A crazy question?

[chachee52]

I am an OutPatient Ortho PT. I've been doing this for over 10 years and seen many TKR. I am not going to tell you that he will definitely be able to get up onto the ladder because there are some people that have complications (which I hope this is not your husband's case) but I will agree with the type of ladder. If it's a one step ladder, you might want to look into getting an extension. I say this mainly because it will make it that much easier to continue to do what you two love to do. When you are in Out Patient, let your PT know what the ultimate goals are because kneeling is one of the last things that he will get back. The PT should be able to show you different ways of making kneeling easier and getting you back into the boat with no issues.
Good Luck, and if all goes well, you will be boating and swimming with ease by late spring (I would say earlier, but the lake won't be ready for you!! )

[ghfromaltonbay]

Originally Posted by chachee52

I am an OutPatient Ortho PT. I've been doing this for over 10 years and seen many TKR. kneeling is one of the last things that he will get back.

When my mother had double TKR back in 2004 the doctor told her she could never kneel again. Have things changed in 10 years? Mom's surgery was done at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and her surgeon only does knees. Just wondering if they are using different replacement knees to make kneeling possible now.

[Chickie]

I had a TKR 8 months ago and posed the question to my surgeon when I was 6 weeks into recovery. He answered that my chances were 50/50. About half of his patients can kneel again, but usually not on a hard surface. He recommended using a pad and extending the foot back for added suppport. I am now able to kneel for a short period, but not for a great length of time without feeling some pain.

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by ghfromaltonbay

When my mother had double TKR back in 2004 the doctor told her she could never kneel again. Have things changed in 10 years? Mom's surgery was done at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and her surgeon only does knees. Just wondering if they are using different replacement knees to make kneeling possible now.

Double TKR are an entirely different game. In my opinion, your body has a harder time recovering from that type of operation and the chances are less likely to get to the point that others will.
Like I said, this is my opinion and there probably isn't any research on that statement. In my experience, double TKR don't get as much ROM as a single does therefor the kneeling is also harder to do. 1 year after do they? Never have had the opportunity to re-measure to see. Would be interesting for me to check out sometime though

[ghfromaltonbay]

Thanks for the info. I would be interested in knowing about the ability to kneel for patients who are beyond 1 year post-surgery. My mother had both knees replaced on the same day and spent 4 days in-hospital and then 8 days at Kessler Rehab doing 2 90 minute therapy sessions per day. After 8 days she went home and was walking without a cane (never needed a walker) within a week. After 6 weeks of out-patient physical therapy she was discharged and has been doing great for the past 10 years. No one would know she had her knees done as she walks normally and has no problem with stairs, etc. The only thing I know she doesn't do is kneel which poses a problem only when getting out of the tub. Before the surgery she had lots of pain walking (bone on bone), and now she can walk up a storm. Thank goodness, as she enjoys wandering at craft shows and browsing at the stores.