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thanks for the info in the ice machine. I didn't know I needed to buy one. I talk to the surgeon this coming wed so I'll be more informed then. Thanks for the links.
Yeah, typically ice machine are covered by some insurance, and need to pay out of pocket.
Pretty good ice machines on amazon/ebay. I should have bought one.
Cheap way : I use to carry 2 ice bags inside the individual icebox/cooler during summer after surgery.
Thin towel on top of knee
Ice pouch/bag on top of thin towel
wrap it with shrink wrap.
You can borrow mine, just get the Knee pad portion of it. I won't be back in Colorado till the end of the month though...Originally Posted by Robb
Whatever you do, get the warranty this time.
Here is my post from Glacktalk in December 2018:
I had my right knee replaced in November 2017. I had two previous arthroscopic procedures on the right knee (10/06 and 1/17) so I was familia with surgeries and rehab. I knew there was almost no cartilege remaining on the right tibia and fibula. By October 2017 I could hardly walk more than a 1/2 mile without significant pain.
Here are my suggestions.
1. Do "pre-habilitation" meaning exercises to strengthen your knee as much as possible before the surgery. I was and am a fairly avid road bike rider so my right leg was in fairly good shape before the knee surgery. (This helped my recovery.)
2. Prepare your home prior to the surgery so you can cope with your limited mobility post-surgery. Get a raised toilet seat and a seat for your shower. Both will be needed.
3. Your spouse / significant other should be aware that your sleep will be difficult for the first few weeks post-surgery. You will move around alot at night trying to find a comfortable position. My wife slept in the guest bedroom for the first 5 weeks after surgery. We were both happier.
4. You won't be able to drive for a couple of weeks so arrange transportation to your doctor and physical therapy appointments.
5. Select a physical therapist before the surgery. Ask him / her of their experience with knee replacements. Chose a therapist with whom you are comfortable but who will also push you when needed.
6. Your hospital may have a pre-surgery educational program. Go to it, take notes, and ask questions.
7. Discuss the procedure with your doctor and physician assistant and ask questions. Find out what kind of prothesis will be used. My doctor used a Stryker Tri-Athlete prothesis but I'm sure there are other good ones.
8. When you arrive in the operating room, you first notice that it is very cold. There's a medical reason for this. You will not recognize your doctor or physician assistant as they will be wearing what look like haz-mat suits. On the table behind them you will see an array of hardware and protheses. They use one of these.
9. When you wake up in the recovery room you will see that your knee is very swollen, perhaps red, with the incision held together by numerous stitches or staples. I had 34 staples in mine. You will have some pain but it will be manageable. You will perform exercises in your hospital bed and will need assistance getting to the bathroom. You may or may not need a catheter. You will get out of bed and move around the room or hallway with help of a rehab worker. They will see if you can get out of bed, use your cane or walker properly, and maybe even go up and down a few stairs.
10. If all is going well you will go home the next day. Now the fun begins. The nerve block yoiu got before surgery wears off in 24-36 hours and then the pain hits you smack in the face.
11. You will be prescribed a pain killer. Mine was Oxycodone 5 mg, a rather low dose. During the first ten days, I needed to take one every 4 hours and keep a couple on the nightstand to take during the night. My useage decreased thereafter but I still needed to take one before lights out so I could get to sleep. By seven weeks after the surgery I was basically off the Oxycodone.
12. About two weeks after the surgery I tried to be a hero and stopped the Oxycodone. It was a dumb move because I didn't sleep and had more difficulty at physical therapy. I resumed the regimen described above and got back on track.
13. Any opiate based pain killer will cause constipation. Be prepared to deal with it including obtaining enema equipment if necessary.
14. Sleep and physical therapy are vital to your recovery. Don't skimp on either. My physical therapy appointments were 90 minutes long and were well worht the time and effort. Follow the therpist's instructions, try to push through moderate discomfort, and do your home exercises.
I completed my physical therapy (18 sessions) 8 weeks after surgery. I had 135 degrees of knee flexion which was quite good. Pain with everyday activities was gone after 10-12 weeks. I started riding my indoor training bike 3 months after the surgery. My leg strength has come to near what it was before surgery.
You will have limitations even after a completely successful surgery and recovery. Jogging, running, playing basketball, racquetball, etc. are strictly forbidden. Moderate hiking is OK as long as you don't hike downhill on steep or rocky trails. Balance on the surgical leg is not a good as on the non-surgical leg. My doctor doesn't want me to ride my bike more than 25 miles at a time but I sometimes exceed that with no after-effects.
I am very satisfied with my outcome. My surgery, pain, and rehab were neither a "walk in the park" nor a protracted ordeal. If you have tackled other challenges in your life, you can probably tackle knee replacement surgery and will enjoy improved (but not perfect) quality of life afterwards.
Good luck.
8Ring,
Awesome info, thanks for sharing. It really helps knowing what to expect.
3 month temp place card.
Don't bother with an ice machine. Get a couple of 2 lb. bags of frozen peas or corn. Take one out of the freezer, wrap it in a thin towel and put it on your knee. Repeat as necessary.
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