My knees have bothered me for years. Lately, I've been considering joint replacement. I wanted to see if any of you guys have had this done, or know someone who has had the surgery. Don't hold back, I want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly, so I can attempt to make an informed decision when necessary.
Knee replacement?
- Thread starter lowspeed
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Wife had both hers done.
Much better now.
Each person is different, some people say it’s a breeze, others not so much.
Much better now.
Each person is different, some people say it’s a breeze, others not so much.
np307
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My dad had both of his done. Not at the same time though. It was pretty rough, but his knees were in terrible shape. They couldn't completely correct the problems he had, but the pain was basically eliminated. He still has some stability issues 5 years down the road, but most of that is due to how badly his legs had deformed from the pain.
If you have a good support system there, you can manage things pretty well. It will not be easy in the short term recovery. You will wonder why you decided to do it. But once the swelling starts to go down and the pain begins to subside, it gets a lot more manageable. Just do the exercises that they give you in therapy.
If you have a good support system there, you can manage things pretty well. It will not be easy in the short term recovery. You will wonder why you decided to do it. But once the swelling starts to go down and the pain begins to subside, it gets a lot more manageable. Just do the exercises that they give you in therapy.
I've not had that done, but...
I heard that when they say to stay off you feet, best to do as instructed. Healing is better, faster, no complications, etc.
Since this IS in the Humidor... Being on your knees they wore out already? That's a lot of servicing...
I heard that when they say to stay off you feet, best to do as instructed. Healing is better, faster, no complications, etc.
Since this IS in the Humidor... Being on your knees they wore out already? That's a lot of servicing...
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My knees are shot. Left is bone to bone contact but the right one hurts worse. I was supposed to have the total replacement on the left March 3rd but when the Doctor was telling me about the recovery of 6 weeks and that I would be out of work and need someone to take care of me or go into a rehab facility (the first drawback I've gad due to being a hermit) I suddenly felt a lot better!
I am going to have to have it done but I just can't figure out the logistics as of yet. If I'm out of work that means all of my other colleagues have to pull extra shifts with no compensation and I'm not that kind of turd. Also there's no one to look after my pack of dogs while I'm down.
I think this is @Jointdoc 's speciality, maybe he'll chime in here?
!I am going to have to have it done but I just can't figure out the logistics as of yet. If I'm out of work that means all of my other colleagues have to pull extra shifts with no compensation and I'm not that kind of turd. Also there's no one to look after my pack of dogs while I'm down.
I think this is @Jointdoc 's speciality, maybe he'll chime in here?
I have been postponing getting it done. I have been hoping for a promotion that would change my time off accrual in a way that would have my entire recovery paid for. My bad knees and back are starting to affect my hips so I would like to get it done soon.
Geezer
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The only negative thing that I've heard our patients say is that they wish that they hadn't waited so long to have it done. We used to supply the CPM's for the healing therapy.
Ps ... take the drugs, stay ahead of the pain. Playing catch-up is no fun.
My former MIL had hers done when she was in her 70's . As a matter of fact I think she had both hers done at the same time due to fear of not doing the other. Therapist came to their house and worked rehab.
I'm a product of "better living thru chemistry" with my 3M ceramic pins, one in each side of both knees. The state of GA owns them both for the rest of my life and they have removed only the 2 in the left knee. I have to go back about every 5 years for them to look and evaluate but so far I still have 2 in the right side but this last time they "mentioned" knee replacement and I acted as though I didn't hear anything so it kind of dropped. I know the subject will come up again.....
To @lowspeed question, I have 2 friends that have had it done. One was back at the club the next weekend and doing fine but the other one is having difficulties with stiffness and sore as all get out. Personally I think the general health and height to weight ratio is the difference. The guy not doing good is about 50-60 pounds overweight and the other was much more fit...
To @lowspeed question, I have 2 friends that have had it done. One was back at the club the next weekend and doing fine but the other one is having difficulties with stiffness and sore as all get out. Personally I think the general health and height to weight ratio is the difference. The guy not doing good is about 50-60 pounds overweight and the other was much more fit...
My knees are shot. Left is bone to bone contact but the right one hurts worse. I was supposed to have the total replacement on the left March 3rd but when the Doctor was telling me about the recovery of 6 weeks and that I would be out of work and need someone to take care of me or go into a rehab facility (the first drawback I've gad due to being a hermit) I suddenly felt a lot better
I am going to have to have it done but I just can't figure out the logistics as of yet. If I'm out of work that means all of my other colleagues have to pull extra shifts with no compensation and I'm not that kind of turd. Also there's no one to look after my pack of dogs while I'm down.
