Bilateral Total Knee Replacement - Good Idea? or Bad Decision?

[@k-trickconcepts4043]

I had both knees replaced, six months apart. My surgeon told me that my better knee would be helpful while rehabbing my first replacement. I couldn't be happier with my outcomes.

[@dutch1589]

I just posted a similar comment. I think both of us would be in a much darker place without the knee replacements.

[@franciscoherrero5670]

I have been a tennis player and a sport person for my whole life. My knees were hurting badly for more than 10 years, trying every remedy on the market including the bilateral arthroscopy. Still on pain. Finally, I had my left TKR done in October ‘22 and three months later, in Jannuary ‘23 the right one. Honestly, it has been the best decision, ever. I do not recomend doing both at the same time. It takes several months to recover and the other leg helps a lot in that process. I do not regret at all on waiting just three months for the second replacement. Right now I am out of pain, exercising, walking and jogging regularly and even playing tennis again!!!

[@dutch1589]

I had severe arthritis in both knees. I had one done at a time with no hesitation or regrets. My doctor stated he rarely did both knees at the same time. In my case, doing both knees at the same wasn't something I would have done even if it was an option. I am self employed and needed to get back on the job as soon as possible. Both knees would have made that much move difficult and I also didn't want to "slave" my family any more than necessary. In totality it was the most rewarding decision (but painful in recovery) I ever made (except marrying my beautiful wife of 40 years). It helped a lot that Medicare and my supplemental insurance picked up the tab, whoopee!!

[@abijahabigail7538]

Excellent video Dr. Rosen! Thank you so much for sharing your, expertise and for your thoughtfulness in all you are doing through this medium. God has obviously blessed you with many gifts. Thank you for sharing them. I am scheduled for a TKR in December and the other sometime in March 2025. I have severe arthritis in both knees (right worse than the left) but I am realizing through your thoughtful and most informational videos that I need to do more research, think through my options and plan better to increase opportunities for better outcomes. I am in central Florida and love it here, but if I lived in your area, I would be calling for an appointment tomorrow! Blessings to you and yours.

[@pattis2505]

Thank you for a very informative video. I had my left knee done last year (2023). While I also need to have my right one done, I do not think I could have had them both done at the same time. You brought up many points I never even considered. Thank you for the great info! Have a nice weekend!

[@dradamrosen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@l8nytcmpny]

going on 5 months after Bilateral Simultaneous TKR. Glad I did at 72

[@dradamrosen]

Great job!

[@todddunn945]

Very helpful information. As a person who had a single knee replacement, it seems to me that the home situation is also a consideration. In my case, I have to go up a flight of stairs to get to the main living level in my house. I think that going up 15 stairs would be very hard for the first week to 10 days and going down the stairs would be difficult for 2+ weeks. I base that on how long it took me to get to the point that I could go up the stairs normally (i.e., step up with the surgical leg), which was about 7-10 days and the longer time before I could go down stairs normally (step down with the non surgical leg), which took me a bit over two weeks. The patient would definitely have to be able to fully straighten at least one knee or have significant help with the stairs. If someone lived in a single level house it would be much easier, but getting up and down from chairs, bed, etc. would still be challenging.

[@jdright1157]

Personally, I don't regret having it done one at a time. As several therapists told me when navigating steps, up with the good down with the bad. BUT having not only a few stairs to deal with, as for therapy?? I don't know how I could have done therapy having both knees done at the same time, even though I achieved my therapy goals in 5 weeks. I did ask my surgeon the bilateral knee question, and he said as a rule he doesn't recommend it, and in my case, with mitigating circumstances, he said no. Which was fine with me. So 9 months later, I had the second done. An Intersting not because he straightened the first knee/leg by only 3 millimeters it felt like a lot more to me, and it did have an effect on my gait with the other leg and hip. Anyway, appreciate the information! Ask your surgeons opinion. But personally, I'm happy I didn't have bilateral replacements.

[@todddunn945]

@@jdright1157 I made the comment because I would have found it extremely difficult to navigate my house if I had both knees done. In particular I don't think I could have managed the 13 step spiral stairs up to the bedroom and primary bathroom for at least two weeks and maybe more. With just one knee done I was able to get around the house from day 1.

[@stephdaniels5587]

Totally agree with you on that! My living situation is the same with 15 stairs, it was a problem post-op. I quickly realized having anything major done with my other knee let alone both @ same time would have landed me in rehab facility for weeks. Blessed are those who don't have stairs.

[@poorvabhonde4701]

I am 54, a working woman from India.Suffered from severe arthritis, bow legs, bone on bone.Was suggested TKR at the age of 42.Somehow avoided surgery till now.But on 18 th May 2024, I underwent BTKR-- both knees done at a time! Everything went very smoothly. Now after 6 weeks, i have achieved maximum flexion and extension by doing physiotherapy on my own! Medications have almost stopped. Can climb stairs without much difficulty. Will be resuming my duty after a week. Only problem is that i still cannot stand for long time.Hope to overcome that also.Thanks a lot doctor for this wonderful information! Please let me know if it is too early to join the job?I will also be driving almost 70 km.

[@Musicomaniaa]

How was the post operation pain?

[@stephdaniels5587]

Very thorough advise, thank you Dr Rosen.

[@dradamrosen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tamianderson123]

HI Dr. Rosen, Thank you for this helpful video. I hope you are having a good Summer.

[@dradamrosen]

Thanks, you too!

[@LBurou]

Thanks for these nuggets of experience. :)

[@dradamrosen]

You bet!

[@storminnormin4651]

Doc. How long is the bilateral TKN operation on average?

[@dradamrosen]

Depends. Some total knees can be done in 30 minutes, so for bilateral it would be over an hour. Some cases may take 90 minutes or longer and then double that. Some places have two surgeons and two teams so both knees are done at the same time and then the length of the surgery is only as long as the longest side.

[@storminnormin4651]

@ thank you