Re: Total Knee Replacement Options - Just a Side Note

[Guest guest]

Hi Hollie: I don't want to derail this thread, as I feel the information you

are giving here is very important, and much needed. Thank you for taking the

time to share what you have learned about knee replacement.

I would like to say, though, from my experience, that recovery from same day

bilateral hip resurfacing was not difficult. I left the hospital after three

days, went home to a two level house, and was able to navigate very well right

from the beginning - up and down stairs, etc.. I used a walker (my choice over

crutches) for 10 days, and then switched to a cane, which I used for another 2

1/2 weeks. After that I used no walking aids on a regular basis. I was cleared

by my surgeon to start out patient physical therapy, water exercise, and to

drive again at 18 days post op. I was back in the ballet studio teaching a

modified schedule and doing my own dancer rehab at one month. Each person's

experience will be different - that is very true. I just wanted to let people

know that same day bilateral surgery does work out well for some, and is worth

considering as an option.

And now .... back to the important thread on knee replacements.

Happy dancing,

Ruth Z Amstutz bilateral resurfacing 4/6/06

> >

> > I am new to this list and am actually doing research for my mother who needs

both knees replaced with the right being worse than the left. My question to

you all is what type of knee replacement technology comes the most recommended?

I have read about the Otis Knee but want to know what the competing offerings

are both pros and cons.

> >

> > Thanks for taking the time to respond.

> >

> > I had BHR (Birmingham Hip Replacement) back in '07 and have never looked

back. It was/is wonderful with no complications. I spent lots of time on the

surfacehippy list and know how valuable these groups are to getting the best

treatments and opinions.

> >

> > thanks,

> > Brent

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dr. Gross and the SH site scared the be-jeebers out of me on bi-lat hip resurf.

So glad your recovery was easy and hope that applies to knee surgeries too.

I do think your experience is unique though. Maybe for the same reason my hip

resurfs were such quick recovery...hypermobility?

I'm a (former) pro dancer too.

Hollie

>

> Hi Hollie: I don't want to derail this thread, as I feel the information you

are giving here is very important, and much needed. Thank you for taking the

time to share what you have learned about knee replacement.

>

> I would like to say, though, from my experience, that recovery from same day

bilateral hip resurfacing was not difficult. I left the hospital after three

days, went home to a two level house, and was able to navigate very well right

from the beginning - up and down stairs, etc.. I used a walker (my choice over

crutches) for 10 days, and then switched to a cane, which I used for another 2

1/2 weeks. After that I used no walking aids on a regular basis. I was cleared

by my surgeon to start out patient physical therapy, water exercise, and to

drive again at 18 days post op. I was back in the ballet studio teaching a

modified schedule and doing my own dancer rehab at one month. Each person's

experience will be different - that is very true. I just wanted to let people

know that same day bilateral surgery does work out well for some, and is worth

considering as an option.

>

> And now .... back to the important thread on knee replacements.

>

> Happy dancing,

> Ruth Z Amstutz bilateral resurfacing 4/6/06

>

> > He will not do bi-lats, the earliest the second knee can be done is 6 weeks.

I know some people like their bi-lats, but even Dr. Gross would not do a bi-lat

hip resurf on me because they are so very, very tough in recovery....known to

make grown men cry.

> >

> > Dr. Coon is now doing knee resurfacings and considers them a viable

alternative to TKR but for younger people.

> >

> > Don't know where you are but my OS website is www.osiresearch.com (lots of

info and interviews) , there are other docs who helped develop quad sparing, Dr.

Tria in New Brunswick, NJ and Dr. Gobles in Utah. They developed this for

Zimmer so to find a doc who does quad sparing you could check out the Zimmer

site

> > http://www.zimmer.com/ctl?op=global & action=1 & id=8299 & template=PC

> >

> >

> > There is no crossover between top hip resurf docs and top knee replacement

docs, they don't go to the same conferences or anything.

> >

> > I have a Zimmer Gender high flex on one knee and a Stryker Triathlon on the

other...I just had to see the difference. I am 10 months out on second knee and

have to say, for me, the Zimmer Gender feels more natural although the Stryker

is top rate and one of the most used and high scoring prostheses.

> >

> > Check out the Australian Joint Registry for info on prostheses, which are

most used, failure rates, etc. Also some interesting info on hip resurfacing

prostheses.

> > Go to: http://www.dmac.adelaide.edu.au/aoanjrr/publications.jsp and click

on Reports.

> >

> > I have heard some negatives about Otis, email me if you would like further

info.

> >

> > Hollie

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

rosey9932000 wrote:

> Dr. Gross and the SH site scared the be-jeebers out of me on bi-lat hip

resurf. So glad your recovery was easy and hope that applies to knee surgeries

too.

