I just thought I would start this as mary-ellen asked for some tips - she is going in for her op very soon:-
I will kick it off by saying some things that I did.
My hubby brought a bed down for me so I didn't have to climb.
We bought toilet seat risers for each loo - they are not expensive.
I had a table by me with everything I needed - meds, books, water etc
I made a chart for timing my meds - You may find you are a bit drowsy with all the pain relief and what you don't want to do is over/under dose. I ticked it off as I took each med.
I had extra surgical stockings so I always had clean ones as you need to change them every day.
There - that's a start and I am sure lots of people will come up with more. I will think more, but at the mo I am in the middle of making fish pie
I bought hot/cold pack from pharmacy so that I didn't ruin any veg. It freezes in two hours and can be microwaved when the muscles need heat.
A bag to carry across your body as you can't use your hands when walking with sticks.
Jogging bottoms and shorts as you struggle to wear much else.
Things to keep you entertained through the night. They help you get over the panic at being awake on the couch from 3am.
I used a rolled up bed sheet/bath towel around the bottom of my foot. I held each end in my hands and gently bent and straightened the leg to get it going.
That's enough off me....I reckon I could go on all day x
The hospital gave me ice packs which were specially for the knee in a casing which strapped around the knee plus extra ice packs so they were always in the freezer, but yes I think you can buy them.
Lots of distraction stuff as I think someone has mentioned.
Bio oil or baby oil ready for when the dressing comes off.
Will you have someone at home. I suggest if possible you have someone for two weeks, you will need their help and lots of hugs.
A dressing gown belt will help you get your leg on and off the bed - it will feel very heavy for some time and until you build those quads you won't be able to lift it off yourself.
A plastic sheet or a tea tray to do the bend of the knee when you sit on the side of the bed. Put your foot on it and move your leg gently back and forward to encourage the bend - they will show you this at the hospital.
Good idea lou! Mary-ellen I did a lot of cooking of one-pot meals and froze them as my hubby had enough on his plate looking after me and I didn't want to live on pizza or sausage and chips!
I had no idea about the leg-lifter Lou! I will look into that as I will eventually be having the other knee done!
I didn't think ahead and I managed fine, I went upstairs to my room as I felt more comfy in my own surroundings. Tv, I pad plenty of company, I was only in for forty eight hours so wasnt moving much anyway, at one point there was six of us in my bedroom having a good laugh, I went downstairs once a day for exercise, I'm now three months down the line and doing everything I did before, bend is not great but I'm not worried this is my second Tkr and the first one was manipulated and that worked 100 percent so will probably get it done again on knee two, I hope everything goes well for you, reading everyone's stories is quite amusing too,
I like the idea of the leg-lifter i didn't know such a thing existed so i will definitely get one of those for when i get knee two done. I used to use a towel around my foot for leg raising and also to help me gently bend my knee.
The raised toilet seat is also an excellent idea, wish i had gotten one those!
I also found a big bag that you can put over your shoulder to carry things like phone, meds and other bits and pieces in from one room to another as it's hard to carry things whilst walking with two sticks.
Same list plus I found a trolley that I could push from kitchen very useful as no husband so invaluable for meals. Internet shopping and a well stocked fridge cupboard - bed downstairs was the best thing.
Non slip shower mat. I also had a litter picker which was great for picking things up off floor when couldn't bend.
Ice bags and a flask for having drinks if on own useful too.
my hubby put up a hand rail up the wall of the stairs it was great and still is im never taking it down ,it also ment i had an extra pair of crutches up stairs so when i wanted to go upstairs i could let my crutches below and i could have a hand on each rail climbing the stairs( it was good for me as i had bi lateral ) and when i reached the top i had the other pair so no carrying !!! foot pedels were great to start off with the bend i used to go back and forth and then with practice i could do full circle .
IrishLinda - you have just reminded me - I got a wall handle grip thing for the shower and a shower step so that my step up into the shower wasn't so high.
You need to think a lot more beforehand if you live on your own...and in a house. We don't always have the luxury of someone who can stay more than one or two nights. As people have said, a big bag is essential, especially when you are still using two crutches. It can be used for everything, even taking clean washing upstairs. I brought a bed down for my first knee, but I didn't bother the second time. Going up stairs was OK holding one...coming down a little more scary.
One thing I found useful was a bottle for taking water upstairs to take your meds in the night. Much easier than trying to carry a glassful.
It's also quite handy to tie a long rope to the upstairs bannister, so that you can tie things to it at the bottom, then go up the stairs and then haul it up.
People have mentioned loose trousers, but I find a floaty skirt to be much better...less pressure on the knee when you sit, and easier to pull up to massage your knee.
Some people have also previously suggested skateboards, so that you can run your leg backwards and forwards more easily. I bought one of those exercise wheels that you normally use for your arms, but I use with my feet.
There's lots of things that can make life easier...so sit and have a good think of what you normally take for granted every day.
As far as wearing clothes goes, I have been wearing shorts around the house I can't stand anything touching the scar yet. If I go out I wear a very lightweight pair of summer calf length trousers, which are very loose around the leg.
Patsies idea of the rope is a good one. My hubby was home for two weeks but then he had to go back to work so on my own all these sorts of things are really useful.