Going to have total knee replacement any advice would be helpful

I have a friend that has had both of her knees replaced. She did really well, just follow the doctors directions. Good luck and hope you heal quickly.

My aunt had both done at one time. Her big advice to everyone is do the rehab! And don't be ashamed to ask for help. It takes a bit to be back to normal but it was very worth it for her.

Go to any of the information classes that they have. Ask questions. That surgery has come a long way in the past 8 years. Do your PT!! If you can get a stationery bike , use it . It will help alot. I had the surgery in April and can walk so much better. Just need to loose the weight I am gaining , because I love to cook . You will do fine. A week after my surgery , I was back to sewing . Do your PT. Elaine

My brother has had both his knees done and they went well. Main thing is to follow the doctor's orders and don't overdo it once you're up moving around at home.

If at all possible, pick a hospital and physician that do a lot of that type of surgery and have a good track record. Ask your doctor or look online for hospital ratings. A good rehab department is important as well. Do everything they tell you. They'll probably have you up soon after surgery to start moving around. The activity is good for you. Do your exercises, take all the precautions they tell you to take, and you'll be up and going soon.

My husband had one knee done two summers ago and I'll never forget what he said as he was taking his first steps, "The pain is gone." Now obviously he had pain but it was a pain that would improve his life instead of the constant pain that he had experienced. He is very happy that he did it.

Yes, the PT is very important. I think that I would come home instead of rehab the next time because I just like being home and I do have someone to help me. I had one knee done and only took meds for about five days. Needed it for PT, though. Pain meds were messing with my digestive system and I felt better without them. Didn't get the shower chair and high toilet seat that they wanted me to take home. I didn't need it. Use the ugly walker or cane for stability and you will do fine.

Do your exercises. I will include you in my prayers - Godspeed.

Thanks for all the advice .I will be having it done in a week then the other in about a month.Hope to get back on my feet by Christmas.Thank you for the prayers and thoughts. I have a child to take care of and get off to school every day so will be getting up on it quiet often.How long will it take to start drivin again?

get in good shape before. at least your arms. it helps to be able to get out of a chair. my hubby had both his done, not at the same time. if he had done that, i don't know what i would have done. i can't lift him!
just do all the Doctor says to do and have therapy. in home if you can but don't stop doing excercises when they stop coming!

be faithful to your exercises & let your family & friends do for you

Follow doc's advice to the T and ask for(if doc doesn't recommend) PT!!! My step father had it and you'd never know he's got a fake knee!!!!! He walks and kneels better than I can!

You also need to keep your feet elevated to keep the swelling down, throughout the day. You can't drive while you are on your pain meds. So at least a month.

I had mine right one done 2.5 years ago and so glad I did. First couple of weeks were painful, but eventually worth it. Need to do left knee now, but doc says it is not ready yet - I think it is!!! Follow all orders and you will do fine. It is so great not living with pain 24/7! Good luck with your surgery.

Thanks I have been on crutches for about three months am looking forward to getting off them soon.Arms should be pretty strong by now. Am trying to do some exercising now to build muscle now. Will be glade to get it over.

Do all the exercise recommended. Follow Dr orders. Take the pain meds if you need them. Please keep us updated with your recovery. Praying you will have a speedy recovery.
Karon

I had both of my knees replaced at the same surgery almost exactly three years ago, my surgery was Oct. 22, 2007.

I had to argue with the surgeon to do both. He said that he only did one at a time because you needed a good leg for rehab. After arguing that I did not have a 'good' one, he relented and did both. The first couple of days, I thought I was so stupid, but it was the best thing I had ever done.

I have had OA and RA for over 20 years due to Lupus. My knees were trashed. Especially after a car wreck on March 3, 2007 when my air-bag failed to go off and I crushed my knees on the dashboard. I broke the top of my lowerleg bones, the bottom of my thigh bone and my knee cap on both legs. That with the arthritis was the last straw, so to speak.

I was in the hospital for 4 days and then transferred to a rehabilitation facility. That was the best move I made. The rehab facility gave you no choice on working the exercises. And they didn't take no for an answer. I worked my butt off. But it was worth ever once of blood, sweat and tears. I was home 2 weeks and 2 days after surgery and was off the walker by 4 weeks and off the cane by 6. Everyone was amazed at how well I did. The surgeon says - even to this day - that the only reason that I have done so great is just to prove him wrong.