>

> I do think your experience is unique though. Maybe for the same reason my hip

resurfs were such quick recovery...hypermobility?

>

> I'm a (former) pro dancer too.

>

> Hollie

>

Well, I had Bi (Same operation) THR which I think is a little more invasive than

Ruth's resurfacing, and though my recovery certainly wasn't as quick and easy as

Ruth's, it wasn't THAT bad. Given my experience I would definately rather get it

all done with in one go, than mess about with two separate occasions.

Mick.

*****************************************************

'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby

some have entertained angels unawares!'

*****************************************************

[Guest guest]

An acquaintance had bilateral knee replacements.

Her recovery wasn't easy - chiefly because without at least one good

leg, she needed much more round the clock support for several weeks

whereas generally people who only have one joint replaced are semi-

independent much more quickly.

Based on her experience, I would think only people who have a 24/7

support system in place could realistically opt for bilateral knees.

Her overall recovery though wasn't longer than someone who had only

one knee done and certainly she was out of commission for a TOTAL

period of time that was less than having two separate surgeries. And

she was glad to have them both done -- her half serious jest is that

if she knew how painful the knee surgery would be she wouldn't have

had the second done so better to get it done at once.

On Jan 23, 2010, at 1:41 PM, Mick Armitage wrote:

> rosey9932000 wrote:

> > Dr. Gross and the SH site scared the be-jeebers out of me on bi-

> lat hip resurf. So glad your recovery was easy and hope that applies

> to knee surgeries too.

> >

> > I do think your experience is unique though. Maybe for the same

> reason my hip resurfs were such quick recovery...hypermobility?

> >

> > I'm a (former) pro dancer too.

> >

> > Hollie

> >

>

> Well, I had Bi (Same operation) THR which I think is a little more

> invasive than Ruth's resurfacing, and though my recovery certainly

> wasn't as quick and easy as Ruth's, it wasn't THAT bad. Given my

> experience I would definately rather get it all done with in one go,

> than mess about with two separate occasions.

>

> Mick.

>

> *****************************************************

> 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby

> some have entertained angels unawares!'

> *****************************************************

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Hollie:

If someone does a search of posts on Surfacehippy that deal with same day

bilateral hip resurfacing, it will yield posts of many people who are very happy

with their decision to go this route. I'm not unique in regards to ease of

recovery - that's a good thing. Just as importantly, those people who chose to

have their surgeries take place at different times are also very very pleased.

I'm glad so many people are able to resume active and healthy lives again -

that's what is really important here.

Also - I understand that knee surgery is more challenging in a lot of ways that

hip surgery. I appreciate everyone's input. By hearing of others' experiences,

we all can benefit.

Take good care all,

Ruth Z

> >

> > Hi Hollie: I don't want to derail this thread, as I feel the information

you are giving here is very important, and much needed. Thank you for taking the

time to share what you have learned about knee replacement.

> >

> > I would like to say, though, from my experience, that recovery from same day

bilateral hip resurfacing was not difficult. I left the hospital after three

days, went home to a two level house, and was able to navigate very well right

from the beginning - up and down stairs, etc.. I used a walker (my choice over

crutches) for 10 days, and then switched to a cane, which I used for another 2

1/2 weeks. After that I used no walking aids on a regular basis. I was cleared

by my surgeon to start out patient physical therapy, water exercise, and to

drive again at 18 days post op. I was back in the ballet studio teaching a

modified schedule and doing my own dancer rehab at one month. Each person's

experience will be different - that is very true. I just wanted to let people

know that same day bilateral surgery does work out well for some, and is worth

considering as an option.

> >

> > And now .... back to the important thread on knee replacements.

> >

> > Happy dancing,

> > Ruth Z Amstutz bilateral resurfacing 4/6/06

> >

>

> > > He will not do bi-lats, the earliest the second knee can be done is 6

weeks. I know some people like their bi-lats, but even Dr. Gross would not do a

bi-lat hip resurf on me because they are so very, very tough in

recovery....known to make grown men cry.

> > >

> > > Dr. Coon is now doing knee resurfacings and considers them a viable

alternative to TKR but for younger people.

> > >

> > > Don't know where you are but my OS website is www.osiresearch.com (lots of

info and interviews) , there are other docs who helped develop quad sparing, Dr.

Tria in New Brunswick, NJ and Dr. Gobles in Utah. They developed this for

Zimmer so to find a doc who does quad sparing you could check out the Zimmer

site

> > > http://www.zimmer.com/ctl?op=global & action=1 & id=8299 & template=PC

> > >

> > >

> > > There is no crossover between top hip resurf docs and top knee replacement

docs, they don't go to the same conferences or anything.

