Total Knee Replacement: Nervous about the surgery

@lawman - I'm quoting you :
"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. "
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Then how would you explain the vast number of people who continue on to get a 2nd knee replaced a few years after their first one? Who would be dumb enough to do a second knee if they were not satisfied with the first? In my family alone, I, my sister and her husband all have had both knees replaced, ranging from a time gap of a year to about 5 years between individual surgeries. All three of us had successful outcomes, are free from grinding pain, and are way better off after the surgeries than we were before. Can you get back the knees of your youth? Of course not, metal can't feel as good as original healthy bone, but with some limitations for extreme impact sports, and extra cushioning for kneeling activities there is very little you can't do after healing from a TKR providing you are serious in working with a registered physical therapist and keeping up with assigned exercises to regain full range of motion.

Unfortunately, whether through surgical error or a person's muscular individual oddities, or random bad luck, not all surgeries will be 100% successful. It's understandable to have a sour outlook on TKR's if you are one of those still in pain. But maybe following the money means that there are a lot of people who are paying to have another surgery on a second or third site on their body because they have had good results before.

I'm much better than when I was bone on bone. How do I know? There is no more pain.

Peddle your conspiracy theories somewhere else.

What is a "vast number of people who continue on to get a 2nd knee replaced" - and by this I take it you mean they get the same knee replaced twice?

You seem to be stuck in a conspiracy theory about joint replacements. I don't doubt that the medical industry has its fair share of fraud and unnecessary surgeries. I see no proof from you that this is true for TKRs, beyond wild conjecture. Again, elaborate with some facts on the "vast number" and maybe I could see you as more than a troll.

For all people considering a TKR and are coming here for information, talk to people you know who have had a TKR done. A lot of people come here to complain and it skews reality.

@heyjoe415
Oh my, it seems you got part of my reply post mixed up with lawman's. I should have been more clear in my choice of words - my "vast number of people who continue on to get a 2nd knee replaced" is referring to people who choose to for example, opt in for a left knee TKR after having the right one replaced with success. My point was that if TKR's were as horrible as lawman says, no one would agree to have their other leg done.

My husband and I both had both knees replaced while we were in our 70's. Prior to those surgeries, we experienced quite a bit of pain, and my gait and appearance of my legs had been badly impacted. For each of us, one knee was more troublesome than the other, and we had it done first. We had great physical therapists who guided us through a helpful rehab regimen. We had heard from several sources that without conscientious physical therapy one might as well not have the surgery. With the great success of the first, we chose to schedule the other one about 4 months after the first. The difference in how we feel is fantastic. Those surgeries were about 10 years ago, and we continue to be pain free. We don't play tennis anymore due to other issues, but we never get tired walking on hikes or taking care of things around the house.

My apologies. We agree and I misunderstood your message and did not read far enough, because you made your point. I had my first TKR in March 2022, recovered in two months and had the second knee replaced in July 2022. Best decisions I've ever made about my health.

And yes, I did confuse you with lawman.

And lawman is just plain wrong. On that I think we agree.

"We had heard from several sources that without conscientious physical therapy one might as well not have the surgery."

Very true and I am very happy for you and your husband. Some people think everything is over when they wake up from surgery. Wrong. Successful TKR involves a relatively short (one to two months) period of rather intense PT. It's not that painful and gets better each day.

I had my left knee replaced last year and my right knee replaced on Nov 13, 24.
Do worry, it will take 6-12 months for a full recovery. I was swimming and bike riding within 6 months with my first.

Tips:
Get an ice machine- my ins paid for it.

Take your time on recovering- don’t rush

Take meds as prescribed.

Elevate and rest your knee.

I’m 52 and am doing great 2 weeks post op.

I had my left knee replaced last year and my right knee replaced on Nov 13, 24.
Do worry, it will take 6-12 months for a full recovery. I was swimming and bike riding within 6 months with my first.

Tips:
Get an ice machine- my ins paid for it.

Take your time on recovering- don’t rush

Take meds as prescribed.

Elevate and rest your knee.

PT , do a little each day and go to your appointments.

I’m 52 and am doing great 2 weeks post op.

Great Jon and great advice. I would add exercising to strengthen the muscles around the knee (as much as is posable) before surgery, and of course after and follow the PT instructions and do the PT exercises 3/day.