Double Knee Replacement

[katcat5]

Hi,

I'm having bilateral total knee replacement on January 19th. I am 48 years old and have been dealing with knee pain for 6 years. I am scared spittless! I'm already having anxiety attacks at night when I try to sleep because every worst thought is running through my mind.

Has anyone else had both knees done at the same time? Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can manage my fears these next few weeks until surgery?

thanks.

 

[RickB]

Katcat5,

I’ll be 3 months out form my BTKR on the 4th of this month. Not to scare you
but it was not FUN. The first two weeks are hell, then in begins to get better by the third week on. First you need to get the following: seat for shower, toilet riser, recliner to sleep in and most important, someone to help you get around the first two weeks. It is a must to do your PT now to get ready and after to recover quickly. I am a 63 year young male 6 ft tall, I have kept my self in pretty good shape and my weigh is 178lbs. I was gung ho and thought I could do this with no problems but I was a little crazy. This will be tough but stick with it and before you know, it will be only a memory. I still have a lot of stiffness and swelling but they say this will go away in time. Good luck we will be with you all the way, you will never be alone.

God Bless,
Rick

 

[hollie9]

I would change my appointment to have them done 6 weeks apart. Don't know what I would do without a "good" leg to stand on during recovery.

I've also had both hips resurfaced, 3 months apart...my surgeon wouldn't do them together because it takes such a strong personality to get through it...makes grown football players cry.

My knee surgeon won't do them at the same time, 6 weeks apart minimum.

That being said, there are a lot of people who are glad they did them together. Personally, I wouldn't.

Hollie

 

[Josephine]

There ARE lots and lots of people who have them done simultaneously. It means one lot of anaesthetic and one lot of pain and recovery. Once it's done it's done! You won't have to go through all this anxiety a second time. Think on that!

 

[Simon]

Katcat5

I had BTKR on June 3rd. I am 57 but have had knee problems for more than 40 years including 9 previous major surgeries and a few scopes so my knees were more than a mess. Since I live alone after surgery (4th day postop) I moved upstairs to the inpatient rehab floor and was there for 10 days. This was longer than usually to do some problems that I am sure you would not run into.

Both my knees were so bad, doing both at once was the only option and I think it is the only way to go as you can then rehab them together. I think doing them 6 weeks a part would be difficult rehab wise as you would be trying to use a fairly new knee as your main support.

Number one recommendation is to start exercising now as the stronger your muscles are the faster recovery will be. Don't forget to exercise your upper body as well as you will need the arms to help you out of bed and with the walker etc. Check out the Book Review section as the book Ship4 recommended is excellent and has lots of preop exercises in it. Best cure I know for anxiety is to be well informed so make sure you go to the preop class, talk to the doctor about things like his pain management protocol. This seems to be a problem with doctors of not providing enough pain meds. If he does not seem to want to give you what you need, talk to your primary care doctor to see if they will handle the pain med part. If you have choices as to where you go for PT check them all out now and see which one you connect with. Good PT is critical for success and like doctors, you have to find one you can work with. Once you found the one you might consider having one appointment preop to set up an exercise program. Now your insurance company might not cover that. Also, you have to find out if you will need a doctor's referral. Many states are now have legislation for Direct Access so in those places you can just make an appointment.

Spend time setting up the house, ie get rid of any throw rugs, have a bed downstairs if at all possible. A recliner is a big help as that is the most comfortable place to sit. Cook some meals and have them in the freezer. If you have others in the house it will be easier as you don't have to worry about making sure there is enough toilet paper stocked in the bathroom etc.

You can also check out the hospital to see how things run. Just try and relax and by collecting all the information you need ahead of time will help. Make sure you are clear with the insurance company about the possibility of inpatient rehab (most of them have fairly tight restrictions on this), what do they cover for home health and outpatient PT.

Read through the board as there is lots of information on it.

People here are great about answering questions, so just post away whenever you need to.

