Knee replacements

[WhenIsItTime]

DH did great with his full knee replacement 3 years ago. He was back dancing in 3 months, back playing golf in 4 months. He did the PT that came to the home and a couple of outpatient sessions and then just walked A LOT. His doctor said the best PT was walking and that is what DH did. He is having his other knee done in a month, we are hoping it goes as well as the first one did. He is actually doing PT now in preparation for the knee replacement in a month. The doctor wants his legs and arms as strong as possible prior to surgery.

This is the path to success. A patient who does the PT and is motivated to get back to life. The effort after surgery is as important as the surgery.

Also, look into procedure with MAKO robot.

 

[Koolau]

MIL had a knee replacement 25 years ago. Doc said she should do both at the same time or she would not do the second. She did not. She was like 300 pounds obese. Since then she lost 150 pounds and decided she wanted to get the second done, last year.
Surgeon said she would not survive the procedure. Now she is 84 can barely walk.
Don’t postpone important stuff.

DW was smart and did both together. It was tough - especially the rehab BUT she knew she'd avoid a second surgery after having only one knee done. W*rked out well for her and she was a trooper for the rehab. I'm proud of her.

 

[harllee]

Success story--Here to report that DH who had TKR March 5 on his right knee (he had his left knee replaced 3 years ago) graduated from PT today (they gave him a few things to work on at home, they said he did not need to come back unless he had problems). And he danced the Salsa with me at a tent party at our CCRC. Everyone says he is the poster child for a successful knee replacement. DH says he is so glad he had the surgery done, it has given him his life back.

 

[Ronstar]

DW is now 1 month post op. Doing great. Therapy 3 times a week. And does in home exercises directed by doc and PT. Goes for 2.5 mile walks daily. Very little pain from the start. Never took pain meds - only aspirin.

She used a walker on surgery day, but walking ever since.

 

[scrinch]

Wow! Congratulations. Sounds like another TKR success story. I'm sure she is ecstatic that she had it done. What a quick recovery!

 

[aja8888]

Just read this thread. I may be next for a new knee. I'm going to schedule an appointment with my bone doc who did my hips and see what's going on with the right knee. It had a meniscus tear fixed 7 years ago and now it's very swollen and hurts all the time. What timing....just when golf season starts.

 

[Ronstar]

^^Hopefully it’s minor and they can give you something to eliminate the pain and swelling. I can’t remember the specifics, but DW and her friend both had shots in their knees when pain started, and then had to wait months for TKR. There is some waiting period after shots before doctors can perform TKR’s.

 

[aja8888]

^^Hopefully it’s minor and they can give you something to eliminate the pain and swelling. I can’t remember the specifics, but DW and her friend both had shots in their knees when pain started, and then had to wait months for TKR. There is some waiting period after shots before doctors can perform TKR’s.

Thanks for the info. I hope I don't need a new knee since I live alone and it would be a hassle to get help when I would need it.

 

[Major Tom]

Thanks for the info. I hope I don't need a new knee since I live alone and it would be a hassle to get help when I would need it.

If it's any help, I had a total knee replacement almost 4 years ago. I live on my own and did OK. A family member gave me a ride back from the hospital and helped me up the stairs (there are 50 steps to get up to my apartment). After that, I was on my own.

I saw a video by a physical therapist on YouTube, who said that of all his knee replacement patients, the ones who tend to have better recoveries are the ones who live on their own. The reason, he said, was because they have no-one on hand to help them. When they want things, they have to get up and get them; they are forced to move around, which is a good thing for recovery.

If you need a knee replacement, you will manage. Where's there a will.........!

 

[Koolau]

Thanks for the info. I hope I don't need a new knee since I live alone and it would be a hassle to get help when I would need it.

Best luck on your doctor visit. Hope there is a better alternative for you.

 

[Ronstar]

Thanks for the info. I hope I don't need a new knee since I live alone and it would be a hassle to get help when I would need it.

DW only needed help to get to therapy and doc appointments early on. I think she started driving 6 weeks post op but could have started driving earlier. Other than that, she didn’t need help to do anything. She thinks the doc’s pre surgery exercises helped.

Like Major Tom posted above, it’s best that you keep moving. And the docs recommend it.

So if you need surgery, maybe all you’ll need is a ride to therapy. And some grocery delivery for a while. Good luck in your diagnosis!

 

[Kings over Queens]

Good luck.

I go in tomorrow, 9am, for a partial.

Same guy that did my wife's bilateral 2 years ago is doing mine.

Couple new things he's added.

1. This supplement called "mend" 3 weeks pre and 3 weeks post op. He's got clinical studies that it helps.
2. Wearing an open toe compression stocking 24/7 for 3 to 6 weeks post op. Shows marked reducing in swelling and improved healing.
3. He uses an app based program called "force" that includes pre and post op exercises. There is no rehab unless you ask for it, but he will nag on me to get up and move around.
4. Circulating ice machine to help with swelling. You can rent one or buy them for under 200 bucks. My brother in law lent me his. Much more comfortable than ice packs and so much more efficient.

Now I wait...

 

[Joseph]

If it's any help, I had a total knee replacement almost 4 years ago. I live on my own and did OK. A family member gave me a ride back from the hospital and helped me up the stairs (there are 50 steps to get up to my apartment). After that, I was on my own.

