How do my fellow KR friends do this? I have just purchased from Amazon another smaller gel pack that fits into an adjustable cuff I've also purchased for the grand total of £5!!! But I've also got a bag of ice cubes and wondering whats best? Gel pack is fine but doesn't retain the ice cold unless I freeze it?
suggestions would be gratefully received xx
Forgot to mention my op was for partial knee replacement!!!
As you no mine was partial as well, am now nearly 8 wks and still iceing, I purchased 2 large gel packs , I use one ,freeze one, works for me, the packs are about 12 inches x8 , got them on Amazon. About 20.00 a pair, but they will last forever, so money well spent, . Hope this helps.
I had new plastic knee cap and metal trochlea (the bit behind it!) 14 weeks ago. I love icing as it numbs the discomfort!
I started off with gel packs that could either be heated up in the microwave or frozen in the freezer. I bought two (from Boots) so that when I'd used one and it defrosted, I didn't have to wait for it to "freeze up" again. However, I found that it wasn't very flexible so I've now got two medium sized bags of frozen peas. These are wonderful as they fit the contour of my knee!
The funny thing is, my hubby and I actually argued in the freezer section in Sainsbury about which brand to buy........you couldn't make it up! (for anyone interested I bought Birds Eye lol!. Mainly because the bag was the right size, because the bigger the bag, the heavier they are......and I found it difficult bear any weight around scar area).
I like my gel pack's but your right they don't get freezing cold I just keep mine in the fridge so I guess its personal choice really?? I do use mine without a cover underneath as it doesnt get too cold!!!
I have four large gel packs (bigger than a bag of peas) I use two at a time, wrapped in a tea towel. One underneath my knee and bring the ends up the sides of my knee and the other one on top over the ends of the underneath one. I keep them in the freezer. Works really well for me.
Thanks for that! How are you finding things? Only thing I'm finding harder than most is straightening! Still having good days and bad but expectation are I want to be back to work in Max of 8 weeks and thinking is this possible! I only work mon and fri and 3 hrs on alternative Saturdays I work in a bank so can be sitting or walking or both whatever suits!!
To be honest I've not tried that but currently have medium size gel pack that's more of an oblong shape I've put in freezer and it should be ready so will fit it into the cuff I bought and will let you know how it's gone!!!
Trying mine in the freezer to see how it goes! Because I've bought the adjustable cuff to place gel pack it's a lot easier manovering around without the gel pack sliding off!!
The one I was given from hospital is quite big in fact a bit too big to go in the cuff I bought!! But I'll try the tea towel method in particular when I go to bed
Hi , I'm doing ok, still icing, but not so much, I can sit on normal seat but not comfortable for long, then have to stick leg out , I do static bike 5minutes 2/3 times a day , going forwards and back, then try to go down stairs , that's really hard and painfull, and obviously walking, to be honest, I can't now do any more than I'm doing, because my other knee is killing me, but won't be done untill end July beginning of August, so I just have to plod on,.im quite fed up really, so can't wait. But I really hope the other one is only half as well, won't no untill he gets me in there, but this ones bad enough, . Happy days.😀
Sorry Mandy, ment to say about the straightening side of things, I slept on my back for the first 3 weeks, and also did a lot of the exercise where you sit on a chair and put your leg on another, and nothing under your knee but fresh air, and stay like it for as long as you can stand, in my case it was never more than 4minutes, it seemed to do the trick, my leg is straight, I only did those for a fortnight, 3 times a day. Then at 4 weeks I got a 100 d bend. 😀
Hi Mandy. I have the gel and peas! I bought 4 gel packs with the cuffs (don't usually use cuffs tho, just tea towel). I keep them in the freezer and use 2 at a time. They are a bit stiff when they first come out but are still pliable. Then I have 2 bags of extra cheap frozen peas which i decanted into large freezer bags so they spread about a bit more and pop them in a pillowcase -I have one of these on at the moment! I like the peas as they mould around the knee well, but they don't stay cold quite as long as the gel. And if they defrost too much before I get them back in the freezer, I just drop them on the floor a couple of times next time I get them out. Depends on what mood I'm in to see If I will use gel or peas!
The gel pack should be frozen at all times. It takes a little less time t thaw then cubes. You can use rubbing alcohol and water to introduce you to another form of gel Pac. Go on line and get the proper ratios. Be sure and put any and all of theses in a pillow case or towel. Otherwise you can get a nasty burn from the ice water/plastic combination
I used the same gel pacj, I wrapped it in a small cloth to keep it cold, but I ended up buying the larger size which worked a treat, best wishes
Well, I am now sat here feeling really sorry for myself, I've been out for a walk, was doing really well, managed to get through all the long grass along the river bank where I live, I take a fishermans seat light weight with me when ever I walk, and went to sit down, thought I had made sure the ground was level, obviously not, cause over backwards I went, doing a complete bend on my operated knee, . And now I'm in agony with both ice packs on front and back, I can't believe i did that.
Forgot to mention you can Google the Al ohpl, ice water recipe for exact quantities of each an of course it's reusable
Hi Mandy
i have two gel packs that you can put in the freezer and they have both come with their own sleeve, I put one in and then use the other.
I would also suggest a bag of peas as you can mould them round your knee and the peas actually fills any crooks in your knee, please wrap the peas in a tea towel before you do this.
Last thing at night I take one of the gel packs to bed with me, I then tie a large bandage around the knee and the pad, this makes the pad stay in place when you turn over when trying to sleep, and then when I wake up at night which I do I just take it off, but itis nice and cool to go to bed with.
take care, gill
OMG no way thats dreadful. Hell if your in any doubt that its not ok make sure you go straight to your local A&E. I hope it feels better tom ooooooo and I hope noone saw you cos thats even worse lol.
Thank you, it's very painfull at the moment, but it only happened bout hour and a half ago, I'm really hoping I've just jarred everything, and with enough ice and massage it will go off, can't believe it happened, that's the second time in seven weeks I've done it. Pushing my luck I think.