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Truth about Total Knee Replacements
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Oct 26 1:17pm | Replies (126)Comment receiving replies
Very good information catheem. This is my first time commenting on Mayo. You mentioned some things I should have been more aware of as concerns surgery.
I have asked, but doctors seem reluctant to share/give information about exercise to: 1) strengthen the muscles supporting the knee prior to surgery or 2) best exercises to supporting the knee even if surgery is not desired.
Is there a section on this site or would it be easy enough for you to share some of the exercises that did the most good for your knee? The internet has SO many things said - someone with experience with them is a better choice for info.
I am 75, been told I was a candidate for both knees to be replaced for about 10 years. I had gone with the orthovisc injections for about 4 years, getting them every year, but missed 3 years during COVID period. Restarted last year and having them closer to 7-8 months, the last being in late March. It helps, but do you think glucosamine/chondroitin is helpful?
Sorry for all the questions...curious first timer here.
Replies to "Very good information catheem. This is my first time commenting on Mayo. You mentioned some things..."
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Your Dr. can order physical therapy before, to strengthen the quad muscles... It will help tremendously. YouTube has great movies of knee exercises. They would be similar to the ones for after surgery as well.
As for steroid injections- so many reasons not to go this route. Reports show they can further destroy your joints is a biggie. Furthermore you cannot have surgery for at least 3 months after an injection due to the systemic affects.
https://beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=1128&LayerID=28484&PageTypeID=1&PageID=11857&Q=421276638&KeyValue=600000296230
PT, an ice machine through the night, NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories), Velcro knee braces and elevation have worked better for me prior to my surgery. Highly recommend purchasing an ice machine if you proceed with surgery. Not covered, but comfort that is amazing and worth every penny. We used large yogurt containers to make big pieces of ice to put in machine, so the cold circulates all night long. Decreases need for pain medication for sure. Do place a pillowcase between the pad and skin.
https://www.amazon.com/NEHOO-Continuous-cryotherapy-Universal-Cervical/dp/B08FM8K3PW/ref=asc_df_B08FM8K3PW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693384455945&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16861577769318971619&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015985&hvtargid=pla-1275929324114&psc=1&mcid=a4a481365c533336924211d62e49304d
"Conclusions and relevance: Among patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, 2 years of intra-articular triamcinolone, compared with intra-articular saline, resulted in significantly greater cartilage volume loss and no significant difference in knee pain. These findings do not support this treatment for patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28510679/