Re. ice, I used a Cryomax reusable ice pack post knee surgery. Available in my local pharmacy chain or from the big A online. Best of luck to you.

I don't have much advice as I cancelled mine last Fall, but in anticipation of surgery I got an ice machine and love it. If there's any way you can make it work, I highly recommend it. You can prepare by freezing a bunch of 6 oz bottled water, and then bags of ice from the store will last a couple days. Obviously not mandatory but if you can make it work, it's neater and easier and I find it works better than compresses.

Good luck!

You will want to use your ice pack machine lots for a long time. Do not scrimp on your ice supply. My sister replaced both knees in two separate operations and used the ice pack machine so much that she even bought one.

Ditto the ice, whatever steps you must take work that out. SIL had her hip replaced which is a faster recovery time and she completely relied on ice over the pain meds. She had the hip ice machine borrowed from someone in the family - structured so that she could sleep wearing it. Her husband I don't think left that house for the first week, watching her like a hawk and DH was making an ice run about every other day for her, she was going through about 3 bags left in our Yeti cooler every other day. We couldn't keep up with our refrigerator ice maker combined with theirs.

Do you have a 'reach' that will let you pick up small items dropped?

A shower you can get into and out of safely not a shower tub combo?

How about your car, will you be able to enter and exit it for PT and appointments? I bought a platform step to help with my Mom and my Explorer when she had hip surgery and then a back fracture. I think we'd used it very successfully one time only when DH loaned it to a friend having knee replacement - like he expected his friend to recover overnight?. I bought a second and kept in the back of my car for about the next 5 years.

My cousins husband had both knees replaced same time just about 3 years ago. He was fit, active, and about 70 then. A PT friend tried hard to talk him out of both at once but he did it anyway. He managed, I don't know how ;) I can't begin to think how things worked out in the bathroom both for the toilet and the shower.

I took care of a lot of knee replacement patients when I worked in the hospital. Do your PT exercises, take your pain meds so you can do those exercises and walk. Most of our patients only stayed a couple days. The ones who stayed much longer laid in bed and complained they were in too much pain and would refuse PT when they came around. Those patients ended up going to rehab facilites. Most hospitals won't keep you as long as the VA does, though. I've had patients stay after knee surgery for 2 weeks because they wouldn't do anything to help themselves.

Get the ice machine. Where do you live? I have one from my TKR that I could lend you if you are in Northern Virginia. Do your PT! My doc arranged for my PT to come to the house for the first week or so, then I went to him. He was there the day after surgery which was the worst day. He came before surgery to look at the house and spot problems. The toilet is a biggie-the higher the better. Try to have someone with you for the entire first day back home. If you do what I did (surgical center, epidural, home day of surgery), you will feel great. That is because of all the meds they put into you before you leave! Get up and walk. I hardly used my walker at all and got around fine. Did use my cane on the stairs for a week or so, but really didn't need it, just took it slow and easy (down with the bad, up with the good-do steps like a toddler without alternating feet). The first day or so, I made sure my DH was there in front of me just in case, so if you are alone, I would try to stay on one level for a week if possible. I had lots of strong meds, but I didn't like them, so after a week -10 days, I switched to just Tylenol.

It has been a year and a half now for me and I was back to walking the dog after 9 months and now back to 2-3 miles in my hilly neighborhood. I hope your experience is as good as mine has been.

I went home the same day with my knee replacement in Dec. 2022. In that morning and home around 6pm. Such a different experience than the first one 7 yrs prior.

My surgeon used a "quad sparing" approach on the second one. With the first one, I couldn't raise my leg by myself to get into bed or the shower. With the second I hopped into bed that first night without needing any help. Maybe not hopped but I didn't need any help. The thought of outpatient knee replacement surgery sorta scared me but it was so much easier than the first time. Surprisingly considering I was seven years older.

And a toilet seat riser is a must if you have a low toilet.

Work your quads out now. Prehab is really helpful.

Thanks for all the advice. I can clearly see ice will be a must so I'll have to work on a solution for that. I live in a single level home.....just two steps to get outside through the garage or the front door and I have french doors from the bedroom that lead to a patio which has only one very small step so Hopefully I can get outside after a week or so. I have an elevated toilet seat which I will use and am going to order a rollator. I have a regular walker but I want to be able to have a place to rest when need be. I am going to replace my "graber" as it isn't very sturdy. I also have a shoe horn with a long handle and Im lplanning on getting some tshirt dresses to avoid having to wear slacks at home. I really really don't want to do this.

satine , i dont know anyone who has regretted knee replacement. Im facing shoulder surgery, so i know the feeling of dread.

