upcoming knee replacement

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I am going to have to hae both knees replaced, and I am trying to

talk to someone who has had the procedure.

I have had so many tell me some things,k both good and bad, and so

many different reviews., I am scared to death. I cant put if off any

longer, and it has to be done.

I've had several Doctors to check me, and I haven't picked one yet.

my Doctor is retireing, and I felt very confortable with him.

from what I've been told, it's no picnic.\

I would appreciate any insight

Thank you,

[Guest guest]

>

> Hello,

> I am going to have to hae both knees replaced, and I am trying to

> talk to someone who has had the procedure.

> I have had so many tell me some things,k both good and bad, and so

> many different reviews., I am scared to death. I cant put if off any

> longer, and it has to be done.

> I've had several Doctors to check me, and I haven't picked one yet.

> my Doctor is retireing, and I felt very confortable with him.

> from what I've been told, it's no picnic.\

> I would appreciate any insight

> Thank you,

>

Hi. There are a number of folks here that have had two done. Mine were

done a year ago October. It is not a walk in the park, but it is

nothing to be afraid of. You are going through worst right now and it

is going downhill. After the procedure, they will just get better and

better.

Bill in MN

[Guest guest]

I just had both knees replaced on Dec 16th. It has definitely been a hard

surgery to snap back from, compared to other surgeries I have had in the

past. I am now over 2 months post-op and I would say I am probably about as

good (or maybe a little better) than I was before the surgery. I am still

taking Percocet a couple of times a day, but nights are getting better to

deal with. Nights had been the worst time for pain. I am starting to sleep

better now, and not usually using any pain meds at night unless we are

having a storm, which does make the knees hurt a lot more.

I am still using a cane or rollator walker when I go out, even though I

don't HAVE to. They help with balance, so that if I am around other people,

I don't fall.

If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer the best I can.

Bill is a great person to listen to also. He helped me a lot with all my

questions.

This is the book I got (which someone here suggested). It has the answers to

most anything you can ask, and lots of illustrations and rehab exercises,

etc. GREAT BOOK!

Total Knee Replacement & Rehabilitation

The Knee Owner's Manual

By J. Brugioni, MD and Jeff Falkel, PH.D, PT, CSCS

(Jeff Falkel is a physical therapist who had TKR, and Brugioni wrote

the book about him and his recovery).

Chrissie

To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who dont, no

explanation is possible

upcoming knee replacement

Hello,

I am going to have to hae both knees replaced, and I am trying to

talk to someone who has had the procedure.

I have had so many tell me some things,k both good and bad, and so

many different reviews., I am scared to death. I cant put if off any

longer, and it has to be done.

I've had several Doctors to check me, and I haven't picked one yet.

my Doctor is retireing, and I felt very confortable with him.

from what I've been told, it's no picnic.\

I would appreciate any insight

Thank you,

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Chrissie,

My sister had both knees done and it took her a while to bounce back. But

she did. Once when we were talking she said she had just created a path

through the woods at her house in Northern Michigan using the chain saw and

moved a bunch of bricks down the hill and back (she decided to build a brick

patio with them). She goes to the gym regularly and is very active

generally.

This is just to say that if your recovery is slower than you would like that

doesn¹t mean you won¹t have a complete recovery. But if you can ‹ and I

recall that your family has been hard hit with this economy ‹ I would still

see what the doc has to say about where you are in your recovery, if only

for your peace of mind.

I have found acupuncture to be very, very helpful with pain and mobility.

We¹re lucky here in Oakland, CA, to have a couple of schools with low cost

clinics. We¹re also fortunate to have both land and pool classes at our

YMCA for people with arthritis which I have found very helpful. For one

thing they help me get to the gym!

I love that book. Even though I really can¹t fit in all the exercises they

suggest it really pushes me to do more than I would otherwise. And it is a

wealth of information.

My surgery (right TKR) has been rescheduled and I¹m ready to go on March 19

(it had to be delayed due to an allergic reaction). My sister, the one with

the bilateral TKR will stay with me. I know she knows what needs to be done

for a successful rehab and though she is way too sweet to be mean about it

she will help me through the early weeks of painful exercises.

Peace,

Jackie

On 2/26/09 10:58 AM, " shihtzumom " <shihtzumom1@...> wrote:

>

>

>

> I just had both knees replaced on Dec 16th. It has definitely been a hard

> surgery to snap back from, compared to other surgeries I have had in the

> past. I am now over 2 months post-op and I would say I am probably about as

> good (or maybe a little better) than I was before the surgery. I am still

> taking Percocet a couple of times a day, but nights are getting better to

> deal with. Nights had been the worst time for pain. I am starting to sleep

> better now, and not usually using any pain meds at night unless we are

> having a storm, which does make the knees hurt a lot more.

