Knee replacement- 1 or both at a time ?

[oilcan]

I need both knees replaced.
The question I have here for those of you with experience is: "Should I replace them at the same time, or 1 at a time?"
I have buddy's that have opinions on both sides- but your experiences will be appreciated.
I plan on having the deal done in Jan,2016 as to not screw-up too much decent weather.
Thanks for your $.02.

[fred cook]

My wife had both knees replaced. She did one at a time, starting with the worst knee and then the (slightly) better knee. Having one relatively good knee to help stand up and navigate stairs seemed to really help her. We have friends that have done both knees at one time, really struggled for a period of time but then were over the hump.

[pavulon]

I can see the surface appeal and I'm not a surgeon. FWIW my answer would be dependent upon a number of things. How is your health and pain tolerance? Will your surgeon do both at once. What is his/her advice?

After surgery, rehab for one at a time can be rough. Effectively double that experience for two simultaneously while not necessarily cutting your rehab time.

One infected total knee (admittedly unusual) is awful. Two would be a disaster.

YMMV and good luck!

[Rikao4]

as above...
with a flat one can hobble to the station..
with 2..your at everyone's mercy..

Rika

[enzo1]

An acquaintance had both his knees done at the same time. Developed an infection and had to take both replacements back out... not good! Don't know what the percentages of this happening are...

[pcarhiway]

Same advice and experience as Fred Cook.

My wife had two total knee replacements done in 2014, one in January and the next one in April. The first 7 to 10 days after surgery are pretty darn tough. In physical therapy you really need to devote your time and attention to one knee at a time.

The appeal of getting them done at the same time seemed to make sense to her up until the time she asked her surgeon and he flatly refused to do them at the same time.

You need that good knee for getting around, taking a shower, going to the rest room etc... the second knee replacement went much easier because then she had a really good new knee to help her get around.

[oilcan]

Thanks Pcarhiway.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by pavulon

I can see the surface appeal and I'm not a surgeon. FWIW my answer would be dependent upon a number of things. How is your health and pain tolerance? Will your surgeon do both at once. What is his/her advice?

After surgery, rehab for one at a time can be rough. Effectively double that experience for two simultaneously while not necessarily cutting your rehab time.

One infected total knee (admittedly unusual) is awful. Two would be a disaster.

YMMV and good luck!

Recovery will be MUCH easier if you do them one at a time.

If you get bilateral TKR and one gets infected, the other will too.

You don't even want to know what the treatment is for an infected joint replacement.

Make them measure you after a joint replacement, no looking at the radiographs is not good enough. Limb length discrepancy is fairly common after joint replacement.

[LakeCleElum]

Had one done 3 yrs ago. Know a few that did both at once. I'd do both if you have really good care providers lined up for that 1st week. Do it and get it over with I say.

[930addict]

I know three people who had knee replacement surgery. My grandmother had both done at once and she was fine. She even walked up the stairs to her house after being released from hospital. My mother had her left knee replaced ten years ago and her leg has never been the same. Says she wouldn't do it again. I think the doc screwed up. Then I have a co-worker that had both knees replaced and his recovery was quick. He was playing basketball in no time. Making sure to do the physical therapy afterwards is of utmost importance.

[oilcan]

Thanks Fred.

[NY65912]

One at a time. I have a friend that had two done at the same time. According to him, not a good idea. Rehab was a beotch. One can be tough, but two? I would'nt. With 1 you still have at least 1 relativley "good" one to lean on. Good Luck

[BlueTone]

I need both done, had the first one done about 3 years ago. Rehab was tough but I got thru it. Strange thing tho, the other one doesn't bother me as much now that the right one is fixed up. I think its hard to tell how much you put additional stress on one side when the other is f'd up. I think in my case, tho both show needing replacement, fixing the one that bothered me the most took stress off the other one. Now I feel like I can go quite some time before having the second one done.

