Knee replacement next month

As my daughter said to me when I was reading all the scary depressing comments  prior to my TKR “mum the people who have had a successful knee replacement are not sat reading websites they are out on the golf course and getting on with their new active lives”.  She was quite correct. My knee is fabulous. Don’t worry it will be fine start planning all your new activities. I was back at work after four weeks. I will be thinking of you. X x x 

My advice is that if you really really need it go for it. I wish I had never done it. I’m 9 weeks out and now have stiff knee. Worried after I have read a lot about this and the way to fix this is not want I want to do. 

Has my left TKR 3 months ago and the other knee needs a replacement next year,and yes it’s a rough ride,but as the surgeon told me the alternative is sooner or later I’ll end up in a wheelchair so it’s a no brainier and  3 months in I’m back on the golf course (nine holes for now) so if you need it get it done man.

Go for it. I had both mine done a year apart. Before I could have cried with the pain, I fell and lay on the floor not able to bend my knee to get up for half an hour, finally had to force myself to kneel and pull myself up, the pain was horrendous. After two replacements, knees are stiff if I sit too long but soon wears off. Way better than the awful arthritis pain, I didn't realise how bad I was!

I would have them done again In a second.

Thanks for your words of advice - much appreciated and although I dread the op as I know in the long run it will help me 

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/so-glad-i-had-it-done--610806?page=0#2833971

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/8-months-post-op--620728

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/up-and-going-and-going-608564?page=0#2817416

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/it-s-taken-18-months--610343?page=0#2830200

Try not to get too anxious or depressed. It’s necessary surgery if you are hurting as I was. We all heal at different rates, mine has been a journey not a sprint, but still I plan to get the other one done in six more months. You just can’t think about the down time, mine was not very painful but I do still have stiffness. I walk weird because my other knee is so bad and it keeps me from walking much.  Hopefully with both done, I will regain my natural gait and walking will become easier.  Yes it takes time, but suffering is much worse. Even with my slow recovery, I am glad I had it done. I expect it will eventually not feel so stiff but if not I would rather have stiffness then pain.

Hi Eastie!

My left knee was replaced June 2015. Three and a half months later I had my right knee replaced. From the first few hours following surgery my new left knee was already stronger than my right not-yet-operated-on knee! I had a nerve block for the first 24 hours and additional IV pain medication as needed. (My nurses wrote various medications on my room's whiteboard and the interval between when I could have them. I essentially ordered up the additional meds as needed from the "menu" following the interval rules.) I used a bedpan the first night and then moved to heading to the bathroom the second night. I literally called for my nurse and the two aides which came along with her EVERY 20-30 minutes ALL NIGHT LONG!) We were all giggling as our entourage of FOUR went across the room to the bathroom, two to steady me and one to roll my IV pole. One aide needed to duck under the IV pole so she could position me carefully alongside my IV pole in the bathroom. I would use the toilet as they waited outside the closed door. Then I would pull the cord to alert them I was ready to come out. Back we would go to my bed. Cassie, my angel of a nurse, would say cheerily, "See you in about a half hour, sweetie!" I asked her if I could get credit with physical therapy the next morning for all my walking throughout the night. She wrote the comment on my chart and DID share it with the physical therapists that next morning.??

I had PT twice that second day and third day. I was discharged the following day. My pain was far less after surgery that it had been in the four YEARS prior to my surgery.

Swelling was my biggest issue with my left leg. My right was so much further ahead after its surgery. This was a surprise because my right knee HAD BEEN my worst knee.

I prayed a lot before my surgeries and asked for strength and calm. God delivered, for sure! I knew I would have discomfort, but I also knew these surgeries were my best hope for regaining my life again.

Two years post surgeries I am walking, standing, climbing steps, gardening, raking leaves, playing with our two-year-old granddaughter, shopping , and doing it all with NO KNEE PAIN. I do have arthritis in many other areas of my body, but my KNEES are GREAT!

For me, these two knee replacements were the best two things I ever did for myself and my health.

I hope you will find your experience to be a very successful one!??

20-months post-op...necessary and worth the year's recovery.  It can be depressing or a challenging opportunity to find strength you never knew you had.  No more horrible pain...just gotta stay strong and do the work, give it time and be patient.