Has Anyone Had Knee Replacement?

i'm glad you asked, and will be watching responses with interest. my right knee, hinky from the running i used to do, has been dreadfully painful lately. that'll teach ME to try and start a workout program again. i fear it will end up in replacement.

my MIL had hers done. it took about a year before it stopped being painful, then about two years after that it started hurting again but she won't consider another replacement.

that being said, she was very lax about her PT and her health in general. that's not you.

one of my favorite aunts had it done a decade ago and it gave her her life back. she said it was very painful for a few months, but she powered through it and did everything she was supposed to, and is back to yoga and hiking and being a gorgeous old dynamo.

i want that to be me.

khairete
S.

I'm sorry you're going through this. I have a dozen friends who've had it done, mostly ages 50-75. They needed pampering during recovery and someone to kick their butts to make sure they did the therapy/rehab. One of them had the surgery in June, and she just went to Switzerland and Italy with her daughter, where she walked and hiked. Another one had both knees done (about 4 months apart) and she's hiking and chasing grandchildren. My cousin's mother-in-law had both knees done, and she resisted the therapy, so it took her longer to recover, but last time I saw her she was doing stairs and feeling no pain. Another friend has bone on bone arthritis and was supposed to have replacements 15 years ago. She's still surgery and pain free by using natural anti-inflammatory and cartilage-building products - her x-rays look like those of a 90 year old, but she's hiking so her doctor can't justify operating if she's not in pain. What all of them did was get a 2nd opinion and go to someone who does A LOT of these surgeries and is using the latest technology. If you're in Pittsburgh, you have a lot of choices of good medical centers. Find out who does the best ortho work.

There's a risk of complications and infection from any surgery, so while you need to consider it, you shouldn't assume it's going to happen. Usually, it does not. Good luck!

I have not had this surgery, but I know several people who have. The first question you need to have answered is “what is the life expectancy of the new joint?“ Because if you are 45 and this thing only lasts 15 or 20 years you’ll have to do it again. My understanding is that the rehab for knees is much harder than for hips or other joints. I don’t think you would want to do it twice. I do have a good friend who acquired an Infection in the hospital. The bacteria colonized the new knee. He had to have the artificial knee removed and a cement spacer installed while the infection was treated. It took a year. He could not walk the entire year. He lived in a reclining chair. It was a complete nightmare. He does now have the replacement joint installed but due to the lack of mobility for such a long time he is really quite limited. I know this is an extreme example of how things can go wrong, but I always think it’s good to know what all the potential outcomes might be. Has your doctor recommended something called PRP? It stands for platelet rich plasma injections. The orthopedic surgeon my family uses for all our various injuries usually tries this as a first approach. The doctor does a blood draw and centrifuges your own blood to concentrate the plasma. Then the platelet rich plasma is injected back into the affected joint Using an ultrasound for guidance. It contains stem cells and many healing properties and often improve things so much that joint replacement is no longer required. PRP injections are not covered by insurance. However, I think it is worth considering because it is minimally invasive with tremendous benefit versus minimal discomfort. Good luck!

I have not but know several women that have. One had both knees done at the same time--this was about 15 yrs ago and things change so much over time. She was sorry she did both. She had said that the therapy was hard. 2 people I work with had surgery-one just recently--on just one knee. They both indicated that it was a saver in being able to move around but therapy is the key to recovery. Both had help at home and no little ones to care for so that helps also. I think the more obligations you have, the more help you will need. and you will have to accept that you will have to work on it and cut things done while you recover.

Could you have arthroscopic surgery on it instead? I would ask that question before deciding on a knee replacement. I don’t know how old you are, but today’s replacements don’t last all the way through your life. Of course, that depends on how old you are. Between 10 and 15 years is what they currently expect.

One of the things that is being talked about today is that there are too many knee replacements being done. It’s a lucrative surgery. And that would be OK, if it was fool proof surgery. But not everybody who has the replacements is free from pain. And that something you need to go into with open eyes.

Make sure that you get a second opinion. And you need a surgeon who only does knees, or knees and hips. Most of the ortho surgeons now specialize. You do not want a general surgeon doing this kind of surgery on you.

