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Truth about Total Knee Replacements

Posted by rickraleigh @rickraleigh, Jul 31, 2021

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

markstang23 | @markstang23 | Aug 9, 2021
In reply to @ddsack "I've been lucky to have successful TKR's on both knees, and while I agree with a..." + (show)
@ddsack

I've been lucky to have successful TKR's on both knees, and while I agree with a lot of the comments in the first post, I will say that my scars after 2 yr and almost 1 yr separate surgeries are negligible, just a thin pale hairline down the center of the knee. I won't scare anyone if I wear shorts!

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I have a very nice scar as well...and 63* flexion! Hindsight is 20/20, but knowing what I know now, would have prevented me getting tkr. I am only 12 weeks out but I have gone backwards from day one and do not recommend this surgery to anyone. Had both hips done 17/13 years ago with zero glitches. Getting old is NOT for sissies!

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njpahl | @njpahl | Aug 10, 2021
In reply to @ddsack "Yes, I can squat all the way down and push back up, just feel pulling and..." + (show)
@ddsack

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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Thank you for your response. I walk, stretch, Pilates and cycle most days so I am trying very hard. Yes, that is what I feel, the tension. No pain, just tension. Thanks again!

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coffeecraz | @coffeecraz | Aug 10, 2021
In reply to @njpahl "I am 5 months out from my total knee. Can anyone squat all the way down..." + (show)
@njpahl

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.

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I'm 2 years out, L-TKA, after a lot of work I can squat all the way down, do quad stretches (heel to butt), kneel without padding, I'm on the younger side and more active.

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win sturgeon | @cobweb | Aug 10, 2021

seven years out and tkr is still swollen. Dr told me yesterday the surgeon put in a device that was to large. No wonder one leg is larger than the other. It was a big mistake. I used PRP on the other knee along with a knee brace that allows me to be flexible and play golf, bike and garden. Regenitive meds saved me from another terrible operation.

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1 reply
win sturgeon | @cobweb | Aug 10, 2021
In reply to @cobweb "seven years out and tkr is still swollen. Dr told me yesterday the surgeon put in..." + (show)
@cobweb

seven years out and tkr is still swollen. Dr told me yesterday the surgeon put in a device that was to large. No wonder one leg is larger than the other. It was a big mistake. I used PRP on the other knee along with a knee brace that allows me to be flexible and play golf, bike and garden. Regenitive meds saved me from another terrible operation.

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I was asked by one person the cost of stem cells and location . I will say that its the wild west out there and many drs are offering stem cells from baby tissue etc. That is a waste of money. If you have it done use your own cells. The cost was $7000 in those days. I do feel that PRP has worked the best along with the rebound cartilage brace. I do not go anywhere with out my brace. Works great. The PRP i have done once every year or every two years and the cost is around $1000. In my way of thinking, it is worth it not to go through the operation and the recovery. To each his own. My Dr is in NW OHio , Dr Kruse. He works with regennex who is out of Colorado. I did have the PRP done on my back for an L4 and L5 and i have had 0 pain since , and that has been over 5 years. No pain, no operation. Must be something to having the body heal the body. For PRP you take off a few days up to 2 weeks. I know people say to me no insurance covers it. WE are seeing in our area insurance covering the procedure. I say i would rather spend the money than the option of surgery.

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lk3xs | @lk3xs | Aug 10, 2021

My orthopedic surgeon didn't want me doing squads in PT. He said that's what got my knees there in the first place. Yes both knees replaced '18 & '19 can do but I listen to my dr and do other exercises.

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JK | @contentandwell | Aug 11, 2021
In reply to @njpahl "I am 5 months out from my total knee. Can anyone squat all the way down..." + (show)
@njpahl

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.

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@njpahl I can do a fairly decent squat but if I try to kneel I can't bend enough to be stable, I have to hold onto something.

There is no way in the world that I can do "quad stretches (heel to butt)" as @coffeecraz can. I am fairly active, exercise daily, but that is beyond me. I am 4 years out from my second TKR so it's not going to happen. My orthopedic doctor told me he could get me a little bit more flex with a lysis procedure but I just don't want the bother of another surgery, even though it is minor. I believe it would require rehab.
JK

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1 reply
njpahl | @njpahl | Aug 11, 2021
In reply to @contentandwell "@njpahl I can do a fairly decent squat but if I try to kneel I can't..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@njpahl I can do a fairly decent squat but if I try to kneel I can't bend enough to be stable, I have to hold onto something.

There is no way in the world that I can do "quad stretches (heel to butt)" as @coffeecraz can. I am fairly active, exercise daily, but that is beyond me. I am 4 years out from my second TKR so it's not going to happen. My orthopedic doctor told me he could get me a little bit more flex with a lysis procedure but I just don't want the bother of another surgery, even though it is minor. I believe it would require rehab.
JK

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Thank you for taking the time to comment. I agree and will not have additional anything! I am just going to keep up with my stretches and we will see what happens.

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1 reply
rickraleigh | @rickraleigh | Aug 12, 2021
In reply to @njpahl "Thank you for taking the time to comment. I agree and will not have additional anything!..." + (show)
@njpahl

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I agree and will not have additional anything! I am just going to keep up with my stretches and we will see what happens.

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I'm 11 months into a TKR and I still to range of motion stretches. I do one (leg extension) daily now, and I do a bend the knee stretch a couple of times a week. I do this one only a couple of times a week because I have great range of motion bending my knee and I just want to keep that up.

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2 replies
JK | @contentandwell | Aug 12, 2021
In reply to @rickraleigh "I'm 11 months into a TKR and I still to range of motion stretches. I do..." + (show)
@rickraleigh

I'm 11 months into a TKR and I still to range of motion stretches. I do one (leg extension) daily now, and I do a bend the knee stretch a couple of times a week. I do this one only a couple of times a week because I have great range of motion bending my knee and I just want to keep that up.

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@rickraleigh I actually think that I probably did not do enough PT at home after my TKRs. I think if I had kept at it more I might be better off now, but you get to the point where it's too late for that.

What is your flex? Mine hovers around 120+ or - in both knees.
JK

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