I had a double tkr surgery. My therapist told me to consciously walk a
normal stride with bend. I'm 4 months out and walk like a pro. Go easy
and slow… you have to retrain muscles.

Judi Maddock

@javajude I couldn't even imagine having them both done at the same time! Thanks for the input and encouragement! I'm just going to try that "stride with a bend" mind set and see how that goes. Thanks for the reply and I'm glad you're doing good.

I had to smile a little when you said you walk like your leg is made of wood. I said the same thing to my husband. I found that I just needed to try and walk with a normal gait. I was favoring my leg and trying to walk without bending the knee. Once I concentrated on walking normally things improved.

@cheris Wow, that's exactly what my PT said today. I waddled in and then we practiced with me "trying" to walk normal. Didn't quite make it but I see hope for the future. Guess it will just take time but I will be SO happy when I can start to walk normal again and get on a Treadmill at the gym!

@dkapustin great advice here from @cheris and @javajude. I remember it took me a while to feel like I was walking normally too, but it did finally happen. I do remember making a conscious effort to do it. I think I felt the greatest accomplishment when I was finally able to do stairs without holding the bannister. I think that took a good year, or maybe even more.
JK

I remember learning how to walk again as I walked as if I had a peg leg. I have to honestly say that it took me 7 months to walk naturally without limping, or dragging my leg. I am 9 months out from RTKR and no one could tell I ever had a knee replacement. Give it time, 8 weeks is rather early, it will come when you can walk naturally again. Good luck with PT.

That's encouraging to know it took that long and the recovery was good. I'm going on 11 weeks post double knee plus 3 weeks post MUA and I would have to say that I can't walk very well at all or far.

No worries, everyone heals differently. I was bummed because there were some people who have healed quickly and were up and about in three months golfing and walking as if nothing had happened. I am the other hand was a late healer but that’s OK if the result was that I was walking unhindered again.

Yes, very encouraging words from my fellow knee warriors. I'm not breezing through this surgery but am coming along at a slower pace. It's good to know that that we will still finish the race and get back to normal, it just might take us a little longer. The main thing I suspect is to be grateful that no complications showed their ugly heads and process is being made, however slow it may be! 🙂

Hi Judi, Congratulation! I was wondering if you had computer guided knee replacements? A friend of mine just recently had one knee done with that type of knee surgery and her recovery was a breeze compared to a traditional knee replacement. I need to have this surgery done soon so I am researching. Thank you for your reply.
Colleen Scott

@colleenscott I have had two TKRs done by different doctors.
The first and most important consideration is making sure you have the very best possible surgeon you can find.

That being done, have you considered a Conformis knee? My second TKR was with a Conformis knee and I have been very pleased with it. They actually take images of your knee and make the replacement knee to mimic it so the recovery is easier. I was fortunate because I live in southern NH and the developer of the knee is in Boston so I was able to have my surgery with him. If you happen to be in this area, he's wonderful. His name is Dr. Wolfgang Fitz.

I too have good things about the computer-assisted knee replacements though. They use a Stryker knee. I presume the model they use is excellent. I know that past Stryker knees have had some problems.

I have no idea what my first knee was. Back then I never even knew that was a consideration. I was very uninformed.
JK

I had 2 TKR, both Mako robotic with glue closures. One in May 20, and Sept 20. Doing amazing. Took oxycodon for only a few days before therapy and decided that Tylenol worked just as well. Drove 12 days after left knee and 15 days after right. Was back at work both time in 3 weeks. Best advice is exercise a lot before surgery, prepare your legs. Used a cane only 1 day around the house except for stairs.

I am trying to walk normally but my knee buckles just as it did before surgery I am 6 weeks into my recovery and therapy had have a manipulation at 4 weeks in wasn’t bending. Therapy is brutal. Seems like the therapy team each have different technique that are painful ( soooo focused on the bend ) I am left with no other choice but to take it like a champ. Of course the following morning I am as stiff and unbendable as I was the day before so I cycle use my ball for exercises and walk five minutes or more every hour. I have osteoarthritis in this knee my pain and problems started when I was sixteen, found a benign tumor in the bone that had caused a break at nineteen now because of the size of the bone and dead tissue mass the bone had to be cut and they also placed rods in the bones so I am so looking forward to just walking without buckling.

Six weeks isn’t very long.I think I buckled too.
Do all the exercises to strengthen your leg muscles.Especially the quads .Ask PT .Work those muscles and the joint will tighten up.They have all been loosened up