Knee Replacement

skeetshooter

skeetshooter

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Gonna have to do it. Probably in Jan.
Been on a weight loss program and have lost 30 #'s
Comments please on the rehab you have experienced.
 
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Hi:
I had three 3 (one had to be done over). If I were to do it over I would have both done at the same time (mine were Workman Comp).
The more theropy the better. Sitting in a rocking chair and climbing stairs are great theopy. BIG concern is blood clots. DO NOT use heat for pain. Age factor has a lot to do with how fast you will recoupe.
 
I had both of my knee's replaced 10 weeks ago, the minute you wake up you will have no knee pain, the incision is a little painful, but take your meds and you will be fine. Now the important part, your therapy is everything and if you dedicate yourself you will be a happy man. I was lucky to have a wonderful therapist and i am now working on my own. I have been back to work for a month already and am pain free. I am looking forward to the future knowing I will get stronger every day and have already made plans to go Pheasant hunting at the end of February. Best of luck to you!
 
I don't want to rain on your parade but ask your doctor about the complication of artho fibrosis (sp?). I had my left knee replaced in '04 and immediately developed this condition that has left me in chronic pain & unable to bend my knee. This happens to a small percentage of people (no way to predict "who" in advance) and believe me when I say it was not the fault of the doctor, and I've tried absolutely everything to get relief. If I had it to do over I'd have never had this operation.

Best of luck.
 
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Had one replaced a year ago.. Knee pain was gone when I woke up.. Staples and muscles hurt for a while. Staple removal made the whole world look better. Six weeks and it was over the hump. From then on things got better every day.

I should have done it years ago, but I was a wimp..:cool:
 
Almost three years ago I had the right knee replaced and 3 months later, the left. My cousin is the CEO of the company that made my knees (Biomet) and I asked him who his best Orthopedic Surgeon was in Michigan. Lucky for me the doctor took my insurance, Tricare Prime.

Had I know now what I knew then I would have busted my arse conditioning my knees before the surgeries. Needless to say the more therapy I did on my right knee the better shape my left knee was in when it was replaced.

First, 2 hours after the first knee was replaced and after the recovery room I had to walk 75 feet (with a walker) to the therapy room; and made to go through a full session of PT...no pain...yet! As the injected pain meds begin to wear off I learned how to set my watch to 10 minutes so I could use the pain pump. Sadly the next day they took that away too.

Be prepared for pain. It was the most pain I've ever experienced in my life; the Physical Terrorists (oops I mean Therapists) I had were awesome; they pleaded, begged, coerced, encouraged, anything to push doing the therapy plan and work at home (lazy that I am I took that part easy).

When I complained about how much pain it was the therapist explained it like this: he said that it was like a compound fracture; two exposed ends of bone that the knee parts pressed into. Rob said 5-6 weeks the pain would lessen as the bones healed. He was right; at the 5-1/2 week mark the pain was cut in half.

Old Cop I need to look into that arthro-fribrosis; my right knee, while very stable gives me fits especially going down steps; sometimes the pain is even worse then before I had it replaced.

The second knee was easier for me; I knew what to expect; therapy seemed easier; still hurt like all get out but I knew what to expect.

I still have trouble kneeling/being on my knees; quarterly firearms quals are a bear; on part is a kneeling barricade at 15 yards - standing up afterwards is difficult mainly because I have a terrible lower back too. Watch your weight - seriously it will make a big difference if you trim down (if you are overweight).

Jimmyj, I don't know how long ago your's were done; but when I asked about both at one time I was told quite bluntly that morbidity and mortality were higher with double replacement surgeries.

Overall, I would say that we all have had our own particular experiences from easy to difficult. With my job as a Federal LEO I took a full 3 months per knee before I went back to work; and then was on an overtime restriction for 6 months.

Good luck.
 
Have had both done in last 2 years, Some people have great luck while others will struggle fore ever. The only thing that I know is that your life will change, Be prepared to do a few simple things in a new way.
 
Following a dozen knee surgeries over 30+ years, I actually had to have the right hip replaced first, January of last year followed by the left hip 9 months later...then, finally both knees @ the same time 3 months after the 2nd hip (11 months ago @ 60yoa). Spent 2 days post surgery in the hospital for each operation(s) and went to work...light duty, which involved flying cross country and back, 2 weeks later :eek:. IMHO, knees are more painful than hips, but don't have the post op "you can really screw this up" issues that hips do.

Here's what worked, for me anyway...with the hips I only took advantage of the hard narcotic pain meds the night of the surgery...then got off 'em. With the knees, I took advantage of the same pain meds the night of the surgery AND the following day/night. Worked the hospital PT/OT HARD/OFTEN (even in bed, day and night worked the knees, bend/hold/stretch/hold/repeat...used the walker to walk the halls, again often...yes with butt hanging out :o dragging the hat-rack with all the tubes/bags ;)) and I used the ICE machine as often as they'd let me...and then some ;). It's a PITA to take off/on, but do so...BEND/STRETCH/WALK OFTEN. Started outpatient PT next day following discharge from hospital...and every other day thereafter. Both at OP PT and home PT, worked it HARD and OFTEN. MORE/FURTHER/HARDER worked for me :D...

