Total Knee Replacement

Just trying to get some real life opinions. I have had three scopes done on my right knee, two within the last year with last one being done 10 days ago. I go in for a post op visit last Friday and the doctor says we need to do a Total Knee Replacement but have to wait at least 60 days for the last Arthroscopy to heal. I have to go in next month with my wife and discuss the process for a total knee replacement and what to expect.
My buddy Sam had his done last year, when I called to check on him he said " Rich, I am 55 years old and I was crying for my Momma it hurt so bad ". That scares the shit out of me because Sam is a "tough as nails retired marine".

Anybody have any words of advice or comments, all I find on the internet is people that have had problems. My surgeon said you can't go by that because the only people that write in on the forums are the people that have had complications.

I am 51 and have been on disability for a year because my knee is so bad so i guess I don't have much of a choice. Again just seeing if any of you guys know anything about this.

 

Make sure you get a track suit.

Knees suck. Hips suck more. All I can really say is get another opinion if you're that concerned.

Did he say why you need a total knee replacement? What is wrong exactly?

I can say this much, knee surgery fucking hurts. After watching my wife go through labour and recovery from knee surgery I can faithfully say that recovery was a more painful process.

Percocet is your friend. Just make sure to take it with water and not a shot of spirits or you'll be down for the big sleep.

 

Agreeed, I had my ACL, PCL, and something else I cant remember at the moment replaced in my knee. The recovery time sucks on a knee. Not to mention not being able to drive because it has to stay stiff etc etc.

 

I also tore my ACL, both tendons on the sides of my knee, knee cap was on the side of my leg. Twisted the crap out of it. This happened on a Sunday and that same week on a Thursday morning my wife gave birth (C-Section)to my daughter and we had a 2 yr old running around at the time. So it was Crazy!! My sister moved in to help, friends cut my 1 acre yard,my mother and mother-in-law coordinated lunch and dinner. That was 9 yrs ago no driving for two months was a pain a friend drove me to rehibilitation and back!! Today some poping in the knee but no pain at all. My mother who is 76 had a Total knee replacement and loves it. Yes she was in pain but it's been a year know and wants to do the other one.
You will be in pain after your knee replacement but channel your Navy Seal within you and with time you will be happy that you did it!!

 

My wife had a total knee replacement 6 years ago. The therapy is the most important part and the more painful. We know 2 other people that had the operation and they stopped going to therapy because "it hurt", but now they only can bend their knee 1/2 of normal. Wheras my wife has almost total normal range of motion. Your choice, either take the pain for a little while or severlly limit your physical ability in the future.
My wife is a sissy when it comes to pain. If she could do the therapy so could you. Good Luck

Peace,
Etced

 

Yeah, he said I was bone on bone in a large are of my knee which has caused severe arthritus in the knee. He said the Arthritus is what causes the constant pain and the movements in my knee which create the bone on bone scenario are the ones that give me that sharp pain that shoots from your knee out the top of your head.

 

I want to say "Thank You" to all of those that have replied. Dang you not only help with my truck but help with medical advice.

What a great forum!!!

 

I had both hips replaced at age 46. yes both at the same time. One knee replacement is like a day at the beach!.......the surgical pain hurts ,but walking before the surgery was much more painful

 

Just make sure you do the physcial therapy! I know a few people who didn't and now have more pain than before. Oh and exercising, my knee has been hurting me for over a year, the past 3 months i've been working out and excercising, and now my knee no longer hurts.

The doctors told me either A) I tore my ACL again, or B) I need to excercise more often to help stretch it out

 

Today I had my 1 yr TKR follow up with my Ortho.
My left knee was replace on Jun 14, 2010 @ the age of 49.
Before the TKR, I had chronic pain from degenerative arthritis, 3 prior surgeries from old injuries dating back to 1979. My femur had shifted due to a past surgeon removing my entire medial menicus. A previous ACL reconstruction had deteriorated. My joint was deformed & had developed painful bone spurs. I had no medial space left. Bone on Bone just like you described.
My knee was toast.
My knee replacement was a life changing event for me & I hugged my surgeon after my appointment.
I can hike, bike, walk without a limp, do yoga, sleep through the night etc. I live a pretty active lifestyle and no longer have depression from not being able to do things. That is huge for me and those around me lol.
But I have to keep up going the gym, doing my strength exercises, ride a bike for range of motion & stretch.
The operation, the surgeon, the therapy is only part of the equation.
You really have to be invested in your recovery everyday.
I do not regret one minute my surgery and feel lucky to have had a great surgeon in Dr. Bryan Huber of Mansfield Orthopaedics.
I wish you the best in whatever decision you make. The surgery itself is worthwhile imo!!!!

 

Thanks Judy,

I don't have any choice in the matter as you were saying my knee is toast and I was a very active person until about a year ago. I go through times of deprssion also like you.
Questions :
(1) How did they treat you to stop the possibility of blood clots. I had one person tell me they had to have their spouse give them injections in the stomach for two weeks following surgery. That scares the heck out of me.
(2) The same person told me it was the most painful months of his life and if his other knee ever went out he would not go through the pain and recover process again. I know its not going to be easy but how would you descibe your recovery. Sam said it was 4 months before he even felt good (meaning not feeling sick) and many months after that before he didn't have pain, and a year before he felt 100%.