Knee replacement
Discussion
Bilateral Simultaneous?
Ie wake up with two new knees implanted in one operation? Because the recovery is slower, but it's often better to get the whole thing done in one go..
Either way, I can give you an idea, but I'm usually at the blunt end of the scalpel, rather than the sharp end.
Ie wake up with two new knees implanted in one operation? Because the recovery is slower, but it's often better to get the whole thing done in one go..
Either way, I can give you an idea, but I'm usually at the blunt end of the scalpel, rather than the sharp end.
My father had both his knees replaced a few months apart when he was in his late 50's.
He described it like having his legs cut off and sewn back on again, took him many months to recover.
Key is stretching and exercise even though tremendously painful, a disciplined recovery process is essential.
He described it like having his legs cut off and sewn back on again, took him many months to recover.
Key is stretching and exercise even though tremendously painful, a disciplined recovery process is essential.
JumboBeef said:
Thanks. Yes, both together.
So this is two hours of surgery, followed by usually 3-5 days in hospital, (my average for a single leg is 2.3 days.Then 2 months of pain, easing by the day, but it will be sore. Crutches are going to help with the pain, and by no means is it torture, but you will know you've had both done! We're talking walking around the house from discharge and expect to be very tired. Perhaps trips to the shops after 2-4 weeks, but everyone is different here.
By six weeks most people come to me with a smile as they are over the worst, and I do think that doing both together has distinct benefits
Thanks. It's a general anesthetic I assume.
The other thing is we live 500 miles from the hospital where this is going to be done (long story). We could break this into 3 journeys over 3 days if need be (normally do it in one go with only one stop). Would this trip (in a car) be a problem?
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
The other thing is we live 500 miles from the hospital where this is going to be done (long story). We could break this into 3 journeys over 3 days if need be (normally do it in one go with only one stop). Would this trip (in a car) be a problem?
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
JumboBeef said:
Thanks. It's a general anesthetic I assume.
The other thing is we live 500 miles from the hospital where this is going to be done (long story). We could break this into 3 journeys over 3 days if need be (normally do it in one go with only one stop). Would this trip (in a car) be a problem?
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
about 65% of single leg TKRs are done under a spinal, but you/surgeon needs to be confident of 120 mins for surgery otherwise the spinal wears off. It is usually better than a General.The other thing is we live 500 miles from the hospital where this is going to be done (long story). We could break this into 3 journeys over 3 days if need be (normally do it in one go with only one stop). Would this trip (in a car) be a problem?
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
More than 2 hours in a car at less than 1 week post op is going to be uncomfortable. Patient would need to be able to sit with legs out straight.
Nothing's impossible. I would make the consultant aware fully of your travel plans
Hi JumboBeef .. I had my TKR’s individually so have no idea of having twins.. I can confirm though, keeping up with the pain plan Meds is really important so that maintaining the physio doesn't result in tears. Getting in and out of cars is difficult and the journeys are really uncomfortable if over 30mins or so as the need to keep legs horizontal is really important just as The Doc says. Basically, I think the better you feel about yourself the faster the recovery will be so try everything you can to make life as normal as possible. Purchasing a pair of waterproof leg plaster stockings is a plan..cut the feet off, pull them up and showers are do-able immediately with help and that makes you feel sooo much better. I don’t suppose any of us are that different when taking the Meds required so beware of constipation, it was without a doubt the worst problem I had first time around and nobody mentioned that to me in the hospital! Make sure the hospital includes remedies for that with the other Meds prior to leaving. Both my TKR’s have been successful in reducing the pain so peaceful nights are a great, I miss being able to kneel down though [still can’t do that!] and I still get sore and stiff after standing around for a couple of hours..but hey was it all worth it? oh yes!
