Question About Knee Surgery

[Bertha Venation]

Mrs. V. needs new knees. She'll probably have one done this fall. How much time will I need to take off to care for her? Anyone?

[Angry Dragon]

1. The neighbor had a knee replaced in Feb.

He was walking with a walker the next day
He is walking with a cane now
He just needs rides to his appointments
That is with snow on the ground
Each person is different

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My husband took off a couple of weeks to help me...

But aside from being housebound and therefore needing rides to anywhere, I was OK within a few days of getting home.

I only used the walker for at most a week. And PT came to the house for about two and a half weeks.

It does take time to get your strength back in that leg, but I had no problem walking around the house.

I didn't do any cooking or housework during these first weeks. But bathing, dressing and eating were no problem. You won't need to hover over her.

Good luck to you both!

[MiddleFingerMom]

6. What CaliforniaPeggy isn't telling you, B.V.

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"I didn't do any cooking or housework during these first weeks. But bathing, (and) dressing... were no problem.
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Well DUH!!! With her physical therapists there to lend a whole buncha "helping hands"... of COURSE they were no problem!!!
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[KamaAina]

3. Awww. You two barely have a leg to stand on!

[woodsprite]

4. Have her ask the dr about PT that she can do to strengthen herself BEFORE the surgery.

It makes a ton of difference in healing and they've found that it lessens complications after surgery. My FIL had both of his knees done (1 at a time) about 8 yrs ago. He's 80 now and is still going strong mobility-wise (carpentry, climbing ladders, exercising with a jogger/trampoline thing, taking walks and riding his bike). Unfortunately, he's been newly diagnosed w/ Alzheimer's so my in-laws are cramming everything they've got into the remaining time they have together.

[mrmpa]

5. I'd say you need to take no time off.................

however, if you're eligible for Family Medical Leaver Coverage take some time. From my experience 16 months ago, I came home directly from the hospital, a nurse came daily and a physical therapist came 3 days a week, until I was able to get to outpatient PT on my own. Having the nurse come was ideal as I came down with a bladder infection and she was able to contact my PCP and the lab for testing and prescription.

Now, your wife may not come immediately home from the hospital and be sent to an inpatient facility, then home from there with a Nurse coming as well as the physical therapist.

If your wife comes home and has the nurse and therapist coming, then you should have no worries and can call her throughout the day, and if you can get home for lunch, do it.

[MiddleFingerMom]

7. If Mrs. V can go to an inpatient care center for some time, I HIGHLY recommend it!!!

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PT specialists have been some of the most compassionate. empathetic, HELPFUL, positive and
committed healthcare providers that I've run across (and the vast majority of all my providers
have been excellent -- they're over the TOP when it comes to excellence.
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They will motivate, teach and help in so many ways. The clinic I was in allowed spouses/family
members to come in and participate in the exercise sessions with their loved ones. Even if you
could only make one session... it would be yet another way to show her how much you love her.
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I was telling one of the RN's during my last inpatient stay at the hospital about my physical
therapists and she thought for a few seconds and said, "That might be my next step."
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