I'm about to undergo bilateral knee replacement any advice you can offer up
Apart from "Are you certain you understand what this involves?" I believe if you truly understand the repercussions like your balance may be affected, you may be in constant pain for 4 months, you may need to not work for 3 months, etc.etc. I did it because I took the easy way out. I wasn't going back and I knew it, after seeing my sister go through a TKR. It's is a challenge and some get a great result, some don't. Me, well one is perfect and the other is not. Good fortune to you. x
Yes Dont do it. I live in the UK and I am 48 years old and I had Bilateral knee replacements 5 months ago. It is a hard stuggle even now. I did not realise the difference in the recovery time and issues due to having them both done together.
Recovery is quicker if you have a good leg for your balance. Getting about in gerneral, Showering, toilet going to bed. You cant even make yourself a cup of coffee because you need your 2 crutches. They dont mention that basically you have to learn to walk again when you have them both done together. If you have a good leg you keep your balance and your good leg can walk. When both are done together and your crutches removed your legs and feet have forgotten what they should do. Because you have to use the legs your scars go wider. Nothing much fases me I am very stong minded and just get on with things. But I dont beleive they should do 2 together. Due to bad posture i then got sciatica in both legs which has delayed my recovery. I am at 5 months now I dont use crutches in the house or in the office. But still use a crutch outside due to balance and strength. it is only at month 4 that you can get up in the morning and you can use your legs.
I know of people who've had bilateral TKR, some have done really well, some haven't. I had RTKR 18 months ago and LTKR 8 weeks ago. Both of them have been totally different recoveries. First knee still gives me a lot of pain, 2nd knee is doing really well. It's hard to guess what may happen for you. It also depends which country you're in. I was in hospital and rehab with each knee for approx 5 weeks. My house is 3 storey and had no-one who can help me. I'm in Australia and they were great about it, but you'll see from lots of others it's not much of a stay in hospital. My advice is to be careful having 2 knees done, but if you do you'll need to really push hard with physio and hydrotherapy.