular walker in a thrift store the other day - no way will that work for me. I'm thinking an upright walker may be my only option. I haven't seen this issue mentioned anywhere else. Am I missing some alternative I haven't thought of yet? Upright walkers are quite pricey for the hopefully short time I would need it. Also, rheumatologist recommended stopping my biologic 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the surgery. I think it is somewhat of an immunosuppressant.
All pre-op testing has been done and I took several prehab classes and have been doing the exercises most days. Occasionally I've joined the Overdid Club before I've even had the surgery!

 

[benne68]

Welcome, 2HoldenOn ! And congratulations your surgery date!

I'm sorry you've been suffering with bone-on-bone pain for so long, but totally understand it. I did the same thing. I'm now a year out from my TKR and couldn't be happier with my decision.

While I can't help you with your walker question, I'm sure other members will come along shortly with suggestions.

In the meantime, I will share BoneSmart's helpful pre-operative guide. You may have come across some of these article before, but you will find them helpful now as you prepare for surgery.

Recovery Aids: A comprehensive list for hospital and home
Recliner Chairs: Things you need to know if buying one for your recovery
Pre-Op Interviews: What's involved?

The website and app My Knee Guide can help you stay organized and informed. The free service keeps all the information pertaining to your surgery and recovery in one place on your smartphone. It is intended to be a personal support tool for the entire process.

And if you want to picture what your life might be like with a replaced knee, take a look at the posts and threads from other BoneSmarties provided in this link:
Stories of amazing knee recoveries

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

So feel free to ask any questions you have about this surgery and recovery; our members will be happy to share their experiences with you.

 

[djklaugh]

@HoldenOn A couple of suggestions about the upright walker. 1) check with medical supply stores near you to see if you can rent one rather than buy one. Or 2) if there are Senior Service Centers in your area you might be able to borrow one. And 3) Check the places that sell used items (ie Goodwill, AMVets, etc) to see if you can find a good condition used one.

I hope you can find one that fits your needs and your pocketbook!

 

[panammaniac]

I'll be just ahead of you, having my left TKR next Tuesday. It's getting very real for me now as I start to think "next week at this time I won't be able to do this without help." I find this site very helpful as I prepare myself, and I'm sure it will be even more helpful as I recover.

About the walker, ideally you won't be needing it more than a couple weeks for getting yourself around the house, and after that you can graduate to crutches and/or a cane. I wouldn't sink a lot of money into one. As others have suggested, you may be able to rent or borrow one for a little while. My provider wants everyone on a regular front wheel walker, and it was covered by my insurance, so it's sitting in my living room waiting for me to start using it next week. They require that I show up for surgery with it in the car. I have crutches left over from an arthroscopic procedure I had done 6 years ago, and they're out of storage and waiting for me in my living room as well.

 

[HoldenOn]

Just figured out the perfect solution to my needing an upright walker dilemma. I was grocery shopping using one of the smaller shorter carts available and it hit me that was the perfect height and easy to push - even has a built-in basket for all my important snacks etc!! I'm quite certain though I wouldn't have the nerve to ask to borrow one! I meet with my surgeon's PA next week, hopefully we can come up with a solution. Generally I've been met with silence or a blank stare when I bring it up anywhere else. I find it hard to believe this would be that unusual. I guess we shall see....stay tuned....

 

[benne68]

I was grocery shopping using one of the smaller shorter carts available and it hit me that was the perfect height and easy to push - even has a built-in basket for all my important snacks etc!!

What a great idea! I'll bet you can find something similar on Amazon!

 

[Jockette]

I just looked on Amazon and did see some. They are a bit pricey, but maybe some things are priceless if they do what you want them to!

Note to everyone, when buying anything from Amazon, please consider going through Amazon Smile.

