I have a pre-op meeting in just over a week for my PKR - which is finally happening on Wednesday 16th March - NHS !!
I need advice as what questions I need to be asking - such as :
How do I wash my legs and "private area" ?
I suffer from sweaty legs syndrome (I wake up every morning, covered in sweat) - so up until now, have had a daily bath in the mornings (this will presumably be out of the window for several months ?)
Think you can have a bath once the insicion has healed over and you can get in the bath, for me it was about 3-4 weeks for a TKR
Whilst in hospital, they will do all that, for a couple of days it will be bed bath, then assisted showers. Depends on your hospital, should imagine every one has its own routine. These are questions you need to ask the medical people. After your operation you will be sent home with instructions of what you can do and when you can do it. Again, every hospital is different
And what about work ?
They are asking me - exactly how long I will be off for ?
I have a part time job and they want me to form fill - with an estimated return date - I told them that "it would take - as long as it takes"
Steve,
On a tkr you come out of the op with a massive thick bandage virtually covering your entire leg. The following day they remove this and put a strip plaster about an inch and a half wide over the wound leaving all your leg exposed. You will be walking that day also so will just have to flannel wash your leg as you'll not be able to have a shower for the 2 weeks you have it on. As for your private parts do the same as they're nowhere near your knee.
Hi Steve, I had a tkr 8 wks yesterday and for the first 2 wks could only top& tail until the staples were removed, after that I managed to shower using the shower over the bath.
You probably won't be able to get down to sit in the bath for quite a while, at least till you can manage to bend & straighten the knee as you won't be able to kneal on it at all.
Where are you having your surgery?
Hi Steve
They put a waterproof dressing on the wound after surgery. I was able to shower the next day (with assistance!) and every day after that. Having a bath will be out of the question for many weeks because you will not have the bend to get in and out. I still havent tried it (14 weeks). They will give you extra waterproof dressings going home.
Best of luck on your op.
Best wishes
Ann
The Irish One.
I am having my surgery at Yeovil District Hospital !!
I went back to work after 2 weeks, as I am self employed but work from home. They tell you 12 weeks and for TKR that is about right I think.
Ask if you are having stictes or staples, stitches can shower with assistance from the fisrt day.
Write down everything and take it with you , I had mine at Washington Spire bupa hospital as an NHS patient.
Keep coming on this forum as you will get plenty of advice from some wonderful people who have gone through the process that you are about to undertake, I have had days where all I wanted to do was hide away in my bedroom and cry but you realise everyone on hear has been through it.
Hope you have a good recovery from your surgery xx
Dear steve
I had my knee operation on the 13th February and i am still suffering from pain not the arthiritic pain that has totally gone Thank God but more like wound pain etc.
I mean they do chop away at bone so it is going to be very painful for a while.
I've had one shower since then but mainly rely on wipes for my ladyland bits.
Questionsn i would ask at your pre-op are what type of anaesthetic will they use.
Personally i would have the general which is what I did - no sickness afterwards and i could move my lower half.
And what sort of material will the prosthetic be made out of. ive had stryker trialthon made of cobalt chrome.Its quite light acturally - I know one man who said his is like dragging a dead weight around. Mine's not like that And fianlly what can go wrong.
Best of luck anyway.
The day after operation, the nurse will take off the dressings and cover with a plastic strip and then the physio got me to sit on edge of bed and had me standing with a Zimmer frame, and I did a few steps ,then they got me back in bed and bought a bowl with hot water and I was able to wash myself with flannels. Don't worry things will be explained to you. I was able to have a shower once I got home after a couple of days and I had a tkr. Ask what anaesthetic you will be having, and how long you will be in hospital etc. You will be given an exercise sheet so you can start to do a few exercises before going in. Hope everything goes well, I have been off work 11 weeks now and I think I will be off for a couple more as I cannot stand for long periods and still haven't been given the all clear to drive. Hope this helps, best wishes Jannette
Do you have a shower? If you buy a limbo which covers your foot and leg over knee after say 3 days you will be able to shower with it on until staples come out a few weeks, beforehand just bed bath
hi steve ,once you have had the op within a day or so you will be brought into the shower by the nurse to have a shower with a chair to sit on .it will be the best shower you will ever have because it will make you feel so good after .it just brings you back abit of normal the waterproof dressing is fantastic so no worries about the incision .within a few days you will be able to shower by yourself . baths are alot more tricky ..i bath using a seat over the bath its slightly lower that the bath i sit on that and then lower myself into the water .getting out is the same i can manage to pull myself up onto the seat out of the water .but i must tell you i would not use the bath for awhile till your bend is better and you are stronger .also make sure you have someone with you the first time just incase you struggle or nervous (i was ) make sure you have a bath mat in the bath and have grab rails (i would not use any bath without them ) .but for a few months a shower is much much easier and safer .good luck to you
In some cases they arent. Seriously I didnt have a wash all the time I was in the hospital WM. After 3 days I was transferred to a rehab where on the first day a nurse gave me a strip wash. There were 3 men in the ward with me in hospital and none had a wash. It was about a month before I was able to shower in my own home. I managed with a bowl but I had to pay a lady to come to my house to fill the bowl etc. Dont know about your experience but the strip plaster wouldnt stay on and had to be changed regularly,but I had to pester them. This was in a private hospital but i was an NHS patient. As Ive said before,the rehab place was much better. My advice to Steve would be to keep at them and make them aware of his situation as soon as he is able. A question I did not ask was what material the replacement was made of. I thiought they were all the same. But I dont suppose it really matters. Actually,my surgeon told me nothing. I went to a seminar a week before the op and the lady who took it was very good. Dont know whether Steve will be offered this as all areas seem to be different.
Hi Steve
I had TKR ON 20th November. So what,13 weeks? Part time on a light job I could do it now oif necessary if it was the same job i was doing in 2015. The job I did for 22 years I dont think i could do it again as it involved climbing. Certainlty wouldnt try it now. Dont take any risks would be my advice mate.
I think I had a bath about 4 weeks after TKR.
One thing to ask consultant is are you going to have a general anaesthetic or an epidural?
If you have an epidural (like I did) you will be awake during the operation but recovery time is quicker because you don't have to get over the anaesthetic.
Also be aware that there is help available once you come home.
Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Department of local hospital will loan you equipment free of charge.
Raised toilet seat, raisers for chair, trolley, bath board or hoist.
Make sure this equipment is in place before you go into hospital. you will need it as soon as you are home.
Also if yu live on your own Rred Cross will do your shopping for 6 weeks after you come home.
Good luck with the operation.
Take care and keep in touch
Sarah
They gave me something to combat any problems with the general anaesthetic and it worked. I didn't feel a bit sick or disorientated.
I had all the equipment I needed and the most useful was the commode.
As for shopping - I did some online and I have a very good neighbour who helped out.
The worse thing is the wound pain
No they're not all the same. The rolls Royce of them all is titanium but you won't get that on the NHS.
Hi Mary
Not saying you are wrong but I know somebody very well who definitely did not pay for his operation, i.e. he had it on the NHS but his wife very proudly says his new knee is titanium.