> > >

> > > I have a Zimmer Gender high flex on one knee and a Stryker Triathlon on

the other...I just had to see the difference. I am 10 months out on second knee

and have to say, for me, the Zimmer Gender feels more natural although the

Stryker is top rate and one of the most used and high scoring prostheses.

> > >

> > > Check out the Australian Joint Registry for info on prostheses, which are

most used, failure rates, etc. Also some interesting info on hip resurfacing

prostheses.

> > > Go to: http://www.dmac.adelaide.edu.au/aoanjrr/publications.jsp and click

on Reports.

> > >

> > > I have heard some negatives about Otis, email me if you would like further

info.

> > >

> > > Hollie

> > >

> > >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I thought knee surgery recovery was somewhat tougher than hip surgery

recovery. Funny how the recoveries are so hard to remember, I guess the mind

just suppresses things like that....my mind, anyway. But knees seem to get more

use than hips, perhaps foot surgery is even worse?

Hollie

>

> Hi Hollie:

>

> If someone does a search of posts on Surfacehippy that deal with same day

bilateral hip resurfacing, it will yield posts of many people who are very happy

with their decision to go this route. I'm not unique in regards to ease of

recovery - that's a good thing. Just as importantly, those people who chose to

have their surgeries take place at different times are also very very pleased.

I'm glad so many people are able to resume active and healthy lives again -

that's what is really important here.

>

> Also - I understand that knee surgery is more challenging in a lot of ways

that hip surgery. I appreciate everyone's input. By hearing of others'

experiences, we all can benefit.

>

> Take good care all,

>

> Ruth Z

>

[Guest guest]

I have had both a THR & a TKR, IMO the knee was much easier and less restricting

then the hip. I never used a walker, crutches or cane after I came home from the

hospital. I was driving in a less then a week with the knee (2 weeks with the

hip), back to work in 4 weeks (6 weeks with the hip) and back to doing agility

with the dogs in 6 weeks (3 mos with the hip). Oh, and between the hip and the

knee I had a rotator cuff repair to my shoulder. All this in 11 months.

Attitude is everything. Think positive and you will get through it.

Patty

> >

> >> > Also - I understand that knee surgery is more challenging in a lot of

ways that hip surgery. I appreciate everyone's input. By hearing of others'

experiences, we all can benefit.

> >

> > Take good care all,

> >

> > Ruth Z

> >

>

[Guest guest]

You are just amazing!!!!

I¹ll bet the dogs were happy to have you back working with them so quickly.

I wonder if the amount of physical strength and agility needed to work with

the dogs prepared you for such a rapid recovery.

Peace,

Jackie

On 1/24/10 10:06 PM, " PattyS " <dsmpks@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> I have had both a THR & a TKR, IMO the knee was much easier and less

> restricting then the hip. I never used a walker, crutches or cane after I came

> home from the hospital. I was driving in a less then a week with the knee (2

> weeks with the hip), back to work in 4 weeks (6 weeks with the hip) and back

> to doing agility with the dogs in 6 weeks (3 mos with the hip). Oh, and

> between the hip and the knee I had a rotator cuff repair to my shoulder. All

> this in 11 months.

>

> Attitude is everything. Think positive and you will get through it.

>

> Patty

>

>

>>> > >

>>>>> > >> > Also - I understand that knee surgery is more challenging in a lot

>>>>> of ways that hip surgery. I appreciate everyone's input. By hearing of

>>>>> others' experiences, we all can benefit.

>>> > >

>>> > > Take good care all,

>>> > >

>>> > > Ruth Z

>>> > >

>> >

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You really are super woman! Good for you. Joan

________________________________

From: PattyS <dsmpks@...>

Joint Replacement

Sent: Mon, January 25, 2010 1:06:26 AM

Subject: Re: Total Knee Replacement Options - Just a

Side Note

I have had both a THR & a TKR, IMO the knee was much easier and less restricting

then the hip. I never used a walker, crutches or cane after I came home from the

hospital. I was driving in a less then a week with the knee (2 weeks with the

hip), back to work in 4 weeks (6 weeks with the hip) and back to doing agility

with the dogs in 6 weeks (3 mos with the hip). Oh, and between the hip and the

knee I had a rotator cuff repair to my shoulder. All this in 11 months.

Attitude is everything. Think positive and you will get through it.

Patty

> >

> >> > Also - I understand that knee surgery is more challenging in a lot of

ways that hip surgery. I appreciate everyone's input. By hearing of others'

experiences, we all can benefit.

> >

> > Take good care all,

> >

> > Ruth Z

> >

>