Hi,
I'm having a partial knee replacement either Aug 5th or a week later on Aug 12. I'm going to flying to PR on Sept 6th for my father's 80th birthday. I know i'm cutting it very close. The flight is 3:10 mintues. It will be 4 weeks post op.
What doesn everyone think? My doctor's physicians assistant says I shoud wait 4-6 weeks but it's my father's 80th bday and we have been planning his surprise bday party for a while.
Hi Iris,
I can sympathize with you because I had to make a decision for my TKR. I am taking a five hour flight 12 weeks post op surgery. It is now 7 weeks post op and I am still struggling with PT twice a day at home and 3 times a week outpatient, pain, icing, rest and the list goes on.
Of course, I don't know about partial knee replacement so I'm sure someone on this wonderful site will help you.
Good luck and happy birthday to your Dad. I hope you can go to celebrate!
Hi Iris
I had a partial knee replacement on May 19, 2016 and at 4 weeks post op went to a convention that I really needed to be at (was in Florida about a 3/1/2 hours flight but I had to also switch planes )
I survived it but the travel was brutel ( I suggust setting up a wheelchair the entire way ) I only did partially and walking the airport was bad bad. I also used a cane to help take some of the pressure off. By the end of the 4 day convention I was in sever pain, all swelled up and totally felt like a had gone backwards. It took me a good week of iceing, elevating etc. (with working full time) to get back to where I was before I went.
So............my advice is this.........everyone is different and heals different. You are not going to a convention. You will be able to rest, ice and elevate while you are visiting. I am sure many others will tell you to not go too soon, which I agree with, but at 4 weeks I did feel well enough to try. My Dad is 84 and I can tell you that I would make the trip if It were my dad. Enjoy and spend all the time you can with him! (just my thoughts . It may set you back but if you know that ahead of time you can plan somewhat. Be sure to take your pain meds with you !
All the best to you with the surgery. I am so very glad I had it
Let us know how it all goes.
Debbie
Hi iris, I know that's an important celebration however u really need to see how u r doing and what your dr says. I had tkr and at 4 weeks I could hardly do anything. Gl with your surgery
Get approval from Doc because of blood clots etc. Wear support hose, and put something like a carry on bag under your seat so that you can elevate it. Get up and walk as often as possible, and keep pumping your foot. Take your pain meds and keep them in your system, drink lots of water. Suffer it out and you'll get there. Lol. You're going to be suffering anyway, more than likely. I would take a chance if at all possible, because I'm like that! I think his bday is important. Or you can possibly delay your surgery for after?
Like Marilyn says, ask for assistance on the plane...great idea. They will take care of you. And you will set the alarms off going through security too! Even if you feel pretty good. Make it look a little worse and take advantage of the assistance. don't walk the distances.
Hi Iris check with surgeon. I was told under no circumstances fly till 12 weeks post op total knee replacement incase clots . I know big family celebratration but need to be careful xx
In my opinion, it might be doable with conditions but you won't know for sure until near the days of the flight. You will not be able to sit comfortable doe that long, so hope the seat next to you is empty so you can elevate your leg. Good luck.
Hi. I had a PKR on 4-20 of this year. I had plans to go to California the last week of May. There was no way I could do it and cancelled. Everyone is different so see how it goes. I had many issues with my PKR. I thought for sure it would be a breeze since it was a partial. Not so (for me). They are still cutting muscles, nerves etc. the healing process is still the same.
Again in everyone is different. I can only tell you how it happened with me.
Good luck to you in your surgery.
I had a tkr on June 21st in Seattle, WA. On June 27th I flew home to Alaska. It took 5 hours to get home, 3 1/2 of that on a plane. I won't lie, it hurt like heck, there was not enough pain meds to make the pain go away. But I wore my stockings the doctor gave me and got up about every 15 to 20 minutes to move around.
Having had that experience, I can say a month made a lot of difference to my flying experience. (Everybody is different) I made the same flight down to Seattle from Alaska at 1 month. Much better trip the second time.
My advise is to plan on making the trip, the worst case senerio is you get close to leaving and you realize your leg is just not healed enough to make the trip. Buy the $12 trip insurance in case you cancel you won't be out the price of the ticket!
Good luck with surgery and flight, and happy birthday to your dad!
