Was it worth it?

Posted by irishtrish @irishtrish, Sep 16 12:54pm

Honestly considering if my TKR was worth it. I had arthritis issues beforehand, but now I'm in constant pain and may be for a year or more. Was it worth it? I honestly don't know.

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Profile picture for fancyo1950 @fancyo1950

My knee is fine it'smy Tibia bone that is affected. It'sonlybeen a month and a half since surgery but pain for 4 weeks is hard to take. They say it's healing and it will take more time. My therapy was discontinued because they thought it was agrevating the condition. Now I am patiently waiting for the pain to disappear. @mabfp3

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@fancyo1950 it's been 5 weeks with burning pain but I think it's finally easing up. The leg feels slightly better yesterday and today. Steps are still nearly impossible. I hope I'm on the way to recovery and that this has given you some hope too. The pain is definitely a witch. Wishing you the strength to reach recovery. Hang in there.

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Profile picture for genie15 @genie15

There are a lot of dark, hopeless days in the eternity that passes so slowly after knee replacement surgery. I did learn some valuable lessons. Choosing the right surgeon and the right therapist is critical. My team let me down badly on a number of occasions. Having a really patient and kind coach is the only thing that got me through the whole nightmare. I did learn to keep seeking additional help from medical pros in different fields. No one person has all the answers we need in the midst of setbacks and complications. Keep searching is the best advice. The other saving grace for me was this portal, which I wish I had found before I ever decided about the surgery. You cannot learn too much ahead of time. The medical profession hides vital information from patients. I also learned that specialists see only what they practice. They can look right at evidence of illness or injury that should be obvious to the medically trained, but never notice that it's staring them in the face. They get in a rut or routine and don't keep their eyes open. I should have been directed to different specialists and had the surgery delayed because what they overlooked made all the difference between a good recovery and a seemingly endless nightmare that left me on the edge of suicide. Ortho surgery is so hard on the body that any underlying illness can derail the whole process. Doctors don't adequately screen older patients for underlying conditions. It's a real disservice to senior patients because it leads to much unnecessary suffering. When a recovery goes sideways it's so much harder to get the body back on track, and the whole experience is so rough that setbacks can lead to years of suffering. I would not do it again. I am very grateful to be able to take walks now. I am relieved over the things that did not go wrong (yet). I am very grateful to the specialist and my family doctor who stepped up to help me when the first team failed me--but the very thought of facing a joint replacement again is terrifying. I would rather die first. I would say to those who are considering doing it to get your whole body thoroughly checked out for signs of other medical conditions before you ever agree to the joint surgery. Then get in the best physical condition you can before the surgery. It's too late once you roll through those surgical suite doors. What happens before the surgery is the best determiner of success. Good luck to anyone reading this who is thinking of getting joint surgery. There are many kind, helpful people on this website who share good ideas and the wisdom of experience. I learned several things here that made a real positive difference in my outcome, and I am SO grateful to those who contributed on this site.

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@genie15 Thanks you for sharing what I call Important information. The Ins and Outs!

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At the knee joint there are 3 sections in the ends of the bones, the inside, the outside and the knee cap. A partial knee replacement replaces one or two sections but not all of them. I had my medial section (inside) replaced.

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Profile picture for gymratca @gymratca

Hi there. ...

Just a few words from my experience of have both knees FKR Nov 2024 / April 2025.

Like you I did some due diligence ... getting 4 Orthopedic opinions, having
severe bone on bone in both and excessive amount of pain for more than a 6 year period.

One leg was bowed, and the other seemed to be heading in the same direction. I was also informed that I had a Immuno Thrombocytopenia (Which delayed the surgery until the cause of it and remedy could be implemented )

KEY PREPARATIONS

> Stretching 3X daily
> Strength Training
> Dietary Corrections
> Home Ergonomics
>Bedroom Logistics
> Physical Therapy
> Schedule

I ve always been a gym rat... with 40+ years at my hobby. Knees that are so bad that you are almost crippled. Definitely put a dent in your activity level, especially for doing legs, but I will tell you that any and all training that you can do upper body as well as the lower body will enhance your body's ability to heal... as well as make you stronger so that you can support yourself through the difficult work that must be done.

The areas above identified were key to me. Crushed ice in quart & gallon zip bags in the Bedroom freezer / frig kept the swelling DOWN.. hence pain down. Get off the narcotics by 4 - 5 days to avoid addiction... 800 MG ibuprofen was my ORTHO prescription.

Official PT was 2X/ week... but I did 4 sessions/ day at home with their exercises...and a few of my own... for 5 days/ week.

●Very important to get up and walk with walker within 2 - 4 hours of surgery to AVOID blood clots

● Very important to take ice cooler to hospital room as theirs may be insufficient

● A large bath sheet to wrap around ice packs great to keep isolated and control swelling days 2 - 15

● Walker that fits through bathroom & Bedroom doorways critical.. and an attached cup holder & carry pouch on walker best!

● Sooner you schedule & begin PT ( 7 days ) from surgery best

● Stock up pantry & refrigerator with some pre-fixed items / get arranged help for coffee / meals / ice

● Walk limited to 3 - 4 minutes first week / session! DON'T OVERDUE IT! Walk each week to add 20 - 40 more steps than prior week.

● IN bed ankle flexes, knee flexes, leg raises all aid CIRCULATION & STRENGTH... do both legs... one first 8 - 10 reps... then the other

● Consume all fresh foods, low carbs, high lean protein, lots of vegetables, minimum processed sugars, good amount of fruits, lots of colored vegetables & fruits, salads, multi- vitamin, magnesium supplement if allowed medically. ( Sugars feed inflammation so avoid them mostly )

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@gymratca this is great advice. Thank you.

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Profile picture for steveinarizona @steveinarizona

@gymratca

I like your post but have one comment. I would recommend using an ice machine, not just ice. My surgeon includes a two week rental of an ice machine. You put ice and water in the compartment and there is a wrap that one plugs into the ice machine and you use it to wrap around your leg.

My surgeon recommends using the machine 6-8 times a day. I had an ice machine for my hip replacement and it was a god send. But it was a very expensive ice machine (it didn't use ice but made cold water like a refrigerator on the fly) and my surgeon now uses a less expensive machine but still a good one:
https://www.recoveryforathletes.com/products/game-ready-ice-machine-with-knee-wrap-package?
I am sure there are others out there as well. I don't know the rental cost but it should be a doable amount if one is not included in your package.

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Thanks... 2 x 20pound bags did the trick...added refrigerator with its own freezer in my bedroom + microwave 😇

renn
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