1. < Joint Replacements

Total Knee Replacement: Nervous about the surgery

Posted by reneebridges @reneebridges, Oct 19, 2023

I'm having a right, total knee replacement on November 17th at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. I've been waiting since May, and can hardly get around. It's stage 4 osteoarthritis, bone on bone, with bone spurs.

I am only 39. I'm still nervous about surgery, and recovering from knee surgery afterwards.
But, I can't take living with this knee pain, and loss of mobility right now.

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

lawman | @lawman | Nov 13, 2023
In reply to @hvannort "I am encouraged by these posts.I will be having TKR at Mayo on November 15. I..." + (show)
@hvannort

I am encouraged by these posts.I will be having TKR at Mayo on November 15. I am very anxious. I hate my current lack of mobility. It seems the only way to continue my lifestyle is to get this fixed. I am 75. Please keep the positive posts coming. They help. It is a difficult surgery to face.

Jump to this post

At 75 I wouldn’t do it. You can get hylauronic acid non steroid shots every 6 months, it should help. Loose as much weight as your body lets you. Every 1 lb of weight is equal to 4 lbs on your knee. What these surgeons and hospitals don’t tell you…. You are never the same and will always have swelling and sone degree of pain

REPLY
1 reply
hvannort | @hvannort | Nov 13, 2023

Thanks for the reply and your input. I have done PT, hyaluronic acid injections and a knee ablation procedure. Nothing helps. Apparently there is nothing left to work with! It is bone on bone. I still work 40 hours a week. I travel to remote places. We sail our boat long distances. I am not ready to hang it up at 75. I know the knee will never be the same but hopefully I can be in less pain than I am now and climb stairs with both feet! It is a risk worth taking to me. I realize everyone is different.

REPLY
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Nov 14, 2023
In reply to @rainerhans "After my shoulder replacements I started PT the next day, starting with swings up to working..." + (show)
@rainerhans

After my shoulder replacements I started PT the next day, starting with swings up to working with elastic bands….for roughly 2 months, very quick on doing my daily stuff again, icing, icing and icing, pain medicine first every 4 hours, then 6 , then off..later only if needful.
If I couldn’t do the exercises, my therapist massaged my shoulder with vitamin E oil, and I continued again with exercises.
Now with my upcoming TKR I have to do exercises in front already, get prepared for it…

Jump to this post

Thanks rainer. I had both knees replaced in 2022. I'm a 69 y/o male. Best thing I've ever done for my health. Like you, I did PT for bout 8 months pre op, then aggressively hit the post op PT. My knees feel great.

I am gonna need a TSR at some point, I think. Right now it's manageable with careful exercise and an occasional cortisone shot. I work with a skilled trainer and we simply avoid or alter exercises to avoid putting undue stress on the shoulder.

It's a little weird in that I don't have a lot of pain, but when I do side planks or pull ups at higher waits (less support from the machine) I feel the bones in my shoulder sliding against each other. No pain, just feels weird and it makes the joint weaker. Same thing happened before my TKRs.

Anyway thanks for the encouraging news about TSR. And ice is always your body's friend!

REPLY
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Nov 14, 2023
In reply to @lawman "At 75 I wouldn’t do it. You can get hylauronic acid non steroid shots every 6..." + (show)
@lawman

At 75 I wouldn’t do it. You can get hylauronic acid non steroid shots every 6 months, it should help. Loose as much weight as your body lets you. Every 1 lb of weight is equal to 4 lbs on your knee. What these surgeons and hospitals don’t tell you…. You are never the same and will always have swelling and sone degree of pain

Jump to this post

"What these surgeons and hospitals don’t tell you…. You are never the same and will always have swelling and sone degree of pain"

This is simply not true. Every patient and every knee is different of course. I have found that if PT is done pre surgery, and aggressively post surgery, the results of a TKR can be life changing.

I was bone on bone in both knees with swelling and pain. Post TKR, I have no swelling and no pain. I'm in the gym 6 or 7 days a week and do rowing and spinning for cardio. The only exercises I can't do are impact-related - so no running, BB, tennis, pickle ball - and they are not missed. I'm a 69 y/o male. I do agree that losing weight if necessary is a huge benefit. And smokers should stop, but that's no revelation.

