No matter what kind of knee surgery you are having, it is a grueling process and difficult recovery, which is why you need a detailed knee surgery checklist.
After two knee surgeries (ACL and medial and lateral meniscus in 2018 and a partial meniscectomy in 2019), I learned a thing or two about what you need to survive the recovery.
While there are some important pieces of equipment that I recommend having later on for your rehab/recovery, it is most important that you are fully equipped upon returning from the hospital.
In this post, I will explain some of the items you absolutely want to have at your disposal on your knee surgery checklist for the first stages of recovery.
For advice on recovery tools and equipment that I used throughout my recovery and recommend for later on, head to THIS POST.
The Items Your Surgeon Mandates
First and foremost, you want to have everything ready that your surgeon recommends on your knee surgery checklist.
Based on your injury/ surgery, this may include crutches, certain braces, medication, and more. For me, this meant having crutches available and some OTC medication like Tylenol. Additionally, you should make sure you have a plan for picking up your prescription medication the day of surgery.
An Ice Machine
Many surgeons will recommend an ice machine, but even if yours does not, it is something I highly recommend. For my first surgery, I used TWO ice machines, one on top of my knee, and one underneath it. However, if you opt for an ice machine with a wrap-around knee attachment, like the Cryo Cuff one above, it can probably keep your entire knee area cool enough. The ice machines stay colder A LOT longer than ice packs, which is ideal for keeping the pain down during the early part of recovery.
To use the ice machine, you add as much ice and possible and then fill with cold water up to the line. You wrap the attachment around your knee and then turn the machine on. The machine pumps the ice-cold water through the attachment and through the “icebox” so it stays cold for many hours. These can definitely be pricey, but the one I linked is just over $100 and well worth it if you are having extensive knee surgery (ACL, total knee, patellar rupture, quad tendon rupture, etc).
Ice Pack Wrap
If you do not have the money or desire to invest in an icing machine, then an ice pack wrap is the next best thing. I used this a lot more on my second surgery. Instead of trying to secure the ice packs with ACE wrap, you just slide them into the ice pack wrap and strap them on. Simply swap out the ice packs when they are no longer cold.
The ice pack wrap allows you to be more mobile and is obviously way cheaper. The ComfiLife one above also serves as a bit of a brace/ compression element which helps a lot during recovery.
A Pill Organizer
Another item I used a lot after my first surgery was a pill organizer. I was on a lot of medication after that surgery, with different medications on different frequencies and so forth. I also had to alternate certain medications. Keeping everything straight was a nightmare.
A pill organizer is an inexpensive, easy solution for managing medication after knee surgery. My mom relabeled the organizer by time, rather than by day for the first couple of weeks. I could read the time and then take the pills that were in that slot, and we would refill it once I went through all the times. This way, I only had one small pill organizer by my bed, rather than bottles and bottles of medication.
Extra Pillows and Blankets
After my surgeries, I used a lot more pillows and blankets than I was used to. I needed extra pillows to prop myself up, to support/elevate my knee, and to place between my legs when sleeping. Because of all the ice, I was using, I was a lot colder than usual. I sometimes had to use two separate blankets, one for the side with my knee and ice, and one for the rest of my body.
You can find blankets and pillows everywhere, but do not underestimate how many you will need after knee surgery, especially if your surgery is during colder months.
A Compression Knee Sleeve
Another great tool for managing pain and swelling after knee surgery is a compression sleeve. While you can use an ACE wrap, it is a lot easier to use a compression sleeve.
I used this a lot throughout my entire recovery, and still use it on occasion today. You do not always have access to ice, especially while on the go. A compression sleeve helps reduce swelling which in turn helps you manage pain. As you progress, you may still get swelling after working out, and throwing on the compression sleeve can help. I highly recommend this small investment as it has helped me so much throughout both of my recoveries.
Ways to Keep Busy
One of the hardest parts about recovering from knee surgery is being sidelined from your normal activities. I spent more time in bed than ever before and really easily felt bored and hopeless.
Keeping buys is paramount for keeping a positive mindset and focusing on things aside from your pain. For this reason, you need to have things to keep you occupied on your knee surgery checklist. Some of the content I enjoyed while recovering includes:
Show suggestions:
- You’re The Worst- Hulu
- She’s Gotta Have It- Netflix
- Shark Tank-Hulu
- Blacki sh- Hulu
- Grown ish- Hulu
- The Santa Clarita Diet- Netflix
- Skins- Netflix
- Degrassi
- Criminal Minds- Netflix
- The Handsmaids Tale- Hulu
Movie suggestions:
- The Maze Runner (and the second one)
- A Dog’s Purpose
- Babadook
- Harry Potter Series
Book/Author ideas:
- Karin Slaughter (The Good Daughter; Pretty Girls)
- Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Sharp Objects)
- Ruth Ware (The Lying Game; In a Dark, Dark Wood)
- Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns)
A Good Mindset
Even more important than many of the physical items listed above on this knee surgery checklist is your mindset. Recovery from knee surgery is many things. It is grueling, difficult, scary, and painful, but it is not easy. To make it through the beginning of your recovery and many of the obstacles after, you need a good mindset. Some qualities to strive for are:
- Patience
- Determination
- Grit
- Positivity
- Resilience
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