TKR at 81, living alone, and with balance difficulty: a good idea?

@ray666 , I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone's responses! What great spirit everyone has. I am not in the same situation. 66 with successful TKR 6 months ago. Reasons unknown, the surgery cranked up nerve pain down my leg from my back. It has really knocked me out of the game, but I keep trying. All of you inspire me! Thank you! Best to all!

Good morning!

And thank you, Everyone, for your responses to my topic! The advice––yes, or no, to TKR surgery to a fellow like me: 81, living alone, with certain balance issues due to PN––grouped themselves into two loosely-defined categories (as Ihad expected): advice that I proceed witha TKR, and advice that I not proceed with a TKR. I wasn't so foolish, when I'd created this topic, to expect that your collective responses would make up my mind for me. I full expected to be left with a lot decision-making of my own to do. That, however, doesn't diminish the gratitude I feel toward all who offered their advice. If any would like to know what I ultimately decide––and, perhaps even of greater interest (if I opt for a TKR), how it goes, just let me know and I'll do my best to keep in touch.

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

@slarson14 If you have Medicare, they can have you go to a facility for rehab..My mother-in-law chose to do that.

@johnbishop
My sympathies with trying to get up from the floor. It's both very frustrating and laughable. I had total hip replacement surgery in 2020. One of the exercises in physical therapy afterwards was learning how to get up from the ground if I feel. The internet has several videos showing how it's done.

If you have a PPO, or live in a state like California or other states where you could have a Nano Knee procedure. I would highly recommend it. I only used a walker the first day and was walking my dog a half a mile by day three, I did not need any assistance. I was 77 years old. I have also heard that that Jiffy Knee is also less invasive. I had the traditional knee replacement 11 years ago and yes, it was a nightmare. I did have a full recovery and my knee did very well, but the recovery is so much more painful, longer, more invasive than the Nano Knee procedure. Nano Knee procedure is pricey because Medicare does not pay for the scan. However, it does pay for the surgery. If you could afford Nano Knee, my advice is do it. !

Hi, @judycat. Thanks for introducing me to an alternative form of joint repair. I'll be the first to admit that I'm without any bad memories of my right knee TKR (other than the constipation due to the post-op opioid pains, which I quit taking and turned instead to Tylenol), which has me believing I'd do just as well the second time around. That's not necessarily true, of course. I know that. –Ray (@ray666)

I cannot take Opiads at all because I get so sick, nauseated, and cannot quit throwing up. Plus the horrible constipation side effect. The strongest thing I could ever take was also Tylenol, which is like putting a Band-Aid on the traditional knee replacement; however, with a Nano Knee as long as I iced it throughout the day and elevated it occasionally….Tylenol a day was all I needed.

I encourage you to look at the Nano Knee procedure, might be called Jiffy Knee. You might live another 20 years and I imagine you want to keep walking? Good Luck!

@bjw1948
There are many excellent surgeons who don't do "branded" knee replacements (like Jiffy or Nano) but nonetheless do excellent work.

I have an incredible surgeon. He replaced my left hip three years ago and I had zero pain and don't even consider it any different from my natural right hip. Almost six months ago he replaced my right knee which was badly misaligned and, again, I had no post surgery pain. His recovery protocol is to essentially rest the first two weeks with regular icing and compression to reduce the inflammation and then start PT in the third week. That third week my therapist measured my ROM at 122 and my extension as flat.

My magician (AKA surgeon) did a mini midvastus cut, did not use a tourniquet, put in a bicruciate retaining implant (BCR) so I still have all my ligaments, fixed my severe valgus misalignment with a Functional alignment and did a plastic surgery close. Before my surgery, I told him that I (an 80 YO male) wanted to be back on the golf course by the end of the fourth week. he replied that this was an aggressive target but he was up for the challenge. On the 27th day after surgery, I was playing golf.

My magician has a traveling practice with patients coming to him from all across the country and a section of his web site is for that purpose.

Why am I saying all this? Because he doesn't accept Medicare nor Insurance so his fee is payable separately but the rest of my cost was covered by my PPO Medicare Advantage Plan. But his fee is substantially less than a NANO surgeon fee and I would put my guy up against a NANO surgeon every day.

Finding a great surgeon who does minimally invasive procedures is a major step toward a rapid and painless or minimally painful recovery. But one is not limited to the branded knee processes. The best surgeons are out there on their own (such as mine) or in specialty locations. Mayo, the Cleveland Clinic and the Hospital for Special Surgery are all excellent.

Congratulations on finding such a fabulous surgeon/magician. Wish he could spend his retirement training some other docs!