knee replacement

20 years ago

My husband is scheduled for total knee replacement (bilateral total knee replacement) surgery on both knees Aug. 29. He has what the doctor calls "bone on bone" on both knees. He is going to have both knees done at the same time (doctor recommended). Has anyone had this done and would you please share your experiences? He is very nervous about this and wants to hear any experiences any of you may have had. Thank you.

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Comments (9)

devorah
20 years ago
My father-in-law had this done and it has been wonderful for him. It was tough at first. Your husband will be made to walk almost immediatly but if he follows his doctor's instructions and does the prescribed exercises, he will be walking around in no time and wondering why he put it off so long.
agnespuffin
20 years ago
that's the secret....start using it as soon as possible even though it's going to hurt. Taking it easy and not doing the proper physical therapy soon enough will just make his recovery harder.

My husband plays golf with a Senior Blitz group of elderly men. There are many with hips and knees. But they get out there play just like the others.

Having both done at the same time is a good idea. The old way of just doing one at a time resulted in a tendency to favor the "bad" knee and it didn't get the use that it should have.
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I personally don't feel that your question is out of line. Your doctor/surgeon, of course, should cover everything with you, including all the post-surgery stuff. Pepper him/her with all your questions! My own experience amounted to two partial replacements done several months apart about five years ago. Yes, my surgeon asked me if I wanted them done at the same time, but I had a hard time imagining being off both legs at the same time. Each episode amounted to a couple of days in the hospital before going home. Yes, you probably will need some hefty pain-killers for awhile. I was sent home with a contraption that automatically bent and straightened the leg. After a week or two, it was physical therapy sessions, twice a week, for a couple of months. Those sessions were super-painful as the primary purpose is to attain full range of motion, both bending and straightening. I'd say that if tears do not come to your eyes, then you aren't putting as much into it as you should. Anyway, for me, the physical therapy was the hardest, but most important, phase of the whole experience. Since you are alone, your doctor should be able to inform you of services available to you that will enable you to recover properly. For the first month or so, you won't be able to drive, so you'll need assistance from a friend, neighbor, or some kind of paratransit service. There is another possibility that might come into play in your particular situation, but I'm not an authority in this area so check with your doctor. Upon your discharge from the hospital, the doctor may feel that your situation (living alone) warrants a brief stay in a rehab facility. The rehab facility would have physical therapists to help with that part of your recovery, and they would also teach you how to continue your progress at home alone. The length of your stay would be dependent on a determination by the rehab facility that you are capable enough to take care of yourself at home. Again, this part should be covered by your doctor and your medical insurance coverage also is pertinent. One more thing. My surgeon cautioned me not to engage in vigorous activities with the new knee. While I realize that medical advances and perhaps newer knee materials mean that your new knee will be much more durable than mine, most doctors five years ago were saying that you don't want to wear out or damage that replacement. Apparently, a second replacement was highly problematic. They don't last forever, and that weighs against doing knee replacements on younger patients. Again, things may have changed since then. Anyway, I was told: no running, brisk walking was okay, swimming would be great. While those cautions came as a big disappointment to me, the pain-free existence since then has been all worth it. Let me stop here and pass the ball back to you. Of course, everyone's experience and situation is different, so please consider what others say as well.
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I had a total hip replacement in July and did go to a rehab facility, which was great, The hospital social worker asked me for my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice. Then its up to which one has room at the time of discharge. What I did beforehand was check out a few of the nearby places I was considering. Two friends had done rehab at one of them right in the neighborhood and highly recommended it. It made me claustrophobic. My surgery was scheduled quickly, so I didn't make formal appointments, just kind of popped in when I could (usually late afternoon, not a busy time for them) just to get a feel for what they were like. They were all good enough to give me a short tour... the rooms for short term rehab, the exercise room, and I asked about meals--where do we eat, the type of menu. I did fill in an application for "the one" I really wanted, and when the SW contacted them, they had a room so I got my 1st choice. I also have Medicare and BCBS. There was a $50/day copay for rehab that Medicare doesn't cover. Came as a surprise, but the place was sooo worth that and more. Doesn't seem to matter if you pick the most or least expensive, the copay is the same. And there is really very little price difference between them! The visiting nurse and PT come to your house when you go home, whether its right from the hospital or do rehab first. You'll do fine.
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Sorry I'm so late in getting back with responses to all of you. I sincerely appreciate the time you've taken to write and help me get past my fears. And each of you have touched on different aspects of the surgery/recovery process and shared valuable information and experiences. I need to have both knees done as they are both "bone on bone", but actually do not hurt all of the time. That makes it easier for me to question if I'm doing the right thing. I used to enjoy walking as a form of exercise, but now have trouble with any distance walking. I do water aerobics instead. I can not shop on concrete floors for more than 30 minutes. I find myself not doing things I used to if it involves much walking and that feels very limiting. I did get a RX for "pre-hab" PT to get in shape for surgery knowing it was in my future. I did that for several months last summer and have continued with the exercises at home. I've also been doing water aerobics for the same reason. I'm slowly getting prepared. Fori: I'm hearing a lot of comments about people wishing they would have done it sooner. I hope I feel that way! Rita: I hear you-that's why I'm not waiting. Gscience: Your sister sounds like she really turned it around! Hhireno: What the bff's boyfriend is now doing is really encouraging! Aok: Your MIL gives me hope! Jmc & 3katz: I hope I'm one of those wishing I had done it sooner! Iowa: Hoping for results like your dad and not your aunt!! Cawaps: Yes, the risks are one of my fears. I always think I will be the one that is the exception and things will go wrong. And my doctor does a spinal block and I've never had one. Cooper: That is why I'm going thru with it now, rather than waiting. Mojomom: Your DH gives me hope! Maire_Cate: I wish I had the nerve to have both done at the same time and could get it all over with at once. I don't. I do use a pad now for gardening and also one inside for any kneeling purposes. Glad to hear you can still garden. I may need to purchase a garden cart. Westsider: I do hope your pain has lessened and things are looking up. Anglo: I am hoping the pre-hab will pay off. Faron & Maire: I've heard great things about the ice machine and have already purchased one and it is the Breg! Southern Vesta: I think I, too, have gone thru the grief stages. I haven't had other surgeries affect me like this. Kathy Yata: Sounds like you've come a long way and your trike sounds interesting. Thanks, Liz
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Women do seem to do better than men or at least the ones that I know. However much of it depends on the type of surgery that the surgeon is planning on doing and the individual doctor. There are several different methods. One just replaces the knee cap on both bones. Another cuts the bones and inserts a whole new knee. You need to talk to your surgeon, not regular doctor, on what is planned. There are many videos showing knee surgeries on YouTube. You did not say which knee. If it is the one you most frequently used to drive it will be dangerous for you to drive before at least some of the tissues heal. Keeping the leg elevated but also using it is important for healing. Along with your individual home situation. Things like, are there people there that can help you for a couple of days or must you do everything yourself. If there is no one there you probably would be released to a care facility. Some hospitals have their own areas like a skilled nursing facility. You will be asked to sit up and walk the day you have the surgery. Depending on how well you do that will help depend on when and where you go. If you do go home you will need someone there at least the first day to answer the door. Although I have not had the surgery my husband has. He was first sent to a skilled facility then released to home. The first day home it seemed like there was a steady stream of people bringing medical equipment, walker, bedside commode, icing machine, a machine that moved his leg up and down while he laid in bed, sorry do not remember the name, medical person to check his vitals and the wound. Your dog may object to your using a walker so be aware that you may need to find someone to help until the dog becomes used to it. Although your insurance may not pay for it one of the rolling walkers with a seat that you can fold down would be great. When you tire or someone wants to chat while walking the dog you can sit down and remove pressure on the knee. Husband was gifted with one and it was wonderful. A side note is that if it is rated high enough, the amount of weight that it will support, it can act like a temporary wheel/transport chair. Only temporary because the material on the wheels is soft and will be destroyed if used this way too often.
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jenn
20 years ago
My dad had one knee done at 80 years old and is doing great now. They got him up walking the next day (with a walker).

