TKR

Hi penny yes it will hurt for the first few weeks but it does get better I'm 5,months on and pain what pain. I have my life back again. Before you have the op try and exercise build up strength beforehand I wish I'd known that before I had mine. Have the ice in the house ready for afterwards plenty of painkillers. My hubby moved into the other bedroom terrified he hurt me during the night. It helped I could moan myself. Focus on the exercises don't think you're a wimp cos it will hurt. I'm gearing myself up for my other knee which when I had my first done promised would never never go through it again time heals. Good luck chin up keep on the forum yes you'll hear horror stories but mine isn't one of them.

People have a huge range of different experiences, struggles, and the time it takes for people to feel positive about their new knee and mobility varies.

Outcomes vary and no surgery has a guarantee of success, however the vast majority of people have a good outcome. Some have results which surpass their expectations and some people have less than they hoped. Often it takes much longer than people would like it to, but others have a comparatively rapid rehabilitation and recovery.

Some people do have complications, yes, but don't expect to be one of them...It won't help you one bit. Reading about them can be taken as a positive in terms of developing understanding and compassion, not a cause to fear. Be aware your fear antenni are activated in the run up to surgery and you may well hold onto the negative more than the positive! If the forum isn't having a good effect on you, don't use it.

We are all different, and whatever happens, you need to choose to believe in a positive outcome. It will keep you motivated to invest energy and effort into your recovery.

Here are some posts you might find encouraging, from different points along the recovery path!

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/keep-up-the-hope-and-hard-work-it-s-worth-it-668580?page=0&order=Oldest

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/7-months-since-tkr-and-feeling-brilliant-655665

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-in-march-2017-655647?page=0&order=Oldest

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-the-key-is-don-t-despair-650217

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/18-months-post-tkr-644471?page=0&order=Oldest

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/1-year-anniversary-tkr-640398?page=0&order=Oldest

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/15-month-anniversary-of-bilateral-pkr-638665

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/all-s-well-after-tkr-638645

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

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/officially-over-one-year-621824

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/11-months-and-counting-629816

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/six-weeks-post-op-and-ready-to-sign-off-633382?page=0#3016931

You may like to go to my profile by clicking on the image next to my name/my name. Then if you copy and paste you can get to the relevant page of my artist's blog. I kept a journal of my own knee replacement experience, right from before the surgery right to the one year mark..may be worth a skim through. It has a lot of useful suggestions and information. Hopefully it might be useful to you.

It's a pity we don't get more comments on here from people who had their TKR years ago and explain how it has improved their life. My left knee was almost 20 years ago and the right 18½ years ago. I was off work 6 months each time, and I have had no problems since. Your surgeon will do his work, then it is up to you to do the hard work. Think positively, do your physio and exercise, use your medication to control pain. You will possibly wish you hadn't bothered having the op, but it will get better with time. Don't have a timetable for recovery, everyone is different your recovery is a journey not a race or contest. Try to be positive you will get there in the end, and it really is worth it.