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Truth about Total Knee Replacements
Joint Replacements | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (146)Comment receiving replies
Folks, I think it is important to take a step back. Is your knee pain significant? That is an individual question. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, and my surgeonn said afterward that he was amazed I was still doing some of the things I was doing with my old knee. No one can promise 100% results, and if a surgeon is telling you your knee will be like original equipment, that's just wrong. Will it be better than the the old knee with all the pain? Likely, but that depends on how hard you work in pre-hab, re-hab, and managing your expectations.
6 months from the surgery, and my swelling is gone (at about 5 months), I am walking 7,500 steps/day average, got to play golf for the first time (ahead of my own schedule of 9 months). I am 59 years old and in pretty good shape, which also makes a difference. If I was older, or not in good physical condition, I am certain results would vary.
No lie, the first few months are an ordeal, physically and emtionally. All of this is an individual question, but for me at least, I am not looking back.
Replies to "Folks, I think it is important to take a step back. Is your knee pain significant?..."
Thank you for the posting. I am sure that every person experience is different after TKR. I am eleven months out. Had physical therapy for 7 months. Still have pain. I am now feeling that I should have never had the surgery. My range of motion is 115, I continue to ride my bicycle, and do all the exercise from my PT. I am now schedule for a second X-ray, doctor tried cortisone shot did not work, and because of continuous pain (7 of 10), I am thinking of getting a second opinion. However, I am getting the feedback that no surgeon will want to touch me in my condition. I will have to continue with the same to fix the problem. Any advice will help.
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Age makes a difference so I'm told by friends who are older than me and are just having the surgery. I am 80; my friends are in their middle to Upper 80s. It's suggested that if you can hold off of knee surgery until you get past 60 that would be best. I'm not sure it everyone is different and so are there circumstances, the type, I have osteoarthritis. It started with an automobile accident in 1999, when I was hit from behind, the seatbelt didn't hold, and my knees went into the dashboard. It was downhill after that. Thanks for your posting it's very very interesting and I'm sure a great help to others.