1. < Joint Replacements

Knee replacement

Posted by cbphoenix71 @cbphoenix71, Nov 11 11:45am

Re; knee replacement. Getting gel injections about 6 years ago, about 18 months interval. Just saw a surgeon who looked at the X-rays and said , he has seen worse. I do have pain but able to manage most of the time. My dilemma: putting off the inevitable or do the surgery now. I’m 72 years old. I’m inclined to do the surgery now, while I’m still strong and healthy.

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cbphoenix71 | @cbphoenix71 | 5 days ago
In reply to @spmiller2000 "I would absolutely get it done to improve your quality of life. Why would you wait..." + (show)
@spmiller2000

I would absolutely get it done to improve your quality of life. Why would you wait as at your age you never know what lies ahead and if you have any aging issues other than your knee you’ll be weaker to recover esp if you’re a point that you can’t wait to get the knee done. I just had mine done in June, back to work as a Crna in the OR at 7 weeks. PT once a week still but about to be released. My motion and all is great. I’ve just had to strengthen my quads and get dry needled for some IT band tightness which is all normal. I’m only 53. My other knee is now hurting and worsening. I will not wait. Assuming it will get worse I’m planning to do it this time next year maybe. Depending on new XRAY and going to my surgeon in next couple of weeks to see where it is compared to last year. My point is if your knee causes significant limitations in your life, if you have to plan your day according to what you can handle and tolerate, DONT WAIT. Get it done.

Also, it’s important to reasearch your surgeon. I work in an ortho OR. I am very knowledgeable on what to look for in a good surgeon.
Look for a surgeon who:
-is not old. Has been in practice about 10-15 years. There is lots of technology coming out and “old school” surgeons may have good reps but they practice old school.
-I suggest someone who primarily does joint replacements only. Knees, hips, shoulders. That’s it.
-I recommend someone who also primarily uses the MAKO robot or any robotic system.
-I would ask what their avg time is for putting implant in and tourniquet time if they use one. It should be less than 45 min.
-ask how many they do a year. It should be at least 400 knees or what ever body part.
-ask about infection rate
-rehab- you should be up and walking with assistance the day of surgery. Especially if you’re going g home the day of surgery.
-you basically want someone who has a niche and does just joint replacents only. That makes them an expert.

Hope all this helps.
I was up the day of surgery and went home day of. Sometimes older folks and folks with other health issues stay. PT started next day. I went back to an on my feet job at 7 weeks. Not same for everyone. Also you want an adductor canal block for post op pain.

Good luck.

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing your experience and insight. It’s primarily an age and quality of life issue for me. I’m 72 years old and love to travel. I’m limited to the type of road, pathways, no beach walk and amount of time I could walk. Recently we were on a couple of family trips , I had to sit out some of the activities. I still want to do more traveling. So , thank you for detailing your story. I’m glad you are living your best life. Many thanks on the list of questions to ask of the surgeon. Best wishes.

REPLY
ddsack | @ddsack | 5 days ago
In reply to @skshapiro "Hi ddsack, I had a second opinion appointment because my recovery from TKR has been so..." + (show)
@skshapiro

Hi ddsack,
I had a second opinion appointment because my recovery from TKR has been so difficult. He surmised from his fairly brief analysis that I had a damaged pcl ligament and weak quad muscles. He wanted me to spend the next four months focusing on strengthening my quad muscles. Which I do primarily in the gym but saturday night in my house just normally taking a step my right knee collapsed on me. I have scheduled an x-ray but when I see my surgeon doctor should I insist on another machine because the x-ray always comes back fine?

Jump to this post

I would sure ask him if an MRI or CT are options for deducing your healing issues, since you are having such a problem with recovery. My new knees were functioning fully at four months with no pain. I am sorry you have to go through this and wish you the best in finding a solution.

REPLY
skshapiro | @skshapiro | 5 days ago

Since no doctors are encouraging MRI due to all the titanium in knee, I did research about an incompetent PCL ligament and TKR and discovered arthroscopy as a diagnostic tool for these kind of complications. Do you know much about arthroscopy for diagnosing?

REPLY
FloridaSwimmer | @vickyvanvliet | 5 days ago
In reply to @spmiller2000 "I would absolutely get it done to improve your quality of life. Why would you wait..." + (show)
@spmiller2000

I would absolutely get it done to improve your quality of life. Why would you wait as at your age you never know what lies ahead and if you have any aging issues other than your knee you’ll be weaker to recover esp if you’re a point that you can’t wait to get the knee done. I just had mine done in June, back to work as a Crna in the OR at 7 weeks. PT once a week still but about to be released. My motion and all is great. I’ve just had to strengthen my quads and get dry needled for some IT band tightness which is all normal. I’m only 53. My other knee is now hurting and worsening. I will not wait. Assuming it will get worse I’m planning to do it this time next year maybe. Depending on new XRAY and going to my surgeon in next couple of weeks to see where it is compared to last year. My point is if your knee causes significant limitations in your life, if you have to plan your day according to what you can handle and tolerate, DONT WAIT. Get it done.

Also, it’s important to reasearch your surgeon. I work in an ortho OR. I am very knowledgeable on what to look for in a good surgeon.
Look for a surgeon who:
-is not old. Has been in practice about 10-15 years. There is lots of technology coming out and “old school” surgeons may have good reps but they practice old school.
-I suggest someone who primarily does joint replacements only. Knees, hips, shoulders. That’s it.
-I recommend someone who also primarily uses the MAKO robot or any robotic system.
-I would ask what their avg time is for putting implant in and tourniquet time if they use one. It should be less than 45 min.
-ask how many they do a year. It should be at least 400 knees or what ever body part.
-ask about infection rate
-rehab- you should be up and walking with assistance the day of surgery. Especially if you’re going g home the day of surgery.
-you basically want someone who has a niche and does just joint replacents only. That makes them an expert.

Hope all this helps.
I was up the day of surgery and went home day of. Sometimes older folks and folks with other health issues stay. PT started next day. I went back to an on my feet job at 7 weeks. Not same for everyone. Also you want an adductor canal block for post op pain.

Good luck.

Jump to this post

Thanks for the information. Would you still give the advice to go ahead to someone who’s experienced infection? I’ve had several opinions telling me that if I had my joint infected once I will be prone to it in the future. That makes me afraid to go ahead with another replacement. I almost died from sepsis and it was months being on IV daily infusions of antibiotics. I never got more rundown or aged quicker in my life. Got to feel you have a ticking time bomb in your body would really appreciate your opinion.

REPLY
beuby303 | @beuby303 | 22 hours ago

Thank you all for posting here! I am 9 weeks post op and obviously still tight, tired and sore in addition to the pain of climbing/descending stairs etc. My personal goal is to be able to dance on a dance cruise at 4 months. We will see.
Please share more about your own benchmarks and roadblocks. My friends who have had TKA range from ‘never had any pain’ (selective memory I’m sure) to still have pain after a year or more. I’m doing my home PT every day (else I won’t move!) and still have a few weeks of out patient PT (which I love!).

REPLY
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