I’m scheduled for knee replacement but read so many negatives ?

In reply to andoman:
I had one TKR and swore I would never do it again. Two years later that knee is reliable and pain free while other joints suffer more and more from arthritis. Arthritis is a progressive disease and there is no cure, no matter what you hear or read. That's the bottom line for dealing with the decision about having knee surgery. The bad leg will only get worse, and so will the other joints. It's your choice how to plan ahead. Another bottom line is one my physical therapist repeatedly told me: "It's all connected." It's an obvious statement, but there are real implications for patients in it. If you are a senior, have not been physically active throughout your life, or have other diseased joints or chronic illnesses, you are in for a really rough road through TKR. I was like that and my experience was horrible. In hindsight I understand that there were critically important things to know and do ahead of time, and they would have improved the experience by 200%. So here's a preparation list based on my own experience and doing lots of reading since then. I hope it will help you:
LOSE THE WEIGHT. Weight is half of your pain. It's making your diseased joint worse every time you stand on that bum leg. My doctor told me every extra pound puts about 7 pounds of stress on that knee. Lose the weight first and maybe you can put off the surgery. If you can't, read the rest of the list.
READ ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY. It's technical, but it's your future, so you need to know before you choose a surgeon. You get one shot at a new joint and you want it to go well. The worst patient experiences seem to come from problems in surgery and the fixes are rarely successful. Once you know about your choices, make a list of questions about them for the surgeon. Any surgeon who can't or won't answer those questions is a surgeon you should avoid!
FIND THE BEST SURGEON FOR YOU. Do NOT just accept someone else's referral. You can find out about surgeons on line. Experience is the single biggest qualifier. TKR is tricky. They really need to be on top of their game. If you can find one with great patient reviews through patient portals or the hospital website, that's helpful. If the surgeon is distinguished among his/her peers by doing research or inventing a surgical technique, that's a point in their favor. Decide how far you could travel to get surgery from a great surgeon. It could improve your recovery 1000%.
FIND A QUALIFIED PHYSICAL THERAPIST. Look for one with a Ph. D. In physical therapy or one with special certification for knee replacement recovery. You will spend far more time with the therapist than anybody else after surgery. I got one that injured me and set my recovery back months. You need the best you can find. The surgeon will fo little or nothing after the surgery, so having a good therapist is critical. Also be ready to call on your primary physician for advice and meds during recovery.
ICE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND. Recovery depends on sleep. Sleep does not come if you're in pain all night. ICE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND. GET AN ICE MACHINE AND BUY A LARGE SIZED ICE PACK FROM THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST.
GET YOUR BODY READY FOR SURGERY. How? Exercise the muscles around the bad joint. The stronger they are, the more they will support that leg, and the sooner you can get back to living. Also, have someone like a physical therapist evaluate your posture and gait. I learned months too late that standing, sitting and walking with bad posture puts undue stress on the knees. Just learning some posture exercises and how to walk better can reduce pain and swelling significantly, and give you a far better future life.
TRUST YOUR BODY. It will give you feedback all the way through. When it's in pain you can learn to distinguish what kind of pain and what may be causing it. Read as much as you can about how, and how long, the surgical leg heals. If you understand it you will be better able to know when you're given bad advice. Therapists are just people. Some make mistakes. Learn to make your own decisions about what your body can tolerate at each stage of recovery. It's not the same experience for everyone. Listen to your own body. There are no deadlines. Some folks get well in weeks, some months, some years. Don't try to be like anyone but yourself.
SUPER IMPORTANT: FIND A RELIABLE, POSITIVE AND PATIENT COACH. TKR is not a journey you make alone. The coach supervises your meds, food, transportation, exercise and safety when you go back home, for many weeks. Pick someone kind and reliable. Anxiety and depression are part of the journey. The coach can really help emotionally.

Best wishes to you. I hope you have a fast recovery!

Let me reverse the Nike Statement here to say JUST DONT DO IT. And I am not being flippant here. Most definitely worst decision of my life. 14 years of pain much worse than my original condition.
And the docs? They shrug their shoulders and disappear- because they know revisions are even less likely to work. I have seen experts from 5 states and NOBODY wants to go back in there.
Keep your original parts and try to deal with it. You have at best a 50% chance for success regardless of the false promotions from manufacturers and docs.
You will most likely not have results you hope for and the post-op recovery period is extremely long and painful.
For background I am , or was, an excellent athlete, doing tri’s, long distance cycling and tennis and basketball. Since the surgery I cannot walk without pain to the refrigerator - yet I can bike 40 miles- biking puts less stress on my on knee and I can compensate with good leg.
But even on bike it’s painful and I just grit my teeth and deal with it- as I swear at myself for volunteering for this horrible surgery…..

Very unfortunate to place your faith in the practitioner's. Trust your original parts until the pain is absolutely too excruciating and you have exhausted all the alternatives, of which there are very many now. There is no going back once you have this procedure. I really hate being a doomsday guy because I am optimistic by nature but the outcome is not predictable and if I can discourage just one person from this elective surgery I will feel that I have helped humanity in some small way….

@SusanEllen66
I am hoping to have both of my knees done around January after I get both of my hips done. Did you do both of your knees at the same time by any chance?

@mark3248 I don’t think of it as “elective” surgery. No one would even go to a doctor until the pain starts interfering with their ability to play golf, or pickleball, or play with their grandchildren.

Pain is the result of something being out of place. When you get to a point where turning over in bed causes so much pain that you cry, it’s time.

You will know when and if you need a knee replacement. I walk with a broken partial knee replacement for 6-7 years. One day I decided enough is enough and I had to have it done. Weigh the cost of where you are know and where you may be after. Not all replacements are bad. Wish you the best

No doubt , it’s a big decision . The recovery process is one you’ll never forget. However, it’s worth it. Get ready:
Mentally and physically. Start by doing the exercises you will need to do post surgery. It will encourage you to do the work post surgery. It’s important to have someone to help and encourage you the first couple of weeks. An elevated toilet seat and bars for the toilet were so helpful getting up and down. Eat nutritiously and drink lots of water.
I had tkr in ‘24 and ‘25. Best decision , I do have some occasional soreness and buckling. My surgeon reminded me that it’s not my original knee. It’s worth it . My quality of life has gotten so much better. I can live with the occasional minor issues. Be brave ! Best wishes.

PLEASE TRY HYALURONIC ACID for a couple of weeks before you launch into surgery. I'm 76, have right knee pains on stairs when I forget to take my HA softgels. For me, 70mg softgel of "Injuv hyaluronic acid" twice/week does the trick. HA is contained in the synovial fluid in our joints and depletes with age; taking it helps my eyes stay comfortable and my right knee & hip pain at bay. (IDK how long I will be able to use this treatment, but now I see a poster on my Doc's wall, advertising an injection available from drug companies!)(maybe I'm not so far out?)

@mark3248 I feel like you do. I had a TKR 8/1/25 and have 100 ROM after achieving 110 at one point and this after 10 months total in pre hab and rehab. I put myself back in PT met with another surgeon who told me that my projected recovery was “oversold” by my surgeon and that nothing can be done to correct this less than satisfactory surgery. Heartbreaking outcome.