There are lots of ice machines for sale on ebay. Just be sure you get one with a knee pad.

Get a couple more grabbers so that you have one in every room you spend time in.

Not sure on the ice situation. But it will be good for you to keep walking and moving around the house. Don't sit too long. Do you have a walker? They are a big help. I have one with a seat and bag for carrying things.

I am two months out from a TRSR (total reverse shoulder replacement). Not a knee replacement but a lot of what I learned might help you. These are in no particular order.

Plan your clothing. Make sure whatever you plan to wear can be easily donned. I bought four button/snap shirts because it was several weeks before I could get into a regular top. And think about going to the bathroom - you'll need to give yourself extra time so pay attention to your body's functions.

You will need a seat in your shower (and a tub/shower combo might be difficult for you). We also installed a hand held shower because I couldn't reach as I needed to soap up.

You WILL need help. Lots of it. I couldn't have made it without my husband; he still has to help me shower because I can't quite wash under my other arm yet.

I second the ice machine. Use it every day, multiple times per day especially after exercising. Medicare didn't cover mine but it was under $200. Well worth it. And you will need a goodly supply of ice available at all times. The first few days, you'll want to ice a LOT.

Plan on how you are going to get in and out of bed once you start sleeping in your bed again. I only slept 2 1/2 nights in my recliner; I just didn't sleep well.

Keep a list of your medications, when they are due, and when you took them. I was on oxycodone, tylenol, a muscle relaxer, and aspirin (for blood clots). That's too much to try to remember so write it down. It will also help anyone who might be assisting you to make sure you take your medications as prescribed.

Per the above, stay ahead of the pain. Don't wait until you hurt before you take anything; take everything on schedule and you'll feel a lot better.

Medicare paid for in-house PT for my first eight weeks. This was invaluable. I'm doing outpatient PT now. And do your exercises as prescribed between PT. You won't be sorry. Also, do NOT push yourself to recover. I have a classmate who had a knee replacement recently - he pushed himself in recovery too much and had to go back to get his thigh muscle re-attached to his knee joint.

Download books and games and record shows you want to watch. You will have a lot of time to kill sitting in your recliner.

My PT advised me to up my protein intake a LOT. He said that when you undergo a major surgery like I did, the extra protein is needed to help your body heal. I ended up ordering a chocolate protein drink made by Fairlife from Amazon. It is the best tasting protein drink I have found so far.

I found a website that contains joint replacement forums called bonesmart.org. I read a lot of stories (some of them I wish I hadn't read!) that gave me some tips.

Not sure if you still shave your legs. If so, someone will have to help you until you can do so yourself. Also, you might want to get a pedicure right before because you may not be able to trim your toenails until you can bend your leg.

I bought a lot of easy to prepare food. I bought some microwave breakfast sandwiches and protein cereal. There will be days when you won't want to stand up and cook and you will need to eat with your pain meds.

Once the incisions heal, apply vitamin E oil. It will help the scar. My PA and my PT both recommended it.

Make sure you have shoes that you can get in and out of that have a back - no backless slipons. I couldn't tie my own shoes for a month. Backless slipons might cause you to fall.

This is about all I can think of that I've gone through in the last two months. I hope some of it helps.

Patty

Patty, thank you for all the wonderful advise you sent my way. I had my preop check up today and it went well. I still have dentist, cardiology, chest xray, home safety visit and a pre surgery class. There is so much to do! I live alone so having help every day may be difficult. I have one local daughter and two out of town so I may have to hire some care givers/home help. Im concerned too about pt because I understand I will only have two weeks of pt at home and will then have to go to them. I won't be able to drive so again I will need help. I may be looking into uber etc. Again than you for creating a clear picture of what is ahead.

Our local Senior Center has a lending closet. They had everything I could have wanted when I had my hips done, two years apart. At the time, Medicare paid for walkers and canes, with the result that the center has tons of this stuff. I borrowed a shower seat and a toilet riser. I could use our step-in shower with its hand-held spray, but needed DH to apply moisturizing lotion to my legs after showering. Is your hair short -- easy to wash/dry?

Can you arrange for a visiting nurse or aide to come for at least the first days home? My DH was my 'aide'. We still laugh, remembering the struggle to get support hose on my surgical leg when I wasn't allowed to bend it -- we'd end up in hysterics!

Can one of your girls -- or a granddaughter -- come help you for a few days post-op?