Before the surgery, I could only get around - outside of the house - on a motorized scooter. Well, my scooter has now sat in my garage, unused, for over almost 3 years. And it is wonderful.

Good luck with your surgery. There will be times when you will wonder why you did this to yourself. But I guarantee that in the end you will be glad that you did it and will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Remember - work your butt off with the rehab, it makes all of the difference in the world. Keep us updated on your progress.

just follow the doc's instructions....my bf"s mom just had one knee replacement about 2 weeks ago. She's still in some pain, but she hasn't been doing much for the past couple of years. She became disabled and her knee hurt her so much to do anything. She had a heart by-pass about a month ago. They said she would have felt the heart attacks but she never got her blood pumping enough for her to feel anything. So I hope she's going to do much better now. I wish the best for you....and remember to keep moving!!!

Absolutely do the rehab and the PT. If you are having more pain with the PT, ask the Dr. for pain meds that you can take before the PT to make it easier to do. Take it about 30 minutes before the PT so it will be cruising through your system during the PT sessions. Also ask for exercises you can do at home while you are doing the PT. The more you do during PT the better off you will be later.

While you are in the hospital they will be getting ypu up put of bed and sitting in a chair and also walking you. Ask the PT person and the nurses what time PT will be there and ask for pain meds to coordinate with the PT times. This will allow you to have more beneficial time with the in hospital PT. Take it slow, and if you are pushing yourself too hard, take it slower and ask for time to rest while you are walking. Pt should be designed to benefit you
and not the PT persons schedule. (Sorry, I am a nurse, and so many times the patient gets in the way of schedules. People tend to forget that not all patients are the same and some need more time.)

The PT should also be specifically ordered by the doc with certain things he wants done. A friend of mine who is also a nurse had to have a second run of PT. The PT person did what she thought the doc wanted, and it was not. My friend did not get the angle of extension the doc wanted because of that.

Ok, just remember to drink plenty of fluids, ask for pain meds, (better living through modern chemistry.) Ask for the at home exercises, take it at your own pace, and remember to tell yourself how much better it will be in the end. (Also start stool softeners a few days before the surgery. Trust me. It helps.)

did not have knee replacement,but did have to have left[thank heavens !@]shoulder & bone from shoulder to elbow replaced[can't remember name of bone ] due to a bad fall.it took from early jan. thru the summer of rehab,but was well worth the pain. i have full use of arm & shoulder,no pain at all.i always joke & saythe only joint in my body that doesn't hurt is the fake one!they did say that the shoulder is the worse to have replaced because of the wide range of motion,so don't panic about the length of recovery time,my mom was in her late 70's when she had her knee done ,& was back shopping in no time! justbe SURE to do the follow up !!!!!!!!!!!
good luck & prayers .....dar

Several ladies in my water aerobics class have had their knees done. The Rehab is the most important thing to do. And several of them said their doctors told them that exercising in the water is the best thing for them. I know I will need it one day in my future and having seen these ladies work it out, I am not afraid at all! Good luck!
(One lady had both knees done at one time - she said it was the best way to have it done.)

Thanks for the thoughts, and suggestions,and help,to all

My Aunt said to make sure that you do the PT before and after surgery. Its a huge help.

Everyone has given such good advice! You should do well with all this.

I have had both replaced , one at a time, last one 4 months ago, used a ice water machine it really helps with the pain. I did not use pain meds but 1 week. I was driveing in 2 weeks the first time but waited 3 weeks with the last one only because it was my right leg. The first week and half is the hardest after that it gets better.

I had one in Dec 2008 and it was the best thing I could have done. The first few months is no picnic; and it is very important to do your therapy. The end result for me is fantastic!!! Hope you have the same success I did. I can honestly say I am now pain-free there. People tell you that you cannot kneel afterwards...that is not true, it just feels different and something you have to adjust to if there are any situations where you wish to kneel. I have to when making my camper bed because the backside of it is against the wall.
My recumbent bike was a great asset in my recovery also.

Good luck with your surgery! My mom had both knees replaced years ago and it made a world of difference in her mobility and pain level.

Remember to swallow your pride and ask for help when you need it (like picking up your child from school!)

Just do what the doctors and physical therapist tell you and you should do well. The procedure has improved greatly in the past few years and has a much shorter recovery time. Good luck.