[5String43]

I have had both knees replaced. The left one was done in 2008. The right one was done in March, 2012, and again in September, 2012, as the condition of that knee was worse after the first replacement than it had been before the surgery. Grr! So I guess I can say I've had three knee replacements. It was not fun in any of the three instances.

I have heard of people having both knees done at the same time, but I do not think I would do this. I think the decision you make will depend, at least in part, upon how quickly you'd like to be up and around, driving, back at work, active. For sure, it is going to be different for everybody, as one's tolerance to discomfort will play a role in how fast you can return to the wars.

For me, both times, I was up and around within three days, driving within three days (much to my wife's chagrin), transitioned from crutches to a cane almost immediately, and back at work within five days and, after the first one, hiking across the moors in Scotland within 30 days. Having one knee that was still working relatively well greatly aided all this.

Up and around wasn't bad at all. Driving was problematic because the new knee resisted bending, so getting into and out of a car, as a driver and even as a passenger, was tough, as was bending my leg enough to reach the pedals. Also, the required rehab was intense.

I dunno, do you want to go through this twice, or just once? I can see advantages to both sides of this question. But as I noted above, I am happy that I had mine done separately.

This probably seems obvious, but if you do choose to have them done separately, have the worst one done first. Obvious, right?

[widebody911]

I was just at the ortho yesterday, and he told me I have about 10 years at best or so left on my originals before I need a rebuild.

[Tobra]

Try and get a visit to the physical therapist preop and start rehab prior to surgery. If you can strengthen it a bit ahead of time, you will have a better starting point after you get it done.

I always tell people do extremity stuff one at a time. Better not to need someone to wipe your ass for you, and if you have one decent pin under you for hobbling about, it is easier.

That said: I had a healthy 45 yo lady who insisted on getting both feet fixed at the same time. 1st metatarsal osteotomies and a big bone spur on the top of both feet. She was playing tennis in 4 weeks, which I learned about 6 weeks after surgery. Turned out fantastic, go figure.

Of course she did not smoke. If you are getting any sort of surgery, quit smoking at least a week before you get it, especially if it will involve saws and bones.

[DanielDudley]

Thee are certain hospitals that have a much lower infection rate, just as there are certain Doctors who have a much higher success rate. You want both, and you have to check around.

Some people are more fussy about the 911 they buy than the doctor who operates on them.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

One thing you want is an orthopod who specializes in this area (if you can find it)- not a jack of all trades orthopod. "Hey look, I can fix a clavicle... and dabble in TKR....."

Continued disclaimer---- I am not an expert in this.. but I would try to find an surgeon that specializes in joint replacement, and has the training that demonstrates such.
I would not hesitate to ask the surgeon this.

Another question I would not hesitate to ask in the least- is to ask the surgeon- "if you had to get this operation done tomorrow to yourself, what doctor would you have do this to you?"

If they get offended... too bad.. this is about YOUR knees- not their ego and their response should be sign in and of itself.

If they(or their assistant) recommend his associate in his practice- ignore that answer.

another disclaimer-I am not proficient in this field- 20+ years ago I worked in Physical Therapy, and I was the one who got bilateral knee replacements out of bed. The bilaterals always hated life a little more than unilaterals- but they were DONE... I'm not condoning it, and I don't know what today's "trend" is... just realize... it's a TREND!

When you have a recalled joint replacement failing in your body... you get cynical about things like that...ask me how I know (better yet- don't)
Sooo. ask these questions first... AT the beginning of the appointment... not the 11:59 end....then...
Better yet - print this thread- present this to them at the BEGINNING of the appointment and let them explain each point (after they've answered them).

[Jeff Higgins]

When I had mine done, I only needed one side. That was debilitating enough, so I suppose doing both couldn't be that much more so. Mine was pretty extensive, though:

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

When I had mine done, I only needed one side. That was debilitating enough, so I suppose doing both couldn't be that much more so. Mine was pretty extensive, though:

Jeff, but no offense... you didn't need a knee replacement, sir- you could walk on your penis!