Thanks for your kind words dna41.

Now that I'm on the other side of my TKRs, it's easy for me to suggest when someone should get one done. That's my bad. The decision to have any surgery is up to the individual. I'm sorry if I suggested otherwise.

The first time I met my knee surgeon, I was bone on bone but not in daily pain. He was actually very reluctant to do surgery. His reasoning - people will be more motivated in their rehab if the worst pain they experience is pre-op. I decided to wait.

II hired a trainer at that point to get the muscles supporting my knee in good shape, while honoring the limitations I had. I was in a ton of pain before surgery, and I cherish all the days since surgery because I feel so much better.

So I agree - take some time to research surgeons, short-term alternatives like gel shots, and the TKR procedure itself. You don't have to be a Dr, but I think it's important to know what the surgeon will do. And for the knees, does the surgeon use a robotic assistant, and if so, which one? (My surgeon used Stryker/Mako).

I wish you all the best dna41. You're a very thoughtful person.

Joe