Posted: 10/24/2014 9:48:01 AM EDT
| Just learned I need a knee replacement how bad is it going to to be? |
I had one done and I need the other done. I just haven't gotten the wherewithal to do it yet. Plus I'll miss some of my cute shoes for a year. 
It wasn't the most pleasant thing I have ever done. Phys Therapy was painful, but tolerable. The thing that hurt me the worst was when they pushed my knee straight for the first time. I said some lovely things very loudly. Second worse thing was when they start pushing you to bend more and more... and more. I would stay and work on the machines as long as they would let me and as long as I could stand it. They called me the marathon woman. 
Take a pain pill about 30 minutes before you start therapy. Oh year, I kept my incision/scar out of the sun for a year. Doc said it would discolor and not go away. I followed doc's orders to a T. |
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For me the bending was worse than the straightening. Well maybe not at first.
When I had my first two knee repairs they really hooked me up with lots of pain meds. They don't do that anymore. It was excruciating. Oh I'm glad I had it done, I thought I would need double replacement but getting the right one fixed alleviated a lot of the problems with the left one, when I could walk properly again. Other people have had the same thing and not had as much discomfort. Either way, if you need it you need it. It eventually gets better. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
| I had my right knee replaced about 4 years ago. The first 3 weeks after the surgery really sucked pain wise, after that it got better. Some people are pain free after having the surgery, but I think they are the ones that sit around all the time doing nothing. I work on concrete for 12 hour shifts, I still have pain in my knee. |
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My Father just had a full knee replacement - it was five weeks ago Monday.
They had him walking two hours after the surgery, and he is doing very well. Just transitioned from PT 3x per week to 2x - I've been driving him. Also, I bought him a stationary recumbent bike and that has done him a world of good. He kicks himself for not getting his knee fixed years ago. Good luck OP!  Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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I had one done 5 weeks ago. My stay in the hospital was three days. My surgery was late in the day on a Monday, so Tuesday morning at 5 am, the catheter and IV were removed and they got me out of bed for a short walk. AT 10am and 2pm was in house PT for the three days. Once released and at home I had home health come in for a couple weeks doing therapy.
I walked with a walker for three days at home, then transitioned to a cane. By two weeks post op, I was walking unassisted though it was not recommended. After the two weeks I began out patient therapy twice a week. At three weeks, I was riding my lawn tractor cutting grass, at 4 weeks, I was trimming bushes and pulling weeds, tomorrow I'm going hog hunting. The key is to get the knee moving and ignore the pain (take your prescribed meds), ice that thing three or 4 times a day, and even while sitting, keep moving the knee and doing stretch exercises. Go for walks frequently. The tough parts is rising from a seated position especially the toilet or soft sofas. Prep early and get a comfortable chair with armrests to help you boost yourself up. In the bathroom, I used a padded 4 legged stool, and my cane to help me up. There are some bathroom aids that can be bought to help, but I'm cheap and used what I had around the house. I'm lucky too that I have a walk in shower in the master bedroom so I didn't have to worry about getting into a tub to take a shower. There are helpers on sale for showers too if needed. The issue I have is that my other knee is going to be replaced next month and because of the pain in that knee, it restricts me from doing all I can on the repaired knee at this time. Exercise, Ice, walk, repeat over and over again many times. Good luck |
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It's amazing that following surgery the pain you are having now, will be gone, but replaced by the surgical pain. I'll take the surgical pain anytime over the bone grinding bone pain I was having in my knee.
Good luck guys, my next one is 11/24. Gotta go pack the car and head out, the piggies are waiting. |
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I'm 56 and they told me that I'm too young and If I did it now I would most likely need another replacement in the future. I was also told not to have both knees done at the some time due to the probability of complications. There is a trade off doing both knees at once. My surgeon said he would not do both total knee replacements at the same time. Not because of complications but because you need to be able to put weight on your legs soon after surgery and the length of surgery is too long. But he will do both partials at once. The trade off is I only have anesthesia once which is good. I guess different surgeons have different opinions. I "hope" I'm doing the right thing. While the first week might suck on both knees being cut once I get past that I only have one rehab to do and I'm done. BTW, I'm only 59 and getting this so I don't understand the comment above that a doctor won't do it for a 56 year old. If your knees are shot they are shot. Yeah, I may need to do this again when I am 70 but I can't help that. At least my 60s will (hopefully) be fully mobile and healthier. |
| Chances are I will be joining the group in a few years. A couple guys at work have had them and they both say there was a huge improvement after the surgery. One guy is an elk hunter and he told me that he would not be able to hunt another year without it. Now he hunts without any major pain or swelling. |
What timing for this post, I'm scheduled for full replacements both knees 3 weeks apart, first one 11/10. 62, been putting off for a long time, tried everything, daily NSAIDS, steroid shots, gel shots, braces etc. Good luck to everyone else, as stated diligent rehab is the key. You young guy's take care of your joints, blew mine out with too much racquetball in the 80's, you know, when guy's wore those short shorts and headbands.
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I need partial replacement on both knees. I've been to 2 surgeons and both said I need to prolong the surgery as long as possible. I'm 52. I understand that I most likely will need to get them done again if I had them replaced at this age. The way it is right now, I have no quality of life. I am in constant pain. Why can't I have it done now so I can enjoy my life while I am still young enough?
I've done the Synvisc injections and it did nothing for me. I try ice packs and that does nothing either. Today is a particularly painful day. I can't even straighten my legs all the way. 
