Forthcoming op for knee replacement

Hi there, and welcome to our little group.

Youre right, the process of surgery and recovery is pretty grim. BUT - and its a BIG but - you have to realise that we are the exception rather than the rule. Im sure that there are plenty of people who have textbook-perfect surgery, no complications, adequate rehab - NONE of these people would have the need to post their experiences on here - they wont be seeking answers to their questions and solutions to their problems as, quite frankly, they wont have any! We are the unlucky few who, for whatever reason, have sought solace in like-minded people who understand (or at least empathise with) what we are going through.

I'm sure plenty of my compadres will be along to add their thoughts, and Im sure there are a couple of people who will be able to give you more details than me, but despite the problems Im currently experiencing, I would STILL recommend TKR as a solution to long-term severe knee pain due to OA. I cant comment on having it for other reasons, as mine were for OA so thats all I really know about. 

I would urge you not to rush into your decision, take some time. Severe OA is debilitating and it can only get worse. Dont burn your bridges just yet.

Terri - Right TKR March 2015 Left TKR October 2015

Hi yvonnemarie

I really understand what you're saying. I think if I'd read this forum before my op, I may never have gone through with it !! However.....now that I have, I can honestly say that I have every hope that the overall outcome will be better than it would have been if I'd had no intervention. And that's got to be a good thing.

I think things seem bad on here for two reasons: 1) people are sounding off in the immediate aftermath of a pretty difficult operation, and 2) there are always some risks to any op ( as well as to not having it), and the people who have had problems are naturally posting more than others.

So....I agree with terri. Do think it over again, please, before you make your decision. Wishing you all the best x

I am 49 years old and had a partial knee replacement 2 weeks ago, I was not in severe pain all the time prior to surgery but it was severely affecting my life, I could walk for about 20 minutes before the pain made me sit down and if I overdid it I could barely walk by evening, however, I could still ride a bike which I rode 4 to 5 miles 5 times a week to keep fit. I went ahead with surgery now because I was fed up with living half a life and not even able to enjoy a day out with my family and had to miss my friends hen weekend to London because I didn't want to restrict everyone else's activities and I knew I wasn't up to trekking arounda big city all day. I joined this group because the medical professionals seemed to skim over the reality, I was told recovery was 6 weeks and I would be walking unaided. I was quite shocked at how much pain I was in the first week and how stiff and swollen my knee was, so I came on here looking for advice and reassurance which I got plenty of, everyone was very supportive. For me personally once the first week was over and I got the hang of controlling the painkillers things improved, I am walking with 1 crutch and can Potter around the house now, I have been able to half the painkillers in the last few days, really just taking them at night and first thing in morning. I may well be walking unaided by my 6th week who knows and I can tell the OA pain has gone, I am glad I had it done even though I still have a long journey back to full recovery. Of course everyone is different and everyone has a different experience and you have to look at the pros and cons for your situation and listen to what your surgeon advices. Best of luck for the future with whatever you decide.

I completely agree with the previous posts. People come on this forum for help and posting progress. I myself found tips to help me now and further along IF I encounter a different problem. I am 9 weeks post op double tkr and was worried about that decision but it's going to be one of the best I ever made. I have spent more than 5 years going up and down stairs like a toddler due to OA. Now albeit slower than most ..I can do stairs like a normal person, walk without a limp and making those faces from pain at every step. Each week I get better results at physical therapy and am able to start enjoying the weather.

We all are different and handle surgery and pain in different ways. Your doctor will help with that. I also had a total hysterectomy in Nov with everything plus two other small organs taken out...I would do the tkr before the other one any day.

Give it some thought and read more on this forum. Ive found lots of positive posts.

Good luck

I completely agree with the previous posts. People come on this forum for help and posting progress. I myself found tips to help me now and further along IF I encounter a different problem. I am 9 weeks post op double tkr and was worried about that decision but it's going to be one of the best I ever made. I have spent more than 5 years going up and down stairs like a toddler due to OA. Now albeit slower than most ..I can do stairs like a normal person, walk without a limp and making those faces from pain at every step. Each week I get better results at physical therapy and am able to start enjoying the weather.

We all are different and handle surgery and pain in different ways. Your doctor will help with that. I also had a total hysterectomy in Nov with everything plus two other small organs taken out...I would do the tkr before the other one any day.

Give it some thought and read more on this forum. Ive found lots of positive posts.

Good luck

I completely agree with the previous posts. People come on this forum for help and posting progress. I myself found tips to help me now and further along IF I encounter a different problem. I am 9 weeks post op double tkr and was worried about that decision but it's going to be one of the best I ever made. I have spent more than 5 years going up and down stairs like a toddler due to OA. Now albeit slower than most ..I can do stairs like a normal person, walk without a limp and making those faces from pain at every step. Each week I get better results at physical therapy and am able to start enjoying the weather.

We all are different and handle surgery and pain in different ways. Your doctor will help with that. I also had a total hysterectomy in Nov with everything plus two other small organs taken out...I would do the tkr before the other one any day.

Give it some thought and read more on this forum. Ive found lots of positive posts.

Good luck

I for one will never have another knee done because of my health situation but I have heard great results from others. With two previous heart attacks and the development of two blood clots in my leg after the surgery plus 2 heel spurs making it difficult to walk,you can see my fear.Now I have developed a frozen shoulder from the pushing of my arms on the walker. I also cannot take any pain killers. Has not been a pleasant experience for me,but everyone is different.

Hi I am 13 days po and I can say it has bee very hard. I was like you in 2014 I had two surgeries 6 months apart to repair meniscus damage and I was told I was bone on bone, and live with he pain as long as you can. Forward 2 years I went for the knee replacement as he was doing the surgery it was all three compartments were bone on bone and my acl was hanging by a thread doctors words. He could not believe I was walking still. So here we are 13 days later yes still in pain, still swollen, still stiff, still bruised, but I made the right decision quality of life over rules the pain I have now. If you ask everyone on here I would say 95% say it was the best decision they made. I joined this forum 6 days ago and I was in a very dark place I blamed myself for all the pain I was having. I would not follow med schedule and belive me it was hell now after receiving many many words of encouragement I can say it will get better. I know there will be many many more dark days ahead and many set backs but with the help and support of the people on here I will get through this. So I would ask you to really think about your decision and yes it is your decision ask a million and one questions then make an informed decision. So I wish you all the best. Good luck

Tom

just remember .....out of a thousand takes you may have one post on here and then will disappear in a few weeks. Tkr recovery is a process and most go through it in text book fashion but some struggle and those are the ones that find their way here. Some are just looking for more info and a better way to heal. I can guarantee that your 1st 6 weeks will be difficult. After all, the extent of this proceedure is brutal at best. People like me have had extenuating circumstances ( a rare tumor) that drove me to it and as they can't remove it all, it is still being destructive and will be till the day I die. If you would have been on here for a year you would have seen most of the names and problems dissappear. Those that have a choice must ask themselves how they want to live out their future. Knowing there is pain and disability looming the rest of their lives or a huge chance of getting rid of it. That is up to you.