BigBill
Absent Comrade
On my last regular doctor visit he mentioned I’m almost ready for new knees.
Has anyone here had knee replacements?
Has anyone here had knee replacements?
Replacement knees???
- Thread starter BigBill
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My sister’s mother in law had both done at once and spent a few weeks in a rehab facility after surgery.
She’s quite over weight and could barely move around her house before surgery.
Two weeks out of rehab, she was walking the dog! Brand new lease on life for her.
She had them both done at once because she didn’t think she’d have the nerve to do them sequentially.
She’s quite over weight and could barely move around her house before surgery.
Two weeks out of rehab, she was walking the dog! Brand new lease on life for her.
She had them both done at once because she didn’t think she’d have the nerve to do them sequentially.
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I have had three (3). ( The first one had to be done over.)
Mine ones was done separately (workman's comp).
Rehab was several weeks. Big concern is infection. take it slow and easy.
(both shoulder joints replacements were a different story)
Mine ones was done separately (workman's comp).
Rehab was several weeks. Big concern is infection. take it slow and easy.
(both shoulder joints replacements were a different story)
I have had one done and the other is being replaced at the end of the month. Best thing I ever did. All those years in pain and suffering went away after rehab. Do them both together. My family has a history with bad knees. My dad has both done, my mom has both done, my two brothers have both knees done and my sister has one replaced
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I just have a problem thinking about how during the surgery the bottom part of my leg is disconnected from the top part of my leg.
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I had partials done on both sides. Recovery was short compared to fulls, glad I had it done when partials would still be effective. I know I’ll have to go for fulls once these wear out. Not looking forward to that!
I had a partial done at the end of October. None of the rehab after the op caused me to tear up, so in my case not that painful. And I do the rehab exercises religiously.
Gets better by the day. Very glad I had it done.
Gets better by the day. Very glad I had it done.
I had that problem when they disconnected my leg from my body when I got a new hip. Boy it sure fells good now though.
Two ankle replacements and both hips. Left knee will be next, but that will be about two years away according to doctor.
I hear the rehabilitation therapy is critical for recovery after knee replacement.
I hear the rehabilitation therapy is critical for recovery after knee replacement.
It’s not as bad as you think. You will be glad you did.
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Old Arkansawyer
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Have any of you guys looked into stem cell implants? I know a couple
people who went to Huston and had stem cells harvested, cell cultures
grown and then replaced into the knee. Both are doing great. The
only draw back was insurance companies not wanting to pay.
people who went to Huston and had stem cells harvested, cell cultures
grown and then replaced into the knee. Both are doing great. The
only draw back was insurance companies not wanting to pay.
cfplinker
Member
The wife of a friend of mine had her hip replaced. Post surgery her doctor asked if she had any questions. She said that before the surgery she saw a big guy standing over in the corner by himself and not talking to anyone. She wondered what he was there for.
The answer: how do you think we dislocated your hip?
walkin jack
US Veteran
I've learned how to walk 4 times, 3 more than most folks. You might say I'm somewhat of an expert.
2 very important things you can do to assure a good outcome. First make SURE you get a good surgeon. I mean check him/her out from can to can't. Also and this is most important do the therapy and do it they way they tell you to do it. It's quite simple; if you don't do and do it immediately and do it right you won't be walking.
Know going into it that it hurts. You just have to deal with it. You will be glad you did I promise you that. And if you don't you'll regret it every day for the rest of your life I'll promise you that too.
I wish you the very best of luck!!
2 very important things you can do to assure a good outcome. First make SURE you get a good surgeon. I mean check him/her out from can to can't. Also and this is most important do the therapy and do it they way they tell you to do it. It's quite simple; if you don't do and do it immediately and do it right you won't be walking.
Know going into it that it hurts. You just have to deal with it. You will be glad you did I promise you that. And if you don't you'll regret it every day for the rest of your life I'll promise you that too.
I wish you the very best of luck!!
DWalt
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Results are very individualized and there are no rules. It did not work out with my wife, she regrets ever having it done. After 4 years she is still in pain. I have a friend with the same sentiment as my wife's. He's had considerable complications and wishes he hadn't done it. On the other hand, my wife's mother had two artificial knees done, and had no difficulties. You take your chances.
walkin jack
US Veteran
On a humorous note: I'm short (5'5") So on my first knee replacement I asked the doctor (jokingly) if he could, while he had me on the table open up the other knee too and put me in a 6" spacer in each knee.
He just frowned and looked at me and shook his head. It was like he knew I was going to ask him that. Or maybe he had just head the joke before? With a very serious look on his face he told me that it wouldn't work.
I asked why not.
Because, he said, then your arms would be too short.
ba-dum-dum.....
He just frowned and looked at me and shook his head. It was like he knew I was going to ask him that. Or maybe he had just head the joke before? With a very serious look on his face he told me that it wouldn't work.
I asked why not.
Because, he said, then your arms would be too short.
ba-dum-dum.....
