Hoping For A Short Recovery Time

[Hope810]

Dlamore - Welcome to the site. My surgeon said the single best thing you can do to improve recovery time is to do your pre-op exercises faithfully. I only had one knee done (six weeks ago) but I walked out of the hospital with a cane only with almost full extention and 95 degree ROM. I also recommend using the pain meds for several weeks. I also was scared to death by some of the postings/problems but all goes very well for most. My very best to you.

Hope

 

[desertqueen]

Hi
Im having my LTKR on May 4th. I feel all the encouragement flowing here. Thanks

 

[BigRed]

Thank you all for your encouragement. As long as my pre-op tests go well, including an allergy test, I do plan to take on this challenge. I feel better knowing that others returned to work in 8 weeks.

 

[Jayne]

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.

I wish you a short recovery too. I don't think that you'd be out that long. I'm scheduled for two knees June 4th and he said the recovery is the same as one knee. I'll rest in bed plus exercising for 4 weeks. After I see him I can drive if I'm not on strong meds and then at 2 months I can go into work if only for a few minuters. At 3 months I can go back.
My thoughts and prayers will be with you. BTW I am 59.
Jayne

 

[hedgep]

Hi, thought I'd give you alittle hope. I only had one TKR and am back at work as a hairstylist after 9 weeks. Have put lots of half hour breaks in my day for elevation and ice. It's been a week and ,so far, so good. Actually, I observed that I take more breaks at work than I do at home. Go figure. Am still faithfully doing my PT and stretching, which helps. I am also not off of pain meds, but have cut them in half and take them farther apart. Good luck with it all, it's quite an adventure. Blessings

 

[Judles]

Wow,,,hedge! You sound like you're doing great! Not easy work being a
Hairdresser! Keep up the great recup!

 

[Gretchendz]

As others have said, do as much pre-op exercise as you can manage...it will pay off.

I had my two knees done 6 months apart. Because of the PT and exercise I had while recovering from the first, my recovery with the second was WAY faster--probably by 2-4 weeks at any given time. Hubby (who lived through both with me) claimed that when i got home with the second I was at least 2 weeks further along than the first time. There is no doubt the pre-op exercise made recovery go faster.

Best of luck!

 

[dlamore]

I have been staying at my daughters house, my husband and I were sitting. I just want to thank everyone for all their stories and suggestions. I signed the paper for both knees and on my drive home I kept hearing my doctor say, you are a good canidate for both knees but you know you will have to have it done again because you are young. I called the office the next day and changed it back to one knee. I am doing the one knee on the 29th and I trust in God that I am making the right decision. I pray for all of you to get stronger everyday and I thank you again

 

[Hope810]

Dlamore - I'd say go with your gut. Some seem to do fine doing 2 knees at once but I opted for one knee at a time. I had my left done 8 weeks ago and am making great progress. I'm working on strengthening again so I'm ready for my right on June 8 (almost 4 months apart). Personally I liked the idea of splitting them so that is what I did and feel good with the decision so far. Again I'd do what you think is best for YOU!
Best wishes for next week.

Hope

(Forgot to say that my surgeon said I was a good candidate for both knees so I scheduled two at once then called back and changed to one at a time also. One benefit is that I could see how my left was coming along before planning on my right. All went well so now I'm up for it again. I asked OS if he could do a repeat performance and he said even better next time

 

[Jamie]

Dlamore....Hope is absolutely right. Ya gotta do what feels right for you. You probably would have been just fine doing both together, but you must be comfortable with your decision. I know the docs HAVE to provide all the possible warnings for people preparing for surgery, but at this point, they don't have the history to know exactly HOW long these new joints will last. So please try not to focus on what might happen when....way, way down the road. Think instead about how fabulous your life will be NOW with two new and functioning knee joints! That would be my only reason to do both together....to get down that road faster and start enjoying life as soon as possible.

Hang in there, hon. There really are no wrong decisions when choosing to get one or two knees done. It's all about what YOUR goals are and YOUR comfort level.

 

[dlamore]

Good luck to you too, wow you are brave having them done that close. Hopefully i can wait, thanks for your thoughts