I'm told to take Tylenol for pain. Doc took me off all NSAIDs because it was messing with some kidney numbers. There is nothing I can do to get relief. It even hurts when I'm laying down. I don't know what my next move is, but I can't take this pain anymore. |
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What timing for this post, I'm scheduled for full replacements both knees 3 weeks apart, first one 11/10. 62, been putting off for a long time, tried everything, daily NSAIDS, steroid shots, gel shots, braces etc. Good luck to everyone else, as stated diligent rehab is the key. You young guy's take care of your joints, blew mine out with too much racquetball in the 80's, you know, when guy's wore those short shorts and headbands. I got an unloader brace a month ago but it makes my knee hurt worse. |
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What timing for this post, I'm scheduled for full replacements both knees 3 weeks apart, first one 11/10. 62, been putting off for a long time, tried everything, daily NSAIDS, steroid shots, gel shots, braces etc. Good luck to everyone else, as stated diligent rehab is the key. You young guy's take care of your joints, blew mine out with too much racquetball in the 80's, you know, when guy's wore those FAGGY short shorts and headbands. Fixed it for ya. 
(And yes I had some of those shorts.) |
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i want to know how to avoid knee repacement ? Most of the time people really have the choice between living with knee pain that they are used to, or having that pain kicked up several notches for a couple months, then going away (while doing physical therapy.) Some people have knee injuries in their youth that will predispose them for a future knee replacement. ACL's are notorious for this. I will probably need one when I get older. Some people's knee cartilage just breaks down, in what we will sometimes tell them is "bone on bone." ETA: these are the people who you will see sometimes get them subsequently done a couple of months a part. Or, sometimes even bilaterally. |
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i guess there are many contributing factors. like one mentioned, i raced motocross and had my ACL fixed at 40.
last year i had it checked and it looks and feels great. no arthritis etc. now i just want to take care of it best i can. what i see today i think is crazy, all these young kids not even 20, playing soccor and tearing thier acl's even twice. that is rediculous to me. they will most def pay for it hard later. Quoted:
Genetics? Most of them are due to osteoarthritis I think. Quoted:
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i want to know how to avoid knee repacement ? Genetics? Most of them are due to osteoarthritis I think. |
| I am a Physical Therapist. Home health is my gig, Total knees are my passion. I can jump in here and offer a few pointers. How bad? Relatively speaking, the first three weeks are the worst. But like a previous poster said, surgical pain is not the same as degenerative pain. Think about your rehab in terms of the big picture. At first, think about one day being better than the previous, then do the same with weeks and then months. My initial visit with TK patients is mostly educational, post-op. I like to say that you have to do 3 things to get better: eat, sleep and exercise. You HAVE to do all 3. Eating includes fluid intake, and exercise includes walking. One thing that a lot of people don't realize and it impacts their rehab is that TK surgery is not the end of your trouble, it's the beginning of the end. You weren't going to get better with things the way they were. The surgery enables you to START getting better. I'll monitor this thread and answer any other questions you might have. |
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I am a Physical Therapist. Home health is my gig, Total knees are my passion. I can jump in here and offer a few pointers. How bad? Relatively speaking, the first three weeks are the worst. But like a previous poster said, surgical pain is not the same as degenerative pain. Think about your rehab in terms of the big picture. At first, think about one day being better than the previous, then do the same with weeks and then months. My initial visit with TK patients is mostly educational, post-op. I like to say that you have to do 3 things to get better: eat, sleep and exercise. You HAVE to do all 3. Eating includes fluid intake, and exercise includes walking. One thing that a lot of people don't realize and it impacts their rehab is that TK surgery is not the end of your trouble, it's the beginning of the end. You weren't going to get better with things the way they were. The surgery enables you to START getting better. I'll monitor this thread and answer any other questions you might have. I welcome any and all input. I believe my surgeon has lined up a therapist to come to my house after surgery to help me start rehab. It's my intention to get well enough to return to the gym and do the cycle classes again. (Yeah, I know it's a chick class but they work for me). Right now no go. And probably for a few weeks after surgery no go. But as soon as I can do it without risking injury or aggravating the recovery I'm in every day until my legs are strong again. I "plan" on surgery (double parti al knee) 11/12. And being able to walk the golf course again January 15. Hope that is a realistic goal. |
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Had my left knee replaced. You're dammed if you do dammed if you dont. Yeah. But when you are bone on bone and want to be able to walk a golf course and try to keep fit it leaves little choice. I really, REALLY don't want to do this but have it I will. |
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Had total replacement of both knees and both hips, from a bad accident outside Atlanta on a monday morning. Thanks to Dr. John "Bo" Mason @ Charlotte orthopedic, they are doing good. Best single piece of advice I can give you, is bust your ass when doing the physical therapy, hurts like hell and really wears you out, but, the results of the finished product is worth it!
Got a total of 22 pounds of titanium and chromium cobalt, it means a trip to the special wand and pat down at the airports. Good luck, take the meds when you need them and work hard while healing! |
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Yeah. But when you are bone on bone and want to be able to walk a golf course and try to keep fit it leaves little choice. I really, REALLY don't want to do this but have it I will. Quoted:
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Had my left knee replaced. You're dammed if you do dammed if you dont. Yeah. But when you are bone on bone and want to be able to walk a golf course and try to keep fit it leaves little choice. I really, REALLY don't want to do this but have it I will. That's how mine was right after my injury. Doc had me go way to long before the replacement. If yours is from wear & tear the recovery is 87% better than from injury. Either way I know, it must be done. Good Luck! |
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Had total replacement of both knees and both hips, from a bad accident outside Atlanta on a monday morning. Thanks to Dr. John "Bo" Mason @ Charlotte orthopedic, they are doing good. Best single piece of advice I can give you, is bust your ass when doing the physical therapy, hurts like hell and really wears you out, but, the results of the finished product is worth it! Got a total of 22 pounds of titanium and chromium cobalt, it means a trip to the special wand and pat down at the airports. Good luck, take the meds when you need them and work hard while healing! Same here, I always get raped from TSA 
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