Has anyone had TKR at age 86?

Hi, I had my TKR done last year when I was 83 years old. The operation went well however the physical therapy was very difficult for me because my muscles had really atrophied over the years, so it was tough doing physical therapy. It's the thigh muscles you have to build up and at our ages it takes longer for them to heal and strengthen. It's exactly a year since my TKR and I'm still having issues with fluid buildup in the knee. Went to see my surgeon and he took an x-ray and said everything looks fine. I told him that the fluid in the knee made my knee feel tight. He basically shrugged his shoulders and sent me home. I wasn't very happy with him because he could have said well your knee looks good but let's try to find out what's causing the fluid buildup after a year, but he didn't. I'm going to be getting a second opinion as soon as I can find another qualified surgeon. I hope you have better luck with yours. The only good thing is that the sharp pains I was getting in my kneecap are gone. Still experiencing a lot of stiffness in the knee which might be caused by the excess fluid I can't be sure.

@bussysconsultant
I appreciate your response to my question. I will get busy and get my thigh muscles shaped up. Have been working out at the club. I am sure the fluid you have in your knee is causing the stiffness. I would recommend you see an ortho doctor at Twin City Orothopedic in Edina MN. I do not know your location so that may be too far a distance to drive, but there is always the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN where I am sure they could take care of the fluid. Both places have excellent reputations for patient care. Good luck to both of us.

I am 81 and was 80 when I had a right TKR. I was severely misaligned before surgery so I could barely walk without severe pain. I had complete faith in my surgeon (more on that later) but I feared general anesthesia. My surgeon's general approach is regional anesthesia and I made sure with the anesthetist that I was having that.

Shortly before my surgery I met with my surgeon. I told him that I would like to be able to resume playing golf by the end of the fourth week. He replied that was an aggressive target but he was up to the challenge if I was. I was. He was. on the 27th day after the surgery I was playing golf.

My surgeon did a minimally invasive procedure (mid vastus); did not use a tourniquet; used a robot to assist him (CORI); put in a bicruciate retaining implant (BCR); corrected my severe valgus misalignment with a Functional alignment; and did a plastic surgery close.

I was prepared for pain and had filled the oxycodone RX. But I had zero pain and the oxy bottle remains unopened. My surgeon's recovery protocol was to essentially rest the first two weeks while constantly icing with a quality ice machine (e.g., NICE or Game Ready) and then commence physical therapy in the third week. That week my therapist measured my ROM as 122 and my extension as flat.

At six months I was basically not noticing that my right knee was made of oxidized zirconium while my left knee was made of bone. At my six month checkup, my surgeon told me I had no limitations.

I ascribe credit as follows: 5% for me for finding the surgeon (he replaced my left hip five years ago and I had no pain then either); 90% for the incredible skill and experience of my surgeon; and 5% for luck (good in my case). I believe that the key factor is finding that great surgeon, even at our advanced ages.

I had TKR at 86. I asked for light anaesthesia which was enough. I had night pain for many months. Then my dr. prescribed pregabolin to calm down the nerves. After some months I got off that. Now at a little over a year my knee is normal with no limitations. It is important to do the exercises. Some folks have quicker recovery. Best wishes.