Bilateral TKR Activity after Bilateral Knee Replacement

BKRCHCK

new member
Joined
Jul 10, 2020
Messages
2
Age
60
Country
United States United States
Gender
Female
I was just informed that bilateral knee replacement surgery is necessary to alleviate pain associated with OA. Before severe arthritis impacted my quality of life, I was very active: karate, motorcycle riding, zumba, basketball, etc, but less so now. I am afraid I will not be able to enjoy any vigorous sports activities if both knees are replaced. I am also relatively young, 56 years old and am very afraid about my future, as I also have a very physically demanding job (veterinarian) and I also travel frequently to Europe on business. I have to decide next week if I will have surgery in September. Any advice or suggestions?
 
@BKRCHCK Welcome to BoneSmart. My colleague @Roy Gardiner had BTKR and is an avid cyclist. I've tagged him to come and chat with you.

BTKR is not the end to your active life. It's a new beginning. I see no reason you should be concerned about continuing to do your job. Yes, there will be a period of recovery. And you might need to limit any lifting at first. Just allow your knees to heal and you will indeed get back to all the activities you love.

BTW - you are the average age for joint replacement. These days people are more active. Joints wear out earlier in life.

Go for the surgery and live again.
 
Hello @BKRCHCK - and :welome:

I know it seems hard right now, but actually your decision is quite simple.
You know that osteoarthritis is going to progress. Your knees won't get better without the surgery, but will continue to deteriorate.
You need to have the surgery. The question is more about when you have it, rather than if you have it.

Knee replacement isn't the end of an active life, but crippling arthritis will be.

You will need a long recovery period - nothing in orthopaedics happens fast - but afterwards you will be active again and I don't see any reason why you won't be able to return to your job.

Have a look at what some of these people are dong after having their knees replaced:
Stories of amazing knee recoveries
 
Hi BKRCHCK

I’m having Bilateral Knee Replacement on July 14. I feel like this is the beginning of a better life. My arthritis just continued to get worse so I am having the surgery. I know recovery will be long and difficult at times but when it’s over my quality of life will be so much better.

After you recover you will be back to enjoying all your activities again..

Go for the surgery...Good luck to you..
 
@BKRCHCK I'm a little older than you, like you I had pain associated with OA which also impacted my life, I had my left knee operated on last year in October, my surgeon was the one to convince me to do it as he said I was too young not to enjoy life .... hopefully :angel:in the near future ( here Portugal they rarely do a bilateral) I can get my other one done as so far it was the BEST decision I ever did, even the after surgery pain etc, is a distant memory, now fast forward 9 months, my left knee is the strongest, no pain whatsoever, I'm back doing everything I enjoyed to prior ( maybe not kneeling but that I can live with :heehee: ) I've since travelled, (prior to Covid19) , other than a "beeping at security" the journey was a doddle. Go girl get your life back and enjoy the future!!:yes!::flwrysmile:
 
I've tagged him to come and chat with you.
And here I am :) :-) (:
I am afraid I will not be able to enjoy any vigorous sports activities
Vigorous activities that involve running will be discouraged. That's because of the impact of your feet on the ground, which is thought possibly to cause or hasten failure of the cement in the joints. Swimming and cycling are low impact and OK. My knees are better on the bike now that pre-surgery & do not limit cycling in any way.
 
All, thank you so very much for your responses and for providing additional information. I am starting a journal and setting goals for the countdown. I want to be able to dance at a friend's wedding and take a trip to Hawaii for my birthday in December!
 
@BKRCHCK - I had bilateral TKR on Mar 16, the day before everything shut down. I’ve always been very active too & my knees limited everything in my life. Today, not quite 4 months after my bilateral TKR, I got my bike & rode 20 miles. I hadn’t been on a bike in years as I’d fall over because I couldn’t get going with my bad knees. My only regret is not having done it sooner!
 

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

  • Jaycey
    ADMINISTRATOR Staff member since February 2011

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
65,180
Messages
1,597,062
BoneSmarties
39,364
Latest member
All2Gd88
Recent bookmarks
0

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom