Does anyone know the weight of a tkr replacement?

sharmaine
sharmaine Member Posts: 1,638
edited 4. Dec 2010, 15:22 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi

I'm curious! My leg felt like it had been filled with cement after my tkr.
Nine months later and that memory was nearly forgotten. Any idea how much the new joint weighs? I forgot to ask the specialist when I last saw him!

Sharmaine

Comments

  • cherrybim
    cherrybim Member Posts: 334
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sharmaine,

    When I had a THR in August the lovely resident hospital Physio showed our post-op class a replacement hip joint. She said "If anyone thinks they can say any weight gain is due to the replacement joint, then no such luck, your original joint and the artificial one weigh about the same and the same applies to any of you who have already had a TKR".

    A smug titter went round the room as none of us was in the slightest overweight :lol

    Cherry x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HaH!!!

    Nice answer that - I only peeped at this thread to be nosey!

    I bet Sharmaine that it felt heavy as it was likley swollen :(
    Love

    toni xx
  • cherrybim
    cherrybim Member Posts: 334
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Tee hee Toni,

    I think Sharmaine was quite right. I thought the same as her, a TKR felt like a lump of concrete :lol:

    I've never been so delighted that I had it done but ohhhh....... it was certainly pain and then gain :D

    I've got to have the other knee done but I'm being a bit naughty saying that I need my bunions done first :oops:

    Cherry x
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Sharmaine, I love your posts!! I always wondered this about hip replacement and resurface joints. So was interested to hear Cherry's reply.

    Speedy

    PS just developing a bit of suspicion (sp?) towards physio's answer - how can a plastic hip joint for example, weigh the same as ceramic/bone/metal ... not entirely convinced ... 'tis a bit of a simplistic reply ...
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • cherrybim
    cherrybim Member Posts: 334
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    speedalong wrote:
    Sharmaine, I love your posts!! I always wondered this about hip replacement and resurface joints. So was interested to hear Cherry's reply.

    Speedy

    PS just developing a bit of suspicion (sp?) towards physio's answer - how can a plastic hip joint for example, weigh the same as ceramic/bone/metal ... not entirely convinced ... 'tis a bit of a simplistic reply ...

    Well I guess I believe her, all the patients in the class had had the same style/type of hip replacement :) The hospital is purely orthopaedics and the patients are given a copy of their "traceability and prosthesis record" We all had an "Exeter" and the 6 different components certainly sound heavy. I'll check it again with the Ortho surgeon when he sorts my foot out on the 15th :)

    Cherryx

    Cherry xx
  • grampyal
    grampyal Member Posts: 81
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, The new knee joint certainly does feel heavier than the old one and my knee is definately bigger than the one that has not had a replacement. Two and a half years on I don't think this can be due to swelling. A friend had his done on a "cancellation" and swore the knee he had was intended for a l6 stone marine as it was a lot bigger than his orininal. I think a lot of titanium is used so that is light and also some bone is removed to fit the prosthesis. I still feel some of my weight gain must be due to the joint.
    Al
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Cherry, maybe she meant then that the "Exeter" weighed the same as bone. Who knows? It is interesting though, isn't it.

    I've only seen my metal "parts" on x-rays.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • harebell2
    harebell2 Member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi all, am so glad I read these replies. I was convincing myself that my new knee weighed at least half a stone! Well, Slimming world, here I come (after christmas of course). Love Pat