HealthCare USA

Article

5 Things I Wish Someone Recommended Me Before My Knee Replacement

Published: Monday, September 8, 2025

By: Margaret Ann Whitaker 61, Orlando, FL, Retired Teacher

(Me and Dr. Andrews on March 6th, 2025)

I’m 65, and earlier this year I had my first knee replacement surgery. 

 

Let me tell you — it was harder than I ever imagined. 

 

The surgery itself went fine, but the recovery was where the real challenge started. 

 

I kept thinking, “Why didn’t anyone warn me about this part?”

 

There are a few simple things that could have made my recovery so much easier if I had only known about them ahead of time. 

 

That’s why I’m sharing the 5 things I wish someone had told me before my knee replacement. 

 

These items became absolute lifesavers for me, and I hope they can help you too.

 

 

1. Knee Ice Wrap

My doctor told me, “Just use ice.” 

 

At the time, I thought that meant grabbing a regular ice pack from the freezer. 

 

But here’s what I didn’t realize: regular ice pads don’t wrap around your whole knee.

 

After surgery, the swelling isn’t just near the scar — it’s all around the knee.

 

Basic ice packs only sit on top, and you can’t move around with them. 

 

You’re stuck on the couch, holding it in place, and the second you stand up it falls off.

 

What I wish I had known sooner is that you can get special knee ice wrap on Amazon that actually wrap around your knee. 

 

They strap on securely, so you can walk around the house while keeping your leg cool and supported. 

 

It makes a huge difference when the swelling hits.

 

My tip: get two wraps. 

 

That way one stays in the freezer while you’re using the other. 

 

When one warms up, you just switch it out instantly and keep going.

 

 

2. Toilet Rail

My doctor told me I’d be walking the same day as surgery, and technically, I was. 

 

But what no one explained is that standing up is the hardest and most complex movement after knee replacement. 

 

For two weeks I couldn’t stand up normally without something to push off from.

 

At my age, I’m not strong enough to balance on one leg and push myself up. 

 

That’s why having a toilet safety rail was a necessity, not a luxury. 

 

Every time I had to sit down or stand up, the rail gave me the steady support I needed.

 

Some people try using a grab bar instead, which can also help, but please, if you choose one, do not use the suction cup kind.

 

They can slip right off when you put your weight on them. 

 

The last thing you want is to fall and injure yourself again right after surgery.

 

 

3. Leg Lifter

One thing I was never prepared for was how impossible it felt to lift my leg into bed after surgery. 

 

Your quadriceps, the main muscle that lifts your leg, are extremely weak right after a knee replacement.

 

At first, I tried lifting my leg by grabbing under my thigh with both hands. 

 

Sometimes I even hooked a towel under my foot and pulled it up. 

 

But it was awkward, painful, and honestly a little dangerous. 

 

There were a few times I almost lost my balance trying to wrestle my leg into bed.

 

Then I found out you can get a simple leg lifter strap on Amazon. 

 

It has a loop for your foot and a sturdy handle, so you can guide your leg up and down safely without straining yourself. 

 

I wish I had ordered it sooner.

 

 

4. Shower Chair With Arms

Taking a shower was the thing I feared the most after surgery. 

 

Standing on a slippery floor with a weak leg and stitches in my knee felt terrifying. 

 

My balance wasn’t good, my other leg wasn’t strong enough to hold me up, and even holding onto the wall didn’t feel safe.

 

That’s why a shower chair with arms is an absolute must after knee replacement. 

 

It gives you a safe place to sit while you wash, so you don’t risk slipping or losing your balance. 

 

I used mine every single day for the first month.

 

Some people think they’ll be fine holding onto a grab bar or leaning on the wall, but one small slip in the shower could undo your whole recovery. 

 

 

5. Car Support Handle

The last thing I’ll mention is something I didn’t even know existed until my PT told me about it — a car support handle. 

 

Think of it like a toilet rail, but made for your car. 

 

You simply slip it into the U-shaped door latch that every car has on the frame, and it instantly becomes a sturdy handle you can use to push yourself up or lower yourself down safely.

 

It works no matter what kind of vehicle you drive. 

 

In a low car, it gives you the leverage to rise without putting all the pressure on your new knee. 

 

In a higher SUV, it helps you lower yourself with control, instead of dropping into the seat and jolting your leg. 

 

Either way, it gives you something solid to hold onto, which is especially important because the ground outside the car is not always flat or stable.

 

As I already said, standing up, especially from lower seats, is the most complex movement after surgery, and for me it was mission impossible without the right tools.

 

So, this one became an absolute necessity.

 

You have to get in and out of the car many times for follow-up appointments, physical therapy sessions, and checkups. 

 

Having this handle gave me peace of mind every single time. 

 

But let me give you one very important warning. 

 

I don’t recommend getting this product from Amazon. 

 

They’re very cheaply made, and one of my friends had hers break while she was getting out of the car. 

 

She fell, broke her wrist, and even tore her surgical stitches, which led to a revision surgery.

 

After seeing that, I started looking for the best, safest brand for this product. 

 

That’s when I found GripStander. 

 

It feels incredibly sturdy, and I’ve been very happy with the quality.

 

You can get it on this link:

 

https://gripstander.com/products/gripstander%E2%84%A2-2-0-car-assist-handle

 

Here is a short video that shows exactly how it works because most people have never seen this before.

I hope sharing these five things I wish I had known will make your journey a little smoother, a little safer, and a lot less stressful. 

 

Wishing you a safe and speedy recovery.