Recuperation from Bilateral TKR

[sheri4913]

I had surgery 1/2/08.  I now walk with a cane if I go out, but am experiencing a lot of pain.  I don't want to go back to narcotic pain relievers and have been trying to cope with Darvocet and ibuprofen.  During the day, I can handle the pain except for some very hard, fast stabbing pains that make me stop in my tracks for a few minutes.  But at night, the pain, which is like a very bad toothache from just above my knees to my ankles, keeps waking me up.  my hubby wants me to take a Percocet before bed so that I can sleep through the night.  I'm wondering if I increase my activities at my gym, will this help or hurt the healing process?  I use the treadmill and walk in the pool and ride the bike.  Also try to do a hot tub for 15 minutes before bed.  Any ideas would be much appreciated.  I'm only 65 and am NOT ready for a rocking chair!  I want my active lifestyle back and am willing to work for it.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

An estimated 90% of all people getting a total knee replacement experience a significant reduction in the pain. The recovery time is somewhere around a couple of months.

Your symptoms may be due to the new artificial joint fixed to the bone. You have to keep a watch on fracture of the bone adjacent to the new implant. Regular visits to the orthopedic surgeon will make sure your knee joint is monitored.

Do not increase the activities to anything more than what you used to do earlier. There are obviously some restrictions on the knee movement. But, at the same time, you should not try to hurry up the process of healing.

As far as the pain is considered, you may get x-rays of the knee to detect any other problem.

Regards

[sheri4913]

Good Morning and thank you for your thoughtful comments.  I am curious....  in reading other posts, it seems when both knees are done at the same time, healing can take longer than just having one done.  I had both done.  I have an appointment with my OS on the 31st.    I saw him 4 weeks ago and he said the xrays looked good.  Can a fracture come from doing normal activity?  And yes, the knee movements in both knees are restricted but the last time I had them checked, the movement in both was at 120 degrees.  Perhaps I should go back to a regular PT instead of trying to do this on my own?  

I thank you again for taking the time to write.

[manpt]

Have you had physical therapy?

[manpt]

oops, missed your last sentence.

[sheri4913]

Yes, I did PT for 10 days in the hospital and then for 6/7 weeks after, 3 times a week.  The problem is that my insurance only pays for 25 appointments and it gets very pricey.  So I began to do what I was doing there at the gym.  But now I'm wondering if I should have been tried to stay longer.........  maybe once a week  to keep on track or change something.  Since this is my first, and hopefully last, major surgery, I sometimes feel like I'm trying to get through a maze blindfolded.