Pete..[was rapidpete but now just a bit slower]
Pete..[was rapidpete but now just a bit slower]
Kneeling down was something my surgeon advised me not to do…ever. The physioterrorists advised gentle rocking whilst kneeling on a cushion just as part of my recovery plan exercises. I still try it now and again but it really is painful. I could barely kneel prior to the TKR’s due to pain so it’s not the end of the world, just frustrating. Perhaps I just expected too much, after all I am a powerfully built company Director 
Leg straightening was much easier to exercise for and achieve and is important as it’s a position the leg takes when walking and stair climbing etc.
Cheers…Pete
Leg straightening was much easier to exercise for and achieve and is important as it’s a position the leg takes when walking and stair climbing etc. Cheers…Pete
Hi, a few thoughts from family experience...
My Dad had two replacement knees done together and he was about 72-3 at the time. The surgeon thought that the other one would require doing soon anyway and deemed him fit enough to cope with the recovery. Dad found it challenging afterwards and said at the time that if it had been one knee initially he would have found it difficult to go in again knowing how uncomfortable it would be! nb: I think he recognises the benefits now of having two new ones and like most of us would has forgotten the discomfort!
He came out with straight legs as the surgeon straightened them at the same time as he was a bit bow legged before!
Dad was/is not overweight and recovered well (for someone in his 70's) and was pain free after the recovery. He had a symptom post op in one knee when driving for longer periods and he went in again and i think they "stretched" the ITB and that fixed that (new scar on the outside of the knee). I don't think he kneels on his - i don't think he was told not to it is just uncomfortable.
HTH
My Dad had two replacement knees done together and he was about 72-3 at the time. The surgeon thought that the other one would require doing soon anyway and deemed him fit enough to cope with the recovery. Dad found it challenging afterwards and said at the time that if it had been one knee initially he would have found it difficult to go in again knowing how uncomfortable it would be! nb: I think he recognises the benefits now of having two new ones and like most of us would has forgotten the discomfort!
He came out with straight legs as the surgeon straightened them at the same time as he was a bit bow legged before!
Dad was/is not overweight and recovered well (for someone in his 70's) and was pain free after the recovery. He had a symptom post op in one knee when driving for longer periods and he went in again and i think they "stretched" the ITB and that fixed that (new scar on the outside of the knee). I don't think he kneels on his - i don't think he was told not to it is just uncomfortable.
HTH
Ian Lancs said:
slight diversion - during a TKR do the ligaments get replaced too? ACL and PCL go through the "middle" so I'm guessing yes, but what about the lateral ligaments?
Ligaments90% of TKR are Simple Primary, as opposed to Complex Primary or Revision
In a Simple Primary you cut out the (non-functioning) ACL and either leave the PCL alone (my choice) or cut it out. The lateral ligaments are left alone. This is a minimally constrained knee replacement.
See: http://www.londonhipknee.com/Portals/0/xrays/pfc.p... (PCL saving or CR)
In a partial or Uni Knee, you leave the ACL alone (for the Oxford Partial) or ignore it for the fixed Bearing Unis like the ZUK.
Revision (second time) TKR is a whole different kettle of fish and sometimes you have no functioning cruciate or collateral.
See: http://www.spirehealthcare.com/ImageFiles/Clare%20...
So, to up date this thread:
My OH saw the surgeon and he completely refused to do both together, insisting that people who wanted both done together have a 'death wish' and that the only time he saw someone due on the table was during such an operation.
So, knee one in July and the other six months later. My OH is in a lot of pain from both knees, currently off work.
Thoughts?
Thanks.
My OH saw the surgeon and he completely refused to do both together, insisting that people who wanted both done together have a 'death wish' and that the only time he saw someone due on the table was during such an operation.
So, knee one in July and the other six months later. My OH is in a lot of pain from both knees, currently off work.
Thoughts?
Thanks.
That's quite an outlandish and unexperienced view. I do it because it's proven to be safe, with correct selection. You can't just dismiss it out of hand.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&a...
If my anaesthetist is happy, I'm happy and my patients are happy. But the anaesthetist has the final say.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&a...
If my anaesthetist is happy, I'm happy and my patients are happy. But the anaesthetist has the final say.
Edited by The_Doc on Monday 23 May 17:35
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