Truth about Total Knee Replacements

Posted by rickraleigh @rickraleigh, Jul 31, 2021

Your new knee will never feel as good as your original old one

For most people it takes a full year to get most of the benefits of the surgery

Many people experience a clicking sound when walking for years or forever after the surgery

You should do physical therapy for a year after the surgery to get the best range of motion results even though your therapist will discharge you after several months.

There are no studies which will tell you what activities you can do after TKR. Is doubles tennis OK? Golf? What you read online varies. There are no clear answers.

Many surgeons are finished with you after the surgery. If you have issues with the surgery's aftermath, they may not be that helpful.

The scar is big, and no amount of ointment (vitamin E, etc.) will substantially reduce it.

Good news: If you had bad knee problems before the surgery your knee will feel a lot better after the surgery.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

shark | @shark | 5 days ago

In reply to @jdth "I had my surgery 12 days ago. Outpatient and robotic. I couldn’t take hydrachodone so I’m..." + (show)

If it is really that painful I think you just have to govern yourself accordingly. 115 degrees in a week and a half is foreign to me as I am such a "sweller" that this was not possible with either knee. It took me about 5 weeks to get to 120 degrees with the first one, then for my other knee I backed off the intensity a bit (less swelling) and I got to 120 degrees in 4 weeks. My first knee right now is 95% recovered, I can barely tell that the knee was ever messed with 2 years ago. I hope knee #2 gets there too, had that one done 7 weeks ago - but it is tough trying to compare or remember where you were at with the first surgical knee. (I had them done 2 years apart.) Good luck to you all.

upgirl2013 | @upgirl2013 | 5 days ago

In reply to @jdth "I had my surgery 12 days ago. Outpatient and robotic. I couldn’t take hydrachodone so I’m..." + (show)

I used the ice machine for pain for many months and switched to heat in the evening on week 20. Tramadol made me pretty high and I quit taking it after 2 doses. Bend 115 degrees on day 12 is amazing! Keep up the good work.

shark | @shark | 4 days ago

In reply to @cathymw "Sounds like you are doing great! Get an ice machine as that really helped with comfort...." + (show)

I did the Amazon ice machine too - a little less than $200 and it made a difference in that you could keep it on the knee longer because it did not subject the skin to as cold a temp. as some of the other modalities. The surgeon used the sub-vastus approach on both of my knees which is considered a minimally invasive approach but he does utilize a 6 or 7 inch incision which is fine with me - anything that allows him to visualize the internal components better is fine with me! Different knees respond differently and some variance in recovery times-degrees does not mean that all is not good. I just did PT and I might have pushed it a little more than usual - but if it is sore tomorrow I will just back off a bit the next day.

blaira | @blaira | 4 days ago

In reply to @jfearon611 "I understand that there are unknowns such as the individual's propensity to build up scar tissues..." + (show)

@jfearon611

I understand that there are unknowns such as the individual's propensity to build up scar tissues based on their body's immune response, but .... is it also possible that the surgeon's expertise and interaction with his patient could help to mitigate some of the negative outcomes? My surgeon who operates out of the "supposedly #1 orthopedic hospital in the US... (World?) did not afford me the time of day when I reached out to him before the 6 weeks appointment that was scheduled.
He refused to do imaging such as ultrasound, Ct scan, MRI that would identify the presence and an amount of scar tissue that seemed to be building up 2 to three weeks after the procedure. Why would a medical professional wait 6 weeks before checking in on a major incision? Why would he refuse to respond to the patient's request for additional imaging? Research says that procedures such as arthroscopy is best done within 6 weeks of the operation.
He then proceeded to perform an arthroscopy without any imaging to predetermine the areas that needed the attention.
We need to stop blaming ourselves and scar tissue buildup as the reason why some of us are experiencing such pain and discomfort after tkr. There are procedures that can be done to help us to heal better. Of course, that is where your surgeon (and insurance) comes into play. Many of them are not telling you the options that are available for helping (mine didn't) and I had to do my own research and actually force the issue. My healing is still not complete, but I believe that I am better off having done the post operation procedures. After all, these are modern times, and I believe that technology is advanced enough to help those of us who are experiencing tkr post operation issues.
I hope that we will continue to stay positive and advocate for ourselves and that additional research will result in improved outcomes for us in the near future.

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Hi, I broke my tibia pateau 1 year ago, 4 surgeries late, I am having issues from scar tissue build up. Can you please tell me more about what you are doing to get rid of scar tissue? I see my surgeon this week. Thanks

guitarlady | @guitarlady | 2 days ago

In reply to @sprinrosa64 "More truth, no doctor mention 20percent of TKR have mid to major problems after. No doctor..." + (show)

The doctors don't often mention peripheral neuropathy in your feet. It happened to me and I need a rollator to feel safe walking.

wickles1 | @wickles1 | 2 days ago

In reply to @sprinrosa64 "More truth, no doctor mention 20percent of TKR have mid to major problems after. No doctor..." + (show)

I'm beginning to curse it. 17 weeks in, you get no guidance as to whether your doing to much or to little. My Physio in Ontario was dreadful. Seniors are given 30 mins once a week. After that you're on your own. I went to the gym on week 7 hot AI to write me a program, giving it my age and what I had done.

algrieco | @algrieco | 2 days ago

In reply to @wickles1 "I'm beginning to curse it. 17 weeks in, you get no guidance as to whether your..." + (show)

So frustrating. Once they have cashed in on the big money surgery, if you have problems, you are on your own to try to figure things out.

mammalynne | @mammalynne | 1 day ago

In reply to @wickles1 "I'm beginning to curse it. 17 weeks in, you get no guidance as to whether your..." + (show)

Hang in there I’m at 17 Weeks also and just this week I’m starting to see progress. Still not great but I just saw my Ortho and he said it takes a full year to completely heal. I was getting discouraged but it is getting better. Good luck to you ps I’m 66

anadarko | @anadarko | 1 day ago

In reply to @guitarlady "The doctors don't often mention peripheral neuropathy in your feet. It happened to me and I..." + (show)

Neuropathy in my right foot has gotten much worse since I had a right TKR. Have you heard that can be a result of the TKR?

charlie127 | @charlie127 | 1 day ago

Hi, when I had my bilateral stage knee replacements done seven months ago, I benefitted by following my Physio handout which I received the first day postop. I attribute my recovery by following the suggested exercises in the pamphlet which I’ve been shown by the Physiotherapist the first day postop. I only went to Physio twice in the seven months.
My surgeon stated it wasn’t what Physio was going to do for me, but what I would do for myself by following the exercise programs laid out for me at home. I’m extremely grateful that I have done so well as I did not experience any complications, except a lower haemoglobin between the two Knee Replacement replacements. Luckily, I do not suffer from excessive scarring and I really feel for those that have had a difficult recovery.