Very, very scared to have knee surgery and hip surgery

Dear friend,
If you are in unbearable pain in hip and/or knee and they are SURE it is an arthritic joint, then consider joint replacement. If pain is on your right side only correcting one joint may fix the other one also.
I understand your fear. It is very scary. After wits end with arthritic pain I had both knees replaced 6 months ago to the day.
Results? Well, no more arthritis pain and can certainly stand and walk for much longer than before. But the healing takes a loooong time. My knees are still very stiff, my balance is not great, and won’t be going on any hikes. I’ve been told now it takes a year. Was it worth it? The jury is out on that still. It’s a horrible operation and last resort imho. So, take joint replacement under serious consideration. It is not easy. It hurts a lot. Good luck you and blessings.

Hi Cindi - I have a LOoong track record of orthopedic surgeries, going back 25 years, and with six different orthopedic surgeons. I have also had somewhere near a dozen other surgeries by 7-8 docs.
Something my primary doc told me before my first ortho surgery (her husband was a surgeon) was not to expect "warm and fuzzy" from any surgeon - that "many, if not most, prefer their patients unconscious" - then she laughed, but I have found the statement is more true than not!
One of my surgeons actually left the room and let his PA explain the procedure, another simply handed me a written explanation. If I wasn't an assertive patient, no questions might have been answered.

Here is what I do now whenever seeing an unfamiliar doc:
Write down the reason for the visit
Write all my questions checklist style on a small pad, with room to write answers alongside.
Listen carefully to the doc's initial explanation without interrupting or writing anything (active listening)
Look at my list and see if there are still unanswered questions. If so, ask them and insist on answers.
After the visit, sit down in the waiting area & go over notes, see if I have any follow-up questions. If the doctor has an on-line communication portal, I send a message when I get home. If not I write them down & ask the front desk to give them to the doctor or his nurse for a follow-up call.

To answer your question about how many times I see a surgeon before an operation - usually once, when it is proposed and explained, unless it is something where we are trying to decide between surgery and more conservative treatment.

Having had bilateral hip surgeries twice, I would recommend that you give your body enough time between operations to recover - I had one set of hip surgeries 6 weeks apart (TOO close!) and one set about 4 months (worked for me.) And be ready to work at your recovery - the more you follow the multiple times daily stretching & strengthening protocols, along with ice, intermittent rest, etc, the better you will do.

If a half dozen doctors have given you the same answer about needing surgeries, it is time to choose one and get started. This will give you, and not your pain, control of your life.

If you still feel paralyzed by your fears, maybe you need to talk to a counselor or therapist to get to "Go" ?
Sue

I had my left knee replacement 7 years ago. It is still swollen and painful. Had a second opinion and was told that 20% of knee replacements do not take and I am one of those.. I am in late stage 4 of CKD so I believe that no surgeon would operate on my knee now. All I can say, do your exercises before and after and you will be fine also check out your surgeon. Make sure you are comfortable with him/her,

Hi Cindi - I have a LOoong track record of orthopedic surgeries, going back 25 years, and with six different orthopedic surgeons. I have also had somewhere near a dozen other surgeries by 7-8 docs.
Something my primary doc told me before my first ortho surgery (her husband was a surgeon) was not to expect "warm and fuzzy" from any surgeon - that "many, if not most, prefer their patients unconscious" - then she laughed, but I have found the statement is more true than not!
One of my surgeons actually left the room and let his PA explain the procedure, another simply handed me a written explanation. If I wasn't an assertive patient, no questions might have been answered.

Here is what I do now whenever seeing an unfamiliar doc:
Write down the reason for the visit
Write all my questions checklist style on a small pad, with room to write answers alongside.
Listen carefully to the doc's initial explanation without interrupting or writing anything (active listening)
Look at my list and see if there are still unanswered questions. If so, ask them and insist on answers.
After the visit, sit down in the waiting area & go over notes, see if I have any follow-up questions. If the doctor has an on-line communication portal, I send a message when I get home. If not I write them down & ask the front desk to give them to the doctor or his nurse for a follow-up call.

To answer your question about how many times I see a surgeon before an operation - usually once, when it is proposed and explained, unless it is something where we are trying to decide between surgery and more conservative treatment.

Having had bilateral hip surgeries twice, I would recommend that you give your body enough time between operations to recover - I had one set of hip surgeries 6 weeks apart (TOO close!) and one set about 4 months (worked for me.) And be ready to work at your recovery - the more you follow the multiple times daily stretching & strengthening protocols, along with ice, intermittent rest, etc, the better you will do.

If a half dozen doctors have given you the same answer about needing surgeries, it is time to choose one and get started. This will give you, and not your pain, control of your life.

If you still feel paralyzed by your fears, maybe you need to talk to a counselor or therapist to get to "Go" ?
Sue

I had a TKR in December . I had a fractured knee cap 41 years ago . I was 19 and suffered . They said they couldn’t do anything . My surgeon now is awesome . I’m a slow healer and had to go to therapy for almost 4 months but now I’m doing better than I can ever remember doing. I won’t lie. The first 3 weeks were bad pain wise. Physical therapy was hard but I did my exercises everyday and I still am . As scary as it was and I was terrified, I’m getting my other one done close to the end of the year . I can’t do it now because of insurance won’t cover more therapy yet. I couldn’t do anything before, I dragged my leg kind of when walking , couldn’t clean , nothing . Now I can do most things in moderation. My knee bend was slow but I stayed persistent and it is a mind set . Do it …. Get your life back. It will take time to heal but it’s worth it. My left knee and leg are pain free. First time in 41 years . The key is to move and do therapy exercises to build your muscles .

I had my left knee replacement 7 years ago. It is still swollen and painful. Had a second opinion and was told that 20% of knee replacements do not take and I am one of those.. I am in late stage 4 of CKD so I believe that no surgeon would operate on my knee now. All I can say, do your exercises before and after and you will be fine also check out your surgeon. Make sure you are comfortable with him/her,

Hi, I know it's been a while but I want to answer. I am scheduled (finally!) for hip surgery tomorrow. Yayy! The surgeon has a stellar reputation, came into the room and spoke to me no longer than 10 minutes, the only question I had was about my blood pressure being too high (for which another surgeon refused to take me until it came down). This surgeon said don't worry, anesthesia will take it down anyway! I'm getting hip numbing anesthesia, he told me anyway I wouldn't remember a thing. I''m not too happy about that -- but at this point point I want to get it over with and hope it 'works,' since I am unable to function with all the pain.
Take care.

You go girl. You won’t be sorry. I’ve had right hip and left knee in the last year. Getting left knee in November. SOOOOO worth it!!! The surgical pain is nothing compared to the pain we live with every day. You will be so happy. I won’t kid you - especially with knee - first week is hard. But they give you lots of good drugs to get through it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Actually, I AM DOING IT AGAIN - IN 2 MONTHS! Hahaha. Good luck!

For the people who posted here about uncommunicative surgeons - find someone else. These people can be great at what they do but they are not gods. You deserve to be informed and treated well.

As for anyone considering a TKR, get in shape before the surgery and follow PT instructions post-op to the letter.