I didn”t have a knee replacement but I was bone on bone and had a tibial tuborosity transfer and micro fracture surgery. (I didnt qualify for knee replacement because I had other mechanical issues with my knees that needed to be corrected)

During my rehab there were lots of patients recovering from knee replacement surgery. The general consensus was that they wished they didn’t wait so long because of the amount of relief the procedure offered. I can say the recovery of the knee replacement patients was a lot easier than my recovery and they were mostly 2 decades older than me.

My husband had both knees totally replaced 4 yrs ago. The first knee he was kept in the hospital for 3 days. The second one he was home in 2. No complications on either one. They push you out of the hospital asap so you aren't exposed to the hospital germs.

The key to recovery is making sure you do all the physical therapy. They'll send someone to the house the first couple weeks to work with you at home. Plus my hubby had a machine called a CPM that bend the knee for you gently to help keep scar tissue from forming. He had the cpm for 30 days.

The recovery period for each knee was around 3 months and he got back all his mobility plus ended up over an inch taller because his legs had bowed out due to the knee joints deteriorating. No regrets other than waiting far too log to have it done.

You've received some good answers about the knee replacement already.

I'll address the airport security part. I have a bunch of titanium in my arm due to an ice-skating accident. I've never had a problem at any national or international airport. Our daughter has two long metal rods and 12 screws in her back, and she's never had a problem.

Good luck with your surgery and recovery. As others have mentioned, consistent attention to PT in rehab is key.

I knew someone who had knee replacement.
For the most part it was good but she had a job where she was on her feet and walking all day and she said that sometimes her knee would heat up and feel hot.
I don't know all the details but she said without the surgery she probably wouldn't be walking at all - with the surgery she's a lot more mobile but sometimes there was some discomfort.

It depends on if the doctor wants to do a partial (PKR) or full. I had a partial done back in 2017...best thing I ever did & cannot wait to get the other one done. Unlike some, I had absolutely ZERO pain! No kidding! I DID NOT have a "nerve blocker" (totally unnecessary IMO) & I only took 5 of the pain pills & only b/c I was trying to do too much rather than let others do it for me lol, otherwise, I probably wouldn't have needed any. The recovery time depends on you. The best advice I can give you is DO YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY!!!!!!!!! I cannot stress that enough. The PT will be difficult at first but believe me, the long run depends on it! If you don't, your knee may never fully recover & possibly "freeze" into a position that cannot be fully straightened or bent. Go for it! You can only get better from it.

Do your research on doctors....I got so lucky & had a FANTASTIC doctor...I just love him so much. Read reviews of doctors (most doctors have online reviews on YELP, Google, Facebook, etc.). Meet with the doctors, find out who your friends/relatives have used, if applicable.

As for security beepers, I set them off all the time lol. If the airport does not have a full body scanner, just tell them you have a knee replacement & they usually just wave the wand over the area & that's it. Hope this helps, good luck!

I would suggest before surgery, try some Glucosamine Hydrochloride or Glucosamine Chrondroitin. Years back a lady I worked with, her husband needed hip surgery and 5-years later when I retired he still had not had surgery done. His doctor told him, whatever he was doing was working and keep doing it. She told me about Glucosamine.

In this day and age, everyone wants YOUR money. When my husband and I were making a temporary move, late at night while driving, we were listening to a radio station and the guest was a doctor who gave this same advice to a man who had had surgery on one knee and was wondering if he should now do the other knee. His advice was to try the Glucosamine and see how he felt in a couple of months; if no improvement, then consider surgery.

Of course I don't know the end result of that, but I do know for the last 6-years, I have had a tear in my meniscus that can pop like crazy. When it first started, it really very painful. My doctor knows I hate meds and said, if it got worse perhaps she would recommend a surgeon. I thought about what the doctor told the guy on the radio and I tried Glucosamine Hydrochloride. It still pops and cracks, but very little to no pain; the same feeling when you pop your fingers.

The most economical place in the market place to purchase seems to be at Walmart. Recently I found some on-line, which is more economical and works even better and I don't have to take as many as what I found at Walmart.

Hope you feel better soon. I would try the natural method before surgery.