Bilateral Knee Replacement Surgery — Two months and back to yard work
Posted: April 10, 2012 Filed under: Medical conditions | Tags: bilateral knee replacement surgery, nature 42 Comments »Mark finished physical therapy for his bilateral knee replacement surgery on March 30th. I think he broke all records for recovery there. Maybe they’ll put up a plaque. I’m just very grateful that this whole process went as smoothly and as quickly as it did. We lived with the worry and fore-knowledge that someday we would have to face this knee replacement surgery, and now it is behind us. That’s a very good feeling.
Mark is living pretty much a normal life, although his leg muscles bother him if he tries to do too much, and he is still under prohibition of three movements (twisting his knee back and forth to put his foot in his shoe, crossing his foot over his knee in a sitting position, or kneeling) until the 3-month mark at the end of April. Mark also continues to do his at-home exercises that basically consist of leg lifts using ankle weights. He continues to ice his knees down after he exercises or if he has used them extensively like in the following slide show.
I took these photos April 1st, after we lost our redbud tree. The hill he’s walking down is very steep. I never attempt to go down it, but always go the long way around. Although Mark doesn’t bend his knees to work as he might have before the surgery, as you will see, he is perfectly capable of getting the job done. I offered to help him, but then decided sometimes I am the most help by just staying out of the way.
It’s nice to see him working in the yard, as he loves to do that and I wasn’t sure that would be possible this spring.
It’s also very nice to see him able to take out the trash.
You can see links to the complete series of posts about Mark’s bilateral knee replacement surgery here.
Yay for Mark!!! All his hard work at therapy sure paid off!! PLUS I think he had a great nurse!
Personally, I think the nurse made all the difference.
I am sure you are right!!!
Good grief Charlie Brown! He is so lucky!!! Such a relief to know he had such a successful outcome!!! You guys did such a great job being prepared and following PT and OBVIOUSLY had an awesome surgeon!! Go get ‘em Mark! But do be careful on those hills. They can be sneaky and hide holes and … well never mind! He’ll do as he pleases! He is feeling like a SuperMan!
He has been lucky. It’s a good thing, too, because he is not a patient person. I don’t even try to go down that hill myself.
Congratulations to both of you. Gosh, he looks great!
Hugs,
Kathy
He does look great. His knees are looking better each day. I just feel grateful.
Kathy McCullough just sent me over to your blog, as my husband just had knee replacement surgery last Wednesday. He went to his first physical therapy appointment today in town and is now sleeping in bed.
Will find time to read some of your other blogs about this…and show Barry the pics of your husband. He told the physical therapist that his goal is to be able to cut our wood for the winter. We have a huge load of logs in the driveway. Sounds like your husband has recovered nicely. Barry also has to get his right knee done in August. It’s quite a year for us. It’s good to know that others have had good results. Thank you for sharing, Another Kathy
I’m glad you found us. I hope everything goes smoothly for you too. I don’t know when he has to cut the wood, but I suspect he will be in good shape by the end of the summer. I think Mark would say one of the secrets of his success was to do all the home exercises religiously.
Stop back later and let me know how he’s doing.
Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.
I just mentioned to you on my blog that he has to have his second knee done in August. So his left knee may be doing great by the end of the summer…but the right knee will just be going through the process again. Your husband had both knees simultaneously done? Our doctor wouldn’t do that.
Hooray–you got connected! Love you both!
Hugs,
Kathy
Does he know how many of us were cheering him on? so great to see him doing so well. wow.
I think he does. And I think it has made all the difference.
always great to have people pulling for you eh?
It’s good to see him out and about! Looks like he had a nice sunny day to enjoy while he was working. Thanks for sharing this wonderful blessing.
It is! We did have a great day to be outside.
He’s lucky to have come through it so well!
I know!
[...] If any of you wish to know more about the knee replacement scenario, please visit my new blogging buddy, Christine M Grote at Random Thoughts from Midlife. Here is one of her many blogs about her husband’s knee replacement from two months after surgery, the lucky duck: http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/bilateral-knee-replacement-surgery-two-mon… [...]
Yay! It looks like he’s doing really well.
He is. Thanks.
Excellent progress report!
Thanks, Christine.
Go, Mark!!!
Christine,
I am planning to have bilateral knee replacement in about two months. I really appreciated the opportunity to read your blog and to get tips on things to do and what to expect. It looks like it will be very helpful
Bill
I’m glad it was helpful to you. Best of luck on your surgery. Do the exercises now and afterwards.
I planned for bilateral knee replacement but will I back in work after one or two month?
I couldn’t really say, because I think everybody recovers at their own rate. I think the one-month idea is a little optimistic, but I suppose it depends on the job. I don’t think Mark was driving at one-month.
Two months may be more realistic. Your doctor can probably give you a better idea.
Hi Christine, I am 40 and will have bilateral knee replacement on Oct 10th. Mark’s determination is inspiring and I hope I can do 1/2 as well as he has. Thanks so much for sharing your journey. It will also help me appreciate everything my husband will have to do for me. We have an 8 year old daughter who I know will be a big help too!