I think this is @Jointdoc 's speciality, maybe he'll chime in here?
So what if you get cancer? You just gonna say well I don't want to put anyone out at work. Don't worry about the others and take care of yourself and make sure you post while on drugs so we can make fun of you being happy instead of grumpy.
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Thats what the other night shift guy did. Came back within a few weeks of his Cancer surgery. Folks are dedicated around here!
Ok and you will come back when able too. But you have to take care of yourself. I'm willing to bet you are more concerned about the dogs than yourself or work. I bet we have plenty of folks that would watch one for a few weeks for you. 6 weeks ain't that long man.
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Tim
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Don’t blindly go with whatever surgeon/surgeon group your family doc recommends. Get referrals, ask around...there are HUGE potential differences in success rate between surgeons.
Brangus
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I suffered for over 20 years and my right one had been bone-on-bone for over 9 yrs when I had it replaced in 2012. I checked out all of the surgeons that others told me about and then settled on Dr. John Moore at Pinehurst Surgical Center. I was approved for same day surgery and woke up in one of the CPMs that Geezer mentioned. I left the surgical center 22 hrs after admission and came home to begin the recovery process. I chose to use the CPM and had to pay a little extra for that part but I would do it all over again based on how I feel it helped me with the recovery process. I took the meds as prescribed and really got along well during the rehab and return to work 21 days later.
I'm limited now on kneeling and can't squat any longer which was discussed by the doctor before the surgery. I'm sincere when I say this and Geezer nailed it. .......... I wish I had done it much sooner as that level of knee pain had almost consumed my life. Loss of sleep, constant pain and the loss of mobility is simply not worth it.
I do wish you well with your choice of what you do about this condition. Please don't hesitate to pm me if you need to know anything more about my experience.
I'm limited now on kneeling and can't squat any longer which was discussed by the doctor before the surgery. I'm sincere when I say this and Geezer nailed it. .......... I wish I had done it much sooner as that level of knee pain had almost consumed my life. Loss of sleep, constant pain and the loss of mobility is simply not worth it.
I do wish you well with your choice of what you do about this condition. Please don't hesitate to pm me if you need to know anything more about my experience.
My wife's cousin had both of his replaced at the same time last year and did great. He is only 50.
My mom had bone cancer in her femur so they removed about 6" of it and also replaced her knee. It has been 9 weeks and she is starting to get around pretty good. She spent 3 weeks in a rehab nursing home after surgery.
From everything I have heard, recovery can vary greatly from person to person.
My mom had bone cancer in her femur so they removed about 6" of it and also replaced her knee. It has been 9 weeks and she is starting to get around pretty good. She spent 3 weeks in a rehab nursing home after surgery.
From everything I have heard, recovery can vary greatly from person to person.
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Don, my Mom had both of hers done. One in August of last year, and the second in December. My brother is in the hospital right now recovering from the same surgery, by the same dr that done moms. They( other drs, and other hospitals), say the guy that did my moms and brothers, is the best on the east coast. He does 6-7 a day. Holler at me if ya want details.
Mr. Williams
I have a friend that had it done several years ago everything went well for her the only she didn't like was the therapy afterwards she said it was a little painful. But looking back she is glad she done it. She has no issues with her knees now.
I have a friend that had it done several years ago everything went well for her the only she didn't like was the therapy afterwards she said it was a little painful. But looking back she is glad she done it. She has no issues with her knees now.
My knees are shot. Left is bone to bone contact but the right one hurts worse. I was supposed to have the total replacement on the left March 3rd but when the Doctor was telling me about the recovery of 6 weeks and that I would be out of work and need someone to take care of me or go into a rehab facility (the first drawback I've gad due to being a hermit) I suddenly felt a lot better
I am going to have to have it done but I just can't figure out the logistics as of yet. If I'm out of work that means all of my other colleagues have to pull extra shifts with no compensation and I'm not that kind of turd. Also there's no one to look after my pack of dogs while I'm down.
I think this is @Jointdoc 's speciality, maybe he'll chime in here?
Yeah man - happy to weigh in and answer any and all questions. My family jokes me - years and years of training for just two operations - hip and knee replacements. (I also revise or “redo” them when others don’t do such a great job).
