Re: bilateral knee replacements-need information

[Guest guest]

For me I had to prove I could do the basics for myself

or I had to go to rehab. There they will teach you how to care for yourself

and get

you up and going so you can go home and do it.

I was able to prove to them I could bathe, walk, put my own clothes on, even

go up steps.... even though I had no steps to climb. I think if I had a

flight of steps I had to do in my home I would have to go to rehab...

all this talk about fatty knees and infections. Infections are

very rare.

It would me you would have some type of germ in your system before surgery

or heaven forbid the hospital gives it to you.

I have fat knees and it was not a concern at all.

I know Harold in this group has had infections in his replacements

I am sure he can give you all the ins and outs of what he went through

Hugs

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.

------------------------------------