KNEE ARTHRITIS - Total Knee Replacement :
Total knee replacement - making the decision - - Posted by dil345 (dil345), 22 November 2002
I'm looking for experiences others had with total knee replacement. I'm "only" 47 and need this surgery. For over 25 years I've had no cartilage and shredded ACL. I'm interested in learning how long after surgery I may be able to do some travelling overseas and walk quite a bit. I realize all experiences are different. I'm trying to decide whether or not to have surgery in a few months or after next summer. Thanks for any input.
Posted by Sandy_F (Sandy_F), 22 November 2002
I had my right knee replaced when I was 45. My left knee was replaced last year at age 48. My right knee was not totally successful because of previous surgeries (14) including a patellectomy. My left knee is doing ok but not as well as I would have expected. I was off work for 8 weeks and when I went back I was very sore and exhausted. I was still in PT and doing much else was pretty impossible. I know of others that bounced back very quickly and was back doing much more within three or four months. I had the TKR in October and did not complete PT until the following June.
This surgery is very extensive and has a very long recovery period. There is a lot of hard work to do to get back to doing things. You can still have stiffness and swelling for up to a year after surgery. I was in quite a bit of pain pre surgery and knew that it was time to do something to better the quality of my life.
Posted by downhillrunner (downhillrunner), 23 November 2002
At only" 43 I too am faced with possibility of tkr. As I understand it it is best avoided if at all possible - no going back and new joint may only last ~10 years and renewing is no way as straight foirward as is is for a hip.
There is a alternative I am investigating at the moment - if the OA is not too advanced they can "reline" partsof the bearing surfaces of the knee. Again a huge op. with ~1 year recovery but better than the "dead end" of tkr...?
Posted by callie (callie), 20 January 2003
Hi
I was 44 when I had my knees replaced. My rtkr was done in may and my ltkr was done in Sept. Only you will know when you will be ready. When the pain gets so intense and you have exausted all the options injections, pt,braces, pain meds, Then you have to decide on quality of life issues. Do you want to spend the next 10 years being in pain or enjoy life with less pain while your young and can enjoy things. My knees have both been a success to me, I sleep with out the severe pain and continue to improve. I returned to work as a medical records tech in about 8 weeks after the 1st and took 10 weeks for the second. I have 130 degree range of motion in both knees and have worked really hard with my physical therapy. A good book has recently been published by the Arthritis Foundation called All You Need to Know About Joint Surgery. Worth taking a look at. The only problem I have is with patella subluxation now looking at surgery in Feb to correct. It's a 1% complication that I was unlucky to have, Other than that I walk alot can do stairs, ride my bike. It is a big decision and I wish you the best with what you decide to do.
Callie
Posted by callie (callie), 20 January 2003
Hi
I was 44 when I had my knees replaced. My rtkr was done in may and my ltkr was done in Sept. Only you will know when you will be ready. When the pain gets so intense and you have exausted all the options injections, pt,braces, pain meds, Then you have to decide on quality of life issues. Do you want to spend the next 10 years being in pain or enjoy life with less pain while your young and can enjoy things. My knees have both been a success to me, I sleep with out the severe pain and continue to improve. I returned to work as a medical records tech in about 8 weeks after the 1st and took 10 weeks for the second. I have 130 degree range of motion in both knees and have worked really hard with my physical therapy. A good book has recently been published by the Arthritis Foundation called All You Need to Know About Joint Surgery. Worth taking a look at. The only problem I have is with patella subluxation now looking at surgery in Feb to correct. It's a 1% complication that I was unlucky to have, Other than that I walk alot can do stairs, ride my bike. It is a big decision and I wish you the best with what you decide to do.
Callie
Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 2 March 2003
Hi!
I had a tkr on my left knee in December. I'm 47 and for me, all I can say is that I wish we had done it sooner...
I am now wrapping up my physical therapy...my therapist told me that standard procedure is 10 weeks after a tkr. My left knee is so much better than it has been for months and years. I'm going to have my right one done this summer--will set up a date when I see my ortho on Tuesday.
