Three months post bilateral TKR....an update

Helenbothknees
Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
edited 14. Oct 2012, 15:11 in Living with Arthritis archive
It's now three months to the day since I had both knee joints replaced. And, to summarise, I'm just so, so glad I had this operation. I truly feel like I've got my life back.

I've not used sticks for several weeks, and indeed don't even think of it. I walk anywhere, including on muddy and uneven footpaths, and enjoy the sensation of putting one foot in front of the other and getting places without pain. I can't walk any great distances yet, but then, I hadn't for years...before the op I couldn't walk to the car or around the house without severe pain. Longer walks will come.... I do other active stuff too - cycling, swimming etc. I even tried country dancing last week, but the twisting and rapid movements made it a bad idea. Maybe later.... No balance problems though. And my knees feel like my own, though everyone said they wouldn't.

Both knees bend beautifully, nearly all the way back, though I can't quite kneel back on my heels. This involves a slight twist, they say, and will probably always be impossible. I can kneel though, but not for too long...yet. And I can get in the bath, kneel down to get underneath things, sit on very low chairs, etc, etc

I'm still in some pain, though it's getting less. I now take paracetamol four times a day, and I'm gradually cutting back on the codeine, slowly to minimise the side effects/withdrawal symptoms. I'm down to two OTC paracetamol/codeine tablets in the morning (16 mg codeine), and next week I'll hopefully cut that out too.

Overall, I'm beginning to feel like...a normal person who doesn't have arthritis, since my other joints are more or less OK - slight aches and pains, but I'm 64 and who doesn't ache a bit by this age. I even thought of leaving these forums as I'm beginning to feel like I don't need to be here, but I'll stick around in case my experiences are of any use to anyone else, particularly anyone having a bilateral TKR, as there aren't many of us. And...because I've been helped a lot on here and made some good friends. Thank you everyone; I really mean that. Even if I haven't always agreed with you, I've appreciated your comments. You've also made me realise how lucky I am. My arthritis was 'curable'; for many that's not the case. I've finally learned that really hard lesson in life, to count my blessings.

I hope this post doesn't make anyone feel inferior, depressed, or jealous; that's in no way my intention. I just wanted to....well, share my good feelings, and tell you what a knee op can do, so long as you have a bit of luck - oh, and work hard with the exercises. I know some don't agree, but I sincerely believe that working so hard moving my knees right from the moment the anaesthetic wore off was what helped me to gain such good results. Either that, or I'm just very lucky, or both.

Best wishes to all,

Helen

Comments

  • helpatpol
    helpatpol Member Posts: 22
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It's great to hear of such a good outcome. Best wishes from another Helen!
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Helen
    Its good of you to go to the trouble of doing this, It will be a great help to others that face the same..Im so glad it has gone so well for you, but a lot of that is down to your hard work,
    Long may your recovery continue x
    Love
    Barbara
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Helen

    I sense your triumph and happiness and I am so pleased for you that it all turned out so well especially having both knees operated on at the same time. It takes one brave person to do that. I do not think I would ever have been so brave. One at a time was the way to go for me and my surgeon. :wink:

    Do stick around if you have the time? New people join all the time with questions about knee replacements and often they are nervous which is perfectly natural (I was!) and look to those that have been there and done that and we are able to offer advice from our own experiences and support.

    There are those that have had a knee op and it has unfortunately not gone to plan and I like to support these forum members too as I feel for them so much. I cannot quite imagine how awful it must be for an operation to go so wrong. Also in the case of my mum but that is another story and it all ended well eventually.

    You definitely have a place on the forum, Helen, if you would like to continue to take part. Even if you pop in every so often you shall always be made welcome.

    Anyway, I wish you all the very best whatever you decide to do.

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Elna, I agree and I'm not leaving. I've had so much help on here; I'd like to pay it back by helping and reassuring others. Besides, things could still go wrong, and I might need you all again, who knows? Oh, and I wasn't brave, just desperate!
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Yep, Helen, this forum works well both ways, firstly by helping us and then many of us wish to stay to help others. We make cyber friends and it is good to keep in touch. Our lives and ages may be very different but we do have one thing in common namely some form of arthritis, whether it has been mended or not, and as you say, we never know when we may need support/help with another issue, either directly related to arthritis or something else.

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • SteveBurns
    SteveBurns Member Posts: 177
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well done Helen, you have done really well to get where you are right now.

    I'm two weeks ahead but still not as far with the recovery of my single TKN, still having trouble with the patella tendon.

    You should call in here every now and then to see if you can assist anyone who may have problems with their TKR.

    Keep up the exercises to make sure the knees do not stiffen up and take care of yourself.

    Steve
  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Steve, despite what I said I'm still here, and probably will be for a while...just dropping in slightly less often. And thanks, and yes, I'm still exercising, mainly to try to get the strength back in my legs, to walk further, to do stuff like getting up from kneeling (ouch!), and also to overcome the early morning stiffness I still have.

    One thing though. If I do forget to drop in, and anyone asks for advice or support who's having or had a bilateral TKR, please would someone send me a pm. It'll be emailed to me, and I'll be right over! I know what it's like to find out you're one of very few people about to get both knees done at once, the amazement and admiration is nice, but to talk to someone who's had it before would have been even better. It's one of the few ways I might be able to help someone.
  • Numptydumpty
    Numptydumpty Member Posts: 6,417
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Bumped up for Freesia.
  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    And since it's been bumped up, one more thing to report - I'm finally off codeine!!! I stopped the last little bit last Thursday, and have been a bit jittery and depressed for the last couple of days, but if it works the same as every time I cut down in the last few weeks, I should be OK from about tomorrow. Now just on paracetamol when I need them - about three times a day. Hopefully soon I can even give that up, and take no pills whatsoever (except vitamins!). That'll be a first for many years, and I'm looking forward to it.

    Meanwhile I'm cycling on the mini bike, going to hydrotherapy at the leisure centre, still doing yoga, and working up to a two mile each way footpath walk to the next village, hopefully in a week or two. We can stop at the pub there for lunch and a rest. I haven't done anything like that for years!
  • Loulou11
    Loulou11 Member Posts: 86
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm so glad to see your much better, I'm still waiting to see if my knees or hips are the ones that need doing, left knee has disitergrated but I'm getting more pain in the hip? I'm only 42 and had Arthur 40 years so its about time I had some new joints but I'm worried sick to be honest. I've had both wrists fused and that was ok but worry that once they start on the legs it will be one op after another. But when I see rheumy in nov I will ask about having the done together less pain in the long run.