Hips have 99% excellent results if done well. Rehab or not - you will do well. Rehab helps tremendously.
Total knees are a different beast. I tell my patients I do 25% of the work and they do 75%. Lots of PT, work on range of motion, icing the knee down, pain medication as needed. You really get out of it what you put into it. Knees take a lot of work.
Average course that I tell my patients:
hospital overnight typically - sometimes same day, rarely 2 days. Walker 1 week or less. Cane couple weeks then off everything. Driving when you are on a single point cane and not taking narcotics.
2 week mark - you are not happy - you curse my name.
6 week mark - you like it - you don't love it. You are gradually getting back to normal daily activities, but you know you had a big surgery - still swollen, pain at night, pain if you overdo it.
By the 10-12 week mark you begin to love it and it keeps getting better.
Some people are way on the front end of this curve and at 2-3 weeks look like they never had surgery, conversely it take some people 6 weeks to get off the walker. Biggest thing I see to determine this is that if you come into surgery in relatively good shape, then you hit the ground running after surgery.
With respect to CPM - all the data and literature suggest that patients do better if they do NOT you a CPM and if they get their range of motion of their own. CPM gives a false sense. We use them if patients request them. Most insurance companies no longer pay for them as the data across the board says CPM vs. no CPM is no difference, vs better outcome with no CPM.
The MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE I can give anyone thinking about having a total knee.
1. pick a surgeon who is a FELLOWSHIP trained total joint surgeon - ie does more than 50 total knees per year (ideally >400 joints per year) and has done one year of extra training is total knees. Not a general guy who on the day he does your total knee may be doing a shoulder, an ankle, a scope, a clavicle, then your knee (jack of all trades master of none). You want a guy who on the day of your knee is doing all knees and hips.
2. your health is important - what increases risk at the time of total joint:
- smoking - over 1ppd places you at high risk for infection
- poorly controlled diabetes - lots of studies support high risk of infections and complications in cardiac, joint, colorectal surgery, foot and ankle surgery when diabetes poorly controlled - hemoglobin A1C over 7.5
- BMI (body mass index) over 40 - lots of data on this - BMI over 40 increases infection risk about 10 fold, BMI of 50 increases infection risk about 25 fold. Every pound of weight on the body is 3-6 pounds of weight on the knee. ----ie 350lb guy getting a TKA is putting about a 1 ton of pressure on a TKA - that knee will fail early if it does get infected at the time of implantation as it is high risk going in.
Hope this helps fellas - let me know if any questions. May be more than everyone wanted, but trying to be informative. Bottom line is that total hips doing amazing and from a recovery point of view are pretty easy. Total knees doing great as well, but are more work on the part of the patient and hurt more initially. All of this hinges on good surgical technique - good PT - good preoperative medical optimization if needed.
Let me know if questions. Important to have a fantastic team in place when doing total joints to take care of you.
Someone at home, and a good support team on the surgeon side - PT, navigators, surgeon, nursing, etc.
-John
Don't go with the local guy/girl just because they are local and convenient. I work at a tertiary care center - so we get referrals from WV, VA, TN and all of western NC - we revise painful / infected / loose total knee and hip replacements that have not done well. We see some of the worst of the worst. Our philosophy is to put them in right the first time so they last. Unfortunately that is not universal.
Statistic: 80% of total joints in this country are done by surgeons that do fewer than 50 per year.
Ask around and go to someone that does a lot and does them well.
I tell patients that your body is your most important vehicle. Your wouldn't take your Ferrari to get the oil changed at the local quick lube just because it was up the road (not that I know anyone who owns a ferrari - wish I did). You would do your research, ask around.
Where are you located? If you're not too far from the Triangle, give me a buzz. I work at Duke Raleigh Hospital and we have the surgeons and rehab services to set you up right. I agree with asking around because depending on your age and the overall condition, some light rehab may be better than surgery. However TJRs are becoming very routine especially if you do it earlier than later and give yourself a better chance of taking full advantage of rehab.
I need to have my left knee done. Been bone to bone for almost 15 years now. Also have two large screws holding things together from a prior accident. Have been talking with the surgeon for the past year now (the pain is constant now). He has told me I would no longer be able to get down on my knees or that type of stuff. Which is one of the reasons I have been putting it off. The other reason is that I am way over weight. Yes big old fat guy. The doctor was ok with doing it and explained how we would work rehab. I was not ok with it though. I have had a total of 5 knee operations over a 40 year period and fully understand the rehab thing. Lighter is better by far. I was 400 lbs and am now down to 318 lbs. Once I get down below 300 I will probably go ahead and have it done.
