TKR both knees

[Janet2012]

If you are doing both knees, don't consider going home. Seriously. You'll need the extra time and care and then you will be fine to go home.

 

[KayeKaye]

Yeah I didn't think going home was a good idea. Thanks

 

[Jacky48]

I with Janet on this one KayeKaye, rehab is absolutely the way to go! I was so glad I did, because you get your meds on time, your meals are brought to you, PT is right there and you get to build confidence in yourself and your new knees! Plus, I might add, you will build your strength in order to deal with home life again. Keep searching for the right rehab facility it will be worth the effort! Stay well and stay positive!

 

[KayeKaye]

Thanks Jacky I will. I think one reason it's so hard is that MN is a leader in drug and alcohol rehab treatment and they keep popping up in all the searches.

 

[KayeKaye]

After being able to get up and out of newly revised chair so much easier the last couple of days I had a really bad night and today the knees are hurting more. I guess I am doing so much more now that it doesn't hurt to get up and get things done. I hope it works out. I don't want to sit forever. But I am catching up on my Korean Dramas, soap operas.

New problem is my new allergy to mosquito bites. I had several bites on my ankles this summer that swelled up to 5" circles hot and itchy. Been to the doctor and they just told me to take zertec. It had gone away but yesterday I felt a bite on my foot and the old mosquito bite swelled up again and kept me up all night. Nothing helps it. So annoying. So today I have knees hurting, ankles driving me nuts and my head hurts from no sleep. ack.

 

[bottomshollow]

Better get you some Deep Woods Off--I hate the smell--but if I'm out when the mosquitoes are I'm the special on the their dinner menu. As a child of 12, parents took me to Fort Sumter off the coast Charleston, SC. The minute I stepped off the boat I was literally attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes and had to get back on the boat and miss the tour. And my bites swell up and itch, itch, itch! So Off it is for me.

 

[KayeKaye]

Yes 'Eua de Deep Woods Off' has long been my fragrance of choice! I must have missed a spot! Took a Zyrtek and it calmed down a bit. Last couple of years the bites have been off the scale brutal, 5" round and hot.

That must have been awful, all those bites. I read a news story that we have more mosquitos here than the Amazon river and now they carry fever.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

But reading through some of the patients in England where they usually don't even go to rehab, it makes me wonder. I suppose if I do both knees it would be more helpful to go somewhere. Back to the hunt!

BTKR worked for me, recoveries in parallel not in series!

I came home after 5 days cos I was bored witless in hospital. Good for me, bad for my wife because the full responsibility of care transferred to her -- and she's working and I'm retired.

But after a few days it was OK. I could make it to and from the bathroom from the start, to the fridge for food -- what else is needed? Watched telly, read, posted on here, that was it.

I am prejudiced against PT, because I reckon that all the exercise you need can be done at home, simply and easily -- and that PTs often push people too hard, especially in the USA if this forum is anything to go by.

So I would say yes, go to a rehab place to get a bit more variety and relieve the boredom, but reckon to go home as soon as you can walk from bed to bathroom and up and down a flight of stairs (if you have them in your home). But if your husband can look after you, go home ASAP.

 

[KayeKaye]

Thanks Roy. I do have steps but once I'm up them everything is on one level. Just going out is the only steps, 14 of them. My husband will be home with me, he has enough time off so that won't be a problem. He is a pretty good nurse too, I told him he missed his calling, ha ha.

 

[RestAssured]

I went to a great rehab facility with my revision! There were some "kneesies" there, but also a little of everything else! KayeKaye, you know me and my shy personality had a hard time fitting in, but I was able to manage! I am sending a picture of 3 three musketeers as we dubbed ourselves during rehab! We had a blast!

Oops, on ipad Will send when I am on a computer that can actually upload to BoneSmart!

 

[referee54]

I with Janet on this one KayeKaye, rehab is absolutely the way to go!

I agree! I too had a BTKR, and I was simply transferred to a rehab /recovery floor of the same hospital---if they didn't have room, I would have gone to a rehab facility. You have two surgical legs and you need some help for a while---I had one of those "trapeze" thingies over my bed to help me get in and out of the bed.

A rehab facility can be a great benefit for those having a BTKR as they can get you going and strong enough until you get the chance to go home. I would have to admit that I would have had a horribly rough time if I went home right after my BTKR.

 

[KayeKaye]

Yes it would be better to get some help at a rehab. I just have to keep searching. It took a year to find a good doctor, but it shouldn't take that long to find the rehab. Thanks everyone.

Sonja your ipad won't upload? I have always had all macs but no ipad yet. My MIL has one I am always on and noticed now that it doesn't support any flash on websites, and it won't upload to here either huh? I am disappointed in that.

 

[KayeKaye]

Been having more pain in my left knee so I called the Dr.'s office to ask if it was ok to get a cortisone shot and was told no injections for three months before the surgery. So ouch. Good thing I called. Getting a little depressed again, I hate that. One thing I am good at is resting and doing absolutely nothing. I hate that too. I've laid off the exercising and now I guess I should start up again. Blah.

 

[referee54]

Yes, my OS carefully scheduled my cortisone shots to finally be done at about the same time--my last shot was also about three months bvfore my BTKR. I also had to bite the bullet on that, too.

 

[Debbie_joints]

Does anyone know how soon a person can get a cortisone shot in a different joint, not the operated joint? I need shots in my thumbs really bad but OS wouldn't let me get them a week before my surgery. That is when I had an appointment with my Rheumatologist. I know I have to ask OS, but was wondering if anyone knew.

 

[KayeKaye]

Hi Debby, I don't know. I would think the same applies. I have to get my dental work done and healed as well.

 

[Debbie_joints]

Hi Debby, I don't know. I would think the same applies. I have to get my dental work done and healed as well.

KayeKaye, I don't think the same thing will apply to a cortisone shot. My rheumatologist told me that a cortisone shot is a "clean" procedure where getting your teeth cleaned will be dirty so to speak as your mouth has bacteria and when cleaning your gums can bleed and the bacteria can be introduced into your system. That is why they want you to wait 3 to 4 months for teeth cleaning. But that said, I think I heard that cortisone can slow healing. Not sure if that is true, need to find out from OS.

 

[KayeKaye]

Yes. Oh I didn't mean because of the dental work, there is info about the need for antibiotics for dental work on the site somewhere here.

I meant the cortisone itself no matter where it is injected might not be allowed. But like I said, I really don't know.

 

[kneeper]

My guess is that even though the cortisone is in the joint, it still gets absorbed somewhat into the body and cortisone can reduce your immune response so could possibly reduce your ability to fight infection post surgery. I may be completely wrong, of course. We'll see what Josephine or Orthodoc say.

 

[KayeKaye]

Oh my goodness. The Park Board did it again. Went to see the lovely Minnehaha waterfall today that I have seen hundreds of times. Used to be able to pull up into this circle parking lot get out of the car and boom! See the falls. Hadn't been there in several years. Today, had to park behind the pavilion and walk all over to get near the falls. Couldn't even walk to where the normal viewing site it, just too far. (see the people in the far distance?) The handicap parking lot was so far from it all. erg. My legs are so sore, calf muscles hurt, I'm just exhausted. LOL I used to hike up and down that little canyon all the way to the Mississippi river. Now I can't even get to the old viewing spot. Kind of had a side view. When will the park board realize that there are handicapped people? Do you think this will be doable with my new knees next year?