I take it you have had a bad experience and if that's true I am sorry for you. But please don't post absolutes about the results of knee or any other joint replacement. Done properly, they change lives for the better.

REPLY
3 replies
lawman | @lawman | Nov 14, 2023
In reply to @heyjoe415 ""What these surgeons and hospitals don’t tell you…. You are never the same and will always..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

"What these surgeons and hospitals don’t tell you…. You are never the same and will always have swelling and sone degree of pain"

This is simply not true. Every patient and every knee is different of course. I have found that if PT is done pre surgery, and aggressively post surgery, the results of a TKR can be life changing.

I was bone on bone in both knees with swelling and pain. Post TKR, I have no swelling and no pain. I'm in the gym 6 or 7 days a week and do rowing and spinning for cardio. The only exercises I can't do are impact-related - so no running, BB, tennis, pickle ball - and they are not missed. I'm a 69 y/o male. I do agree that losing weight if necessary is a huge benefit. And smokers should stop, but that's no revelation.

I take it you have had a bad experience and if that's true I am sorry for you. But please don't post absolutes about the results of knee or any other joint replacement. Done properly, they change lives for the better.

Jump to this post

So you can honesty say, I’m as good as I was before you had none on bone? That’s a plain lie. Here’s a tidbit…. Number one most profitable surgery is TKR! In the tune of 55 billion a year! Always follow the money.

REPLY
1 reply
rainerhans | @rainerhans | Nov 15, 2023
In reply to @heyjoe415 ""What these surgeons and hospitals don’t tell you…. You are never the same and will always..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

"What these surgeons and hospitals don’t tell you…. You are never the same and will always have swelling and sone degree of pain"

This is simply not true. Every patient and every knee is different of course. I have found that if PT is done pre surgery, and aggressively post surgery, the results of a TKR can be life changing.

I was bone on bone in both knees with swelling and pain. Post TKR, I have no swelling and no pain. I'm in the gym 6 or 7 days a week and do rowing and spinning for cardio. The only exercises I can't do are impact-related - so no running, BB, tennis, pickle ball - and they are not missed. I'm a 69 y/o male. I do agree that losing weight if necessary is a huge benefit. And smokers should stop, but that's no revelation.

I take it you have had a bad experience and if that's true I am sorry for you. But please don't post absolutes about the results of knee or any other joint replacement. Done properly, they change lives for the better.

Jump to this post

I totally agree,
My both shoulder replacements were life changing for me.

REPLY
hvannort | @hvannort | Nov 15, 2023

I had TKR at Mayo Jacksonville 11/15/23 ( today). I am 72. I am now at home (I did 2 flights of stairs to get to my front door) resting comfortably and doing my exercises. I am optimistic that it will go smoothly all the way through rehab. You are in good hands at Mayo. They are amazing! Sending best wishes for your 11/17 surgery.

REPLY
reneebridges | @reneebridges | Nov 15, 2023

That is awesome!! I hope you continue to do well. Thanks 😊

REPLY
reneebridges | @reneebridges | Nov 15, 2023
In reply to @heyjoe415 ""What these surgeons and hospitals don’t tell you…. You are never the same and will always..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

"What these surgeons and hospitals don’t tell you…. You are never the same and will always have swelling and sone degree of pain"

This is simply not true. Every patient and every knee is different of course. I have found that if PT is done pre surgery, and aggressively post surgery, the results of a TKR can be life changing.

I was bone on bone in both knees with swelling and pain. Post TKR, I have no swelling and no pain. I'm in the gym 6 or 7 days a week and do rowing and spinning for cardio. The only exercises I can't do are impact-related - so no running, BB, tennis, pickle ball - and they are not missed. I'm a 69 y/o male. I do agree that losing weight if necessary is a huge benefit. And smokers should stop, but that's no revelation.

I take it you have had a bad experience and if that's true I am sorry for you. But please don't post absolutes about the results of knee or any other joint replacement. Done properly, they change lives for the better.

Jump to this post

I'm glad you had great success,and I hope you continue to do well.

REPLY
reneebridges | @reneebridges | Nov 15, 2023
In reply to @snoony2 "Just be ahead of the pain and do your exercises at home. The first week is..." + (show)
@snoony2

Just be ahead of the pain and do your exercises at home. The first week is a little difficult but in time you’ll be happy you did it

Jump to this post

Thank you for the advice.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.