KNEE ARTHRITIS - Total Knee Replacement :

Rehab time after TKR - - Posted by ccchilders (ccchilders), 17 February 2003

I have had problems with my left knee for 30+ years.  4 surgeries later and I am going to have it replaced.  The doctor gave me about 6 months more before the pain made it necessary.  I know everyone is different, but can anyone tell me about the length of hospital stay, amount of rehab, when I can go back to work (I have a desk job and very understanding bosses).

I have 2 children ages 9 and 11.  My husband and I own a business where he works.  I do not work for him.  This is going to take a lot of planning.  Any help would be appreciated.

I am 45 yrs old and in good health other than the knee.

CCC

Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 2 March 2003

Hi!

I had a tkr on my left knee in December--I am a 47 year old mother of 8 with 4 knee surgeries behind me--and every other treatment under the sun...

I had my surgery on a Monday (12/16) and would have gotten out of the hospital on that Friday except I developed some urinary bleeding.  I did leave on Saturday, although my doc wanted to keep me until Monday--couldn't take the hospital or crazy roommates any longer--lol.  I either had to have help at home with transportation to therapy to leave then or go for a week or two in a rehab situation.  The first was my choice, given my children and the holiday.  Your at-home help can be family or visiting nurses, etc...

I had therapy the day after my surgery and twice daily while I was in the hospital.  Like I said, I left the hospital on Saturday and started going back to therapy on the following Monday.  I am just completing a 10 week, standard course of rehab.

I wish my ortho would have done this a lot sooner--my left knee is the best part of my arthritic body now.  I'm going to have the right one done this summer.  I hate to wait so long, but I'm a teacher and need to be at work for a number of reasons.

I hope that helps--any other questions or concerns, feel free to email me or post them here.  I'm glad to share!  Sylvia
Posted by ccchilders (ccchilders), 3 March 2003

Sylvia,

When were you able to go back to work.  I don't have to stand up as much as a teacher does.  My job is a desk job.  I can work from home, too.

My knee has gone down hill the last month.  The pain is not unbearable yet.  I am going to wait as long as I can.  I wear an unloader brace 12-14 hours a day.  My husband helps none, and my two children are 9 and 11.  

With the economy the way it is I am afraid of taking too much time off work.  I may not have a job to come back to.

CCC


Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 3 March 2003

I timed my surgery with our holiday break, but I would have been off 7 weeks.  Actually, my doc had told me that I might go back part time after three, but my hubby got to him and suggested he rethink that.  (I have been known to go back to work in the afternoon after having had a scope in the morning, gets me into a bit of trouble being so stubborn and a work-aholic.)  It was a total shock when he wouldn't let me go back, but his thinking was that we were both investing everything in giving me back my quality of life, it was worth the time.  In my case, and knowing me, they were right...

Ask your doc for that info right up front...and then know that if anything comes up to complicate things all bets are off.  That is why I'm waiting to do the other knee until summer.  Good luck, Sylvia
Posted by ccchilders (ccchilders), 3 March 2003

Thanks Sylvia.

I know what you mean about being stubborn.  I went back to work 3 weeks after having my hysterectomy.  It wasn't fun.  I hope I can work from home part-time for the first few weeks.

CCC
Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 3 March 2003

Glad to be of help, if anything else comes to mind, be sure and ask...it is all pretty fresh in my mind  Sylvia
Posted by ccchilders (ccchilders), 3 March 2003

My biggest problem is going to be the stairs.  I am on the second floor and there isn't an elevator.  Right now I am trying to decide which doctor to use.  We have one locally who is a very good surgeon, not knife happy.  But he is a jerk.  Or do I pick the one who is really nice, but willing to cut everytime I walk into the door.  Or find one in the middle.

CCC
Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 3 March 2003

Stairs are definitely a problem--still are for me and I have no good answers...

As for a doc--in the ideal world, we chould all have one who is skilled and nice--but if I can only have one of thoise attributes, I'd go for the one who is skilled and not knife happy.  I guess I'm thinking that I don't have to live with him, but I do have to live with the results of hius handiwork--lol.

Are you sure you haqve no other choices?  Rehab can be hard enough emotionally.  Do you have a university or teaching hospital nearby?  This is an imprtant step and you need to feel comfortable all the way around.  Sylvia
Posted by ccchilders (ccchilders), 3 March 2003

I was told by my doctor in July, I had maybe a year.  I have had 4 surgeries in the last 25+ years. The last was a debridement in August 2001.  I have no cartiledge on the inside of my knee and very little on the outside.  I have arthritis in all three compartments.

The pain is beginning to affect everything in my life.  I am trying to wait on new technology to come up with a better solution.
But it is getting difficult to sleep.  

I know my knee problems aren't nearly as bad as some, but I am trying to get myself mentally ready for the replacement.