It is a tough few weeks post surgery and know that some people get up and going faster than others. I am sure I took the slow route because my other knee and arthritis in my wrists and feet have been flaring and slowing me down. Hopefully those "typical" (lol) time frames can give you some guidelines for making decisions. I am quite sure that I wouldn't put a trip like the one you are planning in any jeopardy.
Enjoy and good luck, Sylvia
Posted by callie (callie), 3 March 2003
Hi
I had my rtka in May and I'm 12 days post op lat release/medial reefing and had ltka in Sept. I was 44
it takes a great mindset and a lot of hard work & yes
severe pain. It was well worth it. I'm getting along quite well. I have better than avg range of motion 125-130. My movement is quite good and I'm able to get around. I went to Hawaii at 9 weeks post op and the plane ride was 13 hours. During my flight I made sure I walked every hour to stretch and brought along my cryo-cuff to keep ice on my legs. I also wore my ted-hose to prevent clots. I made out fine. I had patella subluxation on the right knee so after intensive pt failed and mcconnel taping failed went with lat release/reefing very little pain but have to start over with range I'm at 45 degrees pt & os want me to go slow what a switch from being aggressive. When you make your decision best of luck. I don't cry at night with intense shooting pains I don't live on pain killers. feel so much better and you will also
Good Luck keep me posted.
Callie
Posted by dil345 (dil345), 3 March 2003
I finally had a TKR on my left knee on Feb. 13. The worst part was having a spinal headache after the spinal anesthesia. I moved into rehab on Feb. 17 and went home on Feb. 26. Am going to my second outpatient rehab this afternoon. It was nice being in rehab and having therapy 2X daily. I only could bend the knee about 82 degrees when leaving rehab but was too independent to stay longer. Am looking forward to the milestone of 90 and then further. It's the swelling in the knee that seems to be preventing further bending right now. Has that been similar to others' experiences? The worst problem right now is sleeping. I'm using a long body pillow in order to sleep on my side but my hips are aching during the night. When I try to sleep on my back the knee is too stiff to go straight enough to be comfortable. It will be nice to get a good nights's sleep again, someday.
Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 3 March 2003
Congratulations on the big step...
I still deal with some swelling everyday--but it is the decrease in constant pain that is a blessing. It will get the bending going--I got to 90 before 3 weeks and was absolutely shocked. It hadn't been beyond 86 in months. I now average between 115 and 120. 
The biggest hurdle for me was stretching it and extending, and I still work on that everyday as well.
I know it was the right thing for me. Good luck! Sylvia
Posted by mtb_rider (mtb_rider), 26 April 2003
can anyone tell me whether i would be able to mountain bike race competetively after a tkr. For over 18 years I've had no cartilage and no ACL.Ihave bad arthiritis in my knee ( right knee )and have been told that it will need to be replaced soon.I am ''only'' 39 yrs old but have continued to race cycle and win for 10 yrs,gritting my teeth and using herbal remedies ie. glucosamine,devils claw,chiondiotin and msm etc.Will i have to give it all up.Ihope not. Any advice out there
Posted by dil345 (dil345), 26 April 2003
Just an update on my "progress." 9 weeks after surgery I finally got the knee bent to 100 degrees, with 116 degrees being my goal. I haven't been able to progress beyond that point yet. I keep stretching and extending and now lack only 8 degrees on straightening. I was lacking 10 degrees before surgery. I'm hoping that I won't have to wait a long time before seeing more progress in bending. Anyone have any specific stretching activities that worked well for them? Thanks.
Kathy
Posted by lam651 (lam651), 27 April 2003
This is for MTB-RIDER, welcome to the board. To get the proper attention for your post you should start a new topic. But , by all means get a second, third and maybe fourth opion before accecting that a TKR is your only option. That is typically the last option. Good luck, Larry
Posted by enuff81020 (enuff81020), 28 April 2003
Hi!
The only things that were supposedly out of reach for me after my tkr were things that required repeated, extreme movement. My doc said no jogging, running, squatting--like to work in the garden (I would have to sit down.)
Ridina a stationary bike is one of the things we did in therapy and I know it is not quite as much stress as mountain bikes, but I'm betting you'll be able to do that. By all means, ask the doc.
Good luck, Sylvia
Updated Thu Apr 29 2010
