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Truth about Total Knee Replacements
Your new knee will never feel as good as your original old one
For most people it takes a full year to get most of the benefits of the surgery
Many people experience a clicking sound when walking for years or forever after the surgery
You should do physical therapy for a year after the surgery to get the best range of motion results even though your therapist will discharge you after several months.
There are no studies which will tell you what activities you can do after TKR. Is doubles tennis OK? Golf? What you read online varies. There are no clear answers.
Many surgeons are finished with you after the surgery. If you have issues with the surgery's aftermath, they may not be that helpful.
The scar is big, and no amount of ointment (vitamin E, etc.) will substantially reduce it.
Good news: If you had bad knee problems before the surgery your knee will feel a lot better after the surgery.
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Very smart question to ask a facility their infection rate. 😊
MRSA is a problem. I had mine in Ortho Hospital. Infection rates minimal. Less likely exposure to other infections, i.e. Covid. The con according to my brother if you need any other emergency needs you would need have to transfered to hospital. Ask all "what ifs".
Our local hospital has one OR, with complete negative pressure and totally self-contained and its own post-surgical floor, to deal with patients who have a history of MRSA or other difficult to treat infections. In this way, they have kept post-op infection rates very low for other patients. I realize this is only an option for large medical systems. The ortho center where I have had a number of procedures will not accept anyone with a history of MRSA or c-diff to keep it out of their facilities.
Sue
It is the MRSA within existing in the hospital.
Ask. Always, always ask hospital staff to clean hands before touching you and things like IVs. Doctors and facilities HAVE to tell you their infection rate. Ask them about their accreditation from the Joint Commission.
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1 ReactionLookup hospitals or facilities infection rates https://hospitalinfection.org/resources/state-infection-laws/state-law-summary/
I had Right TKR 6 weeks ago . When I walk, I feel a click in the back of my knee and a “ plucking “ sensation as though the lateral tendon is rubbing over something which creates a painful stride.
I am 5 months out from my total knee. Can anyone squat all the way down without pain? Not sure this question makes sense. I can kind of kneel (with padding) but can’t squat low.
From what I've read and from my conversations with others who have had TKRs, no one can squat all the way down, period.
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1 ReactionClicking feelings are normal. It's hard to say whether yours are more than most.
Yes, I can squat all the way down and push back up, just feel pulling and tension in the knee, not pain. If I have to hold the position longer (weeding etc) It's more comfortable to squat with my butt uplifted a bit and not go all the way down. If you have a good degree of flexion in your knees, you should be able to do it. As anything, you need to keep working on exercises and strengthening your muscles that do the actual work. If you don't at least occasionally keep working them intensely after your PT is done, you could go backwards on flexibility, as the saying goes, if you don't use it, you lose it! In September I will be two years out TKR for my right, and one year out for my left knee. Though they will never feel like my own knees, I am happy with no pain, and near original flexibility. You have to keep working at it, just having the surgery and then sitting back and expecting muscles and ligaments to miraculously go back to the knees of your youth without putting in exercise time on your own, ain't gonna happen!
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