>

> I am still using a cane or rollator walker when I go out, even though I

> don't HAVE to. They help with balance, so that if I am around other people,

> I don't fall.

>

> If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer the best I can.

>

> Bill is a great person to listen to also. He helped me a lot with all my

> questions.

>

> This is the book I got (which someone here suggested). It has the answers to

> most anything you can ask, and lots of illustrations and rehab exercises,

> etc. GREAT BOOK!

>

> Total Knee Replacement & Rehabilitation

> The Knee Owner's Manual

> By J. Brugioni, MD and Jeff Falkel, PH.D, PT, CSCS

> (Jeff Falkel is a physical therapist who had TKR, and Brugioni wrote

> the book about him and his recovery).

>

> Chrissie

> To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who dont, no

> explanation is possible

>

> upcoming knee replacement

>

> Hello,

> I am going to have to hae both knees replaced, and I am trying to

> talk to someone who has had the procedure.

> I have had so many tell me some things,k both good and bad, and so

> many different reviews., I am scared to death. I cant put if off any

> longer, and it has to be done.

> I've had several Doctors to check me, and I haven't picked one yet.

> my Doctor is retireing, and I felt very confortable with him.

> from what I've been told, it's no picnic.\

> I would appreciate any insight

> Thank you,

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Doc says I'm right on track. It's just me who is impatient. I can't wait

until I'm able to go into water. I still have a small spot, about 1/2 inch

long, on my left knee that hasn't healed yet. It is healing, but very

slowly. It's right over the knee cap, which is probably why it hasn't sealed

up quickly. It was pretty open right from surgery. Personally, I don't think

that spot was sewed up tight enough, so it has had to heal from the inside

out. I just can't wait until I can go in my hottub. I like exercising in the

hottub, and I can get more fkexion that way.

Chrissie

To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who dont, no

explanation is possible

upcoming knee replacement

>

> Hello,

> I am going to have to hae both knees replaced, and I am trying to

> talk to someone who has had the procedure.

> I have had so many tell me some things,k both good and bad, and so

> many different reviews., I am scared to death. I cant put if off any

> longer, and it has to be done.

> I've had several Doctors to check me, and I haven't picked one yet.

> my Doctor is retireing, and I felt very confortable with him.

> from what I've been told, it's no picnic.\

> I would appreciate any insight

> Thank you,

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi I just joined this group. I am , age 55.I am at week 4 today

since having my R knee replaced. I was in hospital 4 nights and their

skilled unit 4 more nights to have PT twice daily. I'm glad I did as

when I came home I could get in and out of bed myself, shower in a

chair alone, etc. I have a raised toilet seat.

I am doing fairly well- walking with a cane since about day 10 and

sometimes a little without it. I get frustrated because I am still

pretty stiff and sore much of the time. Sometimes I have burning pain

and it feels very heavy inside. Today was my 3rd day at outpatient PT

and I had a 98 degree bend and was able to ride the bike with the

wheel going all around for 10 minutes (with the seat adjusted higher).

Still on pain meds- darvocet now- was vocodin.

I still don't feel ready to drive, as I hoped I would at this

point. I am going back to work a few hours this week (it is a sitting

job). I am getting bored and am not as active as I hoped at this

point. But each day does get a little better.

Also, my knee was very bad prior to surgery. I had been scheduled to

have it replaced in 2001 but backed out. I injured it and exacerbated

the arthritis badly that year, it slipped out of place several times,

and the past two years my leg was quite crooked from the knee out.

That threw my hips and back out. So my quads were weak, the muscles in

back of my knee hard to straighten and my body has to adjust to being

straight again. My surgeon had to use slightly different

parts/technique to correct the crookedness.

I am hopeful that by week 6 I will feel more normal, be driving

and working and have less pain/swelling that keeps me aware of my knee

all the time now.

[Guest guest]

Hi ! I am , also, age 54, and my TKR on my right knee is scheduled for

March 17. I had my left one done Sept 2, 08, and it was the best thing I ever

did! I too had very limited mobility in both knees, but the left was the worst,

so they did that one first. 6 months later, I'm so hopeful about the future I

don't know how to act! If my right one feels in 6 months like my left one feels

now, it'll be like heaven!