There are two important elements to the success of his surgery: The surgeon's expertise, and the physical therapy after surgery. PT is very critical and must start early to keep the joint and muscles from tightening up. The importance of a commitment to doing the PT exercises cannot be emphasized enough. It will take a lot of patience and time, and some pain, but his hard work will be well worth it.

Jen
perk2
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks for the reports. It does sound like PT is key to this type of surgery. I was amazed that he will be walking so soon. The doctor did say that he would be "walking" to the bathroom that evening. I find that unbelievable. Thanks again and if anyone else has comments please tell me about them. Thanks again.
One more thing--Besides a walker what other items did you feel was necessary or helpful during recovery?
agnespuffin
20 years ago
Don't get a walker unless his PT tech and his doctor want him to have one. Sometimes the patient gets in the habit of walking sort of bent over and halting as he moves the walker. The two people that I have close contact with both started using two canes for balance. A raised seat with handles for the toilet may be helpful too, especially if he is heavyset.

It is very important that either canes or walker be the proper height. You want his posture to be as nearly normal as possible.
jimdog
20 years ago
Been there, done that and have the tee shirt. I'm a 63 yr old Teamster retiree and had mine left knee (truck driver's knee) done Dec 06, doing very well. Still have hard time getting up & down but the pain has gone now. PLEASE work very hard on the rehab, you'll be glad that you did.

Jim
catherinet
20 years ago
Hi Jimdog,
I'm curious.....had you ever had knee arthroscopy before the replacement? And if so, was it a similar feeling afterwards?
Does it feel just like a regular knee? I think knee replacements are in my future, and I was just wondering what to expect. I know they get you up and going pretty quickly afterwards. The pain after my arthroscopy was horrible for about a week. How long did you have to be on antibiotics, and how long NSAIDS?
How long do they let you keep going to PT after the operation? Are you glad you had it done? Thanks!
perk2
Original Author
20 years ago
It's over. He had his surgery yesterday morning. Took 4 hours on the left knee (it was worse than doctor expected ) and a little over 2 hours on the right one. This morning at 9 am. they had him "walk" to therapy. It was 153 feet from his room. He made it there with the help of a walker. Did 1 hour of therapy and then "walked" back to his room and fell asleep. Everyone says he is doing great and I think so too. He had therapy again at 1 pm and did just as good. Tomorrow he does it again. I am so proud of him. He should go home on Friday or Saturday.
He says it still hurts like h@## but it is a different hurt than before. He knows this hurt will go away.
Thanks for all the support.
catherinet
20 years ago
That's great news perk! Best wishes to him for a speedy recovery! I'm sure he'll enjoy his new knees!

knee replacement

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knee replacement

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