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General knee replacement questions

Posted by kjckneesearch @kjckneesearch, Aug 14 12:38pm

I have received a cortisone shot for my knee. But the doctor said that I might have to have it replaced. I’m gun shy because of previous botched surgery. I am 77 years old and not sure of my next step. Second opinion? Wait until the pain is overwhelming?
Anyone’s info/opinion would be helpful whether your surgery was successful or not. Thank you.

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laurabamford4015 | @laurabamford4015 | 1 day ago
In reply to @covidstinks2023 "kjckneesearch, I am a little younger than you and I can only tell you my experience,..." + (show)
Profile picture for covidstinks2023 @covidstinks2023

kjckneesearch, I am a little younger than you and I can only tell you my experience, ok?

I did the cortisone shots for a few years and did the gel injections for 2 years in my left knee. My knee was bone and bone. It got to where it ached and hurt to walk. It kept me awake at night. I couldn't get in and out of the tub anymore. I also, loved to get on my knees and pray and I couldn't do that anymore due to the pain. The cortisone shots were no longer working. I have osteoarthritis in both knees. I stopped the gel injections because they made my knees stiffer. I rode this out for a few years until I couldn't anymore as nothing was working. My knee was slowing me down. I had already had a torn meniscus in that same knee in 2018 and the doctor told me then I would eventually face knee replacement. I had knee replacement in March of this year of the left knee.

I am being honest with you. I did my research about which surgeon to choose. Knee replacement is major surgery, it is painful, PT is painful, not much sleep for a while, you will pamper that knee for many weeks and still need to do exercises after you are released from PT. You must stay on top of the pain with pain meds and ice it. I slept in the recliner because it was easier to elevate my knee with pillows for 4 months. I am almost 5 months out and I still have stiffness and do my exercises every day. I bought a recumbent bike so I could use it daily to help loosen up my knee.

My surgery was successful and I am so grateful. I do not have the pain anymore and I can move my knee much better. My knee is straight and I have a perfect bend. I am working my way back to doing the things I used to do. You have to keep moving regardless to get the motion back. My right knee is bone on bone and I am in no hurry to have it done because the cortisone shots are still working and it is not in as bad a shape as the left one was.

The Lord and my wonderful family and church friends got me through this with their prayers, love, visits, meals, cards and phone calls.

I am praying for you in your decision. I know it's a big one.

Blessings & Prayers.....

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@covidstinks2023
This is great advice. Just do it!

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firstsurgery | @firstsurgery | 20 hours ago
In reply to @james35k "Knee replacements have a high probability of being successful but there can be a some pretty..." + (show)
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Knee replacements have a high probability of being successful but there can be a some pretty serious complications. Try to have the surgery done by a surgeon who does a lot of these surgeries. If you can, find a specialty hospital that does only hip and knee replacements. I may need to have my knee replacement "revised" after 18 years of use. The complication I am most concerned about is a perioperative infection that requires taking the implant out, antibiotics for several months and then going back to try it again. If this happens you will need help. The risk is relatively low for a new TKR (in the 2% range) but it can happen. Talk to the surgeon, find out their infection rate. The more surgeries performed by the surgeon and facility, generally the better the outcome you will have. If you do not have a caregiver, count on going to a skilled nursing facility. Talk to the surgeons staff ahead of time about this. Really work hard at physical therapy rehab after surgery and work hard ahead of the surgery to strengthen the muscles. You also might try physical therapy before considering surgery.

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I agree with all the above. Need to add, however, I do not recommend a surgicentet. I had a choice of that or hospital. There was NO discharge teaching or instructions of medication. I did not get to talk to anesthesia and everything was rushed. They are NOT prepared for prime time surgery or any problems.

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steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | 5 hours ago
In reply to @firstsurgery "I agree with all the above. Need to add, however, I do not recommend a surgicentet...." + (show)
Profile picture for firstsurgery @firstsurgery

I agree with all the above. Need to add, however, I do not recommend a surgicentet. I had a choice of that or hospital. There was NO discharge teaching or instructions of medication. I did not get to talk to anesthesia and everything was rushed. They are NOT prepared for prime time surgery or any problems.

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@firstsurgery There is nothing wrong with outpatient surgery centers per se. Mine was done at the least rated hospital's outpatient center. It has become a regional center for such procedures probably because it has invested in the robots. I told my surgeon I was concerned about the hospital and he told me he hears that a lot but I would only be dealing with him and his people, even if I stayed overnight (there are a few rooms above the outpatient facility).

My surgery was scheduled for and conducted at the outpatient facility. I got my discharge and medication instructions from my surgeon. They were given to me when I woke up from the propofol. I met with the anesthetist two days before the surgery and went over with her how she was going to proceed.

On the other hand, hospitals are a known source for infections. I wanted mine done at an outpatient facility. Mine was done with a CORI robot and I had a great recovery. I was the last procedure of the day for my surgeon and I was still home by late afternoon.

The Mayo Clinic in Phoenix does orthopedic procedures both at the hospital and at the adjacent outpatient facility depending upon the nature of the procedure and the risks associated with it.

It sounds like you had a bad experience with your surgery. But at least some of your problems seem related to your surgeon, not the facility. As I said, I got my instructions after I woke up from MY DOCTOR and I had a one week appointment with his PA and she gave me a new set of instructions for the following weeks.

I would expect that outpatient facilities are like almost everything else in life -- some are great, some are good and some are awful. The same thing applies to hospitals.

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ddsack | @ddsack | 4 hours ago

I am always surprised when patients say they got little to no information or after care instructions or help from their ortho surgeons office. Success rates in recovery from TKR’s are very much dependent on how well patients follow up on self-care and prescribed exercise levels. I would think that it would reflect poorly on a practices success rates and ratings to ignore the patient after the surgery, no matter how well the surgery itself went.
If the surgeon himself doesn’t do this, you would think the facility department or specialized clinic he works out of would have a bundle of patient information to make sure of followup care so they get good ratings.

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