You need to allow for post op depression and also allow your body to come back from major organs being suppressed during surgery. You may feel light headed and nauseous. I suggest you postpone your operation or your trip. I had no idea my whole body would be involved in a difficult recovery process. Don't want to be a wet blanket, just hoping to help you think practically. God bless.
Marilyn, I'm 8 weeks po from RTKR and can tell you my knee feels better each week. You have five more weeks of recovery and I think with that amount of time you should be okay. Good luck.
Betty
Iris....family activities are important....but. I will be 80 in February and I know if one of my kids had undergone tkr 30 days prior, I would BEG them to stay home. Set up Skype so you can visit that way. I was absolutely forbidden to fly in less than 2 months and back then (2004 was my original) the airport hassle wasn't anything like today. I've had 6 leg /knee surgeries since then and I know I wouldn't even think about it.
You will still be fragile, in pain and unable to manage luggage etc.
If you insist make sure you have wheel chair at both ends of the flight. Hydrate well starting 48 hrs before and during the flight. Get an aisle/bulkhead seat, make sure you take large empty plastic bags so flight personnel can supply ice, take pain meds prior to flight and plenty with of meds while you are gone.
At best this is going to be rough but best of luck
Hi Betty.. I can't thank you enough for your words of encouragement . Yes, I agree the changes occur weekly. Up until 7 weeks post op TKR I didn't sleep for more than an hour due to the pain. My bed looked like a war zone. Finally, I went back to my hormone therapy and took progesterone and slept 5 hours straight. Today, I started all my vitamins. We need our sleep for strength and pt. but had to go off everything pre and post op. Two months without supplements was a killer for me. I have celiac disease and lost ten lbs., was slightly anemic and looked malnourished.
Please let us know about your progress. I am sending you healing wishes. .. Marilyn
Iris, you've gotten some great feedback. As several pointed out, all our bodies respond and heal differently. I had a bilateral TKR (so both knees on the same day) and at four weeks was not even interested in walking outside (some stair exercises was about the limit because getting in and out of vehicles was such a difficult process. But around 6 weeks I did make a 4.5 hour train trip. At 12 weeks I flew internationally. I agree with the idea of a wheelchair, no shame in that, especially if it gets you there with less pain. I'm not sure if you can fly with any sort of ice packs, but if you can get the ones that velcro around your knee, I highly recommend them. Getting up and walking to help ward off blood clots is also a really good idea. What I do know is, where there's a will, there's a way. Having this trip ahead of you will probably push you in your pt; which will be helpful as you'll need to be able to have a good bend to get in and out of your seat - also make sure you can get an aisle seat. Let us know how things go.
- Mo
Hi, just wondering why you had to stop the supplements after surgery, I've never heard of that.
Because some supplements can cause clotting. ... Didn't you have to take Coumedin or a blood thinner? I took it for 6 weeks and was monitored by the internist on the team. I had to have my blood checked twice a week and visiting nurse came to house. My doctor believes in being on blood thinners for 6 weeks even though it can cause swelling. I would rather swelling than blood clot.
I think the pain is all over my face so I don't have to fake it...ha ha. I will also have my granddaughter with me and she can give them the ice bags to freeze. I alsready called the airline and told them about the surgery and have a letter from the doctor that describes the prosthesis and material it is made of. You can be sure I won't walk unless I have to and that will be with a cane. I hope they will let me take a tube of Voltarin that I use as an antiinflammatory because it is more than 4 oz. I will call airline again just to be sure. All I want to do is stay home and heal but in this case my son would be extremely upset.
Thank you again for your support
As far as the letters.....they aren't worth the paper they are written on when it comes to security as the airlines don't control the TSA/HSA. When you have the documents and get ready to go through security they will nod and tell you to go stand over there so they can run the wand over you and when you contact the letters they will tell you to go stand over there so they can run the sand over you. Each airport is different but I've found going out of the continental U S is the most stringent at every airport.
Don't try and take filled ice bags through security as it more than 3 oz and not allowed. Take empty bags and let the crew on board fill them. Ask as soon as you get on board and they will generally take care of it before you get airborne.
Oh wow! No, I'm in UK, we had injections in hospital, 4 days, then only had to wear anti embolism stockings (socks) for 6 weeks. I'm 13 weeks now, and doing ok. You sound like you've been through it all. Sending you healing thoughts.