If both of your knees are bad and your doctor has recommended a total knee replacement, you may be wondering if you can have both knees replaced at the same time. This is called a simultaneous bilateral total knee replacement. Having the surgery all at once has distinct advantages. One surgery requires only one round of anesthesia, and your overall hospital stay is shorter than if you only had one knee repaired, and then went back at a later time for the other knee. With both knees done at the same time, your rehabilitation time is also shortened as you learn to walk again. While you could recover at home after a double knee replacement, there are many benefits to staying at a short-term rehab facility instead.

Short-Term Rehab Is Ideal For People Who Live Alone

If you live by yourself, it would be very difficult to take care of your needs all by yourself. Even if you have a daily visit from a home health care aid, you still need to get yourself to the toilet, prepare your meals and beverages, figure out sponge bathing, and whatever else needs tending to, such as caring for pets. Trying to do this on your own can also be dangerous. What if you fell?

Even if you do live with other family members, that's no guarantee you will have the help you need. Spouses aren't always natural caretakers, and frustration and stress can result for both partners if the issue is forced. Additionally, your spouse may have to go off to work, leaving you alone for much of the day anyway. Short-term rehab really is the best solution when having a simultaneous bilateral knee replacement.

Short-Term Rehab Is Convenient For Physical Therapy

Rather than having to arrange for transportation for your physical therapy appointments, you'll either have your therapy right on-site, or medi-van transportation will be arranged for you. This makes it so much easier, for both you and your family. You won't have to worry about pain or falling trying to get into your vehicle.

Short-Term Rehab Is Relaxing

This may sound funny, but it is. The only thing you have to worry about in a rehabilitation facility is getting better, healing, and learning to walk again. Nurses and other medical personnel are there to help you, bring you your meals, your medications, and provide emotional and physical support. You'll be busy with physical therapy, but you will also have plenty of time to just focus on you. 

Contact a short-term rehab center like Valley View Retirement Community for more information.

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