It depends on how bad your knee is. My left knee was so bad that the top and bottom joint of the knee was half gone. They put an 8 inch rod in my Femur and a 4 inch rod in my Tibia.
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They don’t last long. I would just wait to do the full. Why go through two surgeries.
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misswired
Absent Comrade
Ultimately it will be yourself who knows when it's time for replacement. I'll second choosing a surgeon and rehab are priorities. A minimum of 6 months and in my case about a year long ordeal for full recovery. I'll also second a 'new lease on life'.
I had both of mine done -- total knee replacements -- in 2011. I've been pain-free and walking well ever since. I almost waited too long to have them done. The first surgeon I went to turned me down because my knees were too badly damaged. However, he referred me to a surgeon of last resort. He had taken a year of specialized joint replacement surgery training after completing his orthopedic surgery residency, and he really knew his stuff. I had both knees done the same week, right on Monday, left on Friday, was discharged the following Monday and went home. I received regular visits from a nurse and a physical therapist, and was discharged from home therapy after five weeks. I was back to normal (at least as normal as I get) six weeks after surgery, but Medicare paid for follow-up outpatient therapy, so I did that twice a week for the next three months to ensure a full recovery.
The most important benefit for a gun enthusiast is the ability to stand on the firing line. Prior to surgery, I could not stand for more that 30 seconds at a time due to the knee pain. Now I stand on the firing line at my range every week for three hours at a time with no pain. I could stand longer, but I can only lift and carry three hours worth of ammo.
You've gotten some good advice above, but one piece of advice I'll add is about pre-surgery physical therapy. When the surgery is scheduled, you will be given a set of exercises to do daily prior to the surgery. A lot of people ignore these, figuring that the surgeon is going to fix everything. This is WRONG! Knee replacement fixes only your worn-out cartilage. It does not fix ligaments, tendons and muscles that have shrunken and atrophied from arthritis. The pre-surgery therapy will stretch and loosen those up so that they can accommodate the replacement hardware. Failure to due this will leave you with a lot more post-surgical pain than you would otherwise have. I attribute my relatively quick recovery to religiously doing my pre-surgery exercises, up to four hours a day. So do those pre-surgery exercises!
Having the surgery was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It was a life-changing experience, because otherwise, I was headed for a wheelchair. If you're as bad off as I was, it's well worth doing.
The most important benefit for a gun enthusiast is the ability to stand on the firing line. Prior to surgery, I could not stand for more that 30 seconds at a time due to the knee pain. Now I stand on the firing line at my range every week for three hours at a time with no pain. I could stand longer, but I can only lift and carry three hours worth of ammo.
You've gotten some good advice above, but one piece of advice I'll add is about pre-surgery physical therapy. When the surgery is scheduled, you will be given a set of exercises to do daily prior to the surgery. A lot of people ignore these, figuring that the surgeon is going to fix everything. This is WRONG! Knee replacement fixes only your worn-out cartilage. It does not fix ligaments, tendons and muscles that have shrunken and atrophied from arthritis. The pre-surgery therapy will stretch and loosen those up so that they can accommodate the replacement hardware. Failure to due this will leave you with a lot more post-surgical pain than you would otherwise have. I attribute my relatively quick recovery to religiously doing my pre-surgery exercises, up to four hours a day. So do those pre-surgery exercises!
Having the surgery was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It was a life-changing experience, because otherwise, I was headed for a wheelchair. If you're as bad off as I was, it's well worth doing.
Re presurgery exercises, well said, swsig. I agree totally.
BigBoy99
US Veteran
I had the left one done in 2011 and the right one done in 2014. The cane and pain were left behind! I'm doing everything I did before, just a bit more carefully (I don't want to fall.) but without the pain. Exercise is the key to a good recovery. Make sure not to "cheat" on them as the only one you'll be hurt is yourself.
Maddog 521
Member
Full replacement on the right in 2010 and 2018 on the left. Presurgery strengthening is crucial and PT after surgery is a must. I'm coming up on my 1 year anniversary on my left knee and everything is good. BTW I was over 70 last year when I had it done.
jlrhiner
US Veteran
I've had 4 total knee replacements done over a span of 23 months. What would you like to know?
2tall79
US Veteran
After 35 years as a carpenter,I had bi-lateral total knee replacement in 2013. Having both done at the same time presents some interesting challenges but it turned out to be the best thing I've ever done. Other than not being able to kneel (with pads it's ok) or squat, I have full use of both legs now and wish I hadn't waited for so long. BTW, I used my AFLAC so taking 2 months off of work wasn't a problem. Good Luck to you
I had a total knee in ‘04 that left me unable to bend my knee, walking w/a cane and in chronic pain. Ask your surgeon about artho fibrosis (excessive scar tissue build up) before going ahead. Although it’s too late for me (I’ve had revision surgery) my 48 y/o daughter had a successful total knee last year. Nobody did anything wrong in my case, it’s just that some people are prone to this and there’s no way to know in advance. Good luck, 98% come out better than before.
You also have to consider the fact that your knees are not going to get better, but will get worse. Don't put it off.
John
John
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