Has anyone had a knee joint replacement?

Posted by suzzflwr1 @suzzflwr1, Jun 19 9:06am

I have osteoarthritis in both knees, I’m a 69 year old woman. I do water aerobics most days, garden and cut my grass.
The Dr. compared the knee joint replacement to having a crown put on your tooth. I was hoping to find someone who has had this done. Surgery is scheduled for August 22.

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clw19521805 | @clw19521805 | Jun 20 4:03pm

In reply to @suzzflwr1 "Thanks for clarifying partial vs TKR. I’m looking for any silver lining I can." + (show)

I understand. You will be fine, just remember the pain is not forever. I had been in excruciating pain months before my surgery. Had osteoarthritis in both knees fell and tore my ACL, tore my lateral and medial meniscus, 2 stress fractures and bone bruising. The squeezed me in because of my condition. Take it easy, one day at a time. Recovery is not a straight line. It has peaks and valleys. Invest in one of those potty booster chairs.

joyanna | @joyanna | Jun 20 5:43pm

I will say up front that it is no comparison to a crown on a tooth. I have crowns on my teeth and I had a Knee Replacement. The knee replacement takes much time to heal, it’s painful and you must take your pain meds. when needed. Some people heal fast, months, while others takes a year or over to heal! You will have different feelings about the new knee. You will need physical therapy to help you. This surgery is not a walk in the park! Given time you will heal and take it one day at a time. Ice, elevate, rest, and exercise will be done everyday in your process of healing. I have a wonderful surgeon and glad that I had this done. I have also had lots of pain in healing! I’m still working with it! We are warriors and we will all feel better with time! Good luck!

suzzflwr1 | @suzzflwr1 | Jun 20 5:46pm

Thank you for the advice.

suzzflwr1 | @suzzflwr1 | Jun 20 5:49pm

In reply to @clw19521805 "I understand. You will be fine, just remember the pain is not forever. I had been..." + (show)

Potty chair was on my list.
The biggest obstacle I have is the shower is in a tub, not walk-in.
May have to invest in a walk-in.

cknee415 | @cknee415 | Jun 28 1:12pm

No way is it like a crown, but the long terms results are very positive. I agree with one comment, consult another surgeon if yours is belittling what major surgery this is. Everyone told me with TKR there would be pain. I had a month of terrible intermittent pain even with all the icing, meds, slow walking in the hall, etc. Next month was fairly sleepless since you have to sleep on your back with your leg straight. Now in the third month and everything is getting better! I can sleep short periods on my side, can alternate legs as I go up and down stairs and have reduced meds. Go for it!

wmh9680 | @wmh9680 | Jun 29 10:04am

I had my right knee done in 2019. It was my 5th knee surgery at the time (I have since fallen into a window well and shattered my femur right above the fake knee and had screws and a rod put in and then had to go back in weeks later and remove one of the screws that had backed out from that surgery). I agree with most everything that has been said here already. It is very important that you find the best Dr and therapist you can with alot of successful experience with a TKR. I'm not putting down other Drs, it's just that there is no replacement for experince and hundreds of surgeries where they have seen and done it all. I go to Ruch in Chicago or one of their satellite locations. They are the best in Illinois and one of if not the best in the USA. Listen to and follow what your Dr and therapists tell you. Rush did a reverse shoulder replacement on my and is doing a total hip replacement on my wife next mouth, the Drs and their staff really care about you and listen to you. Mike

kr1 | @kr1 | Jun 29 1:53pm

In reply to @joyanna "I will say up front that it is no comparison to a crown on a tooth...." + (show)

I had a total knee replacement a little over a year ago and I’m finally starting to see some improvement. My doctor wants me to have my other knee done but healing was such a nightmare on my right knee. I am reluctant to do it. He says just slow he was one of the unlucky ones. He said the oven he could go very smoothly, but it could be just as bad as the other. I have decided to try the gel shots in that knee and hopefully they will work before I give into having another total knee replacement. I still have some pain in the right knee, but it is a lot better, but it took a really long time. It was six months before I could sleep through the night. So I can tell you, it should not be compared to getting a crown on a tooth.

tawnjun23 | @tawnjun23 | Jul 7 5:59am

In reply to @suzzflwr1 "Thanks so much for answering my question. Was the crown as bad as the TKR, in..." + (show)

I'm sorry, but I laughed when I read the comparison. I don't want to scare you, but I've had two neck surgeries and my TKR is the worst thing I've ever been through. You're sent home after 2 days, when you should be there MUCH longer. FYI. If you don't have loads of help at home please look at hospital rehab. It is taxing for family members. Home health also has pt that comes to your house. Wish I knew that. Good luck.

sr108 | @sr108 | Jul 7 7:56am

2 years post tkr and it was the best decision I have ever made. Pain was horrible for a few weeks, but follow their advice - take the meds as prescribed and don’t let them lapse - do the therapy - and enjoy life after. I could hardly walk and stairs were unbearable before surgery. Now I am back biking and hiking like I used to. So glad I went ahead with my surgery.