Bilateral TKR Bi-lateral PKR August 10

[bobby3850]

It's day 10 after surgery and all is well. Not much pain. I'm taking Oxycontin twice daily and oxycodone only as needed. Also on Celebrex for inflammation. Had my first in-home PT and we took it slow and easy--as recommended by everyone on this board. I have been able to walk with just a cane for support. Can handle stairs slowly and even did a little simple gardening today. I'm very pleased with the progress so far.

I would recommend that anyone thinking about doing bi-lateral knees to do it in summertime. It's certainly easier to get dressed when all I have to put on is a T-shirt and shorts!

 

[Walking]

Hi Bobby,
Good luck with your partial, I had mine on the 18th July. In Australia the OS do not want you to do any other exercises than the prescribed ones for 6weeks. I understand that if you do too much of the sports you want to return to it will mean that the life of the implant will be reduced. I walked around 21 kilometres a day before my op. My OS said if I return to that I would most likely reduce the life to 5 years. And then more likely would need TKR. His comment was what if I can only give you 10 kilometres. I said that I would take it, better than I was before.
Possibly like me you will have to change your thinking about the type and amount you will be able to do!

 

[bobby3850]

Thanks Walking for your comments. My doc has been a little more forgiving than yours seems to be regarding the acceptable stress level on the implants. I did find a 2010 study that showed no difference, after 7 1/2 years, in the level of wear of the implants in a control group and a more active group. Here's the link: broken link removed: https://www.arthritistoday.org/news/knee-arthroplasty-replacement-sports047.php

 

[bobby3850]

I want to return to an active life including skiing, tennis and old man softball. I'm walking pretty well, trying to regain a proper gait. Will start out-patient PT in a week. Meanwhile I have in-home PT. ROM progress is slow but steady. Little pain and lots of motivation to heal. Good luck to us both!

 

[Walking]

Thanks Bobby,
For that link, it is interesting research I guess only time will tell. For me I want to do more almost 6 weeks post op and I am going quietly out of my mind with inactivity. But on the other side do not want to end up with another op this year. Had 2 knee Arthroscopies, one February the other in April. Culminating with the PKR in July.
The only difficulty at the moment is stiffness, knee has achieved 110 degrees bending which apparently quite good. Also there is still some numbness along the side of the incision.
Hope your recovery is as good as mine, because I cancelled a trip to New York to have it done.
Life is not meant to be easy!

 

[bottomshollow]

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[Josephine]

Bobby, we have had that article in our own Library since June 2010!
Sports after TJR: knee replacements not harmed by most sports

 

[bobby3850]

I'm managing stairs okay, but it's much harder going down than up. I can walk around the block easily and I live in the hills. Taking tylenol in the daytime, some oxycodone at night to sleep. Been massaging with "icy hot" around the knees and putting neosporine on the incisions per my PT's recommendation. I will start working out in a pool next week--2 weeks after the stitches came out. Looking forward to that passive resistance which I think will be really helpful.

 

[bobby3850]

Thanks Bobby,
For that link, it is interesting research I guess only time will tell. For me I want to do more almost 6 weeks post op and I am going quietly out of my mind with inactivity. But on the other side do not want to end up with another op this year. Had 2 knee Arthroscopies, one February the other in April. Culminating with the PKR in July.
The only difficulty at the moment is stiffness, knee has achieved 110 degrees bending which apparently quite good. Also there is still some numbness along the side of the incision.
Hope your recovery is as good as mine, because I cancelled a trip to New York to have it done.
Life is not meant to be easy!

Hi Walking,
Hope you're feeling a little better. 3 surgeries (even arthroscopies) in 6 months sounds awful. Hopefully the PKR has solved your problem. I think the stiffness is really common. Both of my knees are stiff 3 weeks post op. But massaging before working out and pushing myself just a little seems to work for me. Plenty of ice too. I don't think you can hurt your PKR--after all, it's cement, titanium and cobalt alloy. Certainly follow the advice on this board and don't push yourself into pain. But a little discomfort might be okay and shouldn't set you back. Good luck! And btw: I cancelled a trip to France and Switzerland for my surgeries.

 

[Walking]

Hi Bobby,

Thanks so much for your kind words. At the moment I am feeling down. Saw my OS on Thursday for the 6 week check. The swelling in my knee has not gone down as much as he would like. All he would allow is the exercise bike and pool. The excercise bike is O/K as I have one, but a pool is more difficult as I live in the Adelaide Hills and to get to one is quite far and by the time you have your hydrotherapy and get home it all seems difficult. I really miss my walking and now we going into Spring the weather is getting better.
I am not due to see him again until December.
Sorry about your cancelled holiday, and yes my year has been rather horrible to say the least!