Best of luck...
 
Jehosephat, this is no walk in the park operation & recovery,I am 77 years old and have been diagnosed as having Degenerative Arthritis in the knees and am looking for ways to forget about this. As of now I have no pain, just some discomfort from time to time. Taking no med's at this time.
 
I'm 6 weeks out from my knee replacement. Every one is different and frankly mine was a bitch. More pain than I ever imagined. Physical Therapy is critical, you will need to work harder than you ever imagined to get through it. The first 6 weeks were no fun but am looking forward to some serious improvement from here on out. I work out twice a day every day at the gym and in the pool and expect to be nearly back to normal in another 6 weeks though for many it takes as long as a year...like I said everyone is different. Good Luck!
 
add another cop to the list.

however I am a wus and need replacement on both. left knee hurts worse that the right.

played alot of sports when I was young, did alot of jumping off of oilfield stuff for 5 years and many years of getting in and out of patrol cars.

had a couple of knee surgeries and been putting this off for years. Had some complications after my knee surgery in 97 and that is keeping me from heading in that direction again, however been toying with the idea of looking into this next year.

keep us posted on your recovery.
 
skeetshooter said:
Jehosephat, this is no walk in the park operation & recovery,I am 77 years old and have been diagnosed as having Degenerative Arthritis in the knees and am looking for ways to forget about this. As of now I have no pain, just some discomfort from time to time. Taking no med's at this time.
Click to expand...

You sound pretty high functioning now. I'd think a long time before going under the knife if I wasn't in constant pain.

I just had a decision to make on my right ankle last month. A compound fracture from 1981 continues to cause problems and pain but I've been dealing with it for 30 years and can handle it. This surgeon has done a couple of outpatient surgeries that really helped me and while I've got great insurance I wanted to see if there was any advancements that might make life better.

Arthritis in my ankle looks terrible on x-ray and my doctor's physician assistant said I'd be a good candidate for ankle fusion. I saw the main man, Dr George Quill, and, while he didn't say don't cut, his advice was that since the pain was manageable let's wait and for me to come back in a year. I'm good with that. I seldom take pain medicine and when I do it's either plain aspirin or ibuprofen.
 
Well thanks to all for the input,,,I am now thinking of putting this operation off for a spell. The rehab scares the bejabbers out of me!!!!!
 
Rehab isn't bad.. Gradual increase in the bending angle, and getting it straight.. When it gets sufficient, you go on a stationary bike, then weights to make thing stronger.. Not much pain to it, just overcoming muscle stiffness and then building them up again. The more you do at home on your own the easier it is.

I had surgery on Friday, walked out of the hospital Sunday afternoon with a walker and was in therapy Tues. Used a walker to get into therapy the first day and said that was El Toro Poo-poo.. Used a cane for security on ice and snow for a week. I walked plumb slow and careful, I din't need the cane for the first time in 2 years.
I wish I had done it years ago, then I wouldn't have babied the bad one so much and wore out the other one. Now the replaced knee is the good one.

I'm gonna do it again, but I ain't that bad yet.:cool:
 
I had my right knee replaced 3 or 4 years ago, surgeon said my real knee looked like a grenade had gone off inside of it. The replacement was a Biomet Signature and it was absolutely the best thing I have ever had done. Pain was gone. Since I am allergic to just about every pain-killer ever developed I couldn't take anything (even aspirin) for post-surgery pain and it wasn't actually that bad, you get used to it. Like everyone says - do what the therapist tells you but don't overdo things in an effort to hurry recovery along, it doesn't work that way.

It will take several months to a year before the knee feels normal.
Mine still feels like I am wearing a knee-pad because of the way the nerves have or have not grown back together and when I scratch the left side of the knee I can feel it on the right side but not the left.

My best therapy exercise machine is a recumbent style exercise bike, lots more comfortable to use than the upright version.

Would I have it done again? In a heartbeat!!!
 
Skeetshooter, Had my left one done on May 1 this year and I can get along much much better than I could before. Worst pain was when the little 100# home therapest gal put the little plastic protractor on my knee the first time and bent it to get a baseline on motion. Major OUCH!!!! I don't limp or hobble anymore and can keep up with most folks when walking. Started bailing hay again in July. Will I do it again if needed for the right knee, yes. Check with others who have had joint replacement from the doc you are thinking about using, My BIL and SIL had one done this year by a doctor in the same group as my doctor but they have both had a long slow recovery. I like my doc.
Larry

P.S. One thing I found out after the surgery is that I had worn a half inch off the inside of the heel of my left shoe with the hobble/limping.
 
I can't give first hand knowledge. However, a good friend of mine had both knees replaced. He was a runner in college and played soccer. He also worked for a roofing company during the summer. He carried a lot of roofing bundles up and down ladders for several years.
He had arthroscopic surgery a couple of times trying to avoid the knee replacement. He finally had to get it done. He told me the hardest part was sticking to an exercise regimen. He did it though and is now doing fine.
 
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