I saw a video by a physical therapist on YouTube, who said that of all his knee replacement patients, the ones who tend to have better recoveries are the ones who live on their own. The reason, he said, was because they have no-one on hand to help them. When they want things, they have to get up and get them; they are forced to move around, which is a good thing for recovery.

If you need a knee replacement, you will manage. Where's there a will.........!

I have had two hip replacements and my wife shakes her had because I wouldn’t let her do anything for me. So it’s almost like living alone . Hips seems easier than much easier knees from what I can gather. I can deal with constant pain in rehab, I just do t want the Holy Sh&T type of pain I sometimes read about with TKR. How much has the surgery improved the last 5 yrs with advanced robotics etc?

 

[aja8888]

Thanks for all the replies. I had both hips replaced over the last 15 years and they were a piece of cake and I never had PT as I was walking right after the replacements. Those turned out great and my golf game improved significantly.

I'm glad to hear that living alone won't require a lot of help to get past the early healing period. I am still very mobile so maybe that is in my favor also.

 

[qwerty3656]

I had both knees replaced. First in 2019, second last September. First went really well, second is much slower healing. Very important to focus on bending and straightening the knee. My siblings didn't work hard enough on bending and had to go back for additional procedures. On my second knee I worked really hard on bending, but didn't focus on straightening and had some problems because of that.

 

[Koolau]

Thanks for all the replies. I had both hips replaced over the last 15 years and they were a piece of cake and I never had PT as I was walking right after the replacements. Those turned out great and my golf game improved significantly.

I'm glad to hear that living alone won't require a lot of help to get past the early healing period. I am still very mobile so maybe that is in my favor also.

You might be a candidate for in-hospital rehab. DW insisted on that for her double replacement and they finally agreed to it. 3 times a day, she went down the hall to the knee rehab room and did what they told her and she had a quick and very good recovery. Otherwise, I would have spent my days (while still trying to w*rk) running her back and forth to PT - but only twice a day.

 

[aja8888]

You might be a candidate for in-hospital rehab. DW insisted on that for her double replacement and they finally agreed to it. 3 times a day, she went down the hall to the knee rehab room and did what they told her and she had a quick and very good recovery. Otherwise, I would have spent my days (while still trying to w*rk) running her back and forth to PT - but only twice a day.

I'll have to look into that. But only having one knee replaced (maybe), I'll bet Medicare wouldn't go for it.

 

[Koolau]

I'll have to look into that. But only having one knee replaced (maybe), I'll bet Medicare wouldn't go for it.

With you living alone, they just might buy it. I'd give it a go and hope for the best. Ask your doc to go to bat for you.

 

[Walt34]

With you living alone, they just might buy it. I'd give it a go and hope for the best. Ask your doc to go to bat for you.

Indeed. The worst they're going to do is say "no".

 

[stedmakr]

I had my right knee replaced when I was 60 and my left replaced when I was 61. I am 70 today. Prior to the replacements I went through physical therapy and a series of shots. This process delayed the surgery for at least two years. During this pre-replacement period I limped when I walked and in the months before the first surgery I could only walk a few hundred yards before the pain became to great and I had to rest.

During recovery I did exactly what the doctor said. One of the things we were told prior to surgery was to treat recovery like a job.

I believed the knee replacements changed my life. I can walk without a limp, hike for a few miles and I regularly cycle 20 miles a day. I have been very careful about falling and twisting my knee.

My wife and I have traveled extensively over the last several years. This wouldn't have been possible without the knee replacement.

Knee replacement is one of the surgeries that acutally works. One of my life regrets is that I didn't do it sooner.

 

[street]

Good to hear all the successful stories.

Ronstar glad all went well with your wife's recovery.

 

[Kings over Queens]

I'm 5 days post op for a full replacement. Was supposed to be a partial but the doc made a game time call and did the full based on what he saw.

I was walking unassisted by Saturday (day 3) including navigating stairs. It's amazing what they can do today.

No formal rehab, my doc uses an app based system called "force therapeutics" where he gives me exercises in video to do, plus I can log other activity like walking or the bike. I did 2 miles this morning on the recumbent.

Not a terrible amount of pain, more pressure from the swelling. The pain has been very tolerable.

 

[Chuckanut]

You are doing great. Much better than I did. My doctor ended up doing "a little extra work" after he opened up my knee. IOW, the arthritis damage was a lot worse than anticipated. I think that's the reason I had so much more swelling and a rather long recovery.

 

[Koolau]

I'm 5 days post op for a full replacement. Was supposed to be a partial but the doc made a game time call and did the full based on what he saw.

I was walking unassisted by Saturday (day 3) including navigating stairs. It's amazing what they can do today.

No formal rehab, my doc uses an app based system called "force therapeutics" where he gives me exercises in video to do, plus I can log other activity like walking or the bike. I did 2 miles this morning on the recumbent.

Not a terrible amount of pain, more pressure from the swelling. The pain has been very tolerable.

Have they given you opiates? They gave DW more than she wanted (cut them in half.) Now, getting a pain pill is like (pardon the expression) pulling teeth. Docs care way more about their license than their patients - go figure!!

 

[Kings over Queens]

Oxycodone and Tramadol, 20 pills each. The Oxy is 5mg or .5mg...very small. Not sure about the tramadol but suspect its a minor dosage.