What would you do different?

[Weezy]

Hi all....I'm scheduled for my second TKR on January 29, and was wondering: What would you do differently the second time around, knowing what you know now?

Weezy

 

[Jamie]

I would get one of the machines that pumps cold water through a wrap surrounding your knee joint. That would beat ice packs hands down.

 

[calling_all_angels]

Jamie is so right on Kodiak cooler Weezy. I woke up with one on my knee and right away I remembered readiing about them here. I was so happy when they sent it home
with it.

^i^

 

[1jt@atime]

Hi Weezy and welcome back! Definitely what Jamie said. I had an ice machine the second go round and it was great. Wish I'd had it the first time. I got mine on eBay for about $40.

My first knee was the worst of the two and I had a really bad recovery. I went into the second replacement thinking it would be just as bad and it actually was so much easier that I had to keep pinching myself. Hopefully your second will also be easier. Karen

 

[Josephine]

Karen - you had one that pumps the water? I got one but you have to keep draining the cuff into the cannister and then lifting it up to refill the cuff. I am most disappointed as I really thought it would be circulated by a small pump!

Have I been 'done'?

 

[1jt@atime]

Not sure Jo. Can't say I know for sure what you are describing. Mine is called PolarCare 300. It is a small ice chest that you fill with ice and then fill the rest with water. There is a small pump, sort of like what you see on a fish tank that pumps the ice water up into the pad that fits around the knee. The ice lasts about 6-8 hours. The only work involved is filling the chest with ice and water every 6-8 hours which is much easier then getting new ice packs ALL the time. I know my family sure appreciated the machine too! I absolutely loved mine. Karen

 

[JenniferG]

I would have got it done sooner.

 

[Josephine]

Rats! Mine hasn't got a pump! is gravity fed! called a Cryo-cuff. Will still be better than nothing I suppose.

 

[Jamie]

Dang, Jo!!! That's the pits! Your machine sounds like a lot of extra work. Maybe it would be worth it to sell that one and get one of the kind with a pump. You won't feel like messing with all that throughout the night when you need your rest. Polar Care was the brand that I researched. And when you buy it on eBay, I found you must be careful to ensure it has ALL the parts. Some people sell an incomplete device. I went to the Polar Care web site first to read and find out about what options I would want and THEN I looked at eBay.

 

[Josephine]

Actually only had it for a week - think I might be able to send it back! Shipping was free so nothing much lost. I saw some on Ebay just now (US) and will see what the shipping costs are. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Jamie]

Go, girl!!! We need you well taken care of!!!!

 

[1jt@atime]

I agree with Jamie. You will want what's going to be easy!

Here is what my machine looks like:

 

[1jt@atime]

Jo, don't forget about the voltage difference!

 

[Jamie]

Jo, don't forget about the voltage difference!

Right, Karen!!! Good point!

 

[Josephine]

Oh sheesh!

Forgot about that!

Can you tell me what the wattage of the pump is - and if it's AC or DC?

 

[Jamie]

You can buy voltage adapters, I think, if you can't find one in the correct European voltage.

 

[1jt@atime]

Mine is 110/120 volt and you will need 220 volt. I think even if you got an adapter for the plug, it would blow right away. Trust me on this.... I used to live in Germany and know all about 110 volt electrical appliances NOT working across the pond. There used to be these big noisy converter boxes that we could get on the military base but I doubt you can get them in the civilian world. I never much liked them anyway. Do they not have a UK version of eBay where you could get a 220v version?

 

[Buckeye]

Here is the link for the ice machine I received in the hospital:

broken link removed: https://www.breg.com/cold-therapy/polar-care-kodiak.html

It has detailed specifications that may be helpful, especially to Jo.

I have used mine daily since I came home. Just be sure to put a towel or ace bandage under the cooling pad. It gets very cold.
Thanks for posting such a great question.

 

[Josephine]

Thanks for that link, Buckeye. I actually found a site by an electrician offering advice for people who were relocating from US to UK and how to deal with all the various household appliances. From that I got the name of a firm that specializes in such things so will be giving them a call to make sure I get the right stuff.

Sadly, we don't seem to have anything of that nature on Ebay.co.uk. Doesn't seem us Brits have caught up to such useful equipment yet!

 

[JenniferG]

What would you have done different?