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[C.Ann]

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[mom2grace]

My MIL had her knee replaced..........she couldn't drive for 6 weeks, and the total recovery was VERY long.....6 months until feeling okay.......at least a year until she was totally normal. And, she's not a drama queen, but a martyr!

Maybe the MIL could transition to a skillled nursing facility during the recovery and rehab? The rehab didn't start until 6 weeks out maybe, and lasted a LONG time! First the therapists came to the house, then MIL went to them.

 

[marybet]

My mother had both her knees replaced, not at the same time. It's been awhile but I would say 6 weeks is about right, if they do the exercises. If not it could take a lot longer.

My mom could get around by herself once she went home, she did go from the hospital to a rehab for maybe a week. First she used a walker and than she used a cane. They have them up and walking before they send them home.

Your DD and SIL should talk to the doctor after the surgery, that way they can get the real scoop on her recovery.

 

[PrincessCLM]

Not someone who's had knee replacement, but I work as a physical therapist at an inpatient rehab hospital with people who have.
The recovery is probably longer than 6 weeks. Usually someone will go to the hospital, have the knee replacement and be there for 3days. Then if rehab is recommended they will be at the rehab hospital for around a week. Following that they will have someone either come to the house or more usually outpatient physical therapy. Outpatient will last depending on how long she needs it.
The number one thing knee replacement patients need to understand is that it is PAINFUL. It hurts to move, it hurts to walk on in the beginning. The biggest problem is that they have to be stretched and it's definitely not the most comfortable thing in the world. However, becomes more of a problem if they don't stretch and have to go back in for surgery.
She should be able to walk by herself using a walker with wheels or cane depending on how well she does walking after the surgery. She should be able to dress herself and take care of herself for the most part. Therapists should provide her with a walker or cane and any bathroom equipment she'll need following the surgery. It will be difficult at first getting home and used to doing everything with the walker, so help is always appreciated. But we ALWAYS tell our patients and family members not to sit around and do nothing. It is expected to continue with the stretches and exercises.
It is surgery and it is hard to get around at first, but milking it is probably the worst thing a knee replacement patient can do.
Let me know if there's anything you want to know.

 

[NikiM20]

My grandma had both knees replaced 3 yrs ago (yes at the same time )
She was in the hospital for 4 days, then the next day the therapist came to her house every other day for 6 weeks. then she had outpatient PT for about 6 more weeks. She did wonderfully...took herself off the pain meds after 1 week ...We were talking the other day and I asked her how her knees were feeling and she said she had good days and bad days , but the bad days are equal to the good days before surgery. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask me.

BTW she was 66 when this was done...im sure age does play a factor in recovery

 

[C.Ann]

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[NikiM20]

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Thanks for all that info! Don't know if it makes any difference, but she's only 62 years old and in good health (aside from her headaches; twinges; and other things that she blows WAY out of proportion).. The fear is that she won't do what's expected of her if it's going to cause her any type of pain.. She just doesn't "do" pain well and will spend weeks "resting" in bed because she has a common cold..

From what little info I have right now, it appears she'll have the surgery - go home when able - and then at some point she will go for outpatient rehab.. Does that sound right? Oh - and she does have a DH - who will probably go MIA after a week of her whining............

There will be pain...I remember my grandma doing PT with tears running down her face...it was the hardest thing ever...but she has to do this

 

[mickeyfan2]

My Uncle had both knees done. The 6 weeks will include extensive rehab. When he came out of surgery he was hook up to this wheel thing that would bend and extend his knee. He said it hurt, but it is needed to keep the knee from freezing. They would not let him out of the hospital until he got to a certain amount of bending (I forget how much). I believe he then went to crutchs. She cannot have any cuts on the knee to be done or they might refuse to operate, due to the concern of infection. My Uncle had a cut so they had to do the other knee first. This was not was easy as is sounds, since one of the parts is leg specific. Lucky for him they were able to get the part that morning and they did the surgery.

 

[PrincessCLM]

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Thanks for all that info! Don't know if it makes any difference, but she's only 62 years old and in good health (aside from her headaches; twinges; and other things that she blows WAY out of proportion).. The fear is that she won't do what's expected of her if it's going to cause her any type of pain.. She just doesn't "do" pain well and will spend weeks "resting" in bed because she has a common cold..

From what little info I have right now, it appears she'll have the surgery - go home when able - and then at some point she will go for outpatient rehab.. Does that sound right? Oh - and she does have a DH - who will probably go MIA after a week of her whining............

She will be given plenty of pain meds to help with the pain and the therapists really won't let her rest in bed. At the hospital they'll make her get out of bed, if she goes to rehab they'll make her get up and move.

 

[gallaj0]

My Dad had both done, one last year and one this year.

Both times he was out of the hospital in 3 days; went right back home. He did physical therapy for 6 weeks, 2 or 3 times a week.

This year they did the surgery differently; they had some kind of computer guided scaple machine or something; less cutting through the muscle, much less pain and much faster recovery.

Last year he was on a cane for 6 months or so, this year he was off in a couple of weeks.

He was 64 for this year's operation.

 

[N.Bailey]

I don't know how much of a drama queen she is, but in all honesty, if she's having this surgery, she's probably already in quite a bit of pain. I watched a neighbor go thru this a few years back and this woman wasn't a complainer really, but you could see she was in some pretty serious pain before and after the surgery.

 

[C.Ann]

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[hydster]

My dad had both done at the same time and he did really well with it. They hooked him up to a machine that made his legs move for a certain amount of time each hour. They sent him home and he was pretty sore for awhile but he did really great with it. They also sent him home with a great ice machine that he still uses when he has pains somewhere. He just turned 70 this year and while it wasn't a "breeze" he did well. This was about 5 years ago or so and now when they fly somewhere his knees set off the metal detector so he has a card that he carries from the doc that it's his knees. The TSA wands his kness and beep beep and he's off.

Honestly everyone has a different pain threshold but they shouldnt let dear mom get away with much. If she's given birth she can do knee surgery.

 

[Allison]

My parents have both had this done. Be prepared that it is very painful and it is important to do the rehab.

 

[paigevz]

I only had a snapped ligament repaired.......tied together on a piece of plastic........ and it was 18 months in one kind of brace or another. I think it was a good 6 months just on crutches. It's been about 17, 18 years ago though................