Has anyone had a knee joint replacement?

In my opinion, if an orthopaedic surgeon is comparing a Knee Replacement to having a crown put on your tooth, then my advice would be to go to another surgeon as he/she is making far too light of a significant surgical procedure.

You should get a shower chair you slide right on to it. Ask around on the facebok pages in your community or at an ambulance corp. You should be able to get one for free.

Everyone's response to surgery is going to be different. Different life experiences will define the outcomes.
If you do have questions, write them down and ask them. The less doubt you have, the better your perception, outcome, and expectation will be.

I understand what the surgeon was saying. Effectively a TKR goes in to remove and prepare the surface of the bone and taking out what is not needed for the "crown" or the appliance (the replacement).

Someone mentioned being active. I would highly agree and talk to your team about it. The better you go in, the sooner will be your recovery. Make sure your living environment if good to go and you have a support system to help out!

Best!

Do NOT do a partial. Do the Total Knee Replacment. I have had 4 open surgeries on my right knee. If I had to do all over again, I would do Total.

The surgeon that did my TKR will not even consider doing partials. He says they fail overtime.

That is a ludicrous comparison. I wish my surgeon would have been more honest about the recuperation and pain. It is the HARDEST thing I have ever gone through. I've had 2 neck surgeries.
Now having said that, prepare yourself. Make sure you have PT set up ahead of time. You can have them come to your home. Something I wish I had known. You will need good at home support. It is hard for them as well. Start taking Miralax 5 days before surgery. You will need it with all the meds. You may want a raised toilet seat. You will not be able to sit comfortably for a while. An ice machine will do wonders. If you can afford to buy one, I would. Insurance only paid for 2 weeks for me. Pliable ice packs on Amazon worked well after. I ended up having nerve trouble. Had a genicular nerve ablation. I'm 5 months out. Slowly getting better. The best thing you can do is LISTEN to your body. Rest is more important than housework. I wish you a speedy recovery.

I had a right knee replacement in 2021. I have osteoarthritis in both knees. It was done at a top Boston hospital and I was sent home the next day. It was an extremely painful recovery period. I was allergic to a few of the pain meds that were prescribed so could only take Extra Strength Tylenol. I have had previous surgeries, along with two babies, but I never experienced such excruciating pain. Because of what I went through, I have decided to not have my left knee done. I go for cortisone shots every 3-4 months and a couple of months ago, someone recommended Turmeric to me. It’s important that the Turmeric have Ginger and Bioperine in it. It has helped the arthritis tremendously in that left knee! So, I will stay with the shots, combined with the Turmeric. I’ve had several crowns over the years and believe me, there is no comparison to having a crown done vs a TKR!!! I would seek out a second opinion before you commit to the surgery. Wishing you all the very best with your decision. MaryAnn from Boston

I’ve had a hip replacement and a total knee replacement. I had expected that being the larger joint the hip surgery would be harder on me; but the knee was. PT is so essential for a successful TKR. You must do the work, and frankly it hurts. But those muscles and ligaments need those exercises to get you walking normally again. Best wishes…

I am 81 years old and have bone on bone in both knees. I just had my left knee done June 28. It’s been horrible. The pain was excruciating the first week. I’m doing PT twice a week away from home and doing my exercises twice a day at home. I can only take Tylenol. Anything stronger makes me sick. I got mild anemia from surgery and I feel weak and shaky every day. I will not have my right knee done!

Each person's situation is unique. But the comparison to having a crown done is ludicrous. I am 75 years old. I've had bi-lateral (both) TKR and bi-lateral hip replacements. My knees were done 6 weeks apart when I was 55 years old. Hips in 2010 and 2014. I was in #10 pain prior to the TKR surgeries, which is why the surgeon did not hesitate even though I was younger (65 or older was the norm 20 years ago). My therapist and I worked furiously to prepare me for the 2nd replacement six weeks later. I was grateful that I was young and fairly fit in spite of the limitations caused by severe knee arthritis. It took several months to get my full mobility back, but eventually the pain subsided. Not that I haven't had issues with muscles, ligaments and tendons, over the years. but at 20 years out I'm still doing well. These knees and hips have logged thousands of miles, many of them over rough terrain while hiking. Water aerobics in 4ft of 84+ degree water was without a doubt the most helpful therapy for both my knees and my hips.
Good luck creating a plan that works for you.

I think the doctor was trying to explain the difference between a TKR and a joint replacement, when he compared it to a tooth crown. I helped a friend of mine when he had a TKR and I saw first hand the torture that a person goes through with any knee surgery.
I have done water aerobics 5 days a week for 4 years and have started PT 2 days a week along with doing the exercises and riding a bike at home.
Unfortunately I know what the surgery entails, I’m not looking forward to it. I just don’t want to give up the things I enjoy because of the knee pain I have now from osteoarthritis.