re: My Thoughts After Knee Replacement

That sounds awful

My 82 year old FIL had his knees replaced last summer and says it was a great decision.

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I’m curious why u say this? Never? You’ve obviously never been in pain from bone on bone bud. I can promise quality of life is zip. After my hip replacement my life changed 180 degrees. Best decision I ever made.

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Hip arthroplasty is much different the. Knees.


Recovery is much easier and typically less risky.

I am not your bud tho..

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I haven’t talked to many that did not say it was the best decision they ever made. For me, it just was not worth. It doesn’t matter how good it feels after surgery and recovery, to me it is not worth it.

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I've been retired for a couple of years now but I owned a medical clinic wherein we helped patients avoid joint surgeries.

I don't know if the stats have changed since then, but back then the meta data showed that 2 out of 5 (40%) of patients with knee replacements said they were disappointed with the results and wouldn't do it again.

It's not the miracle surgery that it's made out to be. Plus (another thing they don't tell you), the mortality rate is twice what it is for all elective surgeries, meaning that you have twice the chance of dying within 90s days of having the surgery than you do other elective surgeries. Blood clots, infections, etc.

There are good reasons to try to avoid it if you can.

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I had a full knee replacement on February 11 and regret the decision

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After not even month and a half?? Bro you have to give it WAY longer than that.
In 6 months you’ll likely be singing a different tune.

Replacements are work man. You have to eventually strengthen your quad and HS through a full ROM. But the key is having the full ROM first. You still have a long road ahead of you until it’s where you want it to be.

If it’s swelling a lot you’re likely on it too much. Make a ramp with some pillows so your foot is actually above your knee and knee is above your hip. Rest the foot on the edge of the couch. Then do your quad sets and ankle pumps. I’ve even had people who sleep in this position and that prolonged elevation helped with the residual swelling.

Also consider going back to the walker for a couple days if you’re limping badly. You may just be overloading it to the point where your body just can’t quite keep up.

I’ve been a PT for 20 years and plenty of people start off poor and then do much better as that swelling eventually subsides.

I'm a PT and my best advice is just give it time. 6 weeks out from a TKA is nothing. I know it feels like an eternity to you but for how traumatic of a surgery you just had, it's no time. It's fairly common to still have swelling even 6 weeks out. Also, the lack of full extension is normal too. You want to get it as good as possible because that affects how you walk and stand. I hope you are going to PT religiously. I know I'm biased but it really is extremely important. Also, work on things at home. Prop your knee up and work on extension at home. Put a few pillows under your ankle with nothing under your knee and let it hang for 10 minutes at least twice a day. I would still ice it and elevate it as well if it's still swelling. My dad was about your age when he did his and he is overweight and he had great results. Just give it time and be very consistent with PT and working it at home.

I had my left knee replaced in November. I am 60.

Last Saturday I did a 25 mile bike ride on the levee. Twice this week I have cranked out 40 minutes on the stairmaster. The only thing I have not tried is running on pavement, and I don’t need to do that. I feel like I have a new leg.

Do I still have some pain and swelling? Yeah, some, if I overdo it. But after 42 years of a shitty knee (blew it out in high school), the TKR was the best decision I ever made, bar none. Wish I had done it 10 years ago.

Yea the numbers aren’t great but they aren’t terrible. Just have to hit your flexion and extension exercises 4-5 times a day, especially on days you don’t have therapy. Exercise hard but then rest hard. Ice and elevate whenever you can. The longer from surgery, the harder the gains will be so just have to put in the work. Can’t just bend a little, straighten a little. You have to go the max several times a day. Use your strap, do the stair stretch. Put the heel up on a chair to where the knee is extended without support under. Put a 5 lb bag a rice on top and see if you can make it a few minutes. These aren’t fun but you might as well knock it now than have a stiff knee later or have to go for a manipulation.