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lisat
Citizen
Username: Lisat
Post Number: 178
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 7:39 pm: | 
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My mother, who is in her 70's, will have orthoscopic knee surgery soon. It's in-and-out ambulatory surgery but she is not very mobile under the best of circumstances (and not only because of her injured knee).
My siblings and I are trying to figure out how much help my mother will need. She's in another state. Has anyone had the surgery and can you tell us whether you were able to put any weight on it at all right after surgery or the next day? If you put weight on it and you aren't supposed to, can the knee be reinjured or is it a matter of taking longer to heal? How long was your healing process?
Do you have any advice? I've often found that it's only after I experience something that I realize what would have been helpful to know before-hand.
We plan to ask the doctor's office about all this, but I have also found that they are sometimes overly optimistic about these 'simple' surgeries.
Thanks
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BGS
Citizen
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 885
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 8:19 pm: |
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lisat-
PT,PT and more PT....I just had both knees replaced (in September- I am a new person at 57) and after two weeks of step down care had three months of PT as an out-patient....Many other out-patients ( over 70) were there who had what your Mom is going to have.... and PT is what worked for them...if you have a good PT facility, she will be fine...
Good luck!!! |
Heather
Citizen
Username: Heater33
Post Number: 37
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 9:37 pm: |
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My husband had to have knee surgery last year - as I recall, he was told two weeks of very slight pressure - avoiding the pressure best he could. After the two weeks, his PT started. He stayed off for two days, but after that he was walking around in the kitchen to get his own food and drinks depsite me trying to do for him. Your mom is much older, so I don't know what they will tell her. You should call her doc to ask about after care. |
Newsteadmom
Citizen
Username: Newsteadmom
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 9:46 pm: |
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Dear Lisat,
When I worked as a PT in an orthopedic hospital, we were thrilled to get a patient for Pre-op Physical Therapy. We would wrap a knee immobilizer around their bad knee and teach them to use crutches on level surfaces and stairs, and how to do "transfers" in and out of bed and chair. They would get home exercises to increase upper and lower extremity strength and isometrics for the knee that was to be scoped. Sometimes we issued out crutches to the patient pre-op, so that they were proficient before they were operated on. Also, be aware of what type of anaesthesia she will be receiving and realize that it takes much longer for the elderly to snap out of it, with lingering effects for up to a week in some cases. The stronger she is before surgery the better. Know that it takes 2 days of normal activity to counteract one day of bedrest. It is best to pre-arrange the appointments for the visiting nurses and physical therapists if possible and this requires a prescription from the doctor. Be pro-active and ask questions. Write your questions down on paper when you go to the doctor so you don't forget anything. Hope this helps.
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lisat
Citizen
Username: Lisat
Post Number: 179
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 10:37 pm: |
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Thanks very much. You've all been very helpful.
Newsteadmom, I just want to be sure I understand this. Even with orthoscopic surgery, an outpatient procedure, the anesthesia (sp?) will be general? I assumed it would be local. And pre-op pt for this is best case scenario? My sister and I were going to get a walker for her and have her practice moving around the house. I hadn't thought of pre-op pt, but what a great idea. I'll ask my mom to talk to her doctor about getting a prescription. Everyone, thanks again for your advice. |
soresident
Citizen
Username: Soresident
Post Number: 368
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 11:14 pm: |
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Do you mean arthroscopic surgery? (from mednet.com: The word "orthoscopic" is often confused with "arthroscopic" which refers to the viewing of joints. Knee surgery performed with a small scope is arthroscopic knee surgery, not orthoscopic knee surgery.") If so, I had it several years ago for a torn meniscus, don't recall recuperation as more than a few days max. Think you couldn't bear weight on it for maybe a day, believe I actually drove to a postop appointment a few days later. (And if you did mean orthoscopic, sorry!)
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