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Knee replacement surgery

S

sack

'From man's sweat and God's love, beer came to be.
Joined
May 11, 2005
Messages
4,859
Location
Chicagoland
I'm having both my knees replaced, one at a time. Tomorrow is the first scheduled one and the second is on the 22nd of February. The thought of being cut is starting to weigh heavy on my mind. Anyone have some experiences withthis type of surgery?
 
Sack,
I'm going through a similar situation except not as extreme. My doctors and trainers have been discussing some arthroscopic surgery to repair some cartilage under my left patella in addition to a lateral quadriceps release on my left knee to relieve misaligned patellar tracking and hopefully alleviate ALOT of pain. All I can say is good luck... and maybe seek a second (or third) opinion before having the surgery!

All the best,
Vinny
 
Claudio good luck with the surgery. I know many people who have had the procedure done and it is worth it long term. Just think of it as an investment for your future. Let us know how it goes. All the best!
 
I have a number of friends who have had this done. It's tough at the begining. You'll learn to hate your physical therapist, no matter how beautiful she might be. But in the long run they are all glad they did it. As for the actual surgery, it's a source of anxiety for everyone. The Orthopod, nursing staff and your gas-passer will do their best to answer all your questions and address your concerns.

Doc.
 
I don't have any personal experience with this except the my mother had both knees replaced. The first knee she had done when she was in her early 50's, doctors told her she was too young to have a knee replaced. Problem was that she was not able to walk or go up and down steps without being in extreme pain. She finally found a Doctor who told her she was too young not to have it done, that it would increase her quality of life.

One of the best pieces of advice I can give you it to stick with the physical therapy.... make sure you use the machine that bends your knee automatically while you are laying in bed....

My Mom & Dad now go to Vegas, Florida and other places that she was not able to go to because she couldn't walk around......

and remember........ TAKE THE PAIN KILLERS !!!!
 
I have had arthroscopic surgery on my left knee years ago, which helped allot, but never replacement. Doc is totally on the money with the physical therapy though. You WILL, learn to hate your therapist as they push you through all sorts of pain levels! :D
 
Thanks to everyone who answered, AND doc, pain is now a way of life, i look forward to pain that is decreasing and not growing. I'm making plans to travel when i retire in one year and leg mobility is part ofthe equation. All i'm doing now is waiting for the hospital to call and find out when to report. God bless CP!
 
My father had both of his knees replaced about 9 years ago it took him about four months to recover but after that he was as good as new in the mobility aspect.Like others have said here you will learn to hate those masochistic bastiges called physical therapists but a good one is worth their weight in gold.Good luck with surgery.
 
Do the physical therapy and take the drugs if you need them. If it really hurts, the drugs won't be a problem and you'll know when it's time to cut back.

My uncle had both knees done a while ago and he's the poster child. He had real bad arthritis and he's only sorry he waited so long to have it done.

Good luck!
 
My dad had both of his done at once last Christmas. It really knocked the crap outa him for a couple of months. He is about 75% of normal now but that is much better than he was.
 
There is a lot of knew surgery going on where I am at, all by mostly atheletes below the age of 23. Most of them are football players. I know a lot of people of Walter Reed who have had it done. As most of the messages indicate, it is a big pain in the butt, especially the recovery and PT part, but it really is an investment for the future. The Docs I always talk to say, the younger the better as recovery is always easier. My wife is looking to have a knee done soon. Good luck. You will do fine. If you have a good DOC, trust them. They usually know what they are doing. G-d bless.
 
Broke my right femur in three places in Mexico Feb2005. A year later my Doctor here has to take out the hardware and put in 90degree plating on the femur and over 40 screws Feb2006. Had a computer assisted TKA in August 2006. Greatest pain relief ever has been the removal of my arthritic bone on bone knee. Follow the PT instructions and push yourself. Recovery determined by effort.

Good Luck,

Baron
 
My mother had both knees replaced at the same time. It is very important to follow the rehab they set up for you. Her roomate in the hospital thought she knew better and didn't follow the regiment. She ended up having it done again because of scar tissue buildup.

My mothers bedrooms are all on the upper floors of her house so I stayed with her for a while after the surgery to help her up and down the stairs and drive her to appointments. Having someone around with you for a few weeks after you get home helps a lot.

She is 75 now and for Christmas I bought her a year membership at the gym she has been attending. She goes every other day to workout and still does aerobics, and that's after 2 knees and 2 hips replaced. It's all in the rehab.

Good luck tomorrow, it'll only get better.
 
Had my right knee replaced September 2003. As some of the other folks have said do the pre-op and the post op therapy religiously. When I had mine done there was a woman who had a knee done the same day and she did not do the pre-op therapy and she paid for it dearly with a lot more discomfort and a lot of pain.

I had a little discomfort immediately after the surgery but once I got up and started moving around it went away. The worst problem I had with the surgery was the four day stay in the hospital. Couldn't sleep because of those damn BP booties they make you wear and the bland hospital food. :angry:

I've got full use of the knee now with no problems. I still do the exercises that the therapist gave me every day to keep the area around the knee strong.

The surgery has changed a bit since I had mine. They don't cut you open as much and recovery is quicker. My 87 year old great aunt had her knee done the day after Thanksgiving in 2005 and her incision was half the size of mine and she was back to playing golf and bowling this past spring with no problems.

Good luck! :thumbs:
 
Hey Sack, if you have any specific questions about the surgery, I can probably answer them, as I am an assistant in the operating room. Did a knee replacement and a hip replacement yesterday, in fact.

Let me know if I can help...

ALostTexan
 
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