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Total Knee Replacement at 83 - What was your experience?
Joint Replacements | Last Active: 12 hours ago | Replies (7)Comment receiving replies
Hi there. I have had a total knee replacement. It went very well. It was not a breeze but advanced research and prep helped. Here is what I learned:
1. Do your research on surgeons. You want someone who has done MANY. Get referrals from friends, neighbors and anyone who has had this done by the surgeons whom you are vetting. Check them out with online research
2. Make sure you ask what method she/he is using. How long they've used that method. Robotic assisted, sub vastus, etc. what is their infection rate.
3. Post surgery contacts for questions and concerns.
4. Strengthen your legs prior to surgery. It will do wonders for your recovery.
5. Make sure you clearly understand what steps you will need to take post surgery.
6. You will need help for awhile during your recovery.
7. One of the primary things I was told concerning post surgery pain is "Don't chase the pain." In other words, make sure you understand what pain meds will be prescribed and follow the plan for taking them.
8. You will need to ice your knee. Some people rent ice machines. Maybe someone will share their info about that.
9. Survey your home for tripping hazards. You don't want to go through surgery only to fall and disrupt the new knee.
Good luck!
I'm sure others will weigh in on other helpful tips.
Replies to "Hi there. I have had a total knee replacement. It went very well. It was not..."
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@gravity3
Good advice. Here is my version of it:
I came out of a TKR with no meaningful pain. I break up the credit this way: 5% for me for my detailed research on types of knee replacement and surgeons; 5% for mother nature (luck) and 90% for my incredible surgeon.
No matter how good the surgeon, that 5% for luck can creep in with bad luck. But finding a great surgeon using the best methods can maximize one's chance of a successful and pain free or pain minimized procedure.
I had a rare bicruciate retaining implant ("BCR"). Probably somewhere north of 95% of knee replacement surgeries involve cutting and removing the ACL. A BCR retains and protects the ACL but it is much more complex surgery. A BCR can only be done if the surgeon can determine once the knee is open that the ACL is sufficiently strong.
Athletes tend to prefer BCRs as they give a more natural feeling. But I wouldn't do one unless my surgeon was very experienced doing them (mine is) as the surgery is more complex.
If you can find a surgeon who does a subvastus or mini midvastus method, does not use a tourniquet, and does a Functional Alignment (or at least a kinematic or inverse kinematic alignment) and has done these a lot, you have given yourself the best chance of success.