Lessons for Those Facing a Total Knee Replacement - Part Two
10. There are various names for it, but learn to use and value the strap or belt that you use as a leg-mover. I call mine “Isadora” after Isadora Duncan and her scarf since I wear my leg-mover around my neck and use it for everything, even snaring the most valuable “Get Well” gift I received: an omnibus volume of NY Times Crossword Puzzles. Great for that hour from 2 to 3 in the morning when you can’t sleep anyway.
11. If you always wanted to get a laptop, get it before the operation and learn how to use it. It, like the crossword puzzles, turned out to be invaluable during those long, empty morning hours. Mah-Jong solitaire is particularly habit-forming.
12. Don’t worry too much about pulled muscles in your back, sides, wrists, etc. They come from walking differently and using crutches and canes. They’ll heal before your knee does anyway.
13. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll be able to sense when you’ve increased flexing by a degree or two and the same for extension. As you get closer to the end of rehab and establishing full Range of Motion, each degree becomes more and more precious. Celebrate every one of them!
14. They say it’s possible but if you have your left knee done, it’s impossible to sleep on your right side for very long and vice versa. Pillows between the knees? Under the knee? Doesn’t work for me. Good luck.
15. Be VERY NICE to your Significant Other. They will have to take on extra duties that make you impatient to even ask for but that you simply cannot do yourself for a while. At the same time, try to do more and more for yourself each day to remind yourself that this rehab stuff is temporary and has the goal of returning you to a normal, independent life, assuming you had one before the operation!
16. Get out to dinner, a movie or something fun as soon as you can stand sitting in one place for more than an hour. (That may take a few weeks.) You’ll have earned it and your Significant Other will want the fun as well.
17. Set goals for performance: pick a date for the resumption of your golfing hobby; set a goal for walking up and down the stairs foot-over-foot again; set a date for walking to the corner and back, around the block, etc.; make a date with your physical therapist for dinner so you can tell them you didn’t mean all those nasty things you called them when they were stretching you.
18. Don’t worry if the next thing that goes is a hip. They say the rehab is nowhere near as bad as for a knee!!!
11. If you always wanted to get a laptop, get it before the operation and learn how to use it. It, like the crossword puzzles, turned out to be invaluable during those long, empty morning hours. Mah-Jong solitaire is particularly habit-forming.
12. Don’t worry too much about pulled muscles in your back, sides, wrists, etc. They come from walking differently and using crutches and canes. They’ll heal before your knee does anyway.
13. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll be able to sense when you’ve increased flexing by a degree or two and the same for extension. As you get closer to the end of rehab and establishing full Range of Motion, each degree becomes more and more precious. Celebrate every one of them!
14. They say it’s possible but if you have your left knee done, it’s impossible to sleep on your right side for very long and vice versa. Pillows between the knees? Under the knee? Doesn’t work for me. Good luck.
15. Be VERY NICE to your Significant Other. They will have to take on extra duties that make you impatient to even ask for but that you simply cannot do yourself for a while. At the same time, try to do more and more for yourself each day to remind yourself that this rehab stuff is temporary and has the goal of returning you to a normal, independent life, assuming you had one before the operation!
16. Get out to dinner, a movie or something fun as soon as you can stand sitting in one place for more than an hour. (That may take a few weeks.) You’ll have earned it and your Significant Other will want the fun as well.
17. Set goals for performance: pick a date for the resumption of your golfing hobby; set a goal for walking up and down the stairs foot-over-foot again; set a date for walking to the corner and back, around the block, etc.; make a date with your physical therapist for dinner so you can tell them you didn’t mean all those nasty things you called them when they were stretching you.
18. Don’t worry if the next thing that goes is a hip. They say the rehab is nowhere near as bad as for a knee!!!
posted by Mike Cuthbert at 2:59 PM
2 Comments:
I have had a hip replacement and I can confirm that it is not as bad a rehab as other joints. I have two total ankle joint replacements and that rehab lasted about 6 months to get it back to a 'normal' feeling.
From what I have heard, NH is pretty right on. My doctor told me to expect a year for full recovery from the knee replacement and, at four months, that seems about right. I have good days and bad days and the good are starting to outnumber the bad. Mike Cuthbert
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