CCC



Posted by ccchilders (ccchilders), 7 March 2003

Sylvia,

Thanks for the advice.  Your right I have to live with the knee, not the doctor.  I was going back to current doctor next week, but got a call today.  He is in the Army Reserve and has been called up.  

So I guess I am changing doctors.  I am trying to decide about making an appointment today and with which doctor.

CCC
Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 7 March 2003

Hi!

It's an incredibly important decision--if you have time to do the homework, take it...You deserve the best.

Good luck, Sylvia
Posted by Sandy_F (Sandy_F), 10 March 2003

I have had both of my knees replaced.  My right 4 1/2 years ago and my left 1 1/2 years ago.  Both times I had surgery on Tuesday and went home on Friday.  PT in hospital twice a day starting the next day after the surgery.  First time I had home PT for a month (right knee had many more problems including 14 prior surgeries) and then went to outpatient PT for a while.  I drove after 4 weeks and went back to work after 8 weeks.  Left knee same in hospital, had home PT for two visits then fired the PT and went to outpatient PT for several months.  I drove after 2 weeks and went back to work at 8 weeks.  I also have a desk job but I was exhausted from the PT and it took me a while to get my strength back.  I live alone and had no one there so I was doing everything for myself immediately.  That contributed to my exhaustion.  I also found that even with a desk job, walking around was alot more than you realize.  Plus it was important to have something to be able to prop up your leg because you have more pain and swelling if you don't.  I had totally different recovery processes for each knee.  
Posted by ccchilders (ccchilders), 10 March 2003

Thank you so much for the information.  I hope to be driving in two weeks and maybe I can work from home by 4 weeks.  I have the option to work from home for a while.  If stamina is the issue this would help a great deal.  

I do have some help at home.  I am in the process of training my 9 and 11 year old.  They have started cooking and doing laundry.  I hope by the time I need surgery, they will be able to help out.

I go to the doctor on the 18th.

CCC
Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 10 March 2003

It is possible to have the same procedures on different knees with different results...I did that with syn visc, lateral release, scoping, and cortisone...who knows?

I had a lot of help, so going home went OK--sometimes too much help was an issue too.  (That is because they were not helping with what I needed but what suited them--lol)

Good luck--the 18th is next week already.  I have a couple of tentative dates for my second one--July 11th or 14th, depending on schedules...Sylvia
Posted by Betty2002 (Betty2002), 9 September 2003

CCC:  I had my TKR on my right knee in Oct 2002 w/pretty good success.  Prior artho. procedures kept me going until I had had enough.    The VERY BEST thing I ever did was join a local gym and was trained to work on leg extensions/curls till I was sick of the machines....but that is what helped me get going in PT!  I have a desk job and mother of a 21yr old...but I was not in shape and had to do something about it.  Fortunately I knew the gym manager & his wife and paid a stipend to train me correctly.....and I did the gym at least 3 mornings a week from July to mid-October 02'.  The PT wasn't easy at the hosp & rehab but getting the leg and hip muscles in shape was common sense.    ALSO....my pt used a large coffee can wrapped w/a towel(can be made at your home) and this was great in getting the knee flexed.  My 21 wasn't much help but my husband of 30yrs. came in handy.   I also "bit the financial bullet" and had a cleaning lady come to the house every week for 6 weeks and this eliminated my yelling at my men folk to do housework(and hold down jobs).   Surgery was 10/23/02 and I was back at my desk job by November 18th.  I did not drive till 11/25(it was my right knee after all).....  I trust you will do fine and discover what will work for you...    Betty in PA
Posted by Chuck (Chuck), 9 September 2003

Dear CCChilders;
I am 43 years old, very Athletic and very active. 6 surgeries prior to my TKR, (left knee), on 12/17/02. I have a desk job also. I have  four children at home, 11,9,4 &3 and two in college.
I was in the hospital for 3 1/2 days, and came directly home. I would NOT recommend that to anyone. My insurance, an HMO, would not cover me going to a rehab center because of my age. The typical stay is 10 days.
I came home with a CPM machine and had visiting nurses, every day for 1st week, and every other day for the next 4 weeks, until I was off all blood thinners. I had in home physical therapy, 3x per week, which was terrible. The physical therapist did not push me hard enough. I had a manipulation 6 weeks post op. I went to outpatient PT for 41/2 months. Outpatient PT was great, they work me hard and it showed.
I was out of work for 8 weeks. When I went back to work I experienced alot of lower leg swelling and had to go back to wearing my support hose, JED. I had to keep my leg up for a couple of weeks.

I coach little league baseball and pee wee football. I never missed a game or practice.
If you work hard in PT you will be back to normal within 6 months.
It is good that your boss is understanding, because after you go back to work you will continue to go to rehab.
I have to give my wife all of the credit for running the house during my recouperation period.
Just remember, it is major surgery. It will take your body a while to get back into shape.

I hope this helps,
Chuck

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