Just wondered when you felt well enough to tackle any ironing. My husband will do most things but forget ironing
The pile is steadily growing and I was wondering whether I would be able to do 5 minutes a day
I did ask the physio but did not get a straight answer. I think he said listen to your body which I suppose is logical
Christine ..why don't you send all the dificult ones out I don't know the cost were you are but here it cost about £18 for about thirty items go on let it be your treat ...for the next few months
I listened to my body and rang the local ironing parlour!!! 😂😂😂
I've been doing my ironing since i was home for about a week (6 days in hospital). I don't try to rush through it i take breaks and have a sit down after however many items. I am certainly not ironing things like bedding or anything else that isn't being worn outside of the house! If you don't send your ironing out as Pauli suggested why not try ironing a couple of items and see how you feel? If it makes you uncomfortable stop and try again in a day or two. I suppose what the physio means is that it won't do you any harm so just do what you feel up to?
Pauli's idea is a nice one. However you PT is right. You haven't said how many weeks post op you are, but I stared doing a very small amount wnen I was steady on my feet. Now at 18 weeks post op, I can do an hour and then I rest. I don't know if I can do more, but I feel that's enough, especially with all the exercising we have to do. See how you go, but for goodness sake don't do it too soon, and don't overdo it.
hi christine at the begining i found ironing so hard and like you husband no good at this so like you i had to tackle it some people do it very well sitting down i just cant do it that way so i had to stand up got my husband to set up the board and i started and i did 2 items and couldnt wait to sit so id sit for a few mins and then get up again and do another item or two and sit again it was the only way i could do it and that way i did it if i got 6-8 items done i was happy and did the same next day or the day after that i tried not to worry about it ,but like all women we like to keep up with our house work ,standing was a killer back at the start it took some time to be able to stand on my feet for longer period of times .thinking back when at the begining and my husband helping with the housework ,not only couldnt or wouldnt iron but when he hung the washing on the line it used to drive me crazy the way he hung them as it would take ages for them to dry because of the way he hung them they looked socrunched up on the line and the fact that i couldnt fix them but i must admit he tried but between the ironing and hanging out washing he knew he wouldnt be asked again when i could do it clever guy that husband of mine !!!!!!
I am only 13 days post op. We have just sorted through all the washing and made a pile of the items which have to be ironed and it is not too many so perhaps tomorrow I will just do 5 minutes and see how I go.
Thanks for your comments
At only 13 days post op I wouldn't try and tackle ironing for too long. Even 5 minutes standing may be too long. See how you feel but don't overdo it. I you feel uncomfortable stop. The ironing will always be there!! 😉
I managed to do some at about 2/3 weeks post op sitting on the sofa with the board down low. It was a bit of a fuss but better than watching my husband try to do it!
I agree with Clarkey - it's too soon. Don't forget all that soft tissue that you can't see is trying to heal. Just do what I did, let your hubby iron what is needed only. I wore t-shirts and shorts constantly at your stage - not difficult to iron. PLEASE take it easy. You should be concentrating on the exercises you have been given, icing, elevating, taking your meds and RESTING. Resting is as important to your healing and recovery as the aforementioned NOT h/work including ironing.
I lowered the ironing board and sat down to do it
I'm another one who sits down to iron now. Although I'm 20-odd weeks out, I've got severe OA in my other knee which is making things difficult (and painful!). I actually said to hubby tonight that when I get my next knee done, I might get someone to come in a couple of hours a day, maybe a couple of times a week, to do some of the housework. Next time around, I'm putting any energy I have into exercises, not the ruddy housework! I tried too much, too soon last time, not making THAT mistake again! 😉😼
Ohhhhh, the washing on the line! It drives me MENTAL if it's not hung out right! I always have to change it around if it's not right, so it irritated the life out of me when I couldn't do it!
I blame my mother........lol!
Thanks for your helpful advice. I know what you mean about hanging the washing on the line. My husband has been doing that for some time and I get T shirts with peg marks on and they seem to have become quite mishap en. But at least he is trying to help
I am seven weeks post op and back to doing everything EXCEPT lifting heavy stuff. Lifting REALLY BOTHERS my RIGHT KNEE that is due for surgery in October.
My SURGICAL KNEE is now my STRONG KNEE. My other knee hurts ALL THE TIME!
I also have found that my whole body HURTS with my arthritis probably because I am just taking Tylenol and no aspirin.
Aspirin REALLY works well for me, but it also apparently is VERY BAD for ulcers in upper and lower GI tracts.
Build up your strength and endurance, and you will be able to eventually do all that you did before.
I am asking for help now which I stupidly DID NOT DO most of the time. I find that for the most part husbands CAN and WILL help out IF YOU ASK THEM and if you explain the task in detail.
We have been married 39 years. I have ALWAYS done all the laundry, for example. Since my surgery, I do the sorting and he does the laundry. I like this plan, so I am sticking to this "new system!"
Also, I showed him what plants are WEEDS. He now helps with weeding.
Who knew that KNEE SURGERY could produce a HELPFUL HUSBAND???!!!
Thanks Cheryl for you reply. I am quite lucky because my husband has taken over most of the household tasks and because of my painful knee before the operation he would often hang the wshing out and enjoys cooking.
Does not do ironing but we have sorted all the washing out and do not have too much to iron. Will try and do some sitting down this afternoon and see how it goes.
It seems to take me ages to do anything and by the time I have fitted in t5he exercises, done a ten minute walk answered a few emails the day seems to have gone.
Tomorrow I will have my staples taken out so hopefully my knee should feel a lot more comfortable. The dressing is very tight now abd cannot wait for it to come off.
My other knee is a little creaky but not as painful as the one I had operated on. Just hopng that it will last for several more years!
I found that I could do it sitting down on the bed with the ironing board low. When I'd had enough I'd just have a lay down for a while then do a bit more.. It worked for me. Good luck x