Joint replacement and Fitbit devices: what have been your experiences?

[Sunnylane]

If you have had a knee or Hip replacement how has your fit bit helped you recover. What model fit bit do you use and why?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Shopper01]

I had a second hip replacement a year ago.  Fitbit was, and still is invaluable.  

Before surgery, my doctor impressed on me just how important it was to prepare for this surgery by doing my exercises, eating, being hydrated & sleeping well, so I used the basic Fitbit app to help me with some of these tasks. 

During the first five days in hospital, I only used my tracker for the hourly reminders to walk 250 steps.  My physio was taking me for short walks from day one. 

So, I got up, as often as I felt able, highly medicated for the pain, on the walking frame, and I walked up and down those corridors, a little further each time.  On day one, I only did two walks, and there was no way I could reach 250 steps, but I did what my body would let me do.  Gradually over the next few days, and with perseverance, I got there. I was letting my body heal by sleeping; wow, could I sleep!  My success was motivating me to compete against my own stats. no one else's.  The pain was decreasing and I became confident really quickly.  I went home nine days later, after five day's extra rehab, confident that I could manage my recovery on my own - with a bit of help from my friends for a couple of weeks. 

I still use my Fitbit. 

A bit about me?  I'm one of those people the Covid team would currently call 'old and 'vulnerable', but I certainly don't feel that way.  My Fitbit tracker has been marvellous in supporting me on my journey to improve my health. I'm fitter and healthier now and I don't have the pain I use to have, but I do select only the parts of the app that are appropriate to my personal circumstances.

[SunsetRunner]

I’ve had a knee replacement and other health issues over the years where I had to start back from just a couple hundred steps/day and work up to my normal steps. I’ve had various Fitbit devices over these years but have used them all pretty much the same. 

• I kept adjusting my step goal (with approval) so I could still get the celebrations, even if my goal was much less than 1,000. I found this motivating.  And as @Sunnylane mentioned, “My success was motivating me to compete against my own stats. no one else's.”  I found that part motivating, too. And sharing screens with PT and my doctors, they could see evidence of my hard work.
• In a couple situations, I was not supposed to be weight bearing yet they wanted my legs moving. So I bought an under table elliptical and peddled away with my Fitbit at my ankle. Yes, this can skew other data, but it captures steps just fine and that’s what I was supposed to track.
• The docs and I also analyzed sleep data to determine when to take or adjust pain meds. It was also a good measure of defining when I was overdoing it and needed to be patient.
• And again, like @Shopper01, the reminders to move were invaluable. The docs liked that I had a concrete way of making sure I was moving enough and at regular times to avoid the formation of DVTs. 

Good luck with your surgery, @Sunnylane !

[JimiSmoth]

That's an interesting topic