Bilateral TKR and getting in and out of bed

@gobigorgohome Welcome to the elite club of insane people that go for bilateral! I had mine on Jan 7th 2019. You will need help with everything for at least 2 weeks. I had a leg lifter that helped me lift one leg at a time to get out of bed. It looks like a stiff dog leash with a loop for your hand on one end and a loop for your foot. I enjoyed all the tips of " using your uninvolved knee..." you have no choice, you will use both. It's a tough go for 3-4 weeks then you become accustomed to your "new norm" of living. Everything is double the fun! Therapy is usually 40 minutes, I had 80 a time. I would like to answer any other questions you might have. It is not very common, and few have had exposure to us, even therapist. Good luck!

A leglifter sounds good. I’ll have to look one up. I started trying to Figure out how to get both my legs up while sitting on the bed. That’s when I realize my bed is way too tall. It is going to make it very challenging. I do have a great helper and my husband, but I don’t want to have to rely on him every single time I want to get out of bed or get into bed. How long do you think it will take to not have to rely on him 24/7?

Hey doodles418, I’m so glad to connect with a fellow bilateral crazy. Your surgery was pretty recent. I’d love to hear how you’re doing now, and about some of your major milestones along your way to where you are now. How is your pain and discomfort level now.
And, if you have tips that you’ve learned along your way I’m anxious to hear about that as well. I’m very lucky to have a willing and capable caregiver, and I worry about being a big burden on him, but I know it’s not forever.

Hi @gobigorgohome - Glad you are on Connect and glad you found a fellow bilateral TKR friend! I had ONE TKR on 1/29/19 - but my first one was in 2017 - so I can't join your elite club! Just wanted to check in to say I'm wishing you the best. I'm curious whether you have stairs or just one-level-living? For me, even with just one bad knee, stairs were the hardest. In fact, that and balance were the last things we worked on before I was released from PT. Please keep us posted as your recovery unfolds. I'm pulling for you.

I don't recall getting in and out of bed by myself a problem. We also had a tall bed and my husband removed the frame and it's just the box spring and mattress that made the height good. My husband has been amazing! I was a little more dependent on him since our house has 9 steps up to the upper level where the bedroom, bathroom and exercise room are. Before I came home I had the PT's work with me on stairs so I could make it upstairs and stay put for a few days. You will be the best judge of how you're feeling and how much you can do on your own. I'll keep in touch when I have more ideas that were important and helpful.

That’s a great idea about removing the frame. I’ll pass it on to my husband. From reading posts from this site and others I know all of us recover at different paces and experience different levels of pain .... but I’ll still ask you 1) When were you walking without assistance? 2). How often and how long did you go to outside PT? And, 3) How is your gait now? Can you walk without a limp?
I don’t want to overwhelm you with questions but I’m excited to hear from others who have done TKR. Thank you.

I am still having burning pain in my knee after surgery on 02/20/19. My physical therapy is going well. I can not get rid of the pain. I was wondering if there could be some infection in my knee. I was allergic to the glue the Dr. glued the wound together with. Anyone have this problem?

@auntb I had severe pain for about six weeks after my TKR in October, 2017. It was so bad at times that it brought tears to my eyes, and I generally have a high pain tolerance. It lifted magically at about six weeks and things have been great since then. In the meantime, my ortho was keeping close track of me.
I hope your pain disappears soon too and that it is not indicative of a problem.
JK

Answer to #1: I use a cane in public still to let others know why I am walking slower, at home I have been unassisted since 8 weeks, but I also had MUA at 7 weeks because my ROM got stuck at 90 degrees by week 5. I am an aggressive creator of scar tissue that ended up with adhesion's to the implant. It does not mean I didn't do PT enough or that I was not doing my home exercises. I was very committed to both, it just happens to some, so be aware of that also if you feel your PT progress is plateauing. 2: In the hospital I was offered to go to a rehab facility after discharge on day 3. We pushed the Dr to sign off on another day and left in the morning Friday of day 5 to go home. My first outside PT was Mon , 2nd was Thursday, this was the schedule for the next 6 weeks. Had I known better, I would have pushed for 3 days because of bilateral. Instead they give each knee 40 minutes, so I was there 80 minutes. 3: I'm still in PT because of the MUA and hard time walking naturally. I have 2 different types of PT. One concentrates on ROM ONLY. The other is for gaining better movement through soft tissue manipulation. And I just started pool therapy for the walking problems. It's not a limp, it's a stiffness from the hips down. It's coming around slowly. I do become frustrated and depressed at how long this is taking ME, but without my continued faith and prayers I think I would be worse off.

@contentandwell I'm still in severe pain on most days 10 weeks PO. I envy you having an ortho who keeps a close eye on you. Mine saw me 1 and 2 weeks PO and then 6 weeks after that. He examined my knee and told me to continue PT and he would see me in 3 months.