I need a TKR: Do I do it, or go as long as I can?

I could not agree with you more….
Doctors talk as if it is the thing to do, without much discussion on what happens after it is done….
Brescher…

I went through what you are going through now.
8 years ago I had the shots and my knees felt like I was 20 years old again!
9 mo ago it suddenly came back. Every week it seemed to worsen.
I had the shots again but with no effect. X-rays- severe osteoarthritis.
Every week I was able to do one last chore. I went to pT for a month which helped a little.
2 weeks later - I no longer could walk at all. I've had chronic severe pain before it this is ridiculous! I've been in a recliner 24/7 since then. Now I'm getting contractors in my hip and knees.
What I would think about:
- You could end up in a wheelchair without the surgery.
- You are only going to get older (sigh) and that may mean a higher surgical risk.
- you mentioned a bad back and being overweight. It makes it hard to lose weight before the surgery. You may want to have one knee some at a time. Consider going to a short-term rehab center.
I'm scheduled to go to Mayo in May.
Best wishes to you. Stay positive. I'll text after I have mine done.

I don't understand the comments about "size issues". Are they putting in new knee parts using the wrong size? Or is your physical knee a bad size to replace?

My own experience I had tkr never was able to get rom more than 65 …after 6 months of dr telling me all in my head , went for another opinion…..my knee was 3 sizes too big …. Had revision at 1 year doing so much better…. I spoke to two lawyers turns out dr are within their legal right to put 2-3 sizes larger with no repercussions, they can say adjustments due to arthritis …..so watch your dr your going to , my first dr did not use mako robotics…I made sure my second dr used mako robotics

Once bone on bone, it doesn't get better. My experience included 5 tough years of waiting, had a metal knee brace during that time, which helped. I counted my steps to the front door of the mall judging how many more steps could I handle before exhaustion once in the mall. Looking back, I lost all those years of limited mobility, pain.... AND a very bad back that ultimately caused nerve damage, foot drop. I had two back surgeries to minimize the damage. Why a bad back? It was to due to years of limping! I was 55! Don't wait. Your big job now is to find a GREAT, highly recommended doctor. Once I got my knee, my back miraculously improved! From 55 to 70, I enjoyed pain free mobility. This year, at 70, I had a hip replacement. Years of limping??? My new hip is four months old and I'm back swinging a golf club and doing the gym three times a week. Find a great ortho surgeon. Don't wait.

I was told same thing years ago - thing I didn't think about (and no one told me), as you adapt to your injury, you may loose muscle mass and soft tissue strength; or, they may all adapt to a new knee position (before TKR, my knee was badly bent and I couldn't straighten all the way). I waited for many reasons, had the surgery last August; but because my muscles/soft tissue were so out of wack, it has been very painful strengthening them again to a correct position. Not sure if this makes sense - my 2 cents, I would not wait; talk to different docs (not just surgeon, cause they will say do it now - talk to other orthos, PTs) about what ifs if you do wait. My other knee I just had Xray'd, gonna stay on top of it, will not wait. Good luck.

loreleiks--Amazing! not even robotic! I am 6 mos post-op today and no normal walking gait. Haven't tried to get down on yoga mat yet, do chair yoga. 3 hours at gym today, yoga 1.5, bike 25 mins., then weights and ab work, etc. Then grocery pick up a few items...wow, tough feeling, came home and iced. Damn, sick of this abnormal feeling. Wish I was as good as you and many others! Hoping and praying it will get better! Two weeks in St. Martin, just returned home last Sat., man, that was tough, walking in sand, in/out of water with waves and dips here and there! And way too many stairs to do! Namaste!

My doctors would say to me, "You'll know when it's time." And I did know - when walking took a lot of effort and always resulted in pain, when the pain would often wake me up during the night, and because I was not walking normally I had other problems (feet, back, etc). But as a nurse, I must say that the most important reason not to wait is the fact that you will get older and be more prone to chronic conditions that will make the surgery riskier and the recovery harder. Hope you can make the decision sooner rather than later and that you have a successful surgery and rehab.

I had my first TKR July 2021. (Left knee). Recovery was painful and in my opinion, a long process. PT thought differently and were very encouraging. Myofascia release proved to be a positive game changer ( thanks to this blog suggestion). I swore I wouldn’t get the other knee done due to the unrelenting pain. Tramadol twice a day wasn’t adequate, but my surgeon wouldn’t prescribe more than 3 weeks. Well, I am now at a pain level in my right knee that I can no longer bear. My PMD has been kindly prescribing Tylenol 4, one tab a day. If I limit my activity, that one pill helps me sleep with less pain. I can’t tolerate not being active if there is a solution. Therefore I am seriously planning surgery. BTW, knee injections times 2, were very helpful but with rapidly declining time they lasted. I share all of this for the support and suggestions this blog offers. This is a new surgeon ( moved out of State last year). What is a reasonable expectation for pain relief? Best drug, dosage, length of time? How to be sure I have the right surgeon? This MD suggested the replacement wasn’t as accurate in placement as he would do. ? I am now 77.5 yrs. No HTN or DM. my only issue is a bit overweight and lots of osteoarthritis. I look forward to reading your responses.

I’m in the same boat and it sucks. I am bone on bone with a valgus deformity- super fun. Won’t get better. Having TKA may 6 on the left and possibly the right as well (will know after MRI on Saturday - woohoo). Nothing helps and at 50, I’m hoping to have some life left so I’m going for it. Best of luck.