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.

catheem | @catheem | Oct 24, 2024

In reply to @mackad2024 "Do you think that would also help hips that are bone on bone?" + (show)

Hi, my husband's knee is bone on bone, and he has postponed TKR (bone on bone is bone on bone!) since before Covid! So many, many years. So I would try the glucosamine/chondroitin on any painful joint that has bone on bone!

heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Oct 25, 2024

In reply to @catheem "Hi, my husband's knee is bone on bone, and he has postponed TKR (bone on bone..." + (show)

Hi cathee,

Is your husband in a lot of pain? And if the answer is yes, why is he postponing the surgery? I was in the same situation and the TKRs (yep, both knees) got rid of the pain. The procedure was life changing for me. I was 67 when I had them replaced in 2022. I'm in the gym 7x/week now and I spin 5x/week. My knees have never felt better. FWIW, I'm plagued with osteo arthritis. Joint replacement surgery has been a life saver.

That's why I'm wondering why your husband hasn't had the surgery. It is a traumatic surgery, and recovery involves a lot of work. But contrary to the comment that opened this forum, TKRs are worth the effort.

All the best. Joe

gardeningjunkie | @gardeningjunkie | Oct 26, 2024

In reply to @algrieco "Was it a medical professional who recommended the Glucosamine Chondroitin? I have read about studies where..." + (show)

I was taking Glucosamine Chondroitin for years and it made no difference, my knee deterioration continued.

catheem | @catheem | Oct 26, 2024

In reply to @heyjoe415 "Hi cathee, Is your husband in a lot of pain? And if the answer is yes,..." + (show)

Hi, in response to your question..,my husband had a TKR on his other knee (what he considered the 'better knee') and for some reason, the 'worse knee' stopped hurting! The only thing he could think of was starting the glucosamine...and he has bone on bone (I've seen the x rays). Since I don't have bone on bone (tore my meniscus which caused a bit of OA in patella) I started the glucosamine/chondroitin (with the approval of my pain management physician) just to see if my pain would be alleviated. It was. It still is. BUT, I've also started stretching and thigh strengthening exercises. All comments on this 'chat', I believe, are just sharing what each individual has experienced. That's all. PS I also wear a compression sock daily that seems to help, as well! EVERYONE is different!!

catheem | @catheem | Oct 26, 2024

In reply to @gardeningjunkie "I was taking Glucosamine Chondroitin for years and it made no difference, my knee deterioration continued." + (show)

I'm sorry to hear that! We all have individual reactions to our pain and to our improvements with one or the other modalities. I just like this 'forum' because I learn and sometimes benefit from one person, and sometimes not...AND my friends who've had TKR gave me a heck of a time about cancelling my TKR, and I finally said, 'I don't have pain anymore! Would you do it if your pain stopped?' That pretty much stopped them from making me feel guilty! BUT I am perfectly aware that anything can change in a heartbeat...at 70 years old, that statement is true for everything! Good luck to you!

ouch89 | @ouch89 | Oct 26, 2024

In reply to @gardeningjunkie "I was taking Glucosamine Chondroitin for years and it made no difference, my knee deterioration continued." + (show)

Many studies have been made without any conclusive evidence that Glucosamine Chondroitin works. I like you also took Glucosamine Chondroitin for years without any benefits thinking "what the heck, it can't hurt."

zadiezoey | @zadiezoey | Jan 3 9:32pm

In reply to @heyjoe415 "Hi cathee, Is your husband in a lot of pain? And if the answer is yes,..." + (show)

Hey Joe415,
I'm in 415 too. Any recommendations for TKR surgeons in our area?

algrieco | @algrieco | Jan 4 10:42am

In reply to @catheem "I'm sorry to hear that! We all have individual reactions to our pain and to our..." + (show)

Unless you REALLY need it, do not have the procedure. I was competitively sprinting in the Sr. Games 2 years ago. Got 3 Meniscus tears. Repair left me hurting but with Cortisone, I could manage as long as my activity was low impact. It then seemed inevitable that I needed a new knee. Since then I had the TKR, MUA, Arthroscopic Debridement and an Open Debridement, due to excessive scar tissue. Now, I am very limited in my ROM, have endured almost 2 years of pain, rehab and lacking mobility. I would never have had the TKR if I had known. It is NO silver bullet for at least 2-10% of all who have the procedure. My next step is to go to the Mayo Clinic for revision to a hinged replacement. This allows them to remove all tendons, which is where a significant amount of the scarring is. The interacts the place of the tendons. KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, if at all possible because a TKR is a crapshoot.

ouch89 | @ouch89 | Jan 4 11:41am

In reply to @algrieco "Unless you REALLY need it, do not have the procedure. I was competitively sprinting in the..." + (show)

I agree with your assessment 100 percent except for the 2-10% who are dissatisfied. I presently share email with fellow retirees from my former employer who have had TKR. the count is up to 14 now. We all have varies issues and different levels of discomfort but not one is 100% satisfied. Those that originally stated they were satisfied, when surveyed, admitted they had problems. Their original argument was "that at least the pain is less or gone," totally dismissing that now other issues like ROM and stiffness are present.
My personality is such that I have no hesitation asking patients in the Ortho waiting room for a show of hands whether they are satisfied. There were always some that were not. The term "crapshoot" is totally appropriate since not even the Orthopedic can predict the outcome.