I still have a numb spot on the outside of my knee, and have phantom pains and a

very annoying " click " when I walk, but the doctor assures me that will pass. I

found that rubbing aspercreme around the edges of my incision after it healed

really helped (and still does!) with the aches that are from the muscles I

haven't used in years, I'm sure.

Even with the pain in my right knee, I was able to go shopping with my daughter

the other night, and I walked around the store and didn't have to go find a

place to sit down. I used to have to ride one of those little carts around, so

it's a thrill just to go!

Well, keep in touch and let me know how you are getting along. Sounds like

you're doing great!

Keep me in mind on the 17th and drink a green beer for me!

[Guest guest]

Thanks, , for this encouraging note. Best wishes for your upcoming

replacement on your right knee!

I¹m right behind you on March 19 (my right also) and I¹m expecting to do the

left as well. So it is really great to hear about how well your left one is

doing. Any words of wisdom for those of us doing this for the first time?

Peace,

Jackie

On 3/4/09 3:02 PM, " karen773208 " <karen773208@...> wrote:

>

>

>

> Hi ! I am , also, age 54, and my TKR on my right knee is scheduled

> for March 17. I had my left one done Sept 2, 08, and it was the best thing I

> ever did! I too had very limited mobility in both knees, but the left was the

> worst, so they did that one first. 6 months later, I'm so hopeful about the

> future I don't know how to act! If my right one feels in 6 months like my left

> one feels now, it'll be like heaven!

> I still have a numb spot on the outside of my knee, and have phantom pains and

> a very annoying " click " when I walk, but the doctor assures me that will pass.

> I found that rubbing aspercreme around the edges of my incision after it

> healed really helped (and still does!) with the aches that are from the

> muscles I haven't used in years, I'm sure.

>

> Even with the pain in my right knee, I was able to go shopping with my

> daughter the other night, and I walked around the store and didn't have to go

> find a place to sit down. I used to have to ride one of those little carts

> around, so it's a thrill just to go!

>

> Well, keep in touch and let me know how you are getting along. Sounds like

> you're doing great!

>

> Keep me in mind on the 17th and drink a green beer for me!

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jackie,

I don't know about words of wisdom! lol. Even to this day I still get " weirded

out " when I think of having an artificial knee. On the other hand, when I think

of the pain I was in 6 months ago, I think I've experienced a miracle.

you know..I could tell you a lot of stuff..do this do that...but the main thing

is this...it's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt a lot to try to bend it for your PT,

but do it. Take your pain meds and exercise that knee.

Don't give up!!! It will be so worth it in the long run! I'm not saying you

can't just veg out on the couch one day instead of doing your PT. I did a couple

of times, but I did try to bend it myself every day even when PT didn't come.

Make sure you get your rest too. You'll be better able to handle the pain and

the emotions if you're rested. I watched every movie in my DVD library in that 5

weeks. And I slept. And I walked around the house, I cried, I worried, I

wondered if I'd ever be able to walk right again. It consumed my life for weeks.

Again, it was worth every moment.

Please feel free to email me if you want. I know from experience that I can't

sit here too long after the surgery, but I will check every day and will answer.

And I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers on the 19th!

[Guest guest]

Hi Friend,

I know exactly how you feel, it is a scary thought, havin both knees done at

once. But have no fear (yeah right) Hope is just around the corner.

It will be 3 years come july that i had both my knees replaced, and i havent

looked back. Gimp no more, heehee. I had a pretty easy time of it, compared to

others. Sure, i sweated thru PT, but like others have adviced, take your pain

meds, slap a smile on your face and move on.

Get plenty of rest, hang out in this group, cause theres plenty of angels here!!

With lots of wisdom.

Your new knees aren't gonna be as good as your God given versions, but its a

HUGE improvement from what ya got going now. I thank God daily for my titanium

wonders. To see me striding down the street you'd never guess i'd been a cripple

just a few years back, Good luck to ya darlin.. Deba

<grayfox4408@...> wrote:

>

> Hello,

> I am going to have to hae both knees replaced, and I am trying to

> talk to someone who has had the procedure.

> I have had so many tell me some things,k both good and bad, and so

> many different reviews., I am scared to death. I cant put if off any

> longer, and it has to be done.

> I've had several Doctors to check me, and I haven't picked one yet.

> my Doctor is retireing, and I felt very confortable with him.

> from what I've been told, it's no picnic.\

> I would appreciate any insight

> Thank you,

>