Both Knees at the same time,,Nickel allergy!!!

[elmtree777]

Well guys, I must tell you I have been lurking here for a couple weeks now and am really scared! I am scheduled for bilateral knee replacement on the 30 of this month. I have nickle allergies and am about 100 lbs overwieght...I am a pretty strong person but this whole thing has got me scared...I am really starting to think I have bitten off more than I can chew, as my mother used to say...Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated...Do you think I can do both knees? My Dr. says neither one would hold up if I did one at a time..I would just have to go through the operation twice.,.,so....what do you think?

 

[Judles]

Welcome,Elm! You've come to the right place!
I'm a hippie so I can't offer any medical advice! Trust in your surgeon,,,,He will guide you properly, You will also be having pre_admission testing! Any questions should be addressed directly to your doctor! Best of luck & let us know how you do! ;
If your hospital offers a pre surgical joint replacement class,make sure to take it to familiarize yourslf with important info!

 

[Max Wallace]

ELM.

I had BI-TKR on 11-13-08 like you I am about 100# overweight. The surgery went fine and I started PT day one just stand,day 2 stand and walk 30 feet with walker, day 3 walk another 100 feet. After that I was transfered to a hospital rehab facility for 7 days. when I was released I could walk with a walker, navigate ramps and low stairs, get in and out of bed, in and out of chairs and other daily activities. The PT was no cake walk but it was easier than I expected. I am now 14 weeks post op and have lost about 30#. I had the same reservation that you are having but the DR. was very upbeat and assured me every thing would be OK. I don't have any experience with nickel allergies but I know my knee is a Smith and Nephew OXINIUM which has a highbrid metal and contains no nickel. I am sure your DR. has taken that into account and can provide you with info on the exact implant he uses.

Some things you will need at home are a raised toilet seat, a shower seat (adjustable), a walker, cane, ice pack and heating pads, a piece of 4 inch thick foam rubber(place in chairs, recliners, any seat that is low and hard to get up and out of, I carried mine with me everywhere for a couple of weeks).

I dont think there are many people faced with major surgery that don't have second thoughts. I was in the pre-op are already preped and ready, laying there waiting to be taken to surgery and thinking I can still change and have just one knee done the next thing I new I woke up in recovery with two new knees.

This surgery will change your life, I am doing things now that I have'nt done in 10-15 years. Each day I discover new things that I can do without pain.

Max

GOOD LUCK! Trust you DR.

 

[Sandy R]

Welcome Elm... how is your OS addressing your nickel allergy. I'm also allergic to nickel. My OS gave me a Smith & Nephew Oxinium component because of my nickel allergy. I'm 5 1/2 months post-op and haven't had a problem with my TKR!
Sandy

 

[JudyS]

Welcome Elm
I am a hippy and want to welcome you.

I think Max's post said it all. Trust your doc, it will be rough for a few weeks, but you will gain sooooo much.
We are all here for questions, comments, whinning, whatever you need
Judy

 

[elmtree777]

Thanks Guys; I needed that Max!
My Dr. is quite aware of my nickle allergy...I dont know what he is using, but they said it would work just as well..I thought they said it was stainless steel...Honestly I have had to take in so much information lately that I probably was told, but didn't retain it..I am doing the exercises that they gave me and trying to stay positive, but Man I am REALLY ANXIOUS....But I guess if you guys can do it ...I can too...sure hope it ends up being worth it!

 

[GaryM]

Hey Elm welcome. Had both done in July 08. It was tough but I am so glad I had it done. I am still a little stiff though it gets better everyday. Life is so much easier now. I also have a Smith Nephew. Take you PT serious.

I was also nervous. You"ll be ok. You have so many new friends here with so much information to offer.

 

[Josephine]

Elm - it's perfectly normal to feel anxious >> terrified! I'm having mine done next Tuesday and despite 2 years of soothing fevered brows on here and 50 odd years as OR nurse in joint replacements, I am also very nervous! Why shouldn't we be? It's not like going for to choose a new suit or something! It's a BIG life decision. Just go with the flow and try to think of other things like preparing for the post-op PT.

And nickel allergies are becoming more and more common so there are special implants being produced to address the problem. You're the third we had here this year.

Oops - almost forgot - welcome to BoneSmart and really glad you decided to stop lurking and join the family!

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Elm!!! Welcome to the forum! You have made a big decision and it takes a brave perosn to get this far. I had a RTKR about a year ago and I too was nervous about the decision right up to the day I went in. You just have to keep plugging through each day until you go in....find some things to occupy your mind so you don't think about it so much. Max gave you excellent information. And post here whenever you are feeling a little rocky. There will always be someone available to help get you through it. Once the surgery is completed, your new life will begin!

