re: Anybody have a knee replacement recently?

I got my left knee done in Oct of 2024 and right knee done in Jan 2025. I was scheduled for two weeks of at home by myself PT and then six weeks of PT working with a PT. The at home portion of PT consisted of a series of exercises to be done 3 times a day. Doing the at home unsupervised exercises is critical. The first week is damn tough and then the pain during exercise will be reduced. The PT at the PT place was a breeze. The PT said most don't do the at home PT and then struggle when they get to the PT place. I'm 66 and I have no more knee pain and my quality of life is greatly improved due to the knee replacements. Pick the best surgeon available. Good luck!

The secret is first few days while pain blocker is still working walk as much as possible. Hardest thing to get back is straighting leg. So pain blocker still working sit in a chair put leg up on another chair . Keep it straight. I put bag of rice on kne help straighten. Alot easier when blocker is workering. YOU do that and you will be good Lots of thrapy while pain blocker is working will make it so much easier when blocker wears off. My blocker lasted 3 days. Dont be scared to work kneeas soon as you get home. THYRAPY is your friend. AND CONGRADS ON J0INING THE KNEE SCAR CLUB. Knee is amesome now. NEVER kneel if you do it enough you will get permanet dent. G OOD LUCK!

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I grew up in the 70s and 80s. We went outside and did stuff.

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Me too. Maybe you should add “stupid” stuff?

It was being a 70s and 80s kid. Nothing stupid about it. Its what life was back then. Awesome time to grow up. Ate dinner and then didnt show back up at home till dark.

Thanks for posting this thread. Lots of good intell here. I am having left knee done in February and right about 4 months later.

If you are doing this on medicare, Do it as an outpatient for way less cost. My outpatient cost was less than 1500 bucks. Staying more than 24 hours as an inpatient would have cost 15000 bucks. I would choose the late afternoon appointment to have the overnight medical assistance and leave by 8 am the next day.
Private insurance may different rules.

Questions:

Have you had 2 or 3 other opinions?

Is Knee Replacement your only option?

Is arthroscopic surgery a viable option?

Had a neighbor whose KR went sideways because the fit was way too big. Ask questions (or have your partner ask them.)

An acquaintance of mine went to 5 knee specialists before finding one who advised KR wasn't necessary, that scoping would do the trick. Afterward he walked out on his own. (I don't know the extent of your damage.) FWIW, he is 52 years old.

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Have you had 2 or 3 other opinions? Is Knee Replacement your only option? Is arthroscopic surgery a viable option?

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I’m way past all of that. I tore my ACL and shredded meniscus 40 years ago. Had to stop running in 2014. Bone on bone. No cartilage left. When I went to a new doctor 2 years ago, he put my x-ray up on the screen and said, “I don’t know how you’re walking around on that thing.”

Guessing two weeks if you carefull. Truthfully didn’t need to do stairs until like 2 months. Take it easyone foot at a time

I am 74 and mine was outpatient. I had to drink water, walk with a walker and pee before I could go home.