Tomorrow morning I go to the hospital for a knee replacement.The last year and a half since I retired has been special.Several foot surgeries then cancer.The radiation treatment was interesting it took a lot out of me.January I tested clear of cancer. So now I will do my first knee replacement.If it works well I will do the other.My wife and I have been busy cleaning dusting getting rid of furniture books and clutter.She is trying to make room for me hop around on a walker.
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Knee replacement
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ColbyBruce
Member
Good luck with your surgery and recovery. I had several coworkers who had knee replacement surgery and all did very well recovery wise.
Congrats on the cancer free! After that, the knee will be apiece of cake.
Best of luck for a full, speedy recovery.
Be sure to work hard on the rehab.
Best of luck for a full, speedy recovery.
Be sure to work hard on the rehab.
My wife has had both of her's done years ago. Do your rehab. Don't think just walking around is good enough. A certain hard-headed German woman I know learned that the hard way. 
I was diagnosed with "you-gonna-die" cancer in 2017. Chemo and radiation for six months. Declared clear in January of 2018.
But man-o-man, my knees hurt. They'd hurt for years. But with an unexpected new lease on life, I thought, "How hard can it be, given what I just went through? Let's fix 'em!"
Knee surgeon said lose weight or he would not operate. Fasted one day, actually 36 hours, a week, for eight months or so. Lost about 50 lbs.
Replaced the knee.
Yeah, it was painful. Not the op, but the rehab part is hard. But the results are great! And after surviving the "you-gonna-die" cancer diagnosis, psychologically I was "bring it on! Show me what ya got!" The physical pain is small beer compared to the stress of a dire cancer diagnosis.
I was ready. Worked my butt off with the rehab and recovery was great. Then had the other knee done a coupla years later.
Like everyone says, take the rehab very serioiusly. Knock yourself out on it. It makes all the difference in the world.
Best wishes.
But man-o-man, my knees hurt. They'd hurt for years. But with an unexpected new lease on life, I thought, "How hard can it be, given what I just went through? Let's fix 'em!"
Knee surgeon said lose weight or he would not operate. Fasted one day, actually 36 hours, a week, for eight months or so. Lost about 50 lbs.
Replaced the knee.
Yeah, it was painful. Not the op, but the rehab part is hard. But the results are great! And after surviving the "you-gonna-die" cancer diagnosis, psychologically I was "bring it on! Show me what ya got!" The physical pain is small beer compared to the stress of a dire cancer diagnosis.
I was ready. Worked my butt off with the rehab and recovery was great. Then had the other knee done a coupla years later.
Like everyone says, take the rehab very serioiusly. Knock yourself out on it. It makes all the difference in the world.
Best wishes.
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I had both knees replaced in the same week in 2011. The first was done on Monday, and I was recovering so well we decided to do the other on Friday. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Prior to surgery, my knee pain was excruciating while I was on my feet. After surgery, the pain was gone, and now, a dozen years later, it has not returned. As the others have said, do your rehab, and whatever else the doc says.
And here's my advice about keeping post-surgery pain to a minimum: Start taking your pain meds as soon as you feel the pain coming on. Don't be all macho and try to "tough it out", because you won't be able to take enough meds to catch up when the pain gets really bad. I gradually reduced the amount of pain pills I took and weaned myself completely off them one month after surgery. Good Luck!
And here's my advice about keeping post-surgery pain to a minimum: Start taking your pain meds as soon as you feel the pain coming on. Don't be all macho and try to "tough it out", because you won't be able to take enough meds to catch up when the pain gets really bad. I gradually reduced the amount of pain pills I took and weaned myself completely off them one month after surgery. Good Luck!
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Maddog 521
Member
Rehab, rehab, rehab, walk walk, walk, pull, pull, pull. Get the leg moving again. Yes don't forget the ice.
As has been said, do the rehab. Your satisfaction with the surgery will be commensurate with your effort.
Both of mine are done. As others said; Do the exercises and Physical Therapy - It does make a difference.
Best wishes today and the coming days.
My wife had both knees replaced on the same day. The problem was with the meds. Since she was having both knees replaced, the pain medication was divided to both knees, so it hurt for a few days. She toughed it out, did the rehab, and is doing great. Her surgeon was fantastic.
Oldengineer
SWCA Member
The hardest part for my two replacements was not being able to drive for a while. I ditched the walker after 4 days and used a hand made very special cane that was given to me by the late Tom Siatos, long time Guns and Ammo editor. I digress…
Like bgrafsr, my wife had both of hers done on the same day. She did well considering. Then later I had one done and realized my wife was really brave and strong or just plain crazy. Lol. All kidding aside, the best advice is take your rehab therapy seriously and do all that they ask of you. My wife's surgery was in 2012 and mine in 2019 and the replacements are still going strong.
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Anyone heard of the new knee replacement surgery where they go in the front? John Hopkins perfected the surgery and wondered if it had spread??? Need left one done, dinged it in basic back in 71 and been on and off since…
I had my left knee replaced in the spring of 2019, and the right in January of '23. My observations...
Follow your doctor's instructions to the letter. Don't push yourself. If the doctor says no driving for six weeks, then don't drive for six weeks.
Work with your physical therapist, and do your prescribed exercises.
Take pain meds as necessary. Use ice regularly, and plan to sleep in a recliner for at least a week or so, as it will probably be very difficult to get into or out of bed.
Everyone heals differently, and you might be completely healed and not have the same range-of-motion as before the surgery....but your pain will be gone, and that's why you had the surgery, right?
Good luck!
Follow your doctor's instructions to the letter. Don't push yourself. If the doctor says no driving for six weeks, then don't drive for six weeks.
Work with your physical therapist, and do your prescribed exercises.
Take pain meds as necessary. Use ice regularly, and plan to sleep in a recliner for at least a week or so, as it will probably be very difficult to get into or out of bed.
Everyone heals differently, and you might be completely healed and not have the same range-of-motion as before the surgery....but your pain will be gone, and that's why you had the surgery, right?
Good luck!
TAROMAN
US Veteran
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Same here, heed the wise advice.
TAROMAN
US Veteran
Both of mine were through the front. Didn't know there was any other way.
