Knee replacement - any regrets

Well it's still early days for me 8 weeks but I'll be honest some days wished I hadn't had it done. I've cancelled my right one for now at least couldn't face it at the moment. Maybe in a few months time I'll feel different but up to then unsure if I've made a good decision having it done.

I had my right knee done in 2012 and it is wonderful to have NO PAIN. I had my left one done 10 weeks ago and it has been tough. Much worse than first. I don't regret it though since the alternative was terrible arthritis pain. I expect to be pain free soon. Everyone has a different recovery story. You might fly through it as I did with my first one. Hope that happens for you.

I had my right knee done in 2012 and it is wonderful to have NO PAIN. I had my left one done 10 weeks ago and it has been tough. Much worse than first. I don't regret it though since the alternative was terrible arthritis pain. I expect to be pain free soon. Everyone has a different recovery story. You might fly through it as I did with my first one. Hope that happens for you.

Hi Taf1234

Without sounding too discouraging make sure you do your homework on TKR first.  I had my TKR done March 26 2018. It was really hard for the first month with pain and swelling. I still have pain and stiffness although not like at the beginning. I still find myself waking up  all hours of the night in pain. Make sure you have a good plan in place with your doctor prior to the surgery and know what to expect. I have always been very active and I can tell you this has put a damper on my life. Also has been mentally and emotionally challenging. No one ever talks about the emotional state you will experience.  There has been many nights I have been up crying feeling like I’m the only person in the world going through this. 

Now, there are people out there that had a TKR and after a few weeks seemed to be back on their game. It’s not a for sure thing how your body will react. I’m planning on going back to work on June 18th. I work in a position that I stand all day. Fortunately I will be able to use a chair during my recovery and ice it during the day a few times.  As I said before I still have pain and a bit of swelling. Im not able to bend it fully. I believe it’s from me not being vigilant with my physical therapy although I do house work and run to the store. Also, I don’t have my energy back. This I was not told about until I started reading everyone else’s experiences on this site. I realized this is normal.  I have read also it may take some where between 6-12 months for full recovery. Some people longer. I’m hoping this will not be my case. So, make sure you do your homework and make sure the doctor explains every detail regarding your recovery.  I was surprised that my doctor didn’t want to give me any more pain meds after the second time he wrote a prescription out. He referred me to a pain management doctor. He told me that he was surprised that I was in pain during my first month like I was and that most people are not. I was so depressed after this asking myself what’s wrong with me. It took this website to make me realize that it’s not a one size fits all surgery.  If you work make sure your company is on board with the possibility of you being out for a bit, make sure you have a family unit at home who will support you by helping out.  I hope this has helped you. 

That question results in two categories:

a. those who were not prepared for the op (like...ALL of us) and therefore had regrets in the middle of the recovery.  Virtually all of these people lost their regrets when they completed their recoveries and the memories faded.  Virtually all of them were thankful that their pain was gone and that they could walk again.  A few might still have some trepidations about having #2 done.

b. those that had a very bad experience, for whatever reason, and might be encountering a very long (18-24 month) recovery.  This is NOT a normal situation and very few people encounter this.  However, for the very few that overcome a TKR within months, there are also those very few who have a long recovery.

The trick is to know exactly what you have to typically look forward to...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-pre-op-expectations-622045

The docs tell you nothing so almost all of us were blindsided by what we encountered: lots of pain for 30-60 days with heavy duty meds, 3 months of grueling work to get your 0 / +120 ROM back, 6-9 months to rebuild your dead muscles, loss of strength and balance, lots of effort to master climbing stairs again and finally future activity restrictions so as not to damage the joint enabling it to last 25 years or more.

This is the most brutal surgery on the planet...but we all got through it (or are currently going through it).  Have no illusions, give up all your expectations, listen to your knee and use the three tools at your disposal: time, work and patience.  You can do this just like the rest of us.  Just don't expect a fast solution and be prepared for the pain and work involved.  There will be advances, setbacks and plateaus...this is NOT a linear recovery.  You'll be dancing at your one-year anniversary party!!!

