Knee Replacement Alternatives To Consider
Crunching sounds as you climb stairs, chronic aching and swelling: Knee osteoarthritis is a real pain. If youre suffering with it, you may be considering surgery.
Getting a knee replacement is one approach, but you may not need surgery, at least not right away. And some patients cannot undergo knee replacement surgery for various reasons. Other people with knee pain are too young for a knee replacement the artificial knee is only likely to last 15 or 20 years, after which the person may need revision surgery.
There are several things you can try first, on your own or with a professionals help, that can help with knee pain and even delay the need for replacement, says Daniel Valaik, M.D., orthopaedic hip and knee specialist at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.
Arthritis doesnt go away, he explains. Of the thousands and thousands of patients Ive treated, Ive never seen anyones X-rays improve in terms of arthritis, unfortunately. But there are things you can do to lessen pain and stay more active.
When A Knee Replacement Is Needed
Knee replacement surgery is usually necessary when the knee joint is worn or damaged so that your mobility is reduced and you are in pain even while resting.
The most common reason for knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis. Other health conditions that cause knee damage include:
- knee deformity with pain and loss of cartilage
Things No One Ever Tells You About Getting A Knee Replacement
Heres what you need to know thats not in the brochure: 1. You might not be a good candidate.A study published last year by researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond questioned the value of knee replacement for some of the people rushing to get it. After analyzing data from a large study of men and women who had the operation, the researchers found that fully one-third of them were not actually good candidates for the surgery, which is why they got only a very modest benefita 2-point improvement on a common measure of knee function, compared with a 20-point improvement for people who started out with really bad knees.
“Pain that doesnt go away and moderate to severe arthritis are necessary for a knee replacement to do its job,” Lajam says. “If you have the surgery, but its actually a problem of nerve pain, hip pain, or circulation, its not going to help you.” The advice here is not to wait until your knees are completely destroyed before seeking surgery, but to make sure that youve tried other measures first and that you meet both criteriaconsistent pain and advanced arthritis.
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Create The Best Get Well Care Package For After Surgery
If youve been trying to find great get-well gift basket ideas for after surgery, we hope these options will get those wheels turning! Build your own care package or let Spoonful of Comfort help with our carefully created care gift baskets. Send a comforting gourmet soup and cookie get-well gourmet food gift package to your friends and family today. Youll be able to show your loved ones how much you care and put a smile on their face in the process!
Get Well Gifts GuideGet Well Gift Ideas
A Gift Card Theyll Actually Use
Going for a gift card is a feel-good gift your recovering friend can look forward to. During recovery, this might be a gift card to a favorite take-out restaurant or a to a service like Audible. Motivate someone to enjoy better days after recovery with gift cards to golf, dine out, or enjoy local attractions.
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Stationary Bike Or Traditional Bike
Both before and after my TKR, bicycling was an important part of my exercise and rehab routine. Traditional bikes and stationary bikes have made it easy to regain and maintain the range of motion in my knee joint.
I spent many hours bicycling before my surgery. Im fortunate to live near lightly traveled country roads. It made it pleasant and easy for me to ride 6 to 10 miles 4 to 5 times a week prior to my surgery.
Once a week I would try to ride 15 to 18 miles. I have a stationary bike in my local fitness center but I did not ride it much before surgery, as I preferred to be outside riding and enjoying the countryside.
After my surgery, it was a different story. It took me some time to get back on a traditional bicycle. The first day of my off-site therapy the therapist had me on the stationary bike .
It has been a regular part of my routine at the fitness center even now, months after surgery. I use the stationary bike to warm up before I use any other machines or do any other leg exercises.
It can be a bit boring but you can listen to music, read a book or watch TV to help make the time go by quicker. The advantages of a stationary bike include being able to ride it in all kinds of weather.
You can have one in your home or in your garage. The more accessible it is I find the more I use it. Like the recliner, they come in all price ranges. If you do not have either a stationary bike and or a traditional bike before surgery, put them both on your wish list.
Get Well Soon Messages After Knee Surgery
A knee surgery is an operation conducted on the knee of the person. The knee surgery includes recovering of it to be able to walk properly after it. As such, sending get well soon messages would make the person feel good. The get well soon wishes can be sent through text messages to the concerned person.
