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I need a TKR: Do I do it, or go as long as I can?

Posted by happyat76 @happyat76, Oct 30, 2019

I was told in January of this year that I need a TKR as there is bone rubbing on bone, no cartilage in my left knee. I was seen by an Orthopaedic surgeon in a hospital and I saw the x-ray myself. My question is this. I can still walk, although my knee gives out sometimes, I have a throbbing pain constantly and I do have some troubling walking. I can’t walk far. What should I do? Should I book the operation? Should ?I let it go for a while longer? What will be the outcome if wait? I am 78 now and really don’t want to go through with this, but am worried that I may end up in a wheelchair not being able to walk. I am also about 50 lbs. overweight. I have a bad back also. I would appreciate any suggestions.

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nme1985 | @nme1985 | May 14 8:58am
In reply to @heyjoe415 "I don't think you need to be afraid of the procedure or rehab. Keep the goal..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

I don't think you need to be afraid of the procedure or rehab. Keep the goal in mind - a pain free knee that lets you do everything but run or impact exercises.

TKR surgery is now very advanced. I had both knees replaced, four months apart, in 2022. I was 67 y/o then.

My recovery was successful because 1) I had a great surgeon and 2) I was highly motivated to do all the rehab recommended, and I did it. As for rehab, yes it's gonna be uncomfortable for the first two weeks or so. It's a major surgery and it's gonna hurt. Just accept that, push your knee as far as you can - the swelling and discomfort will tell you when to stop.

I'm convinced if people did this they would realize the pain and swelling is decreasing each day. I can't emphasize enough the rehab. PT 2 or 3 times a week with a real therapist and 3x/day at home every day on your own, ideally with an assist from a spouse or partner or good friend.

Do this for 2 months and you will see amazing results. If you don't do it, scar tissue will form and you will truly regret not doing the work.

All the best to you. Joe

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Thank you so much for the advice. A good friend of mine had two done within the last year and she is doing fine and she is even coaching lacrosse again for the high school right now it’s just my knee. I had my fourth gel injection and in six weeks, if it hasn’t improved, I will schedule a knee replacement. I will be 68. I will be 68 but I’m very active. Do Pilates walk ton lift weights and have osteoporosis I don’t wanna let things get in my way. Life is too short. , but I’m very active. Do Pilates walk ton lift weights and have osteoporosis I don’t wanna let things get in my way. Life is too short.

REPLY
1 reply
kr1 | @kr1 | May 15 8:07am

It’s been almost a year since I had my right knee replacement. I thought I would have the surgery and be pain free, not the case. My recovery as been difficult, I did PT at home with a physical Therapist and then outpatient therapy for three months. My range of motion was good but I was still having a lot of pain. The therapist said it was all in my muscles and that they just didn’t want to stretch. She said I could continue with therapy but they did everything that they could, and I could do the exercises by myself at home. I decided to try water walking and exercising in a pool. I join a gym with a pool and started waterwalk, and exercising in the pool. I have been doing this for 10 months and it’s helped me tremendously. I was able to give up my cane four months ago. I still have pain in the inside of my knee. I can walk pretty good but not for a long periods. I do great with a shopping cart. My surgeon said I am a slow healer and I about 4 to 5 months behind the normal patient. My other knee needs to be done, but I am not sure I want to go through with this again. They say it can be completely different. I have 76 and I don’t want to be stuck not being able to take care of myself I am still deciding on whether I should do the other knee or not . I am finally starting to feel better as a whole and I don’t wanna go back and experience what I have this past year. They say everyone is different and some people have no problem at all. Others have lots of problems with their recovery even if they do everything they are supposed to.

