Well, I did it! Or rather my orthopedic surgeon did. Dr. Pontius gave me a total knee replacement almost five weeks ago. After spending five days in the hospital I came home to the excellent care of my hubby, Bob, instead of going to a rehab facility. The after care provided was very complete and well organized, and I'm told is cheaper for the insurance company than going to rehab. I had RNs, LVNs, a caregiver that helped me shower, and physical therapists in and out of our home almost daily. While there is a lot of discomfort the first two or three weeks round the clock pain meds are provided to take the edge off. Interestingly the anesthesiologist gives you something like a massive novicain injection in the thigh area before surgery (you are 'out' when he does it) which totally negates any severe pain. It lasts for several days allowing you to start physical therapy by walking around your hospital room the day after surgery. I am now walking without a walker or a cane (not very fast, but I'm walking) and I even went outside to water the plants yesterday, as well as going to Olive Garden for lunch with Bob and visiting my daughter where she works. Yes, there is a lot of exercises that must be done a couple of times daily. Some I do almost continually such as scrunching the knee cap muscles while sitting in a recliner as well as moving both legs around and working the feet up and down. At first the therapy is not easy and you think you are never going to be able to extend the knee, but it's amazing how quickly you find that movment works through and lessens the stiffness and soreness. I'm still taking pain meds, but am going longer between doses. A couple of tips I can think of right now: Be sure you get the same pain meds that were working well for you in the hospital. My prescription was initially filled with a generic and it was not the same! I had the ice machine at the hospital and it was wonderful, but one of those pleated ice bags works very well also. We went through a lot of bags of crushed ice before I thought of using a mini ice chest to keep the it in between uses. My drinking water bottle was kept cool in it as well. Elastic compression hose work great to keep the swelling down. I'm still wearing it in the daytime. You may be able to bring them home from the hospital, but if not buy some. Well, that's about it. So far so good. Of course there are certain risks with any major surgery. If the rare complication occurs recovery might take a little longer, but they are taken care of. Whatever, the modern miracle of knee replacement sure beats the alternative of limping around with knee braces and a cane or walker the rest of your life. Happy gardening everybody!

We do still use silver- impregnated dressings for some wounds. Aquacel Ag for an example. If your MIL has breaks in her skin, ulcers or wounds, it is reasonable to use a silver dressing, but you can get pre-made, sterile dressing or ointment to use instead of concocting your own. If the skin is intact, then no need to apply silver I believe. The goal now is to keep the skin intact. Cellulitis is not a surface infection, it is in the tissue below the skin surface. Breaks in the skin allow it to get in (and the bacteria can migrate to that area from other parts of the body too). Keep the skin moisturized and supple with a good lubricant (like lanolin) but not sitting in wet; if she has chronic swelling, ask her doctor about good support hose. There are chronic skin changes that occur with peripheral vascular disease, the skin can become chronically red or purple, rough, scaley, even hard and corrugated, and the lower legs swollen. And, yes, these changes can be in the entire lower leg, not just the feet. It can often look like cellulitis when there is actually not an infection (one clue -- if the redness and warmth decrease or go away when the legs are elevated about the heart, it might not be cellulitis). People who have PVD, who have had cellulitis before, or who are obese are prone to have cellulitis in the legs over & over. I am wondering about the pain, Konrad, does she have it always even when her legs seem to be okay? or do her legs always look like cellulitis? PVD will cause chronic pain, and believe it or not walking is recommended, if she can, but it takes a while to have positive effect. A specialist in PVD (not just any cardiologist or vascular surgeon) is a good idea.

I just did #1, 9 days ago. And I have to say, hearing about the successful TKRs here is helping me to keep going. I asked about robotics (which my surgeon offered Mako) and was told he feels he's just as successful/accurate without, and booking the facility that has the robotics is a much longer wait. Said he does upwards of 400 TKRs each year. There are now many dedicated outpatient facilities that just do joints; the staff is usually happy having regular hours and working with set teams; ask about the infection rates. And you're not in a giant hospital fielding ... everything that walks in the door. On the other hand, ask how they handle any adverse events. How close is the nearest hospital then? (and uh, does it have any availability if needed). While everyone is different, I have been pretty miserable for the past 9 days -- PT comes to your home from Day 1 (every other day or so) and everything that needs to be done, takes awhile. Exercise as indicated 3x per day. Ice. Try to get up and walk (with the walker) every hour. Eat. Rest. Take a crazy list of pills around the clock (short term antibiotic; pain pills (all sorts); aspirin (blood thinner); colace (stool softener); prilosec (to help your stomach deal with all the pills)... and push it is the order of the day in order to get full range of motion back. I learned that before they stitch you up, they put the new knee through all its paces to make sure its installed correctly -- so the new equipment works, it's just getting the swollen leg around it to cooperate. And when not moving, I have automated calf wraps that are motorized (they charge up like a calculator) and they inflate/deflate to help prevent blood clots....they get worn whenever you're not moving and all night for 2 weeks. Oh, and a compression sock for the good leg, eventually for the bad leg too, that's for a long time. And...I also wasn't aware that current standard practice is to use a tourniquet...but my thigh (nicknamed "shamu") is black -- and it hurt nearly more than the knee the first few days. Still hard spots and not comfortable to sit on that side... So you've heard all my bitching and whining, PT says it gets better after the first two weeks. Sounds like many folks were up and going sooner/more easily.

@Faron79, I have looked at some on Amazon, but not enough to know what I want to get. I have restless leg syndrome since I was a kid, I got leg cramps and pain post menopause, also got a lot of swelling when I had Lymphoma and now get swelling because my leg veins don't pump as well as they should. A few things that helped with the painful legs were - adding 1/2 a banana to my dinner every evening. (My understanding is that the potassium helps with the muscle pain.) - moving to a home that had carpeting and vinyl flooring instead of tile. OMG - did not realize how much pain walking on tile floors caused! - Calf stretching exercises - I stand with my toes/ balls of the feet on the edge of the fireplace hearth and let my heals drop down, hold and then raise back up. 3- 5 min a day has really helped with the calf cramps. - walking helps keep the swelling down. I sit at a computer for long hours a day and don't move enough. My sister's feet are so swollen all the time and I am trying to do what I can to avoid being crippled by this issue. I am considering the leg compression sleeves and I am considering some type of under the desk stepper to add movement during my days chained to my desk. Beyond purchases I need to move more and eat less. Please let us know if you do purchase the sleeves - which one you get and if your wife loves them after using for a bit.