Given below are some of get well soon messages after knee surgery.
1). As you heal and rest after your knee surgery, know that you are thought often. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
2). Hope you will soon be feeling fine after your knee surgery. I am wishing for your fast recovery.
3). I send you this get well soon wishes and pray for a speedy knee recovery. Missing you very much.
4). I send you this text message to convey my get well soon wishes after your knee surgery. I hope that you will get back to normal life sooner.
5). I wish you speedy recovery after your knee surgery. Hope to see you get back fast to normalcy. Get well soon.
Popular Messages:
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No 2 Compression Socks And Knee Sleeve
Compression is a must-have after surgery. As weve discussed in other articles, compression will help reduce inflammation an swelling, and keep blood and fluid circulation moving through your leg rather than staying in your leg.
Directly after surgery youll be wearing a full-leg sock, but its wise to invest in a compression sleeve for your knee and compression socks for your leg. If needed these can be worn under clothes or in bed.
I wore mine religiously after surgery for a few weeks and now I wear during and after exercise or while flying. The best compression sleeves after TKR and socks will reduce the chance of blood clots in the leg!
Make It Easy For Yourself
Make sure everything you need is easy to get to and on the floor where you will spend most of your time. Limit your stair use to once a day.
- Have a bed that is low enough so that your feet touch the floor when you sit on the edge of the bed.
- Set up your bed on the first floor if you can. You may not need a hospital bed, but your mattress should be firm.
- Have a bathroom or a portable commode on the same floor where you will spend most of your day.
- Stock up on canned or frozen food, toilet paper, shampoo, and other personal items.
- Make or buy single meals that can be frozen and reheated.
- Make sure you can reach everything you need without getting on your tiptoes or bending down low.
- Put food and other supplies in a cupboard that is between your waist and shoulder level.
- Place glasses, your teapot, and other items you use a lot on the kitchen counter.
- Make sure you can get to your phone. A portable phone can be helpful.
- Place a chair with a firm back in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and other rooms you will use. This way, you can sit when you do your daily tasks.
- If you will be using a walker, attach a sturdy bag or a small basket. Put in it the things you need to have close by such as your phone, a notepad, a pen, and other necessary items. You can also use a fanny pack.
Other items that may help:
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Months To 1 Year After Surgery
- Most of your pain should be gone 1 year after surgery. However, you may still have some swelling in your lower leg and foot, and discomfort going up and down stairs or sitting in one position for too long. It is important to be physically active and maintain a healthy weight for the best recovery.
- You may resume playing low-intensity activities such as volleyball or softball. Do not do high-intensity activities such as soccer, tennis or basketball.
The Gift Of Heating Or Cooling Surgical Incisions And Bruising
Im still using my Reusable Hot and Cold Therapy Gel Wrap, night and day. It doesnt matter what type of surgery your patient had he or she probably has sore bits that need icing or heating .
A good hot and cold therapy wrap doesnt just soothe a patients soreness after surgery, it molds itself to the body part. My old ice pack kept slipping from my shoulder to my arm. I didnt know that you could get icing and heating wraps that stay in place! A gel wrap is better than a bag of frozen peas because it can be used both hot and cold. This is another get well soon gift idea that helps with healing after surgery.
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Sample Messages For After Heart Surgery
Send love someone’s way with a heartfelt note!
Help With Medications And Wound Care
Its important that the person takes all medications as their healthcare team prescribes. You may need to help gather the medications, make sure they take them on schedule, and monitor and renew prescriptions from the pharmacy.
You may find it helpful to use a daily medication dispenser. These can be purchased at your local pharmacy or online.
If possible, meet with the persons doctor before outpatient care begins. They can go over what medications they need and answer any questions you may have.
Youll also need to monitor the wound for swelling and inflammation. This may involve changing dressings and picking up medical supplies, like bandages, as needed. If the wound is getting redder, more swollen, begins draining, or has a odor, seek medical care. Wash you hands carefully before and after touching bandages.
Try to establish a routine where you dispense medications and do wound checks at the same times each day.
