Total Knee Replacement: Nervous about the surgery

Hello, reneebridges (@reneebridges)

I had a TKR ten or twelve years ago (so long ago, I forget 🙂 ). Although I posted earlier about some post-op difficulties I had, those had all to do with the anesthesia I'd been given and nothing to do with the TKR surgery itself. I am 100% satisfied with my TKR. I, too, had been bone-on-bone, so I know the misery you're going through. After only a few weeks of at-home rehab, I was back to living a full – and pain-free! – life. I've every reason you will, too!

Best wishes,
Ray (@ray666)

@reneebridges Welcome to Mayo Connect - you will find plenty of people here to encourage you on your journey back to full strength.

I had bilateral hip replacements in my early 50's, also due to severe osteoarthritis - I could no longer walk up stairs normally, or get onto my ladies' bicycle, so with the pain it was time to do something. I will not lie, rehab is at least 2/3 of the job after surgery - getting all those muscles strong again, and learning to walk without limping. But as long as you are willing to do the work, I'm sure you will love you newfound mobility and lack of daily, grinding pain.
Good luck!
Sue

Congrats on scheduling your TKR! Soon you will be feeling so much better. And within days of surgery, up (albeit slowly) and moving.

I was in your situation last fall. Two knees, advanced osteoarthritis, bone on bone with spurs. I had both knees done 5 weeks apart and I live alone. For me, PT was essential in getting me up and moving, icing, elevating. Plus keeping in contact with my nurse navigator, paved the way for a successful outcome.

I am now a year out and feel wonderful. Occasionally one knee is stiff but never in pain. The technology, rehab and following a good schedule for movement really helped me.

May you be blessed with a great outcome.

From my TKR experience, it is important to arrive at the day of your surgery with your legs – especially your quadriceps – in as good shape as possible. This may not be easy, particularly if you’ve excruciating pain prior to surgery. I was the beneficiary of a federal study (offered by my ortho-surgeon) charting the pre- and post-op health of the leg muscles, chiefly the quadriceps. The sessions I attended in the weeks leading up to surgery involved some heavy-duty workouts, resulting in my right leg (my operated leg) being pretty strong on the morning of my TKR. Post-op, I returned to these workouts (after sufficient at-home rehab) to measure the effect the TKR had on my leg strength. I recall being told by one of the technicians running the study that experience had shown that a patient’s quadricep – one of the body’s strongest muscles – is the muscle that is most often negatively affected by TKR and that one way to assist in achieving a speedy and full recovery from TKR is to have your quadricep in the best possible shape prior to surgery. My TKR was more than ten years ago. If this is still spoken of in ortho-circles, I don’t know.

Thank you for this. I am still apprehensive. Hearing about your success helps!

Thanks so much. Everything I’ve read talks about pre-hab, the benefit of strengthening your knee muscles in advance of tkr.
I have looked online for recommendations. But when I asked my surgeon’s pre-op team, I was told they would provide exercise info 2-3 weeks in advance of surgery.
I have a stationery bike and an elliptical machine.
We’re in a rural area, far from any gym. But happy to get what I need for home workouts.
Could you share what you did?
I have 3 mos before the surgery?

Hi @persia, Just thought I would share my experience on pre-surgery exercises for knee replacement. My Mayo surgeon suggested I do these exercises six weeks prior to my surgery and continue them as part of my rehab after the knee replacement. I believe they really helped with my recovery.

--- Before surgery knee exercises: https://www.allinahealth.org/health-conditions-and-treatments/health-library/patient-education/total-knee-replacement/preparing-for-surgery/before-surgery-knee-exercises

Hi, @persia. I'm glad @johnbishop could link you to some specific pre-op exercises. My memory of my pre-op experience is foggy. Remember, mine was a federal research program. Although the program was situated on the Anschutz Medical Campus in East Denver, the facility itself was on an upper floor of a highrise office-like building; the room was a low-ceilinged gymnasium of sorts, filled with assorted exercise "machines," all patched to computers. I would climb onto – or into – or lie down on top of – one of the machines and push, pull, lift, or pedal while the computers scored my strength and flexibility. After my TKR, I had a series of post-op sessions in the same room. I found the whole experience fascinating. –Ray (@ray666)

Thanks! Will check it out asap!

Hi Persia, I had knee replacement about 14 months ago. My knee had bone on bone and I was slowly giving up all the physical activities I enjoyed. I was still lifting weights, doing pilates and riding a stationary bike. I had given up running, Pickleball, rowing. When I had difficulty just going for walks I scheduled the appointment. I was 64 at that time and now I am back to everything but running every day of the week. Try to get the leg as strong as possible before hand and know it takes time to get everything back. I could play pickleball at 4 months but it really was a bit longer before I was running all over the courts and never thinking about my knee. Best of luck to you