The first few months are rough.....I could not bend my knee hardly at all with the staples in and it pulled and hurt when I went to physical therapy. I used a walker for about 3 weeks and then graduated to a cane. Riding in the car was very uncomfortable as well for a while. I did however push myself and drove at 3 1/2 weeks. Be careful with the pain meds. I already have constipation issues and went 9 days with no bowel movement and did a bowel prep that my gastro called in for me. Thankful it worked within an hour and I was backed up to my distal colon (sp). I then used only Tylenol and muscle relaxers at night along with Gabapentin for nerve pain. It is a process and your physical therapist is your best friend and I believe in house therapy is the best. I did mine in late September however in March I started mowing my yard (43 minutes of nonstop walking), and am doing all I did prior to surgery except for getting up off the floor which is painful as I can't put much weight on my right knee. I recently went to Universal this past June and was walking 15-18,000 steps every day with my knee sleeve. Using a knee sleeve really helps me when I know I need to do lots of walking and was told as long as it didn't affect my range of motion it was ok. It's at 116. I suffered from lots of arthritis in my knee so I needed it and it was time. I"m being told that it can take for me longer than the year and hopefully the soreness and tightness will go away. You can do this just know it's a process. Make sure prior to surgery you have a walker, cane, higher toilet seat at home or get a raised toilet seat with handles on either side and a chair for the shower if you don't want to stand.

You are better not knowing you may quickly change your mind. I’m sorry I didn’t wait longer. I think unless people are in severe pain and can’t walk it’s better to wait and have conservative treatment

Well I'm a 68 y/o male - not overweight - used to run a lot but what did my knees in was osteoarthritis. In 2022 I had both knees replaced.

Suggest you find a pt or trainer and get your leg in shape BEFORE the surgery, to the extent possible. After surgery, do the rehab exercises immediately and thoroughly.

As for post op pain, well it's a big surgery so there will be a lot of swelling and pain. The surgeon may give you a nerve block pump to partially ease the pain, and oxy for a few days followed by Tylenol. Ice and elevation of course, and wear a compression stocking on your foot and calf for a few weeks. After a few days, your inner thigh may turn black and blue from the tourniquet used during surgery.

Bet then, each day gets better. Range of motion improves. Most unhappy TKR patients don't do the required rehab/rehab and get scar tissue. Don't let that happen to you.

I would definitely get a second opinion and based on my own experience sample of one see how they prepare you for the surgery . First time round , I have had both knees replaced one 6 years ago at 56 due to osteoarthritis, everyone stayed in overnight in case of blood clots and it allowed for PT to instruct you how to do exercises , equip you with walker etc. and to ensure you could navigate stairs in relation to the number in your home. Also ask how long the surgery takes? Second has been horrible . That being said even with the pain I still have in the right new knee I am more mobile than when it was bone on bone. For now I ice elevate massage swim and hope time will heal.