Anyone give me advise on replacement knee op??

poppy2021

Hi there, I have just joined the site.

I am female, 49 years old and have lived with osteoarthritis in both of knees for 10 years now.

Most days I can cope (if only just) but sometimes find it difficult to keep up with my 2 daughters, (11 and 16) especially when we go girly shopping.

I really miss dancing as I find that too hard now.

I am on anti imflammatory drugs and pain relief but would like to hear from anyone who has had a knee replacement.

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you. I am waiting for my first orthopaedic appointment to discuss a knee (possibly two) replacements and, personally, I cannot wait! It won't sort out the other arthritis-affected joints but it should significantly reduce at least some of the pain, which can only be a good thing. There are a fair few around here who have had replacements, I hope they spot your post and reply. The site has been quite quiet of late, a combination of the school holidays and some decent weather, I guess. There is a fairly recent thread by someone called gazza (I think) - he has just had a partial replacement and is ecstatic with the results - I will find it and bump it up for you (ie move it nearer to the top of the topics list). I wish you well. DD

bertyboy

Hi Poppy if the time feels right go for it its now you need to be more mobile to enjoy your girls , i had my left one replaced last April and although i have got probs with it and needing another op to sort it out i just class my self one of the few unlucky ones ,

barbara12

Hi Poppy
It lovely to have you aboard, sorry I cant help but like DD says we do have a few knee people on here, and hopefully they will see your thread soon.
Our Elna might be along later she has had both knees replaced, and has lots of advice.
Hope to see you posting more very soon

hileena111

Hi Poppy
Welcome to the forum.......Sorry I cant help....I'm a "hippy"
but there are loads of people who have had knee replacements that no doubt will come on with advice

Love
Hileena

elnafinn

Hi Poppy

I have had two TKRs one in 2008 and the other in 2010. I can recommend it as all went well for me and it was the best thing that I could have done or rather the surgeon I will be 61 years old at the end of this year. My mobility was good soon after the op but I did suffer pain for about 9 months post op. Everyone is different.

Elna x

mig

Hi ,not had knee replacement myself but my sister did (not due to arthur)after recovery period shes like a new person.good luck thinking of you.Mig

sharmaine

Hi
I too have OA (both knees). I had my first TKR in February 2010 and my second was supposed to be this year but it has been delayed until next year. Prior to the TKR I was in a wheelchair for 6 months.

My new knee has been marvellous - I couldn't walk anywhere for about six months prior to my operation as my left knee (the operated knee) had become excruciatingly painful and had bowed inwards). The Occupational Therapist had rails fitted outside and inside my house. I couldn't even make the beds or do the washing! I would say that it takes quite some time for things to heal so don't expect immediate relief. I don't have the levels of pain I used to that OA pain has gone HOORAH! However, since my op I have found that my foot has been painful I think it's because the new knee/leg is taking all the strain.

I still find it jolly hard to walk on flat surfaces (mainly because the other leg needs doing), Try not to push yourself if this happens to you. Get your shopping delivered - I had a spell of being able to do the shopping but as my other leg deteriorates this becomes impossible. It seems I have plantar fascilitis in my left foot now and that means I'm back to using a crutch.

I would recommend that you do exercises prior to knee surgery to strengthen your thigh muscles. I used a mini cycle - I could only do the exercises whilst lying on the floor but you may be able to do them sitting up. My leg was just too bad to manage anything sitting up (prior to the TKR). They'll get you doing exercises immediately after the operation and my advice to you is to keep up with them every single day. It will help. After the operation I used the belt of a bathrobe to get my leg onto and out of the bed. Your leg is black and blue after the operation. I used a combination of ice packs and heat pads on my knee/leg after the TKR. The ice packs are essential - in fact I had 3 ice packs as my leg was swollen from thigh to foot.

Make sure you have a comfy bed - many of us have memory foam mattress toppers. Are you having a TKR soon?

For me the TKR has made a huge difference as I no longer need the wheelchair. I have accepted that I can't kneel and getting on the floor is a bit difficult as I have trouble getting up again. It's a big decision to make but it has certainly improved the quality of my life. I'm 55.

Sharmaine

skezier

Hi Poppy,

Welcome to the forum and you got some good advice and more will come.

I think the replacement thing is a really good idea not least cus it gets rid of the pain but also cus it will bring you back so much more of your life than the knees you got.

I would jump at it if they could replace any bit of me. Nice to meet you and hope the info your have been given helps make your choices easier? Cris x

sallyw

I'm 54 and I nearly drove myself crazy in making the decision to have a partial knee replacement. (Yes, I kept hearing that I was too young, too - but my knee thought it was 80!) My left knee was extremely painful when walking and I was using a cane. It first became painful in the late 90s and gradually got worse. One dr. wanted to do arthroscopy on it and I'm glad I didn't. The cartilage was probably gone at that point anyway. Many teachers I work with have had totals and were a wealth of information and strength to draw from.

I had a partial or unicompartmental knee replacement (Makoplasty - robotic) on 6/21/11. The dr. also straightened the bowing in my leg which resulted from the OA damage. I'm almost 10 weeks out from surgery and it was the best decision I ever made. I teach and did it over the summer (I still hate my sitting room - I spent way too much time in it) and now that school is back, I can walk down the hall as much as I want and I don't think about my knee. It's still painful sometimes and I take ibuprofen. I'm still working on flexion in physical therapy but since I don't like to exercise, it's partly my fault. I know I will need a total down the road but hope that my partial will last 15-20 years. The right knee crunches a lot and the dr. told me it should hurt, but it doesn't so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will hold out for a while. I love my new knee but I want to wait and get the first one completely well before I have to even consider another surgery.

Sharmaine is right in everything she said. Plan to spend a lot time either exercising or sitting on the sofa. It's hard to not push too hard, some days you will feel great and over do it. But those times lessen - I don't think the recovery from a partial is very different from a total - unless you're the guy on youtube who had surgery on Tuesday and was playing golf on Friday. He was on the news here a few weeks ago. I saw and believed that video before my surgery and a friend tried to tell me it wasn't going to be that way. She was right.