In kneed of gift suggestions

February 16, 2013 6:09 AM

What can I get my mom, preferably thematic, as she's on bed rest for knee surgery?

She'll be having arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus next Friday. This seems like the most low-key kind of knee surgery, and she's very excited to have confirmation that there's actually something wrong with her knee, since it's been a problem for quite a few months.

She'll be limited to bed rest at home for the 3 days following surgery. She claims to have sufficient tv and books for that period. She's not supposed to use a laptop during recovery but has an ipad she can play with.

My entertainment gift ideas so far are things like Mad Libs or Yes/Know invisible ink books. I'd like to get something knee-related (knitting Kneedles were my first thought, but she's a crocheter and not interested in branching out). Also, I'm not local, so any gifts will have to be mailable or coordinated with a local business.

posted by casualinference to grab bag (6 answers total)

Maybe buy her a copy of Misery so she can commiserate with James Caan?

My mom had this surgery a couple of years ago -- she's a pretty active person, but after the meniscus surgery, she spent several days sleeping, surfing the internet (we didn't have a no-laptop rule), and watching a dvd boxed set of a classic tv series she had loved years before -- that is, until the oft-repeated theme song (played during the opening credits, closing credits, and menu) started driving her beyond the point of bonkers. She wasn't interested in books or crosswords or suduko or anything that required that sort of engaged focus. YMMV of course.

We got her a sturdy ice bag, which she used a lot. And the usual flowers/candy/magazines.
posted by mochapickle at 7:31 AM on February 16

My husband had this on both knees and spent maybe a day laying around after - was truly not a big deal for him. You might enquire if the no laptop rule is meant to keep weight off her thigh for circulation - if so a bed tray on legs that would let her use her laptop might be a really welcome gift. Something like this perhaps?
posted by leslies at 8:41 AM on February 16

How about a hand held old school soccer game/football game?
posted by maxg94 at 8:56 AM on February 16

A super-practical gift: a Moji knee icepad. They are pricey ($100) but amazing, they don't hurt the way that normal ice does and are designed to make contact all around the knee. I don't know if having something velcroed around her knee would be prohibited immediately after surgery, but her knee is still going to ache for some time and again, these things are awesome.

http://www.gomoji.com/products/moji_knee/1.php
posted by Anwan at 10:01 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]

Practical stuff:
Does she have one of the grabby claw reach-extender things? That was super-helpful for picking up dropped things when a relative had knee surgery.

Will she be using a walker? Walker bags that tie/velcro on the frame are great for bringing your book / water / grabby claw with you around the house.
posted by momus_window at 10:16 AM on February 16

I'd like to get something knee-related (knitting Kneedles were my first thought,

I'm striking out on knee-related, but would she get a laugh at, and possibly have someone to play with, the game of Operation? Yes, it's a kids game, but with enough drugs in you it could be kind of fun. If she has someone with her, it would be something for them both to do together. Depends on the kind of person your mom is whether she'd find humor in that type of thing.

Send her this card?

Call her up with bad knee jokes?

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Knee!
Knee who?
Knee-d you ask!

A man goes into the doctor.He says, "Doc, you gotta check my leg. Something's wrong. Just put your ear up to my thigh, you'll hear it!"The doctor cautiously placed his ear to the man's thigh, only to hear, "Gimme 20 bucks. I really need 20 bucks.""I've never seen or heard anything like this before. How long has this been going on?" The doctor asked."That's nothing Doc. Put your ear to my knee."The doctor put his ear to the man's knee and heard it say, "Man, I really need 10 dollars. Just lend me 10 bucks!!""Sir, I really don't know what to tell you. I've never seen anything like this." The doctor was dumbfounded."Wait Doc, that's not all. There's more, just put your ear up to my ankle," the man urged him.The doctor did as the man said and was blown away to hear his ankle plead, "Please, I just need 5 dollars. Lend me 5 bucks, please, if you will.""I have no idea what to tell you. There's nothing about it in my books," he said, as he frantically searched all his medical reference books."I can make a well educated guess though," he continued. "Based on life and all my previous experience, I can tell you that your leg seems to be broke in three places."


Old man Johnson limped into the doctor's office and said, "Doc, my knee hurts so bad, I can hardly walk!"
The doctor slowly eyed him from head to toe, paused and then said, "Mr. Johnson, just how old are you?"
"98!" Johnson announced proudly.
The doctor just sighed, and looked at him again.. .
Finally he said, "Sir, I'm sorry. I mean, just look at you. You're practically one hundred years old, and you're complaining that your knee hurts? Well, what did you expect?"
The old man said, "Well, my other knee is 98 years old too, and it don't hurt!"

There may be some other groan-worthy jokes out there if you google, and there's a few good cartoons here.

My nephew has a T-shirt that says I took an arrow to the knee. I don't know much about the meme, but it has something to do with gaming, I believe. Not sure if something like that would be appropriate.

When I was laid up with my knee replacement and drugged up, the funniest thing ever was playing with virtual bubble wrap.

Good luck to your mom with her surgery.
posted by BlueHorse at 1:50 PM on February 16