TKR - to have or not to have?

TKR is last resort.  Have you tried other treatments (SynVisc) or having the knee scoped to repair the damage?  If you've done it all without success and a TKR is your only answer then, yes...it's better to have it done while you're young and strong enough to endure the recovery which is long and, for the vast majority of people, very painful.  However, before I went there, I'd get a second opinion before committing to a TKR.  You'll have significant pain for 3-6 months, be out of work for 6-9 months and still have lingering issues for 12-18 months.  Read a lot of posts on the forum and listen to people's stories.  This is not easy or fun.  I'd give it a lot of serious thought...

It really only bothered me when doing hard exercise, like skiing . As through work I am covered for private medical, I had one replaced in July. I feel quiet lucky that my recovery took just over 12 weeks. As you can read in this forum, others have not been so lucky.

I need my left knee replaced again because of a football injury. Which I thought I would have done next year, ,but I will put it back as the operation pain and recovery were greater than any pain I have experienced in my life.

Not sure if this helps you , but you will have a better picture than I had.

Merry Christmas

Hello there I agree with Jen get it done now whilst you can do the Physio after. I attended a chiropractor twice a week for four weeks before my op, she gave me exercises which I did regularly. I also did the exercises given me by the NHS Physio 2 weeks before the op. I'm sure it these helped me, not saying I still haven't a long way to go still but am now in more pain with the knee that still needs new joint than the operated knee.

To be balanced however the operation is brutal & I didn't find this forum until after. There are good & bad days but I am so glad I had it done as I was in constant pain before & now only aches a little when over exercising.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Have a Happy Christmas 🎄 🎄

Marilyn

XX

I would never encourage surgery unless a combination of pain and lifestyle were just forcing the issue. If its inevitable that you need it done I wouldnt delay as age isn't a friend in the recovery process.

As many have said, living with long term pain was far worse than the short term pain of getting it done.

are you just waiting around to get old enough or do you have future plans?

I would manage as long as you can. Try everything  else first. I'm seventy seven and I had TKR in July. Still in pain at times when walking but I seem to have recovered very well I'm working more on the exercise and physio in the New Year.

Thank you all for the replies, it is very kind of you to take the time, much appreciated.

ihavenonickname  asks if I lived or just managed - I have managed to live OK I think, and still managing

I do know it is a big operation, but I had bigger, quite a lot a lot of them, my leg was pretty mangled and I was 9 years in and out of hospitals after the accident. It is not the operation itself that worries me, it's the thought it might make things worse. In the last 10 years I also had knee arthroscopy 3 times but my surgeon refuses to do it again, says there's no point.

I have very high pain treshold, and I am still active despite chronic pain, I learned to ignore it.

I don't know if I still would be able to do the things I do - admittedly not as much now as when I was younger but I still do climbing, snorkeling, joga, and even static trapeze (great fun). On the other hand my knee is sometimes quite wobbly, and now and then just crumble under me. It will probably just get worse if I leave it....

Also, a new knee it might even my legs a bit, my left leg is 6.5cm shorter that my right leg after all those operations I had. So  that would be an improvement... Maybe I should just go for it and see what I can do afterwards... 

I will continue to read this forum, it is very interesting.

Difficult one this because there isn't a one size fits all answer. All I can say is I had both my TKRs done within six months. I played rugby until I was in my forties and guess I deserved what I got regarding wear and tear. I had my done as soon as I could and after feeling a little depressed that I couldn't truly run any more I started to focus on what I could do. I speed walk five miles a day now and do vigorous, but low impact gym sessions at least four times a week. I was sixty six last week and I feel pretty good on it. TKR is a brutal procedure but I think worthwhile in the long run. Who is to say what it would be like if i hadn't had it done? I believe I had the very best of treatment at the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford. Brits should thank our lucky stars we have our wonderful NHS!