 

[elmtree777]

Thanks to all of you that replied...I guess I will hang up and phone and not call the Dr. to cancel after all...Ha... I remember when my husband and I used to pack a lunch and bike all day on trails and enjoy the outdoors...that was 5 years ago and 50 lbs lighter ago...I really miss that...Sure do hope we can recover some of that fun after I get my bionic knees..Ha.. wonder if I could get a face lift at the same time...and a belly tuck and a good dye job and my eyebrows waxed...I could really be a new woman when I rehap...Ha...thanks again guys...really needed some pick me up today...I'm sure I will be back soon..Ha...

 

[Josephine]

Well, having had my pre-op today, I came home, spent some time on here and then fell asleep. Woke up in a tither a couple of hours later thinking (dreaming) "OH NO! I had this done and now what if I change my mind?"

Happily it only lasted a few moments!

 

[Nursepair]

Welcome Elm, you will get a near normal life back again, most of us have never regretted it!!

Jo, don't you dare change your mind, just think of all those shopping trips you can go on again and you will finally be able to tell the grocery stores you don't want that disabled parking spot any more anyway!!!!!!!!! LOL........Take care now, no more broken toes do you hear? ((((HUGS)))) of confidence, Sue xoxoxo

 

[elmtree777]

You know..I had my pre off conversations yesterday and that is what freaked me out...It seemed soooo real when they were describing what I needed to do and what was going to happen..Kinda wish I knew less than I do now..YOu know the ole "ignorance is bliss" quote..I was very blase until I left the office yesterday and then I crashed..Just sat in the car and wondered what I had gotten myself in for...So decided to post here this morning for some encouragement, and sure got some...You guys are the BEST!!

 

[Nursepair]

You are welcome Elm. I wish I had found this site before my op , I found it in desperation after. I wasn't at all prepared for such a long recovery, thought it would be a month or so. Never even got a pre op talk other than from the OS, months before!! Been here evr since (14 months now)

 

[Josephine]

mI had my pre-op today and this afternoon I woke from a nap seeing myself being wheeled out of the theatre and thinking "OH NO! Suppose I don't like this - I can't change my mind now!"

I just shared that with my sister a while ago and she told me about a young girl in the throes of labour (and back when home deliveries were the norm). Was a hot summer's day and everyone had all their windows open and the entire neighbourhood could hear her screaming "No, no - stop it! I've changed my mind!"

 

[cheryl50]

Hi Elmtree,
I had both knees done 2/2/09. My OS gave me the option of doing them both or one at a time 6 weeks apart. I work and the recovery time woud have been longer doing them separately, so I did them both. Many times prior to surgery I questioned "WHAT THE HECK AM I THINKING???", but the OA pain kept bringing me back to the fact that it was what I need to do to live the rest of my life happily. I am 5 weeks post op and doing great. I stood and walked on day 2, came home with a walker on day 5, switched to a cane on day 7, and now I get around unaided ok.
The worst part of all of it was the pain and sleep loss. My pain never really got managed well in the hospital. Icing really helps more than you would expect. I couldn't sleep more than 30 minutes in the beginning, but now I am up to 3-4 hours at a time.
You will need as much courage to get through the PT as the surgery. It is hard work and you have to be committed to do it.
It is all very scary, but if it is what you really need, then you will do it. This forum is a fabulous source and knowledge is power. I think I read every post! Best of luck!
Cheryl

 

[Simon]

My OS normally does not like to do both at once but like you I knew the other would not hold up and he agreed to do both at the same time. Because I live alone I went from the surgery floor up to inpatient rehab for 11 days. This is longer than most because I had a few other problems. I also was 100 pounds overweight but was able to lose it before I had surgery but then gained back 40 pounds as the knees got worse and I broke my foot. I have now lost most of that.

My BTKR was June 3 2008 and it was a little slow going but things turned out great and I am glad I finally did it. Should have done it years ago.

This forum is great, so just ask your questions.

Simon

 

[Jamie]

Great news, Cheryl. You certainly put the decision for a BTKR in perspective. No doubt your hard work contributed to the success you've achieved. It's a day brightener to read a post like yours!

 

[Judles]

Yay Cheryl! It must certainly have been twice the pain,,,,but now you're done!!!And you can just let the healing continue!!!

 

[Gretchendz]

mI had my pre-op today and this afternoon I woke from a nap seeing myself being wheeled out of the theatre and thinking "OH NO! Suppose I don't like this - I can't change my mind now!"

I just shared that with my sister a while ago and she told me about a young girl in the throes of labour (and back when home deliveries were the norm). Was a hot summer's day and everyone had all their windows open and the entire neighbourhood could hear her screaming "No, no - stop it! I've changed my mind!"

*laughing* My mother claims that as my father drove her to the hospital to deliver me--her first child--that she cryed "I'm not sure we should have gotten into this." To which he said "It's a LITTLE LATE NOW!"