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2 replies
codynike | @codynike | May 16 8:49am
In reply to @kr1 "It’s been almost a year since I had my right knee replacement. I thought I would..." + (show)
@kr1

It’s been almost a year since I had my right knee replacement. I thought I would have the surgery and be pain free, not the case. My recovery as been difficult, I did PT at home with a physical Therapist and then outpatient therapy for three months. My range of motion was good but I was still having a lot of pain. The therapist said it was all in my muscles and that they just didn’t want to stretch. She said I could continue with therapy but they did everything that they could, and I could do the exercises by myself at home. I decided to try water walking and exercising in a pool. I join a gym with a pool and started waterwalk, and exercising in the pool. I have been doing this for 10 months and it’s helped me tremendously. I was able to give up my cane four months ago. I still have pain in the inside of my knee. I can walk pretty good but not for a long periods. I do great with a shopping cart. My surgeon said I am a slow healer and I about 4 to 5 months behind the normal patient. My other knee needs to be done, but I am not sure I want to go through with this again. They say it can be completely different. I have 76 and I don’t want to be stuck not being able to take care of myself I am still deciding on whether I should do the other knee or not . I am finally starting to feel better as a whole and I don’t wanna go back and experience what I have this past year. They say everyone is different and some people have no problem at all. Others have lots of problems with their recovery even if they do everything they are supposed to.

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I would get a second opinion. My first orthopedic surgeon recommended I take my numb knee to the grave with me. Got a second opinion and he said nothing can help my knee but surgery. I am 70 and he said possibly in 10 years I may need to do my other knee! No way. I was hit by a taxi when 28 that caused the issues with my knee. I will never do it again. Many bad surgeons out there. I went to the best, Dr. Biggs in Naples Florida. Good luck!

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26sabrina | @26sabrina | May 16 9:53am
In reply to @nme1985 "Thank you so much for the advice. A good friend of mine had two done within..." + (show)
@nme1985

Thank you so much for the advice. A good friend of mine had two done within the last year and she is doing fine and she is even coaching lacrosse again for the high school right now it’s just my knee. I had my fourth gel injection and in six weeks, if it hasn’t improved, I will schedule a knee replacement. I will be 68. I will be 68 but I’m very active. Do Pilates walk ton lift weights and have osteoporosis I don’t wanna let things get in my way. Life is too short. , but I’m very active. Do Pilates walk ton lift weights and have osteoporosis I don’t wanna let things get in my way. Life is too short.

Jump to this post

Ask your surgeon about lovera and ON-Q. They are different forms of pain relief post-op. Look them up. My friend just had a TKR and she was astonished that she had great pain relief.
Good luck and remember that moving and being faithful with PT.

REPLY
ezas123 | @ezas123 | May 17 6:38am
In reply to @kr1 "It’s been almost a year since I had my right knee replacement. I thought I would..." + (show)
@kr1

It’s been almost a year since I had my right knee replacement. I thought I would have the surgery and be pain free, not the case. My recovery as been difficult, I did PT at home with a physical Therapist and then outpatient therapy for three months. My range of motion was good but I was still having a lot of pain. The therapist said it was all in my muscles and that they just didn’t want to stretch. She said I could continue with therapy but they did everything that they could, and I could do the exercises by myself at home. I decided to try water walking and exercising in a pool. I join a gym with a pool and started waterwalk, and exercising in the pool. I have been doing this for 10 months and it’s helped me tremendously. I was able to give up my cane four months ago. I still have pain in the inside of my knee. I can walk pretty good but not for a long periods. I do great with a shopping cart. My surgeon said I am a slow healer and I about 4 to 5 months behind the normal patient. My other knee needs to be done, but I am not sure I want to go through with this again. They say it can be completely different. I have 76 and I don’t want to be stuck not being able to take care of myself I am still deciding on whether I should do the other knee or not . I am finally starting to feel better as a whole and I don’t wanna go back and experience what I have this past year. They say everyone is different and some people have no problem at all. Others have lots of problems with their recovery even if they do everything they are supposed to.

Jump to this post

I hear you …. Same here took 2 tkr almost 2 1/2 years for my first surgery nightmare to be over …. Like you did it all some of us unfortunate…. My new dr told me don’t blame you not wanting to do the other knee let’s do what we can so you don’t have to….. my kind of dr even with good dr for me will not do again …..for me I develop scar tissue very quickly so it helps wound healing but hurts overall mobility……but at the end of the day we come here see how others fared with there tkr to weigh their options .,, tkr is a last resort when nothing else works ….. because you go into surgery knowing I did everything i possibly could, and you have nothing to lose. For me I had better range of motion before surgery , but was in pain had rough time walking….the best advice I can give and other said when looking for dr. Look for negative reviews if any of them say dr was not supportive when tkr did not go well run …. You want someone going be there no matter what…. I wish I did might not had to have revision….

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