I am a 65 year old female. I had a Bilateral TKR on May 12 2020. I discovered Bonesmart a month or so after my surgery and have read a great deal on it and it has set me off to read more widely to assist my recovery.
My surgeon initially commented in the first few weeks that I was doing better than most people but overall I really didn’t maintain that. At just over 16 weeks post surgery my recovery has been okay – nothing spectacular but improvements every week and I am happy with that.
I was fortunate that my surgeon does not believe in aggressive physiotherapy after surgery. The hospital I was in is only 5 years old and therapists in the rehab ward said initially that my surgeon wouldn’t let them provide any therapy to his patients. They apparently convinced him they could offer some help but his protocols meant I wasn’t doing several of the exercises others were doing -no squats, no step ups, only rising from sitting by using your hands and arms. I was two days on the surgical ward and 10 days in the rehabilitation ward (I am in Australia and I am grateful I can afford private health cover). On discharge I was given a sheet of exercises approved by my surgeon but was not allowed to attend on going therapy. The nursing staff informed me that my surgeon’s patients make the same progress as others that do have formal therapy. I think my surgeon would like Bonesmart!
I still have some pain but it is not unbearable. It is mostly when I stand up after sitting , particularly getting out of the car after driving. The pain now though tends to be brief and it is really just momentary stiffness as I start walking. If I have had a couple of busy days I occasionally still require a strong painkiller but really get by on paracetamol and ibuprofen.I have the tightness around the knees many people seem to suffer from and still have some swelling. The latter IS going down though, as over the last couple of days I have noticed I can actually feel part of my new knees through the skin!
For me one of the surprises of my recovery has been the lack of sleep and the fatigue. My surgeon said the about 90% of his patients complain about the sleeping issues . My sleep quality has improved a little now that I can manage to lay on my side with a pillow between my knees. That has only happened in the last few weeks. The sleep problems would go some way towards explaining the fatigue but it also amazes me how exhausted I can be from very little activity.
My post is really to address those starting out on their knee recovery journey particularly those who have had both knees replaced. A bilateral TKR is a BIG operation. You have no good knee to rely on. There will be pain and discomfort. We are all different and so are our recovery journeys but it DOES get better. I try to concentrate on the improvements no matter how small.
I am grateful to all who have contributed on here – the information and support it provides is amazing. Thank you.
My surgeon initially commented in the first few weeks that I was doing better than most people but overall I really didn’t maintain that. At just over 16 weeks post surgery my recovery has been okay – nothing spectacular but improvements every week and I am happy with that.
I was fortunate that my surgeon does not believe in aggressive physiotherapy after surgery. The hospital I was in is only 5 years old and therapists in the rehab ward said initially that my surgeon wouldn’t let them provide any therapy to his patients. They apparently convinced him they could offer some help but his protocols meant I wasn’t doing several of the exercises others were doing -no squats, no step ups, only rising from sitting by using your hands and arms. I was two days on the surgical ward and 10 days in the rehabilitation ward (I am in Australia and I am grateful I can afford private health cover). On discharge I was given a sheet of exercises approved by my surgeon but was not allowed to attend on going therapy. The nursing staff informed me that my surgeon’s patients make the same progress as others that do have formal therapy. I think my surgeon would like Bonesmart!
I still have some pain but it is not unbearable. It is mostly when I stand up after sitting , particularly getting out of the car after driving. The pain now though tends to be brief and it is really just momentary stiffness as I start walking. If I have had a couple of busy days I occasionally still require a strong painkiller but really get by on paracetamol and ibuprofen.I have the tightness around the knees many people seem to suffer from and still have some swelling. The latter IS going down though, as over the last couple of days I have noticed I can actually feel part of my new knees through the skin!
For me one of the surprises of my recovery has been the lack of sleep and the fatigue. My surgeon said the about 90% of his patients complain about the sleeping issues . My sleep quality has improved a little now that I can manage to lay on my side with a pillow between my knees. That has only happened in the last few weeks. The sleep problems would go some way towards explaining the fatigue but it also amazes me how exhausted I can be from very little activity.
My post is really to address those starting out on their knee recovery journey particularly those who have had both knees replaced. A bilateral TKR is a BIG operation. You have no good knee to rely on. There will be pain and discomfort. We are all different and so are our recovery journeys but it DOES get better. I try to concentrate on the improvements no matter how small.
I am grateful to all who have contributed on here – the information and support it provides is amazing. Thank you.