Your Recovery Nest

 

4. Prehab

 

Your world will shrink in the months following TKR. For that reason, it is vital to have a comfortable place– a nest – in which to spend days and sometimes nights when sleeping in a bed becomes too difficult. A chair with a straight back (to support the head, neck, and spine), a high seat, and arms to lean on when getting up or down. Place this chair so you can extend your legs straight out and in a raised position (such as resting on an ottoman). If the leg extension on a recliner does not keep your legs straight, find a pillow to prop them up.

I was fortunate to have a recliner that kept my legs straight and my knees above the level of my heart—two positions essential for minimizing the risk of blood clots.

I spent every day in that chair and at least 30% of my nights for my first month after surgery, leaving only to do my exercises, eat, and visit the bathroom. During the second month, when my legs became stronger, and I was able to walk for more extended periods, I left my chair and my nest more frequently.

 
Total Knee Replacement and Recovery Nest

Your recovery nest – a place of refuge

 

Another critical part of your nest is the pathway on which you practice walking, first with a walker and then crutches. It is essential to make this path as safe as possible. If you have crutches, walk with them on this path before surgery to make sure it has enough room for you to turn around as you circle the room. I placed a card table in the middle of my pathway to provide a island around which I could walk. It also became a place to hold all the pills I would be taking, the notebook I would use to keep track of when I took my medications, and the books I thought I’d be reading. Other safety checks to make before you leave for the hospital include:

• Clear out all throw rugs, electrical cords, and any other hazard that might cause you to trip when you begin walking again.

• Confirm that all stair banisters are tightly secured to the walls because you will be holding on to them as you climb up and down stairs.

• Place non-slip safety mats in the shower and on the bathroom floor.

To accommodate all the items I would need while seated—my phone, laptop, water bottle, eyeshade mask, journal, and ice wraps—I placed small tables within easy reach on both sides of my chair. Since I needed more outlets, I added a power strip for an extra lamp and an ice therapy machine.

Lastly, I made space on the card table in the center of the room for some old family photo albums to help me through the difficult days ahead.

A final word of advice: Do your recovery preparation in advance so that when you leave for the hospital, you know you will be returning to a comfortable, safe environment.