Truth about Total Knee Replacements

Posted by rickraleigh @rickraleigh, Jul 31, 2021

Your new knee will never feel as good as your original old one

For most people it takes a full year to get most of the benefits of the surgery

Many people experience a clicking sound when walking for years or forever after the surgery

You should do physical therapy for a year after the surgery to get the best range of motion results even though your therapist will discharge you after several months.

There are no studies which will tell you what activities you can do after TKR. Is doubles tennis OK? Golf? What you read online varies. There are no clear answers.

Many surgeons are finished with you after the surgery. If you have issues with the surgery's aftermath, they may not be that helpful.

The scar is big, and no amount of ointment (vitamin E, etc.) will substantially reduce it.

Good news: If you had bad knee problems before the surgery your knee will feel a lot better after the surgery.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

algrieco | @algrieco | Sep 30 12:06pm

In reply to @h2marcia "Who did your second opinion at HSS?" + (show)

Dr. Seth Jerabek

h2marcia | @h2marcia | Sep 30 12:34pm

I haven’t been able to get anyone to agree to a 2nd opinion on severe knee buckling. Even when I told Dr Westrich about it he showed me the implant was fine on X-ray but he refused an MRI or PT or a referral. I think I will have to go to another hospital, like mt Sinai and maybe someone will let me at least get an MRI (to see if the ligaments are stretched or whatever).

hsminc | @hsminc | Oct 1 8:50am

This is a very pessimistic write up in my humble opinion. I am 81 years old. I had bilateral (sequential) total knee replacements in 2015. The right (done first) was much more painful than the left. I screamed when I walked 50 feet. I had some pain afterward cause of an irritated psoas muscle or nerve. That went away rapidly - maybe within the week at most (do not remember).
My knees feel totally normal - like my own. I have no pain or other issues. I do not ever kneel on them; do not have the need. Although I can easily run (my previous addiction), I do that only when I have to for some reason.
I also had a total hip and reverse shoulder. All feel like my normal parts. I totally forget about them. I never had a single physical therapy session except I met with a PT before they would release me.

salliesallie | @salliesallie | Oct 1 9:59am

In reply to @h2marcia "Who did your second opinion at HSS?" + (show)

What does HSS mean?

ptully1 | @ptully1 | Oct 1 11:27am

Thank You, I am starting to get lost, I am 77 in good health. I had TKR 7 months ago, it's still hard to walk, if I do anything too much I have a lot of pain. It's very frustrating to say the least. In the morning when I get up I can hardly walk, I have to take small steps till I get going. All I really want to know is this normal or should I be concerned
Thank you, Phil in Tampa

steve8899 | @steve8899 | Oct 2 6:19pm

In reply to @salliesallie "What does HSS mean?" + (show)

Hospital for Special Surgery

salliesallie | @salliesallie | Oct 3 7:56am

Thank you.

cathymw | @cathymw | Oct 3 12:13pm

In reply to @ptully1 "Thank You, I am starting to get lost, I am 77 in good health. I had..." + (show)

Definitely concerned. Although it takes up to a year to heal from such a big joint replacement, you should be walking and feeling better by month 4 or so.

Stiffness comes with our arthritic territory- but pain all the time while walking- nope. Contact your surgeon. Maybe some Physical Therapy will help? I love my PT team. They helped me most.
And for arthritic discomfort, NSAIDS help if you can take: Motrin, Advil... Ice is always a good friend too. Love my ice machine at nighttime.

Good Luck.

skshapiro | @skshapiro | Oct 3 12:45pm

In reply to @h2marcia "I haven’t been able to get anyone to agree to a 2nd opinion on severe knee..." + (show)

It seems that very few TKR problems mention knees buckling. My knees have buckled on me since I was a kid. At 70 I thought I better do something about this because I am going to fall and really hurt myself so I had TKR done Feb of 23. A few weeks after it my right knee buckled and I fell. I told the surgeon and he had no answers except that its healing. All told my knees have buckled on me five times since my surgery and in April I fractured my femur. That surgeon got into a cumbersome brace but it did keep me upright and I have not buckled since may. My femur is healing nicely. My right leg is feeling stronger and I am back at the gym and swimming. My rom is probably 100 but I am petrified to put all my weight on my right leg i.e. going up and esp down stairs, Luckily we have no stairs where I live. I would like to hear from others who have TKR with a history of knees buckling.

michellemu1992 | @michellemu1992 | Oct 3 7:57pm

In reply to @ddsack "I've been lucky to have successful TKR's on both knees, and while I agree with a..." + (show)

Well the way I feel is “ who really cares how it looks“ I have had 6 surgery ‘s on one knee. I broke it at 18 had my 3rd surgery at 40 TKR lasted 20 years. 4th at 60 still have it. Looking at another one. Doctor says it going to very hard
As far of looking good it really doesn’t matter it’s about the pain.