custodian Loc: New York

Anyone out there heard about stem cell therapy for the knee rather than knee replacements?? it is very interesting and makes alot of sense

Lovin retirement

Pmorin, thanks for all the info on your rehab...just the type of info and advice I was interested in hearing. Best of luck with your continued recovery.
By the way, what is the “knee machine” you referred to.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

My wife has had both knees replaced (by the best specialist in the area), so I have seen it up close. You’ll need a downstairs bedroom and living area to recover (no stairs) and preferably no more than a step or two to get in and out of the house. It helps to have a bed close to your bathroom and not too far off the floor. You will probably need an ice water circulation device (which will be provided) and a bending machine so that you recover your range of motion. You will need a walker for awhile, a chair seat in your shower/bathtub and crutches. The walkers with wheels are easier, but less stable. You will need pain meds (stronger than Asprin or Tylenol) for awhile. You will need someone around for the first few weeks and you will probably have a physical rehab specialist visit you at home for the first 2-4 weeks. It will take about 30 days to regain some sense of normalcy and about 3 months before you are completely healed. Your hospital stay may be 2-3 days.

Now having said all that, you will be glad you did and pain free when it is over and you are healed. Others may have a different experience, but this is what I’ve seen. Most people I talk to wish they had it done sooner. And despite what some people say, I would not have both done at once - you need one good leg to support you as you stand while the other knee heals.

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

It’s an electric stretching roller that you strap your leg into to start getting the muscles to flex. They are rather tight and unwilling to move on their own. It moves back and forth which bends the knee and flexes the muscles. There’s a wired remote control to start/stop and change the range of movement up to 110 degrees. I used one for the first three weeks then it was no longer necessary. Here’s an iPhone shot my wife took. Oh yes, it helps to have kitty therapy too.

Lovin retirement

Thanks for the great advice, info and encouragement! I also have heard that those who have had replacements say they should have done it sooner.

Lovin retirement

Thanks again, especially for the photo.

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

I had both done 6 weeks apart. Hospital regulation said no to doing them at the same time. I had started to fall a couple times and the pain was pretty bad. After surgery the pain was not bad at all and decreased till gone! The biggest thing is to do the exercises. Doctor said right up front,if you do the exercises things will go good. If don't you will have trouble for a long time. He was right, I did them and it wasn't that bad. I did push it a little but not much. Best thing I ever did. AND did I mention NO pain after just a short while.

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

Well, I wouldn’t be in a hurry to do the other leg, but if it got as painful as the first one did, I would not hesitate.
Just remember, anyone who says it was painless is lying. But the difference in type of pain is what matters most. The bone on bone pain we both have had is much more debilitating than the muscle pain. And that muscle pain goes away a little more each day.
Good luck in your recovery, be sure to do as much of what they ask of you as you can bear. It will be worth it.
Pete

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

The CBD oil is a good idea. I used it for a long time for diabetic neuropathy (pain) in my feet. It works but the insurance companies won't pay for it. And it's expensive. I went to a pain clinic and have been on Tramadol ever since. It's an opioid and a little scary. It requires a urine test so if you try to use it in conjunction with CBD you will get busted and the Doc won't be able to continue prescribing Tramadol. So the question becomes how much damage does the opioid do long term and would it be worth it to go with the CBD paying out of pocket? About $400 a month. And if you don't have experience with neuropathy don't even go there with the "just grit your teeth and get on with it" That doesn't work. It would have been a bullet a long time ago if that was the only option. I wonder how long it will be before foot replacement is a possibility?

cwp3420

I’ve had both knees replaced and my wife has had one replaced. My left knee, which was replaced first, has been wonderful. It’s been in about 7 years. For the second one, I couldn’t see my original doctor due to insurance problems, so I went to our university hospital, and the chief of orthopedics put it in. It has always caused me problems and has never felt right. It’s been in 5 years and it hurts every day. They tell me that nothing can be done for it. I was off work for 8 weeks for each knee. Don’t rush it, because it takes time for the body to heal from that level of trauma.

I will give you a little tip that will make your life much easier. On the day you come home, have your wife or helper put a large plastic trash bag in the front seat of your car for you to sit on. Many car seats are made so that you don’t slide around on them, and it’s very hard to get into a car while trying to bend your very swollen knee and get it into the car also. With the plastic bag in there, it’s very easy to twist and get in the car as the plastic slides on itself. We used this trick and it made going to and from physical therapy so much easier for us. Physical therapy can be pretty rough, but keep trying as much as you can to achieve full range of motion on your knee. If you don’t work hard and achieve it during your PT, you may never reach your full potential with your knee.

Lovin retirement

Cwp3420, so sorry to hear about the problem with your second replacement. Thanks for the tip about using a plastic trash bag on the car seat, I will be sure to do it.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

The only real problem with rehab ... is doing it. Just do it. Walk daily.
Even if it hurts a mite, always practice walking without a limp.
Train your brain! If you don't have to, don't look down when you walk.

Lovin retirement

Thanks, good advice.