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Appropriate time in between TKR

Posted , 12 users are following.

robin66848
robin66848

i was wondering about the time between the 2 TKR.  I am almost 5 weeks post op and doing very well.  My bend is 135 and I am walking really good but since this was such a major surgery I wonder if there should be time to let your body fully recover before I have the second knee done.

any thoughts on this?

i have gotten a lot of help from this forum especially early on.

thanks

1 like, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • cheryl90571
    cheryl90571 robin66848

    Posted

    Hi Robin!

    My two TKRs were three and a half months apart. Within the first few weeks it was VERY CLEAR to me that my surgical leg was already much stronger and gave me MUCH LESS grief than my not-yet-replaced knee on my right leg! At my one month appointment I asked when my surgeon could do my second one! He seemed a bit surprised that I asked so soon and during my check-offs for the knee he had just operated on, but he said if I was ready HE was ready and scheduled the surgery before I left his office!

    It was one of the best things I did getting that right knee replaced soon after the first one. My right knee was holding me back, and it HURT! My replaced knee was still healing, but it didn't hurt nearly as much as my other one.

    Also, my second surgery went even better than my first. I was prepared with what would happen, AND it was SO GREAT to finally have TWO NEW KNEES that allowed me to feel whole again!

    • chris00938
      chris00938 cheryl90571

      Posted

      Cheryl, this is what I'm hoping for.  While it will be wonderful to have one done, while the other is so bad it's still going to restrict everything as much and is keeping me awake at night.  When I saw the surgeon he asked which one first, and I said 'take your pick' because they're both as bad as each other!  So I'm desperately hoping that when I go for my six week check he'll book the second one in.  He did tell me four months apart, and it has to be done within 12 weeks of the blood tests etc. so if they do that when I'm there for the check up, they can book me in for the next one.  One knee done feels a bit like half a job LOL!

    • robin66848
      robin66848 cheryl90571

      Posted

      Cheryl, good for you.  Sounds like that was the right thing to do.  I won't know how bad my other knee is until I get back to working out again.  It is good to know that if I need to I could have the other one done before a year if I have to.

      thanks for the info.

      robin

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 chris00938

      Posted

      Hi Chris!

      Both of mine were equally bad as well! I did the left one first because after several years of being my "Better Knee" it provided me with an episode on Memorial Day weekend in 2015 that felt like a SWORD being thrust through the back of my knee and out my kneecap!😵😬😱 I literally could put ZERO WEIGHT on that leg for a day and a half. I was on crutches, hopping along like a crippled bunny.🙁 THAT was my "moment of clarity" that got me on the phone to my Orthopedic surgeon at 8:00am Tuesday when his office opened again after the holiday.

      When my x-rays showed severely bent knees, no cartilage, and bone-on-bone action, my surgeon said, "You are a candidate for having BOTH KNEES replaced." I was VERY HAPPY to hear that I had FINALLY arrived at "CANDIDATE" for getting rid of my painful, troublemaker knees!🤗😊

      When he asked which one I would like to do first, I thought maybe my sword-through-the-back -of-the-knee episode was a sign that THAT KNEE would go first. Scheduled surgery for three weeks later (on my husband and my 39th Wedding Anniversary!💟wink Great test for the vow you take "...In sickness and in health" !!! Definitely will remember THAT anniversary!💗💤💥💝💤💫💗

      I hope your scheduling goes well. Be patient and take care of yourself.

      Sending prayers of strength and calm to you today!💟

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 robin66848

      Posted

      You are welcome!😊

      Keep taking care of yourself, and listen to your body. We have amazingly capable bodies!

  • marilyn10235
    marilyn10235 robin66848

    Posted

    Hi Robin

    I had my first TKR Oct last year, when I saw the surgeon in Dec he didn't mention the other leg! I am seeing him I'm June & hope to be back on the list for left leg then.

    I personally want to be fully recovered from the first TKR before the next one, so looking at end of the year to next year now depending on length of waiting list!! But the left is much weakened now & as painful as the right was before the operation.

    I am not one of those very brave people who had bilateral TKRs!

    Good luck with whatever you decide.

    Marilyn

    XX

    • robin66848
      robin66848 marilyn10235

      Posted

      Me either Marilyn,  I am a wimp about pain.  I wonder if you have them both done how long you have to be in a wheelchair?
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