Gardening and Total Knee Replacement
midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
14 years ago
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Comments (19)
woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
14 years agomolly_and_me
14 years agoRelated Discussions
knee replacement surgery looming
Comments (11)If you are meeting with a physical and/or occupational therapist before your surgery you could ask them to work with you to simulate the gardening activities limitations you might encounter after your surgery. I'd take my partner or the one who might help you adapt your garden to make it accessible along on such a visit. the purpose of the visit would be enable you to make preparations to make your garden work for you as you are rehabbing. Temporary solutions could include something as simple as creating a raised bed by putting bales of hay or straw end to end and filling the resulting opening with soil. I suffered through a couple of years not being able to garden waiting for raised beds to be constructed. Had I known about the baled hay option, I would have been in heaven digging in my not so pretty dirt pile. In my experience, preparing ahead of time for the adaptations that are necessary after surgery gives one a sense of hope and creativity which I've found are essential to healing. There are a few good reference books on accessible gardening - one I found most helpful was Gene Rothert's The Enabling Garden. good luck to you - I think you should do well with all the support the garden web forum folk are offering. You might find it fun to post unique ways you've learned to cope with your limitations. We all can learn new creative ways to imporove the quality of gardening after surgery or disability. I was astonished to find that I could do several hours of gardening a day sitting in a secretary's office chair with the little car totes bags attached to the back of the chair. With one non casted leg, I was able to roll around with ease - freeing my hands for the clipping, etc. I wanted to do. Didn't need to invest in a wheelchair and the size of the office chair permitted me to get in much closer to the plants. This of course worked best on paved surfaces - the driveway and walkways....See MoreCan we talk about knee replacement?
Comments (13)My daughter had both knees replaced. 1st one at age of 42 and 2nd one at 44. They kept putting her off because of age until she was nearly crippled. She is a nurse and was on her feet constantly at that time. The Dr. apologized after the lst surgery as he saw how bad the knee had gotten. His theory was that you would probably need it done again in 10-12 years. She had both knees scoped and had taken the shots. Nothing helped until after the surgery. It has been 10 years for the lst one and she is doing great. I had my left knee replaced two months after she did. Had tried the shots and lived on pain pills. It really helped me that she had already been through all this and cheered me on. Stayed in rehab 11 days because I could not bend the knee to the degree they wanted. Could walk but just could not get the knee to bend enough. It was tedious but really learned a lot about how to take care of your legs. Didn't realize how important it is about getting in a car and how you sit down in a chair and getting in and out of a bed. I had done all of them wrong. Am a complete wimp so the recovery was quite a bit longer for me, about 3 months. Our precious granddaughter stayed with us and carried lots of bags of ice and took me to therapy 3 times a week. Lots of people recover much sooner but doctor said some people's nerve endings (or something like that) was closer to the surface and they could not stand pain. That was definitely me! It is so important to do all the exercises they give you because that will determine how flexible you are later. Still have trouble getting that knee to bend good, but was so excited when it got to the point that I could get on my knees to do my gardening. While I was in rehab there was a lady that was 70 and had just had the surgery. Said she would have the 2nd one done about 4 months later. Thought I would throw up just thinking about it. They say that "usually" you have to have the 2nd one done as you have probably damaged it giving in to the bad one. Thank goodness I have not had to do that. Hope this helps and good luck. Dora Lou...See MoreTotal knee replacement
Comments (16)I had my first knee replacement 19 years ago. At that time, when you woke up from the surgery, your leg was in a CPM machine (continues passive motion) and I have wondered if that is still in use now? Did you have it? After the surgery, it was routine to go right to Skilled Care, in-house, for 10 days .OH! The torture! and then home. The CPM went home with you. I've forgotten all the details, but the CPM was to be used a certain number of hours a day . It was painful, but appreciated, because very few if any, would get that much exercise otherwise. It stayed hooked up on my bed, and I could put myself in and out of it by myself. I used it a lot at night, and believe it or not, I did sleep quite a bit with it on. At home, it was my choice to stay by myself. (My DH died in 1982) I preferred to rest, eat, and sleep whenever I chose to, and not have to be disturbed. Family and friends made sure I had food, and all required goodies, and came by from time to time in the early evenings. Six weeks following surgery it was physical therapy at the gym. Had the second knee done ten years later. Same routine. Ice packs? Before you have the surgery get a couple large bags of frozen peas, and put them in the freezer, ready on demand. Doctor recommended. After all these years my knees do cause pain, but without that surgery I probably would be in a wheel chair. Hang tough! maire_cate, just read your post. When I had my first one, I asked the surgeon to do both; he wouldn't, and back then no other surgeon would either. You did really well. Sue...See MoreTotal knee replacement
Comments (33)I was my Dad's primary caregiver through two recent TKRs. The first was May 2012; the second was 5-months later - SAME KNEE. The first TKR resulted in worsening pain; no amount of PT would have helped. The prosthesis was the wrong size, and not aligned properly. (It was done by an experienced, board-certified surgeon who is the director of Joint Replacement at the hospital.) My Dad is still recovering from his October 2012 surgery (different surgeon) - VERY SLOWLY, but we have to keep in mind that he is recovering from the trauma of TWO surgeries. My point is (similar to sephia) is to be fully informed ahead of time. The Bonesmart website has been an invaluable source of information, and is a great support group. The above cases are "exceptions". I have heard and read about many successful outcomes, and I wish you the best. Please keep us posted. Here is a link that might be useful: Bonesmart...See Moreplantmaven
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14 years agocyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
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14 years agomidnightsmum (Z4, ON)
14 years ago
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