Both knees and hips have been replaced

Hi @iloveoliver thank you for sharing your determination after getting both knee joints and hip joints replaced.

I wanted to tag fellow Connect member @beatricefay as she has mentioned getting these four joints replaced as well.

Back to you @iloveoliver that's great that you have finished PT successfully. What exercises are you continuing to do in order to keep your joints healthy?

Over the course if PT , they’ve given me 6 pages of home exercises. But my extension was -10 so not so good. Doing heel slides and my leg out straight with my ankle on a bolster and 7 lbs on weight on my lower thigh. Heel raises and toe raises. Using a green band for lower leg exercises, abduction and adductor exercises. Clam shells and bridges. I do some exercises one day and the rest the next day. And up and down stairs.
I hope to not be using a cane at the end of May.

Glad to know I am not the only 4 major joint replacement person!!! I had my right hip replaced in 2017. My left worn out hip was replaced after a fracture in 2019 My walking 5-10 painless miles several days per week, mostly flat terrain, has been fantastic until 2 years ago, when knee pain intervened!! Bilateral knee arthroscopy (with unneeded meniscus debridement) 30 years ago, led to my left knee replacement in May, 2022, and right knee replacement is scheduled in January, 2023. Yikes!!
Fortunately I remain quite fit, lift weights 2days per week, still do some exercises for primarily my left knee, have pain now only in my right knee, when I walk 3-5 miles about 3 times per week!!
I am 74 years old, and want to encourage all of us to keep walking! It is the best most wonderful exercise to keep moving, reduce pain, keep fit, help control weight, keep social, and improve mood!
Happy to encourage others to do the same.

Does anyone know why we get OA in all 4 major joints?? It appears to be partially hereditary, partly activity related( walking very fast and with elevated treadmill 3 times per week for one hour for years), and maybe just bad luck!! Otherwise I eat well, take Calcium, have no underlying illnesses, am thin and fit, have no family history of joint replacements.
Thank you for any ideas.

Hello @ladybug4joints, Welcome to Connect. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to help with Osteoarthritis. I have degenerative arthritis and osteopenia which wasn't on my radar for taking any actions to improve my health until the past few years. The CDC has some info on the risks that might give you a partial answer as to the why.

"What are the risk factors for OA?
Joint injury or overuse—Injury or overuse, such as knee bending and repetitive stress on a joint, can damage a joint and increase the risk of OA in that joint.
Age—The risk of developing OA increases with age.
Gender—Women are more likely to develop OA than men, especially after age 50.
Obesity—Extra weight puts more stress on joints, particularly weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees. This stress increases the risk of OA in that joint. Obesity may also have metabolic effects that increase the risk of OA.
Genetics—People who have family members with OA are more likely to develop OA. People who have hand OA are more likely to develop knee OA.
Race— Some Asian populations have lower risk for OA."
-- Osteoarthritis (OA): https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm

Yes, I have 3 joint replacements, an ankle, knee, and this summer I got a new hip. I think I’ll need my other knee replaced maybe in a year. I don’t look forward to another surgery.
PT and exercising with a fitness trainer are helping me slowly build strength. It's difficult but I’m making progress. My problems started years ago after a bicycle accident as a young adult in which I fractured my leg which was then set poorly.
It helps to know about others who have multiple joint replacements!

I have had six joints replaced, five of them since 2019. Just had my second shoulder replaced two weeks ago today. I really hope that is that now.

Oh, yes, you are not alone! I had 2 hips replaced (with revisions..) 1 knee and 2 months ago 1 shoulder. Now my other knee needs also replacement and is scheduled for March.
It is all awful, but it works. And there is no choice.

Hi ladybug4joints, I had my right knee replaced two years ago and just feeling back to normal with it. My left knee is bad but because of the rough surgery with the right one, along with the recuperation, etc, I don’t think that I will put myself through the left knee surgery unless is it *absolutely necessary*!!! After the right knee surgery, my right hip began to bother me so I went back to the surgeon for X-rays to my hip. He told me that both hips were “shot” and had a lot of arthritis. I asked him if people have all four joints replaced and he said that they do. However, I now do hip exercises, along with knee exercises almost every day and I am noticing a little bit of improvement. I have always been “a walker” but have slacked off and I can feel the difference. Your post encouraged me to get back to walking, so thank you!!! Like you, I am thin and pretty fit and I have no family history of replacements. Wishing you complete healing and all the best with your knee replacement in January!

Wow you are a shaker and a mover….I also enjoy walking I find so peaceful does not feel like exercise…..I had revision little over four months ago on bad tkr not back to walking much distance yet …..but look forward to hopefully this spring …you all have done few replacements god Bess you …, god speed for your January recovery sounds like you have prepared