www.incontinentsupport.org

So tomorrow is my first day of OT for bladder management. I have lost the ability to now walk as my left (non amputated) knee is bone on bone. I'm looking at a knee replacement sooner rather than later. Whenever this happens I'll be bedbound for a month. Changing in public has become a nightmare (and unsafe) because I can no longer depend on my left leg to balance on my wheelchair. Hopefully OT can be helpful in learning new skills. I currently have a home health aide 10 hours a day 7 days a week and when I have surgery it will be even more. I'm in bed pretty much all the time except for doctors appointments because I'm always in pain. I can usually manage changing in bed by myself. Things have been tough but I'm trying to stay positive.

Being bed fast, even with home health assistance, is punishment indeed. I will be curious to learn what your therapy will be. Most of my physical therapy has been to help me manage my neurological deficits. Report back when you can.

Hang in there JustJ.

--John
(double incontinent)

Thinking of you and wishing for the best.

justej:
Just wondering why you would have to be bed-bound for a month after surgery? I do know that you have significant issues with your other "leg" but be aware that when my wife had her knee replaced they actually had her walking (with me and an aid helping her) literally hours after the operation, but certainly this may not be possible in your case. She even came home the same day and was only somewhat bed-bound for about a week or so, needing either my help or a walker to get around a bit. The doctor told us that from a purely physical standpoint after that first week the issue of not being able to walk is much more in your head than in your leg.

Obviously there is a lot of therapy needed which they tend to want to start almost immediately after surgery, and it is very important to start quickly as scar tissue can quickly build up and restrict future movement of the knee. The good news is that a lot of that therapy can be done while in bed using an auto-movement machine so that should help you a lot, but it's still best to get some weight on it when you can. Another tip is to see if they will give you a unit that circulates cool/cold water through a sleeve that goes around your leg, it really helps keeping the swelling down and was a godsend for my Wife.

After my Prostate removal I was in the hospital for 11 days and while I could get up (initially with great effort), I'm sure you well know from your past experiences that any lengthy stay in a bed is really hard on your body. Please understand I'm NOT trying to play doctor here, just trying to relate my Wife's experience with a fairly recent knee replacement, and my extended bed stay in the hospital, in the hopes it may help you a bit. Finally, I hope you can get the knee replacement as soon as possible. All of the knee replacement folks I know have found it to be a great thing, giving them back their mobility without pain. Good Luck!

Hey padded -
My doctor said that because it would not be safe for me to use my prosthesis and try to walk after surgery I'd be looking at being in bed (except for physical therapy, appointments etc) for around a month. He did say he would want me moving but I wouldn't be able to do it on my own. I'd have a physical therapist come to my apartment and they would work on in bed exercises and getting me up. I guess I shouldn't have used the term bedbound but I meant that I wouldn't be up and walking on my own. My amputation makes the situation more difficult. My dad and a friend also had knee replacements and they did very well. I got a prescription for a custom knee brace today that my prosthetist will fit me for next week. I'm hoping that will buy me some time. My doctor today said "now just how bad is that knee??" And when he examined it be said "ooooh. Really bad"

OT was kinda a bust. She gave me some tips for how to change in my chair but that's about it. Im glad I went but it's going to take some practice for me to do it while I'm out.

justej:
Makes sense, thanks for the update. I hope your knee replacement goes well.