Was it worth it?

Hello, All,

I thought I'd comment even though I have not had a TKR. A couple of years ago, I did have a THR. I was not in great pain or impaired much prior to the surgery but thought it was enough that I was always aware of it and experienced some limitations. I researched the best orthos and selected an ortho with a large ortho group, impressive resume, and head of hip surgery. Rather than a long story, only short here. The surgery went well but, of course, after anesthesia and pain meds wore off, some pain, used Tylenol. I was very, very careful in activities so as not to dislocate or affect the implant. I did the exercises prescribed by ortho, but ortho did not advocate PT by a therapist. Instead, he maintained that only walking is sufficient. So I walked. My disappointment was that within a week, I began experiencing seriously painful nerve pain on the front and outside of my thigh from the knee up about 18 inches, felt like fireants, made me cry. PA and ortho said it would go away, last estimate was 18 months. I'll be 3 years post-op soon but still have numbness (not so bad) and pain (not as severe but don't like) on that thigh area). Maybe it will improve in months and years to come, but this has been more negative to me than the pre-surgery pain. Anyway, good news, the hip is not painful (unless I sleep on it sideways wrong, which I avoid). I was told the nerve pain was femur nerve that was retracted back and held back during surgery. Ortho said it occurs in 50% of his patients but almost all say it goes away. I am probably the .01%. My other hip has arthritis and not enough pain to make me swap the witch for the devil. My friends who have had THR report dramatic improvement, none of what I have. I was 75, active, and in good health when I had the THR.

I have been told that TKR is much more intricate and risky. Much of the outcome depends on the surgeon selected (see steveinarizona advice, yes), your age, state of health, weight, and luck. I do know that hip surgery is grizzly, they twist and turn and pop, saw, drill, etc. like you are a rag doll. So it is a wonder we can make a comeback. If the pain is serious and limits you so much (see july1955), then you really have very little choice--surgery or be in a wheelchair or crippled, not a way to live. If my other hip begins to leave me no quality of life, then I will opt for THR again and keep my fingers crossed. I am not certain whether I will return to the ortho I used for the first one. It's no doubt he's highly skilled and gifted, but even with his skills, I had nerve damage that has not yet completely resolved. Maybe I'll be lucky and it will. I am still active, but NOT climbing mountains, jogging, or doing splits and backbends, but at my age, I wasn't doing that before the surgery. Good luck to all and irishtrish!! Fingers crossed. Mine are. Smiling. (Forgive typos/errors, no time to proof/edit)

I just want to say we are all different, and it is normal for our bodies to respond differently. I once had a client who was put on a medication that has dry mouth as a side effect -- it made my client drool like a St. Bernard! The doctor was willing to listen to me though, and removed the medication as a trial, and the drooling stopped! The doctor found another medication that better suited that client. As for me, I already had swelling in my TKR leg prior to surgery, so it's no surprise that I still have it 16-months after surgery. I love the idea of this forum and the opportunity to exchange ideas, but we all need to remember that the large majority of people who have had a TKR are walking around just fine. The ones who wouldn't do it again are the minority, and maybe wouldn't have the same issues in a second TKR. I live in a 55+ community where I think everyone I've met so far has had at least one TKR. Just a few weeks ago, a man told me his wife had a lot of trouble with her first TKR, and recently had one on the other leg with no complaints at all! It's important to have surgery done by someone with a long track record, specializing in the procedure. And when I say that I feel a bit bad, because every surgeon was new to the procedure at some point and had to learn! The thing is, it isn't such a big deal if the guy at the lumberyard cuts your 2x4 a little too long. It may be a big deal if you are accidentally given a wrong medication, and mistakes are made daily by providers who are tired, overworked, and distracted, usually without severe consequences. Even a very experienced surgeon can slip up, but we should try to stack the odds of success in our favor by exploring the options, maybe meeting with another surgeon if the first one doesn't give you the confidence you need in the procedure. I wouldn't have a 2nd TKR done by the same surgeon who did my first one if I wasn't satisfied with the results. Recovery isn't fun, but if it is ultimately successful, as it usually is, the surgery is well worth it.

@mackad2024
Maybe look into femoral stem pain (FSP). I had a pain just like you described (front and/or side of thigh) and my doctor and I agreed it was probably FSP. FSP has to do with the difference in flexibility between the implant and the bone. His take was that once your bone beefs up around the implant, it should go away. Mine seems to have. Oddly though, I never had it in my first THR but I have had a few twinges now in that hip. I think it might have to do with changes in torsion in my legs. I recently started walking on the beach with only walking poles and I notice I no longer duck walk so my whole leg has changed. I am 6 months and 3 months out on bilateral replacement and things keep getting better. Still a lot of fatigue but I am either walking a mile or swimming 1/3 mile daily. My doc said if FSP is not better in 1 year he would suggest a surgical fix. I made a thread on FSP.

I just want to say we are all different, and it is normal for our bodies to respond differently. I once had a client who was put on a medication that has dry mouth as a side effect -- it made my client drool like a St. Bernard! The doctor was willing to listen to me though, and removed the medication as a trial, and the drooling stopped! The doctor found another medication that better suited that client. As for me, I already had swelling in my TKR leg prior to surgery, so it's no surprise that I still have it 16-months after surgery. I love the idea of this forum and the opportunity to exchange ideas, but we all need to remember that the large majority of people who have had a TKR are walking around just fine. The ones who wouldn't do it again are the minority, and maybe wouldn't have the same issues in a second TKR. I live in a 55+ community where I think everyone I've met so far has had at least one TKR. Just a few weeks ago, a man told me his wife had a lot of trouble with her first TKR, and recently had one on the other leg with no complaints at all! It's important to have surgery done by someone with a long track record, specializing in the procedure. And when I say that I feel a bit bad, because every surgeon was new to the procedure at some point and had to learn! The thing is, it isn't such a big deal if the guy at the lumberyard cuts your 2x4 a little too long. It may be a big deal if you are accidentally given a wrong medication, and mistakes are made daily by providers who are tired, overworked, and distracted, usually without severe consequences. Even a very experienced surgeon can slip up, but we should try to stack the odds of success in our favor by exploring the options, maybe meeting with another surgeon if the first one doesn't give you the confidence you need in the procedure. I wouldn't have a 2nd TKR done by the same surgeon who did my first one if I wasn't satisfied with the results. Recovery isn't fun, but if it is ultimately successful, as it usually is, the surgery is well worth it.

I have read your post and all the comments from everyone that has gone through the lovely experience of a TKR. LOL is it worth it? I am 6 months out and I will say yes it was worth it. Is it easy, absolutely not, and if my doctor had told me all that was involved I may not have done it. Ice machines are great, I was sent home with one and still have it, I don’t use it anymore but I do have it. Initially I was using it probably every 4 hours. I still experience stiffness after being inactive for a while or sitting for a while but it works itself out. Occasional pain, but I’m walking pretty much normal, stairs are still an issue but getting there. My knee was pretty messed up per the doctor so my experience may be slightly different. I’ve also discovered age could make a difference, I put surgery off-for about 5 years; I’m not sure I should have. Keep the faith. Yes, it hurts and the recovery can be long and tedious, but I am better than I was and able to do more.

I had right knee replacement five years ago. It was not worth it. I am still in pain with that knee. Will not consider having the other knee done.

@ladydiscdy - May I ask how old you are? I am 71 and realize I am old(er)
, but I thought most knee problems start around the late 60's, anyway (at least mine did, but I tore my meniscus with no damage anywhere else in the knee)..