The first time I stood up after my surgery it felt so much more strong and stable. Yes, it was swollen, had to heal etc. but I sensed it was going to be so much better.
THANK YOU! This sounds like a dream come true. Just a little hope like that will mean so much.
My meniscus tore on May 13th of this year, somehow while I was asleep. Now I do toss and turn a lot, but not enough to tear my meniscus! LOL I read somewhere that it can happen in older people just due to further deterioration of a knee with a lot of degenerative arthritis, so maybe that was the cause. I waited for a month before seeing a doctor, hoping it might just somehow get better (but all it does is get worse). So anyway, by the time my surgery date comes up, it will have been three months with a torn meniscus for me, too.
Do you have a grab bar for your shower? Even though it is a walk-in, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have one right at the entrance to help for that step in.
Yes, I have the best grab bar imaginable, a thick, strong vertical grab bar right inside the entry on the right hand side if I am moving forwards into the shower (left hand side if backing in). My sweetie and I joke that it must be anchored to the center of the earth, because it is so strong and stable (it was put there by the prior owners of my home). But even with that I can't seem to manage going in forwards, for that one step when my right knee needs to bear some weight.
I had a bath bench that I used for my tub shower when I was recovering. I wonder if something like that would work for you? You sit down outside the bath and then swing your legs into the shower area.
I don't know.... the shower door is a bit narrow so I don't think there would be room to swing my feet inside with a transfer bench taking up most of the doorway.
Lately I have been thinking, hey, exiting the shower is a piece o' cake since I am going forwards and leaning on my rollator just outside the shower. Maybe I could put my rollator inside the shower, lean on it to get inside going forwards instead of backwards, and then once inside, turn it around and put it back outside before turning the water on. But I haven't actually been brave enough to try it.
I only have 3 more weeks until surgery. Right now my tentative plan is to continue with the sponge baths, and then once a week or so, ask my (long time, very dear) sweetie to be here while I shower, for safety. Maybe he can help me get into the shower.
Speaking of my sweetie, he is bringing a nice hot take-out lunch to me right now. Don't know what I"d do without him! Luckily don't have to find out.
I'll go read the information you linked to, now.
United States
torn meniscus, while a far milder experience than recovery from surgery, still is training me a little bit for what is to come.
Sometimes I tend to be independent to a fault if I don't guard against that.
So I bought a portable commode to use after surgery, to help me out if I can't walk that far. If I don't need it, I won't use it and then later I can donate it to charity or something. But if I do need it, I can put it right next to my bed or recliner (haven't decided which would be best!).
They did the EKG, lying down (thank goodness), and then I got to come home. My knee is just so painful I cannot even describe it. But I guess people here know about knee pain. It feels like somebody set off a bomb inside my knee or something. Well, sort of.
I don't know anyplace else where I can do that and I really appreciate the opportunity to vent. So now I'll stop whining and start icing down my knee instead. LOL Sounds more productive.