Good luck

Simon

 

[ship4]

Katcat5,
I had BTKR on 6/18/08. Both my knees were bad and the OS suggested I have them both done at once as I did not have a good leg to stand on.........
I think it was a great decision. I bought a used Total Gym for $100 on craigslist, set it up in my dining room and did exercises pre-op to strengthen both my upper body and my legs (quads). I did use the book
Simon referred to and still use it! It covers both pre and post op for a full year.... Love it. The recliner was key for me as we have a 2 story home with 15 stair steps. I slept down stairs for the first 6 weeks in the recliner. I lined the recliner with a twin size feather bed that I made a sheet cover to fit the width of the recliner seat. It enabled me to be comfortable and to wash the sheet (my husband actually washed it) and I used pillows to help elevate my knees above my heart (crutial for pain management, comfort, and recovery). Be prepared as Simon suggested. I had meals in the freezer prepared as well. What a help that was......
Worrying is wasted energy, so get busy and be as informed as possible. Here is a link to my OS website information with answers to broken link removed: https://www.concordortho.com/uploads/Total%20Knee%20FAQs.pdf: another about broken link removed: https://www.concordortho.com/patient-education/topic-detail-popup.aspx?topicID=392a18cac1daf6ad724e272b1679a242.
Hope this information helps! I plan on going back to downhill skiing in late February or Early March. My knees no longer swell, I have minor awareness of the weather changes now. I did use magnetic therapy while healing by wearing 2 magnetic ankle bracelets and a magnetic necklace to keep the magnetic energy in my body flowing in the right direction. I also started drinking 2 oz of Mona Vie in the AM and PM, which helped me tremendously!
You will do fine when you are totally informed about what is going to happen to you. Take the time to watch the entire surgery so you know exactly what will happen to you. It is a little over an hour long. Believe me it is worth it!
Best,
Crystal

 

[Gretchendz]

Cat,

The vast majority of us who have this surgery do just great. It is one of the safest surgeries with the best results anywhere...

As to the bilat versus one at a time debate...who knows? My sister had both done at once cause her insurance and sick leave were bad. Most docs around my area will rarely do both at once. I had mine done 6 months apart. I think she was the brave one as I saw her go through a tougher recovery than me, I felt. She says I was the brave one cause she didn't think she could go through it twice Guess it all depends!

Feel free to list your specific fears her and let folks respond. We won't lie; it is a tough recovery--but most of us find the results are SO WORTH IT! I, like so many others, feel I am literally getting my life back.

 

[soccernut13]

I had a double knee replacement in June. I wouldn't have done it any other way. You're going to have pain so why do it twice. Plus, having them both done at the same time eliminates a lot of physical therapy. Yes, the first month was very hard but if you have someone there to help, it will make it easier. My only problem was I had scar tissue build up really fast even though I was doing all the exercises that the therapist gave me. My only option to that was a manipulation. Sounds horrible, but, I wish I would have had it done sooner. I had mine when I was about 8 weeks after surgery. They have to put you under again but it is outpatient. The Dr. just takes the knees and bends to break up all the bad stuff. Afterward, I no longer limped with the left leg, my bend on both was significantly better, and there really wasn't any pain associated with having it done. Yeah! I am only 59 and considered myself in good shape from playing soccer. But, the dr. said that some people just are more susceptible to the scar tissue build up. I work out in a pool almost every day. Lots of stretching and bending. Right now it's been about 6 months. Some stairs are still a bit tricky but I work it out. I am also not playing soccer anymore, not high impact sports so that's out. I am playing golf, or trying to anyway.
Just remember that there is alight at the end of the tunnel and you will probably wish you hadn't done the surgery the first month or 2 after but it does get better with time.
Hope this makes you feel better about having the surgery.

 

[Josephine]

Nice post, soccernut. Welcome to BoneSmart!

 

[Rowdy66]

Hon, I am twenty years older than you are and had both knees done at the same time and wouldn't have done it any other way. You will be fine, just do what the surgeon tells you and think good thoughts. There is no way we can predict what will happen to us in this life, so much is beyond our control. One thing we can control is what we think about and if I were you I would be thinking about all the good things. Like how lucky you are to live in a time and in a place where with good insurance you can have this kind of surgery and expect to recover to full capacity every quickly. Yes, the first couple of weeks are a bit hard but you will get through them and they are no way as bad as the pain you are going through now. You will be tired and need plenty of rest, you will need to exercise and ice and elevate and get good nutrition and this site is a wonderul way to stay upbeat and talk to people who are there to encourage you and give you good advice. Jo will be able to answer the more serious problems but that won't stop the rest of us from putting in our two cents so you can see you are going to be covered regardless. As for the panic attackes if they are that bad get your doctor to give you something for them. Just remember that the sooner you have the surgery the sooner you will be back in your life living and doing what you want, not in pain and miserable but whole again. Good luck. Rowdy

 

[richfriz]

I also had both done at once. Its not easy but If I had only had one done I would now be dreading going back in for the second!
I am glad I did both at the same time!

Good luck. Its not easy but in reality it not that hard either.

