Knee Replacement - one or both at once?

brian35

I know that both my knees require TKR and the consultant said that they could do both at once. However, I feel that it is better to do one at a time as two might be too much for me and at least I will have the better of the two if there are problems.

Experiences of anyone who has had one done at a time welcomed - what sort of gap between ops., did it cause problems for the non-op. leg, etc? One thought is that it will straighten the worse leg and make me lop-sided and put more pressure on the other one.

elnafinn

I mentioned to my consultant about having both knees done at the same time but he did not recommend it. I did not ask him why because although I asked the question I felt that it would be best to have the worst one done first and see how it goes. In the event I am very glad I did, because although I got good mobility quickly the bad often intense pain went on for weeks. I hasten to add this is my personal experience but it has not put me off having another op at a later date. The physio was surprised, first at my good mobility but also the level of pain I had.

I do not take any painkillers since the op but was on the maximum dosage for a long time before the left TKR. The right leg is becoming deformed and the knee swollen although not as bad yet as the left knee before the op. It does not give me pain anything like the other one did so I shall see how things are by the end of this year.

Elna