Double TKR

zechariah

Hi guys,

I finally agreed to having TKR because of the amount of pain I am in, I am on 10mg Butrans patches, tramadol, paracetamol and nortryptiline and it is still bad!
I said I would have TKR if both knees are done at the same time, I hate hospital and suffer panic attacks and so it makes sense to get it over with in one go! I am 42 and so would be able to handle the trauma from that much surgery!
The consultant said NO!

Has anyone else had or heard of it being done, if I can't find a consultant to do both I wont have it done at all!

hileena111

Hi
Just to wich you luck finding someone that will do it...I havent a clue to be honest. I'm having a double hip replacement at the beginning of the year and my husband was with me when this bombshell was dropped. He said from the corner of the room......Do you do them both at once? The surgeon winked at me and then looked at him very straight faced and said no we dont....if we did she wouldnt have a leg to stand on LOL
Is it not the post op bit that would make the surgeon say no?
There will be others here who'll be able to help you more than me but keep us up to date
Love
Hileena

elnafinn

Hi Zech

I know lindalegs on here has had both knees done at the same time a number of years ago. I expect she will reply when she sees your thread.

I know of someone who had both done at the same time and all went very well for her and she suffered no pain post op. She just commented that it felt very odd the first time she stood up in the hospital after the op and everything "clunked into place".

My consultant did not wish to do both at once when I enquired. On reflection I am pleased he did not as I did suffer a load of pain post op for a goodly number of weeks and I was very grateful to have the other cranky knee to rely on, if you know what I mean. I had that done 2 years ago and am having the other one done at the end of January.

If you shop around you will find a surgeon who will do both at the same time.

I wish you all the very best with your quest.

Luv
Elna x

lindalegs

Hi Zechariah,

Yes, Elna's right I did have mine done at the same time - I was encouraged to as both knees were shot and I was very knock-kneed and life was almost impossible for me at that time. I was 42, coped very well and recovered quickly. I had two surgeons, one on each leg. I did have to do the exercises afterwards and I was sent for hydrotherapy, before the op and continued it afterwards with the physio - they gave me that for nearly 4 months post op - I was very lucky.

My knees were painful afterwards when weight bearing and did ache during the night but this improved each day - the pain was nothing compared to pre-op bone-on-bone.

I would see if you can be referred to another surgeon if you'd like them done bi-laterally.

I haven't looked back.

Luv Legs

skezier

Hi Zechariah,

I just wanted to say I hope you can find a surgeon who will do the at the same time. Also good luck and please keep us posted. Take care Cris

aanderso

Like Legs I had a Bi-lateral TKR also I could not walk atall surgeons are not happy doing this unless both knees are really shot. I had mine done April this year although i am having some probs now I am still much better off. I had to have a blood transfusion and also surgeon would not do it without an epidural which I was not happy about but had to back down as he wouldn't operate without it its basically for pain relief after. I was out of hosp in 6 days and had very good recovery at the age of 56 also back at work in 7 weeks. Good luck Anne

sharmaine

Hi Zechariah
Someone posted sometime ago who had both done at once but I think it was in another country - I can't recall who it was.

You're brave to want to have two done at the same time!!! I also need 2 TKR but will have one done at a time. Could you get some help with your panic attacks maybe hypnotherapy?

I'm sure someone will come up with some good advice for you.

Sharmaine

zechariah wrote:

Hi guys,

I finally agreed to having TKR because of the amount of pain I am in, I am on 10mg Butrans patches, tramadol, paracetamol and nortryptiline and it is still bad!
I said I would have TKR if both knees are done at the same time, I hate hospital and suffer panic attacks and so it makes sense to get it over with in one go! I am 42 and so would be able to handle the trauma from that much surgery!
The consultant said NO!

Has anyone else had or heard of it being done, if I can't find a consultant to do both I wont have it done at all!

tkachev

Hi
My OH dad had both knees done 3 years ago.He does not have arthritis but as a builder he needed to get back to work as quick as possible. He took a good few weeks to recover,loads of morphine but as good as new after that.
He is still working hard at 65...cant afford to retire!
Best wishes
Elizabeth