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Bilateral knee replacement

Posted , 16 users are following.

sandra82290
sandra82290

Hi I'm new to the group but would like some advice please, I had both my knees replaced on the 3rd March and am still in a lot of pain and stiffness, I go physio once a week and the bending is good but the straightening isn't so good, is this normal and what can I do to make it better and easier. Thanks Sandra x

1 like, 30 replies

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  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo sandra82290

    Posted

    I'm afraid it sounds pretty normal for seven weeks.  You are brave having both done together!  the only advice I can give it to ensure you ttake good pain medication, keep the joints moving as much as you can without pushing too hard, rest, and do the exercises. It's a long job, and with two to cope with, it must be very difficult.  I can't imagine how you even begin to cope with stairs!  Keep insisting with the straightening.  I didn't to begin with and my physio kept saying that once the swelling went down it would be straight. . .WRONG . . so at fourteen weeks I am still struggling to get it straight, with sgtretches and weights etc.  There don't seem to be any easy fixes I'm afraid!  Wish there were!
    • sandra82290
      sandra82290 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Hi thanks for replying

      I am trying to keep my chin up but it is so hard and painful !!

    • joyce_61477
      joyce_61477 sandra82290

      Posted

      Sandra....I think keeping our chip up at almost 7 weeks is the biggest challenge, at least for me. I've become very depressed and have also lost a lot of weight. First time in my life that I've had a hard time not eating enough. My MD put me on a low dose anti-depressant for, she says no more than 3 months. She said that depression is very common with major surgeries. So the point I'm trying to make is that there are so many factors tied into this very difficult recovery. We had 2 done at once.....not for a minute saying one is easy though. Do I'm telling my Narch 3rd twin to be patient as much as I'm telling myself. Take care Joyce61477
  • kathryn42410
    kathryn42410 sandra82290

    Posted

    Hi Sandra,

    I'm exactly the same so you're not alone. I had mine done on 18th Feb and my extension is awful and still painful.

    Just keep going with your physio and keep on top of pain meds (I made the mistake of thinking I could reduce mine on Friday even with all the physio in doing...I'm back at the doctors shortly).

    My pain is helped by using a rolled up bath towel around my foot to stretch the leg. I also massage a lot and use ice. I've been told to stretch out the muscles, I lie on my front with knee off the bed, this is painful at first so need to build up the time.

    Mine may require further surgery but if you keep going you will be fine.

    Your op wasn't that long ago so you're still healing. Give yourself time x

    • sandra82290
      sandra82290 kathryn42410

      Posted

      Hi

      I so want to avoid surgery, I don't think I could handle it again so am working as hard as I can xx

  • Peglegbev
    Peglegbev sandra82290

    Posted

    Still early days but it will get better.

    Just remember our mantra

    Keep moving keep stretching keep icing keep resting keep breathing !

  • larry99250
    larry99250 sandra82290

    Posted

    Hello Sandra,

    I too had both knees done and continued to have the same kind of pain for a couple of years after surgery.

    It would hurt when I moved in certain ways and sometimes even lock up for a minute or so. YouTube has several video showing the entire surgery and once you’ve seen the tremendous trauma the replacement procedure has on the knee and tendons it’s no wonder I takes a year or longer to complete recover.  It’s really intense.

  • larry99250
    larry99250 sandra82290

    Posted

    I feel your pain.

    Remember that recovery can be different from person to person but everyone will experiences pain for several weeks, months or even years after surgery.

    During my rehabilitation the oxycodone fooled me into believing my knee was further along than it really was and one day I just over did. I went to the gym and started doing all these leg extension.

    At the time it didn’t hurt at all but the next morning my knees had swelled up to the size of a grapefruit.

    The pain became so intense the Percocet had absolutely no effect what so ever.

    Oh man the pain was so much worse than anything I had ever experienced and I remember thinking it would better to be dead.

    My doctor even increased my dosage of pain medicine and gave me very strong anti-inflammation pills none of which even made a dent.

    It was a huge price to pay for a 15 minute lapse of judgment.

    Sometimes all you can do is take it on the chin and believe that this too will pass.

    Slowly the pain went away and I began to live a normal life again. Eventually they felt just like my real knees and 10 years later besides a few limitations they are doing great

     

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo larry99250

      Posted

      thanks for this Larry . .It's always interesting to hear from someone who had the operation years ago.  Good to know that eventually they really do feel like a part of you and not an alien!  I overdid it the first time I went to the hydrotherapy pool, and although my reaction was nothing like as bad as yours, it taught me to be careful!
  • sue29174
    sue29174 sandra82290

    Posted

    Sandra I am 8 weeks post op, one knee.

    everything not too bad, bending coming on but straightening a problem.

    doing everything I should do but.........xx

  • joyce_61477
    joyce_61477 sandra82290

    Posted

    Hi Sandra,

    I also had a double tkr on March 3!! Definitely not fun!!! I went to an acute rehab after the surgery and then to a rehab for 11 days. Since coming home I've gone to physical therapy 3x a week. My Rom for flex ion and extension has not bee a problem. My biggest issue is my left leg is so much weaker than my right....especially my left. As a result, far more painful than the right. This makes me stiffen my left knee when walk. He suggested using a cane for a while until it gets stronger. Has anyone else experienced such a strength discrepency after a BTKR? Very hard to stay positive at times...,thanks Joyce 61477

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo joyce_61477

      Posted

      Heavens, a cane?? I would suggest two crutches at that stage I think!  Better to walk with a proper gait with crutches, than to perpetuate the stiff knee walking without them!

       

    • sandra82290
      sandra82290 martinarvelo

      Posted

      I'm still using 2 crutches when I'm out, I didn't have a choice for rehab and only get physical therapy once a week!! You have been lucky x
    • sarndra
      sarndra joyce_61477

      Posted

      I had BTKR on the 20th March. Much better than I thought it would be & not as painful as I expected - but I realise that nobody is the same. I have been walking with just the aid of a stick when out & no aid at home. I was fortunate to be able to straight leg raise almost immediately post-op so no worries with straightening.  Flexing varies from knee to knee & day to day. It is the swelling that causes the fluctuation I think. I try to vary my exercises, don't push too hard & continue to ice.  I have also realised that sitting for too long is a no no, my knees get stiff & painful then.  Better too lie down so they are straight. Maybe try using a wheelie walker again for a while till the left leg stregthens up.  Good luck.
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