@rorygrabowsky, My reason for not having any more injections was that they would not have helped me. I had bone on bone pain before the replacement and was told an injection would no longer help. I had one about six months prior to the knee replacement and it helped for about a week and then I did some more damage to it by working on my knees on concrete and the pain was back like it was prior to the cortisone shot. That's when I decided I needed to do the knee replacement. I think you have to wait for 3 months after a cortisone injection before you can have a knee replacement.

When I met with the surgeon he gave me some pre-surgery exercises to do while waiting for the replacement surgery which was scheduled a month later. I actually think the exercises are good for all of us elderly types to maintain mobility and flexibility. Here's some cheat sheets that explain the different exercises.

Before surgery knee exercises: https://www.allinahealth.org/health-conditions-and-treatments/health-library/patient-education/total-knee-replacement/preparing-for-surgery/before-surgery-knee-exercises
Post Op knee exercises: https://www.allinahealth.org/health-conditions-and-treatments/health-library/patient-education/total-knee-replacement/after-surgery/knee-exercises

I also have an exercise bike at home which helped a lot during the home rehab. I had my TKR on the 1st of April, 2019 and the weather was not great in Minnesota so it put a crimp in outdoor walking for the most part although I was able to get out and walk in my driveway using a walker the first and second week after my surgery. I then used a cane for about a month until I was able to walk OK without it. I think I felt I was almost back to normal about 2 months after my TKR. I still take stairs gingerly but I think that's more due to my degenerative arthritis and my age (not wanting to fall or trip!).

The goal of the surgeon and care team is to get you out of the hospital the day after your surgery so the the physical therapist at the hospital gets you up the morning after the surgery and starts you on the post op exercises and makes sure you can walk OK and shows you how to go up and down a small staircase they use for post op. The most important lesson I learned from my post op rehab was icing and elevating the leg. This helps control the swelling and reduces the pain. I wasn't having much trouble with the pain but the swelling was there and my follow up with the surgeon about a month after the surgery, well lets just say he gave me the what for because I was not elevating and icing the knee enough. So anytime I wasn't exercising or doing something, I iced and elevated my leg. I did it when I was watching TV, reading, working on the computer or just napping on the sofa.

Questions you might want to ask your surgeon or care team before the surgery...
- 8 Questions to Ask Before Knee Surgery: https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/8-questions-ask-knee-surgery
My personal thoughts for questions...
- What type of hardware do you recommend/use for the knee replacement?
- Will I get an allergy test for the bone cement, metals, etc. used in the replacement components?
- Can you explain the risks - possible nerve damage, etc.. ?

Other members may be able to provide other questions, but I would make a list and take it with you when you talk to the surgeon.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

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