I know people who's we walking within four weeks with minimal pain. I hoped to be in that category, but had post op complications and ended up in a wheelchair due to arthrofibrosis and sacra tissue which caused my leg to be bent at minus forty five for ten months. I worked hard to get out of the wheelchair and get my leg to zero straight and one twenty five bend. Now the replacement knee is stronger and pain free than the right knee which needs to be replaced. I hope the next replacement goes smoother. I am going through allergy testing to find out what caused the complications and am walking on a pool for an hour twice a week to rebuild muscle and stamina and it's working. It's been a tough road, but I will do it again to regain mobility. Choose a surgeon who has successfully operated on people you know. Same thing in choosing a physical therapist. Don't let them push you past what your knee can do. The first one caused me to lose six weeks of progress, so I learned to speak up for myself. Accept help, rest, ice, elevate, take pain medication. It's worth it.

What Chico wrote is accurate but there are some not all however I am one of those who have had numerous issues. One TKR is rough but I have had 5 all on the same knee and I am looking at having another one fairly soon. ( Waiting on the call from the Dr. ) not everyone is going to have a great outcome but as long as you follow the Dr.s orders do your exercises it will be well worth it. Everyone recovers differently yes there are very general time frames on what to expect when but nothing is set in stone. Everyone deals with pain differently how you experience pain may be totally different then how I deal with pain. Some people only need aspirin or Tylenol for pain others much stronger. You will have good days and then you are going to have days that flat out stink. One thing is for sure you cannot judge your recovery based on anyone but yourself and you must have patience it takes time to heal. I think most will say it was worth it some may not I am still hoping.

Now 14 months post op.

No regrets at all. Every day I am so very grateful I can now walk as I need to and stand for as long as I need to. It's potentially a very life changing surgery...for the best.

There is a percentage of people who are disappointed, and it must be frustrating and disappointing if people don't get the good outcomes they expect, but from my own cursory research 90% say the surgery meets their expectations at one year. Research varies, and expectations, plus all kinds of factors come into play. One takes a risk with any major surgery.

I was desperate for the surgery and its transformed my life in a marvellous way. I will always be grateful for it.

For the fridge...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-reality-of-a-tkr-recovery-in-one-picture-626038

PS: Don't forget your oars for the boat part...

Depends on how much your knee hurts right now.  The surgery is rough but the outcome is good.  I can do stairs better and learning to walk straight now(not limping).  I hated that.  Making sure you have a good care giver.  My husband was excellent.  He knew  what I needed before I did.  If you do go though with a TKR, take your pain medicines on time and full strength for first couple of weeks.  Have a lot of ice on hand or frozen water bottles.  You should be sent home with a icing pump.  I wear it 24/7 for ten days.  Also, do your exercises faithfully.  Or and get a raised toilet seat.  You will be glad your did.  Hope this helps.  

 

Hi Taff,

​I had a partial knee replacement in Nov 2015 - no regrets at all. Yeah, it was hard going during recovery must say, BUT, definitely worth it. I was 71 at the time and went back to work driving a bus in the tourist industry in 11 weeks. I had a brilliant surgeon and have not had a single setback.

​I personally think the key to it is having a great surgeon.

John

Only everyday since Jan31, 2018

No regrets from me!🤗

My pain PRIOR to my knee replacements done June and October 2015 was HORRENDOUS! I was thrilled when I had finally reached the point of being a candidate to receive knee replacements.

A nerve block the first 24 hours did a nice job numbing surgical pain with help from shots of Toradol. Swelling and pain from the tourniquet we're my biggest issues, but having that awful pain GONE was worth every moment of recovery.

I'm a positive person, and I am a believer. Prayer got me through, and I continue to thank God daily for giving me the strength and courage to come out on the other side with two good knees.

No regrets!🤗