Lesli
Hi Lesli,
You’re pretty young for a knee replacement, but that can be good. You will likely heal well and do well with the therapy. Everybody is different, but I never had to actually physically help Mark get up or walk. I did a lot of the bringing meds, drinks, and food to him, and I kept the ice machine charged with ice—all things your little helper will do a good job with.
Best of wishes for an uneventful surgery and fast, full recovery. Mark is able to do everything he wants to. He played golf yesterday.
Just keep the ice on, and follow your doctor’s advice regarding therapy.
Let us know how it goes.
I am struggling with the decision to have both knees done in November. I’m 63 and run a bed and breakfast inn which means going up and down three flights of stairs daily, as well as being on my feet a lot. Some days are worse than others. And I am frightened when it comes to doctors, hospitals, etc.. Reading your blog has been very helpful to me. I will be seeing my surgeon in a couple of weeks to discuss the game plan and I not only have a better sense of what is in store but I also know what questions I would like to ask him with regard to my own surgery, and post op therapy. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am so happy to hear that Mark is actually playing golf. That’s great!
There is simply no comparison between his ability to go up and down steps before and now. His legs feel so much better. I was frightened about what the whole experience was going to be like for us, but it turned out better than I expected. Mark was able to do much more earlier than I thought he would. However, the people I saw in the hospital who only had one knee done made it look so much easier. So that could be an option for you. Once you’ve recovered, you will be so glad you had it done. At least Mark is.
Hi Christine and Mark. Thank you for your very helpful blog. Mark, congratulations on your quick recovery! Christine, after the feed-back I’ve heard from others, your day-by-day notes have really helped to de-stress the next few weeks. I’m 71, and will be having a bilateral knee procedure on 10/25. I live alone, so will go to a rehab facility for 10-14 days after discharge, then to a friend’s house because there are 22 steep steps to my own front door – and I’m outside the travel range for the PT. I’d just purchased ankle weights, so am exercising during the remaining 2 1/2 weeks. How do Mark’s knees feel, now that it’s over half a year later? Any tightness? Can he kneel? Best wishes to both of you. CarrieM
I’m glad you found the post helpful. Hopefully your recovery will go smoothly as well. Mark is outside cutting up fallen trees in our woods as I write this. We were dancing at a wedding reception last night. I asked him just this morning if his knees felt different. He said they felt “stronger.” He can kneel, but is still hesitant to do so. I think it’s just psychological. He hasn’t had any problems on those occasions when he has knelt, largely doing yard work.
I hope you have a successful, noneventful surgery and quick recovery. This was the best decision we’ve ever made.
Best wishes, Carrie. Let us know how you are doing.
Thanks so much, CMSmith, for your encouragement! The surgery and recovery went even better than I expected. Reading comments of those who had ‘been there’ was a huge help, and doing just a bit more than the therapists asked has resulted in a phenomenal come-back. My surgeon says I’m a ‘poster girl’ for the procedure. I’ve concluded that, if a patient needs both knees done, it’s better to do them both at once. The procedure involves pain, but it doesn’t hurt that much more to deal with the second knee at the same time. Going back for a second procedure, though, takes courage after recovering from the first. More and more surgeons realize that a bilateral procedure stresses the body less in the long run. Just know that you’ll have adequate pain relief to get through it and, as the therapists said, one knee always heals a bit faster than the other so you really do have “a leg to stand on” soon after you start walking. I was nearly unable to walk before the procedure and now, 4 1/2 mos after, not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for the ability to walk and climb stairs. I wear a pedometer and on the 3rd monthiversary I walked 11,066 steps. Haven’t been able to do that in years! Good luck to all who face the surgery, and congratulations to those who have completed it. We’re all fortunate to have this option available.
Good, good, good. So glad you stopped back to let us know how you are doing. And I’m thrilled you had such a “poster girl” experience. You’re doing great. So glad all that fear, anxiety and PAIN are behind you. Well done.
Great blog and just what this nurse-to-be needed before my wife gets both knees replaced in March. At this point, the apprehension of the unknown is toughest. Thank you!
You’re welcome. Best of luck.
Keith, I had double knee replacement 4 months ago and found Christine’s blog very helpful and comforting as well. I started playing paddleball and racquetball at three months post surgery and am now getting ready to play tennis. Good luck with your wife’s surgery.
Thanks Bill. Three weeks until BLNR day and wish I could have turned the clocks forward three weeks instead of one hour last night. Every step Patti takes is painful to watch. Thanks for the good wishes.
It’s my wife Patti’s BLKR tomorrow. We’re both scared, apprehensive, anxious, nervous and excited. Strange. Here’s to hoping for the best with a speedy and successful recovery. Thanks for prepping me Christine!
I hope everything goes well. I had trouble waiting through the surgery. And the first couple of days were tiring and a little scary. Hopefully it will go really well and you two will be dancing again. Let us know. Thinking of you both.
Christine,
I just returned from the orthopaedic surgeon’s office yesterday…and am contemplating BTKR. Reading your blog gave me encouragement…I dread the procedure and after effects, but getting it over once and for all sounds like the way to go. Mark sounds like superman! And what a blessing for him to have you as his nurse. Best of luck to you both.
He would say it’s the best thing he ever did. I can’t promise you will recover as easily, but if your knee pain is truly changing your life, it will probably be worth it to you. Let me know how you do. Best of wishes.