Total Knee Replacement

My TKR was a year and a half ago. No complaints, outcome was very successful. But I would be slow to do TKR on my other knee since learning about Platlet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections. My husband has trouble with his left knee and had the PRP shot. He's had a very good outcome. However, I am told it is not as successful for people with bone-on-bone arthritis. There needs to be some cartilage left in the knee for the PRP to regenerate. Also, I recommend going to a clinic that does nothing bit PRP. If I ever have problems with my left knee, I plan to try it.

In a chair height under 22 inches I can’t get up

All of my very best wishes to all of you as you recover from knee replacement. I have posted here quite a while ago, but want to encourage you to keep up with in home and outside physical therapy. Unfortunately, for me, I could not take the pain medication that was prescribed. My doctor at the New England Baptist Hospital tried four different medications and I had an allergic reaction to all of them. I was “stuck” only taking Tylenol Extra Strength and my recovery was horrible, painful, and very long. This was three years ago. My TKR is just “okay”…….still can’t kneel down on it or do all of the exercises that I used to do. My other knee (the left one) is not good, but I go to my surgeon every three or four months and get a cortisone shot. It helps! I will never go through another knee replacement again…..I will just “live with it” the way that it is now. Like “heyjoe415 “ recommends, before you have the surgery, get in shape, strenthing your quads. I have to say that I did that, but after the surgery, I was told that those muscles were weak………even after all of the leg strengthening exercises that I did ahead of time!!! However, strengthening those muscles before surgery does help many people and that is very good advice! Waiting for stem cells to be the answer for knees and hips!!!! Best wishes to all who have to have TKR!

In a chair height under 22 inches I can’t get up

My TKR was a year and a half ago. No complaints, outcome was very successful. But I would be slow to do TKR on my other knee since learning about Platlet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections. My husband has trouble with his left knee and had the PRP shot. He's had a very good outcome. However, I am told it is not as successful for people with bone-on-bone arthritis. There needs to be some cartilage left in the knee for the PRP to regenerate. Also, I recommend going to a clinic that does nothing bit PRP. If I ever have problems with my left knee, I plan to try it.

Got it, thanks Terry. I've never measured but don't have a problem standing from a sitting position. I do exercises at the gym where I hold a weight and stand from a seated position on a bench. The bench is probably 24" high, not sure.

Sounds like a quad-strength issue to me. There are a lot of exercises you can do. A simple exercise is to clasp your hands in front of you, bend at the knees - try to get your thighs parallel to the ground, no further, and then stand up, rinse and repeat.

I hope that helps. You have plenty of flexion. May just need to strengthen your quads. It's gonna take time and maybe won't work, but you'll get stronger quads either way.

Best of luck to you. At your degree of flexion, you've done a good job with therapy. Joe

Thank you for your honest post. I had LTKR in September 2023 .. today was told my knee cap is not centered but left …still having pain .. believe me I will never do this ever again. My visit with the surgeon was not productive today. But I know someone will provide helpful guidance.

Hello there and I hope your pain is being well managed - mine was brutal for the first two weeks. My flexion is now 150+ and my pain is FINALLY gone. I am 3 ½ months post surgery.
The burning is VERY normal - your nerves are starting to reconnect and that is a good sign. It does go away.

All the best to you - keep us updated. Happy and healthy 2024!

Hello Knee Replacement Patients!
I am a new member of this group and what I've been reading has been so comforting. I had left knee replacement in early October of 2023 and my recovery has been so very difficult. While my flexion is nearly 130 and my extension is -1, the swelling, stiffness, tightness (feels like my knee is in a vice) general pain has been present daily and I am exercising till the cows come home. My surgeon has told me that all these symptoms can last up to 6 months and my PT's tell me 12 months - UGH. I'm still in PT 2X per week, scheduled until early February. My husband has been amazing helping me through this experience, but this is tough. Any suggestions this group may have to "speed" this healing process up would be so helpful. Also, my surgeon has just put me on gabapentin, but I don't think it's really helping.
Happy New Year!

Frustrated in Chicago...