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Hoping For A Short Recovery Time

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dlamore

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Apr 4, 2009
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I am scheduled 4/29 for both knees also. I need to see my doctor Monday because I am really worried. My job, I can be out for 12 weeks the very most. I will lose my position
and location. We use to own the store, now I manage it and It has been my life. They say with two knees there is more risk and my company thinks I will be out too long. I have been reading everyones stories and I guess I have a 50/50 chance. Thanks for your stories.
 
Re: Both Knees at the same time,,Nickel allergy!!!

Welcome to the forum, Dlamore. So glad you have joined in.

It is true that everyone's recovery is their own. Some heal faster than others and there is really no way to predict how yours will go. If work is an issue, I think you are wise to have both done at once. A number of forum members have been very successful with that. Hopefully you have read posts from some of them.

Are you familiar with the Family Medical Leave Act (here is the link: broken link removed: https://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/benefits-leave/fmla.htm)? Is that what you will be invoking to get the 3 months maximum that you could be off work? Or is that 3 months some type of vacation or sick leave you have saved up? If it's vacation or sick leave, you are permitted to take that PLUS the 12 weeks of Family Medical Leave....providing your business has at least 50 employees.

Assuming you don't have any problems with your recovery, you should be able to go back to work within that 12-week time frame. Don't make any promises though until you see how you're doing around the 6 week mark. And when you DO go back, it will be much better if you could phase back in with half days or every other day. You will get more tired than you ever imagined when you first try that work routine again.
 
I moved your post to it's own thread in the Knee Surgery Recovery Forum. This will give your question the attention it deserves as members respond to you.
 
Welcome Diamore! And best of good luck to you!!! :)
 
That's a shame you have constraints about time off. There's nothing can hinder your progress as a pressure on you to get well within a specified time. The human body just doesn't work like that! I wonder how these managers or HR persons would cope if they were in your shoes!
 
Thank you, I have been reading your stories for some time and they have been helpful. It is my job that might be the reason I change my mind on having one knee instead of two. I have 12 weeks disability leave, after that I will have a job just not my position. I think it gives me more motivation to work hard in pt to get back to work. I just don't think I can go through with 2 knees and get back in time. Lets see what the Doc says. Thanks again
 
Diamore, Welcome to the Forum. I got to say this. Not that I would try to influence anyone.

I had both knees done at the same time and according to my OS did better than most people who only have one knee done. I do not think it matters whether you have one or both done as far as recovery time goes. I do think there are a couple of factors that our moderators have been saying over and over but I am gonna say it too.

1. Jo said it best when she said that when you put the pressure of time constraints on the human body it just does not work out. Stress and that is one of the worst stresses you can put on yourself, takes its tole on the human body. You are going to spend needless time worrying about getting back and it is bound to effect the healing process.

2. Getting enough rest, icing and elevating and taking the stool softeners as just a must. Just as big a must is getting adequate pain medication. Too many people are worrying about getting addicted to drugs when they should be worried about getting enough pain medication to relieve the pain. You can take the pain medication and when it is time to stop you can taper off of it with no ill effects.

When I decided to have both knees done at the same time I knew it was the right decision for me. People would ask how I was going to manage with no GOOD leg to stand on. I told them it didn't matter, even if I only had one done I would still not have a good leg to stand on. I think it is wonderful that more and more you see bilaterals being done not just single knees. If I were you I would at least discuss my concerns with my OS before I totally changed my mind.

Good luck. Rowdy
 
Thank you for your imput and I won't make up my mind until I speak to the doctor. Maybe I just need to put it all in Gods hands.
 
That's always a good plan, Dlamore......things always have a way of working out for the best that way. Here's a ((((HUG))))) for you!!
 
Good plan .... God's plan! And He has one just for you!
 
See a PT and get some exercises now, you've got 3 weeks. After surgery your body will pretty quickly snap back to whatever shape it was in prior to surgery. So if you're quad is all atrophied and your ROM is only 90. That's what your muscles and connective tissue expect to have to provide. Getting more is a struggle. But, you can move some of the struggle to now. If you can build your ROM up by a couple of degrees before replacement, it will save you time later, same with quad strength.

Good luck
 
Thank you, I have been reading your stories for some time and they have been helpful. It is my job that might be the reason I change my mind on having one knee instead of two. I have 12 weeks disability leave, after that I will have a job just not my position. I think it gives me more motivation to work hard in pt to get back to work. I just don't think I can go through with 2 knees and get back in time. Lets see what the Doc says. Thanks again

Being self employed, I had constraints on my time off as well. I truly could not afford to take 9 - 12 weeks off for one surgery and then do it again and take another 9-12 12 weeks off. The OS told me I was an ideal candidate for BTKR because I did not have a good leg to stand on and I was montivated to recover. I decided it was in my own best interest as well, to do them both at the same time particularly because of the limited time and because I did not have a good leg to stand on....... It is my belief when you have one TKR done, you use your other leg more to help you get around. With having both knees replaced at the same time, the legs recovered equally and in a reasonable amount of time. I was back 9 weeks post op from BTKR, working full time on my own (without the help of another person) caring for 6 preschool children. I operate a licensed family child care in my home. I did have 9 children ( 6 preschool age children and 3 school age children) enrolled 12 days post op with the help of one of the parents who is a teacher and was off for the summer months. She stayed with me for 7 weeks during the summer running my business as I rested and did PT and rode my stationary bike. For me, if I were to make the choice now, I would definitely do them both at once. Consider all the patients who were supposed to have 2 of them done, did the first one and then said they were not going to go through that again........ How sad is that, because they do not get their life back doing all the things they wanted to do...... JMO
Best,
Crystal
 
I am hoping to have a BTKR as soon as school gets out in June. I will then have about 8 weeks to recover before the new school year starts and I plan to be back at work then. My OS said it is possible but I may still be using a mobility aid of some sort. I hope he is right. Some of the stories I am reading on this website are making me nervous.
 
BigRed,
If you are motivated, you should have no problem. I have a family child care business and care for 6 preschool children between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM. I had help for 7 weeks during the summer after my BTKR, and I used a stationary bike and a total gym during recovery. I used the book with all the exercises specified and how to proceed...... It was great! I was back skiing (downhill ~ alpine) at 7.5 months post op.
Go for it, you will do fine!
Best,
Crystal
 
BigRed, Glad you found the forum. Don't let the stories scare you, everyone is different. I am 67 and had a BTKR in May and did really well. Unfortunately there is no way you can predict which person will heal slow and which will have a speedy recovery. I think that keeping a positive attitude was a big factor in my recovery and I, also, think that having adequate pain medication was the biggest factor. I was not worried about being addicted to pain meds, I was only concerned with not hurting and as long as I had no problems with the pain meds I saw no problem taking them in adequate amounts to keep the pain at a tolerable level. One thing for sure, whatever you go through, you will have a wonderful support team to help you along every step. This forum is essential in that regard. I look forward to your posts, good luck. Rowdy
 
Thanks, Jo!!!! I must've been out to lunch on THAT one!!! How are YOU doing today??? :)_
 
Thank you everyone, I feel so much better and more confident. I will be tasking to my doctor tomorrow and let you know. Take care and thanks again
 
I had BI-TKR in November 08 and was back to work in 7 weeks. my job is not a full desk job but I don't do any heavy lifting either, I do walk lots and that has been no problem,I guess I had more getting up and down than anything else. I also have stairs to negotiate and go up and down ladders regularly. Work very hard at PT to build yoour muscles back, either take plenty of pain meds or work through the pain of PT.

Max
 
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