 

[katcat5]

Thank you so much for all the kind words of support and encouragement.

Just a little less than three weeks to go till surgery ( Jan 19 ) and I'm trying really hard to be as prepared as I can. I'm working the lower body but the upper body exercises are so hard for us women, but I'm trying.

I so appreciate this forum, it's been a life saver and a wealth of information.

thank you.

Kat

 

[Pa guy]

Kat,
Just think of all the pain and limitations your going threw now will be gone in a few weeks.
I have had 6 knee surgeries prior to my TKR in feb, the anxiety was hard to deal in all them, will be going in for a revision Jan 5th.
After having that one done i could not imagine how people could deal with having both done at the same time,but now i am faced with having it done again!
Knowing whats ahead now the anxiety and stress is truly 10X worse, doing both now is the best thing you can do, not only for yourself but your over all health and well being.
Keep your chin up, before you know it you will be hitting the floor running.
Your in our thoughts and prayers best wishes to you.

 

[cheryl50]

Hi Kat,
I am right behind you on 2/2/09 and scared to death as well. I have been reading this forum and am taking in all the tips I can get so I can be as prepared as possible. The people on here are God send's and are helping me with all the anxiety. I got the TKR book and it is good. I'll be looking for your posts and wishing you the best of luck! Even though I don't really know you, we are going to do this together!
Cheryl

 

[Turtlelady53]

Kat,
I haven't posted on this forum for quite a while but thought I take a peeksy to see how folks were doing when your post caught my eye. I am just over the 6-month mark for BTKR. Although my dr. didn'toutright recommend it, he gave me all the pros and cons and let me make the decision. Yes, it was a tough row to hoe, but I'm eternally grateful that I won'thave to go through it again. I was in the hospial for a week due to a blood clot complication but then came straight home instead of to rehab since I had help at home and was physically strong. Therapy is not fun, but at least you can get it over with once and not go through it again. I think as long as you are strong physically and have a good mental outlook, you'll be glad to get it over with. I've had a lot of issues with scarring and lack of ROM, but when I look at where I was at a year ago, I begin to feel blissful. I remember Christmas shopping last year and could hardly make it into the store and back out to the car. Now I'm walking the malls. Getting up and down stairs is still a bit difficult, but walking and sleeping is just so much better. Whenever I get frustrated, I just think about how much pain I was in before surgery.

Good luck to you. This forum got me through the pre-surgery jitters and gave me some realistic expectations. You should do just fine. Let your friends/family pamper you because you'll deserve it!

Sharon

 

[Gretchendz]

It can be scary, yes...but 90% of us are VERY happy with the results. I had TKR on my right knee in April. Even though my ROM on that knee is not great (probably 120 on the best day), the lack of bone on bone pain was amazing.

When I scheduled the left TKR for October, I was only a tiny bit scared--mainly I kept feeling the pain in my left knee and comparing it to my pain-free right knee. I was anxious to get the left knee done because I knew how good the results would be

Even though it is very major surgery--your medical personnel almost certainly do them all the time. Follow their directions, visit this forum often and ask folks here ANYTHING and the chance of complications is very very small.

Good luck!

 

[referee54]

Hi,

I'm having bilateral total knee replacement on January 19th. I am 48 years old and have been dealing with knee pain for 6 years. I am scared spittless! I'm already having anxiety attacks at night when I try to sleep because every worst thought is running through my mind.

Has anyone else had both knees done at the same time? Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can manage my fears these next few weeks until surgery?

thanks.

I had my bilateral done November 8th of 2007. It was definitely worth it...the therapy session were arduous, but I have my life back together now, and, while I cannot ref football or basketball anymore, I can umpire and I cycle more now than I did before surgery.

Calm down and remember that you are taking a pro-active method of dealing with what has gone on in your life; though the PT is challenging, you can and will be able to put the pieces of your life's puzzle back together again.

Tim C.

 

[Max Wallace]

Sorry for the late reply.

I am 7 weeks out from BI-TKR, I am 46 and needed this for 10 years prior. The surgery will change your life I am doing things that I only dreamed of doing for the last 10 years. Encouragement is all I can offer. I was on the gurney and had second thoughts glad I kept my mouth shut. I know different people have different outcomes but I could tell imediately the day after surgery when the PT stood me up for the first time (I had pain) but it was not my knee joint it was muscle pain and that would go away.When I was in PT at the hospital the PT Techs would get concerned because I would be walking with my walker and just stop and stand there. I had to explain that it had been years since I could stand without pain and that I was just enjoying myself.