I tore the medial meniscus in both my knees 10 and 12 years ago. I had repairs in each, but arthritis took over and eventually destroyed all the cartilage I had left. I ended up with bone on bone in both knees. Cortisone shots only helped for about 6 weeks, and I was becoming more and more crippled as the years went on.
So I had double knee replacement (Mako assisted) in July 2020 at 54 years old. Before surgery, I lost about 30 lbs and rode my bike for several months. Even though I was strong and healthy, I’m not going to lie - having them both done at the same time was brutal. Pain was very intense, and I wasn’t given enough pain meds to deal with it due to the opioid crisis. My sleep cycle was destroyed for at least 7 months. I could shower right away using a bath chair because my surgeon covered the incisions with waterproof bandages. I used a walker for 1 day, then moved to 2 arm canes. I eventually dropped to one arm cane, and by 7-8 weeks walked unaided. I started outpatient PT 1 week post op and continued PT for 12 weeks. I worked my butt off in PT and did EVERYTHING they told me to do at the clinic and at home. Stairs took a long time to do normally - almost a year. The left knee went better than the right knee. With the right one I had terrible behind the knee pain due to a super tight hamstring tendon. Pain meds didn’t touch it. It took 3-4 months for that pain to totally resolve. I went back to work as a teacher with modified duties after 12 weeks, and I was released from the surgeon in early November 2020
But....
By February 2021, I knew something was wrong with the right knee. My leg would not straighten out; I started limping, and I had a sore, red, peeling spot on my shin below the implant. I went back to the surgeon because I was worried about a DVT. Turns out it wasn’t a blood cot. I had a slow growing infection in my tibia bone where the implant stem went in, which they believe I contracted during surgery. The bone was turning to mush, so the implant had come loose. The whole thing had to be taken out. This was the beginning of a 6 month long ordeal - 3 more hospitalizations, 2 more surgeries, 8 weeks with a picc line and IV antibiotics, a life threatening reaction to the first antibiotic, home nursing visits, home PT visits, 12 weeks of sponge baths, 6 months out of work.
I had to have what is called a 2 stage revision. The final surgery was in June 2021. The right knee now has no pain, but the scar is unsightly - very thick, lumpy and dimpled. And I have a terrible shin splint in the right shin. Extension in my right knee is great, flexion isn’t where I want it to be. It might still be somewhat swollen. My left knee is better. The flexion and extension are great, but I still get pain in the lower outside area. Don’t know why. They say it takes a whole year to heal from knee replacement surgery. And it really does!
Going forward, I just ordered a Peleton. I want these knees to last!
There is a forum, much like Disboards, dedicated to joint replacement. It’s called Bonesmart. I suggest you join it and read, read, read. It was invaluable to me when I had my surgeries.