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They Rushed Into Surgery
There are times when getting stronger and exercising can help get rid of knee pain, but sometimes people jump into surgery when more conservative measures may have worked better for them, says Jasmine Marcus, a physical therapist with McCune and Murphy Physical Therapy.
What you can do: Marcus recommends exercising and building strength, enlisting the help of a physical therapist if necessary.
Even if you still end up needing surgery, getting stronger can help. Performing prehab exercises and getting the bodynot just the leg in questionas strong as possible tends to improve outcomes after surgery, says Tom Biggart, a physical therapist, athletic trainer, and strength and conditioning coach with EBM Fitness Solutions.
Provide Motivation For Rehab And Exercises
Adhering to a rehab plan is critical. For many people, this means walking for 30 minutes two or three times per day. Doctors may also recommend exercising for an extra 20 to 30 minutes two or three times per day.
The person may find that walking or exercising is painful. This is normal. If they express a desire to discontinue with their rehabilitation plan, remind them that what theyre feeling is common and that rehab will help speed up their recovery.
Helping them chart their efforts, results, and progress may help keep them motivated. Exercising and walking with them may also help keep them on track.
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Puzzles Cards And Games
Recovery can be rather dull and even lonely in the first few weeks. Having some puzzles and games to play to pass the time would make a great gift. Even better, if you live nearby, play a game or round of cards with your recovering loved one while you visit. Im sure they would like the company for a while. I know I did!
Easy Homemade Meals To Take To Someone After Surgery
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It can be hard to know what to say when someone has surgery, but thats okay because actions speak louder than words. If someone you love has surgery, dont just write a sympathy message and call it a day.
Step up! Perform a meaningful action to show your support. Help with laundry and chores or drive your friend or loved one to doctor appointments.
Remember, your friend or loved one whos fresh out of surgery may not have the energy to cook. Help by preparing meals. Here are some ideas for simple and satisfying meals you can drop off.
Tip: Unfortunately, surgery and medical intervention can’t always save a life. If you’ve recently lost someone, our post-loss checklist can help you work through the tasks and challenges you might face.
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Helping Patients To Make Informed Decisions
We’re funding research to improve patient experience before, during and after knee replacement surgery. This includes a project based at the University of Sheffield which aims to help patients make informed decisions about their surgery. The research team will use the UK National Joint Registry dataset to develop and validate a personalised, web-based decision aid to help patients considering knee joint replacement to make informed choices about their treatment.
Prepare A Recovery Area
Due to mobility limitations, you will likely do a lot of sitting during the first few weeks after your return from the hospital.
Designate a recovery area with a sturdy chair to relax in. The chair should be high enough that it is easy to sit down and get up from. It should have arms and a solid back so you dont fall.
A recliner is a good choice because you can elevate your legs. Place a sturdy footstool in front of your chair if you dont have a recliner. Some chairs have a device to tilt you slightly forward, making it easier to get up.
Your recovery area should also contain items within arms reach, in case you need them quickly.
Consider having the following items on hand near your chair:
- eyeglasses
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Send A Thoughtful Note To Someone Who’s Recovering From Surgery
What do you say to someone who just had surgery? Figuring out what to write in a get-well-soon card can be time-consuming and nerve-racking. Get ideas and inspiration from the samples below, and write your own unique sentiment for your loved ones.
If you still dont know what to write or say to wish for your boss, colleague, friend, dad, mom, child, sister, brother, girlfriend, or boyfriend to get well soon, then use any one of the messages from the list below to express your feelings. Add a few goodies to create a fun package that shows you wish them a speedy and full recovery!
What Are Good Post Surgery Gifts For Someone Who Just Had Knee Surgery
The thing about knee surgery is not just that it has an extremely painful recovery period, but even worse is that the patient can hardly move at all.
In order to help lighten the burden after knee surgery, here are some great gift ideas:
- The best gift is probably just to spend time with that person, and taking care of him/her. Recovering from knee surgery is painful and stressful, but having someone next to you, supporting you, will help you recover even faster.
- Give this person a comfortable wedge pillow that will keep the leg supported.
- Help him or pick up items out of reach by gifting an extended grabber.
- Reusable ice packs to help soothe the pain after a painful knee surgery will be a highly appreciated gift.
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