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Recovery follows a bell curve. There are outliers on the positive end with no pain and good range of motion and outliers on the negative end with lots of pain and little range of motion but most fall somewhere in the middle.
I was an outlier on the positive end. No post surgery pain after my RTKR. Four years ago the same surgeon replaced my left hip and, again, no post surgery pain.
I am an 81 YO male. Before my surgery I told my surgeon that I wanted to be back on the golf course by the end of the fourth week. he replied that it was an aggressive target but he was up for the challenge if I was. I was. He was. On the 27th day after my surgery, I was playing golf.
Recently I had my six month checkup with my surgeon. He told me I had no limitations. I asked if that meant I could go on trampolines with my grandkids; he said yes. I asked if that meant I could run; he said if I wanted to.
My secret: finding that extraordinary surgeon who may be the best hip/knee replacement surgeon in the country, He did a mid vastus cut, put in a bicruciate retaining implant, repaired my severe misalignment with a Functional Alignment and did a plastic surgery close. Even more importantly, he has done at least hundreds of these procedures and has a great mind and great hands.
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@steveinarizona Hi Steve,
Thank you for this info. I love golf and can still play despite being in the “injury dog house” since July 2025, when I sustained a root tear of the meniscus with protrusion. Per my PT, I stayed quiet, just upper body stuff, Consulted my hip surgeon at HSS who treats knees. Would not do arthroscopic surgery to clean up meniscus mess because it could worsen my arthritis. Gave me a cortisone jab to help me rehab better. Didn’t help. Sought an opinion by ortho who only does knees. Xray showed stress fracture not previously seen on HSS films. Prescription for Calcitonin. Told me I would need a new knee. I was in no mood for that. Got fitted for unloader brace. Continued with PT. In March 2026, started to feel like my bones were bumping into each. Went back to HSS. Repeat xray showed fracture. Surgeon said I am a candidate for TKR. I didn’t want to accept that. He agreed to gel shots. Did a series of 3. No improvement. So I will sulk some more and see him in the fall. He uses CORI system for TKR. Aside from knowing rehab is harder after TKR versus THR, I have a husband who is totally dependent on me.
I need to arrange for care for him while I rehab.
Returning to golf and tennis gives me the mental fortitude to say yes to surgery.
So probably TMI but your post gives me so much hope. Thank you!!
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@steveinarizona
Where are you in Arizona? Mayo Clinic surgeon?