If you choose to make any purchases through Amazon (not just this item, but anything you buy), sign up for the smile.amazon program. This allows you to have Amazon donate a small portion of your purchase to BoneSmart. You pay nothing extra! You get products you want and we get help to keep BoneSmart up and running. Here is a link to smile.Amazon:

About smile.amazon

Be sure when you sign up that you designate our parent non-profit organization,

“The Foundation for the Advancement in Research in Medicine, Inc“ (FARM).

Any funds go directly to BoneSmart through them and you are allowed to take a tax donation deduction.

Thanks for your support of Bonesmart!

 

[panammaniac]

Just figured out the perfect solution to my needing an upright walker dilemma. I was grocery shopping using one of the smaller shorter carts available and it hit me that was the perfect height and easy to push - even has a built-in basket for all my important snacks etc!! I'm quite certain though I wouldn't have the nerve to ask to borrow one! I meet with my surgeon's PA next week, hopefully we can come up with a solution. Generally I've been met with silence or a blank stare when I bring it up anywhere else. I find it hard to believe this would be that unusual. I guess we shall see....stay tuned....

Is height the issue for you? I'm 6'2" (or I should say I WAS 6'2" - I've shrunk an inch or two with a couple of herniated discs) and the walker my insurance company sent me fits perfectly. It has a lot of height adjustments on it and I was able to get it adjusted perfectly for my height. They only want 2-wheeled walkers for their patients wherever possible because there's a stability factor there. They don't want you losing control and falling. It's scoot it forward a few inches, plant it, then step forward and repeat. I'm not sure a shopping cart would provide enough stability when you're recovering from TKR, and it's probably not the best thing for the flooring in your house either. Ideally you're only on the walker for a week or two before you graduate to crutches and/or a cane. At least that's what I'm told in a perfect world. We will soon find out.

 

[HoldenOn]

It's not a height issue. Both of my elbows have contracted quite a bit (although not evenly) due to 35 years of RA, so adjusting a walker to fit me might be an issue. Of course this is compounded by the fact that my wrists are fused and I really can't put any pressure on my hands! Actually I'm not going to be able to use a cane either. I think I'm in the middle of a dilemma. I've got 19 days to figure this out. Never fear though, I always find a work- around for what I need to get done.

 

[panammaniac]

Makes perfect sense. Have you looked at the type of crutches that goes on your forearms so that you don’t have to grip them? I’m not sure what they’re called but I’ve seen them.

 

[Jaycey]

@HoldenOn Would these work for you?

 

[panammaniac]

That's what I was looking for. They're just called "forearm crutches."

 

[HoldenOn]

Actually I'm not sure if the forearm crutches would work - maybe they would - that would certainly solve the problem if they did! I certainly appreciate the suggestions!
Also, nice to know about the smile.amazon program.

 

[Flashlight]

Lions Club loans all sorts of orthopedic equipment for free. Do you have one in your area? I am 6 weeks out and still reach for my walker at times. I use a cane for doctor's appointments. When the swelling goes down, I won't need anything but that darn swelling at times makes it difficult. If you have low toilets that will be a challenge. Maybe they will have a raised seat you can borrow. My daughter has RA. The best of luck to you.

 

[HoldenOn]

Just got the call for my surgery time tomorrow - 7:30 am, be at the hospital by 5:30. This suits me just fine, probably won't sleep a wink tonight. I believe I'll be spending one night. I have spent the day getting everything together and going for a drive (probably be awhile before that happens again since it's my right leg!!)
Best wishes for all with upcoming surgeries.

 

[benne68]

Best wishes for tomorrow, @HoldenOn. Hope to hear from you soon in the Recovery forum!

 

[NightQuilter]

We'll be looking for you on the other side @HoldenOn ! Good luck tomorrow - relief and recovery are on their way!

 

[alemana]

Good luck tomorrow! It's also my date for BTKR.
I am looking forward to new quality of life that will accompany the replacement.
I have psoriatic arthritis which I am told has a lot of similarities is symptoms as RA.
I will be thinking of you and cheering you on.

 

[HoldenOn]

@alemana Thank you so much!

 

[InkedMarie]

Good luck tomorrow! You got this!

Marie