Re: bilateral knee replacements-need information

[Guest guest]

Hi

I am Faye and I had a Knee replacement on 7/08 at the age of 54

Just wanted to tell you that my knee replacement was not excruciating.

The pain was manageable . I had a morphine pain pump in the hospital.

When I got home I took pain pills. I am heavy. Not once was it mention I

would get an infection. One has to ask why would you if the operating room

is clean for surgery?

Congratulations on losing the weight.. I have been thinking about gastric

bypass but the whole thing bothers me. I have enough problems not related to

weight

I don't need to have more because of it LOL

I was thinking about having both knees done at once too. But I have one knee

that the Dr. thinks it will take 4 hours to do. I went and had the better

knee done first. Both knees are bone on bone for years. It took me 3 years

to decide to have

the one knee done. LOL ...Like you I do not really have a good leg to stand

on.

I had to rely on my worst knee to support me. That one also gives out..

It is scary for me as I get better. I have to be very careful.

I think you will do fine. Prepare for the worst and be surprise that it is

not that bad when you have it done.

I wish you the best

Faye

-- bilateral knee replacements-need

information

Just scheduled bilateral total knee replacement surgery for dec 16th.

Yes, I a scared. I don't know what to expect, except that from all I

hear, the pain is excruciating. I am 55 and have had quite a few

surgeries in the past, painful ones. I need to hear from people who

have already gone through this. The surgeon scared me about the risks

because I have fat legs (family trait, and BMI of 48.8).I had gastric

bypass 8 years ago and lost over 150 lbs, so there is no more weight

that I am going to lose. I just have genetically fat legs. The

surgeon went on and on about fat knees being extremely susceptible to

infections.

So, my first questions...who has been in a similar situation, had

both knees replaced, and how terrible was the pain afterward?

Both of my knees are bone on bone and although I am on Percocet now,

I can't even sit or stand without being in pain. I have put this off

for years now, but don't see any other alternative at this point. The

way I see it, doing one knee at a time still wouldn't give me a good

leg to stand on while the one was healing, so I might as well do both

at the same time.

I am going to Dr Bartolozzi at Pennsylvania University Hospital in

Phila. If anyone has had this doc, I'd love to hear from you too.

Any information would be appreciated. I tried lookin through the old

posts, but there are so many that I couldn't find answers to the

particular questions I have.

Thank you for any support you can give me. As I get more educated

abut knee replacement surgery, hopefully I will feel more comfortable

an less frightened.

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