I know several people that have had it done recently and none of them have had a real problem with it. One thing I would say get your legs in shape. Walk a few extra miles every day and if you have access to a stationary bike get on it now and pedal for about an hour every day. Will help greatly.
Good luck with your knee.
I know several people that have had it done recently and none of them have had a real problem with it. One thing I would say get your legs in shape. Walk a few extra miles every day and if you have access to a stationary bike get on it now and pedal for about an hour every day. Will help greatly.
Good luck with your knee.
Forgot one thing - activity post op - You can get back to pretty much anything you want to do within reason. Walking, hiking, tennis, golf, hunting, skiing, (pickle ball seems to be popular although I do not know much about this sport), etc. I caution people against high impact sports - running, jumping on a consistent basis - you CAN run if you need to. But after a TKA is not the time to train for a 10K.
Several people mentioned crawling / kneeling. You have a scar on the front of your knee which is tender. You have outside world - skin - metal. When you kneel on hard ground it is pinching that skin and is uncomfortable. It will not hurt the knee, but it may hurt you. Most patients like to kneel on foam pads or pillows. The knee toughens up in time and kneeling gets easier. I do advise patients with work like plumbing/ HVAC / etc that having a TKA may drastically change their career...
Best of luck to you and please reach out with questions.
Several people mentioned crawling / kneeling. You have a scar on the front of your knee which is tender. You have outside world - skin - metal. When you kneel on hard ground it is pinching that skin and is uncomfortable. It will not hurt the knee, but it may hurt you. Most patients like to kneel on foam pads or pillows. The knee toughens up in time and kneeling gets easier. I do advise patients with work like plumbing/ HVAC / etc that having a TKA may drastically change their career...
Best of luck to you and please reach out with questions.
Last post - just read this last night - people are having total joints younger and younger. Did my fellowship at New England Baptist in Boston - great year, cold year...
https://www-bostonglobe-com.cdn.amp...ions-are-high/NSyWYCkx86ZJFBmtEOX6LP/amp.html
https://www-bostonglobe-com.cdn.amp...ions-are-high/NSyWYCkx86ZJFBmtEOX6LP/amp.html
I called to have mine scheduled today, I so didn't need to see that.
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Wishing you the best results as you proceed with your replacement. It was one of the best decisions I've made in life as an adult.
I have yet to meet anyone who regrets having theirs done I just dread the downtime and rehab. I got critters to look after and no one looking after me.
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I’m seeing the rehab for the third time now. Not that I’ve experienced it myself, but my mom hadn’t walked without a walker or cane in 12 years. Now she’s scooting all over the place like sea biscuit. My brother just had one done and some other stuff done to the same leg on April 2nd and he hasn’t had any pain meds in like 5 days now and he’s not allowed to bend his leg yet
Best of luck to you. Hope all goes well. Best advice I give patients.
- stay ahead of the pain the first two weeks
- ice the hell out of it for 6 weeks
- porch swing (if you have access) for rehab - plant your foot on the ground and swing into it - will help with flexion
Had my surgery Monday. A couple of complications,one being bad sleep apnea. They thought I was going to check out on them so I spent the first day not in PT but up on the care floor.
Doc. Finally came out today and told me that I woke up and started fighting, fiercely, It took several people to hold me down. Said I may have torn some sutures.
Doc. Finally came out today and told me that I woke up and started fighting, fiercely, It took several people to hold me down. Said I may have torn some sutures.
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Hope you get on the road to healing soon.
Obstructive sleep apnea can be scary. We screen all patients for OSA before surgery. Be careful if you have OSA when you are at home and taking narcotics as it can exacerbate your symptoms at night. May be worth looking into sleep study / CPAP at night. Take care and good luck!
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My mother had both of hers replaced last year - June, and then September. She was 73 at the time and has had no regrets. She recovered quickly from both and had led a pretty sedentary lifestyle. She gets around much better now and has no pain. What was said above is true - many wish they hadn't put it off so long, including my mom. It is also a very good point from above that was made about finding someone who does them routinely. Dr. David Pollock at Wake Forest Baptist did my mother's and he knows what he's doing. The hospital in Davie County was great.