Knee Replacements - Happy You Did It???

J

jaminhealth

Senior Member
Location
Santa Monica CA
I'm doing all in my power to NOT do one but now wondering...I hear good outcomes, a delivery guy just left and said his aunt had 2 successful ones. And I hear of others who have issues. It's a long hard rehab from what I hear from everyone and even on replacement forums.

I had a nasty hip replacement in 2010 that left me with so many issues which included the knee issue...So I so fear being cut on again.

Thoughts and comments...I know this record is getting old...so am I.
 

It is a matter of having a good surgeon who will take into consideration all of your health and age conditions. Rehabilitation therapy is as important as the surgery and must be done by physios who understand what is required after joint replacements. Bad physiotherapy is worse than none at all. Control of pain for a few weeks post op is helpful too but should not go on for more than about 4 weeks..

In the end, it is a matter of confidence. If you don't feel confident about the outcome and you are content to continue as you are, then don't have the surgery. You will need to think about pain control as time goes on.

Either way, good luck and good health in the future.
 
Very happy. I had the first one R done in 2009 when it got to the point that the pain was bad just trying to walk from the car into the groc store that sometimes I'd turn around & go home. Had all the "non-invasive" stuff before that& really good Drs. Did all my exercises in rehab & good outcome, healed well. 2nd one L in 2011, again tried everything else progressively first, including arthroscopy, also did exercise training before the surgery, which I consider VERY IMPORTANT. Very short term of pain meds each time. I even forget they're anything different from natural unless I see the scars. My health plan has outstanding PT.
L HIP replacement in 2015 a different story. Not going into detail, but even with the correct prep & PT had scads of problems. Learned just recently that the doc that did the hip as forced to surrender his license in 2016.
 

When my Hubby was having physical therapy for a hip replacement I asked the therapist about knee replacements since I have problems with mine. Her advice was to go until you just can't stand it any more. Rehab for knee replacement surgery is a long journey. My brother in law wished he had never had his done. I'm sticking with my old creaky achy knees and just do what it takes to make me comfortable. So far heating pads help as much as anything.
 
Today is a bad day and here I am thinking of replacement. THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES HOW WE WILL COME OUT NO MATTER HOW GREAT THE SURGEON AND HOW HARD WE HAVE TO REHAB.

Talking to my friend earlier, I was saying my knee felt pretty good this past Tuesday and that was a warmer day here in So. Cal. We've had the coldest February on record since 1940. No day has gone into the 70's and that is not our usual.

So could be the cold and dampness is hampering my knee more lately. When I start to feel worse I think of replacement and it's so not what I want, a surgery.
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
When my Hubby was having physical therapy for a hip replacement I asked the therapist about knee replacements since I have problems with mine. Her advice was to go until you just can't stand it any more. Rehab for knee replacement surgery is a long journey. My brother in law wished he had never had his done. I'm sticking with my old creaky achy knees and just do what it takes to make me comfortable. So far heating pads help as much as anything.
Click to expand...

My mom and my sister both had hip replacement and a friend had knee replacement. All three had problems, but for some it works. I sometimes think the information patients receive give them false hope. but when you are in pain you grasp for straws. I will not have it done if I should ever need it. Everyones body will wear out, that is just how it it, myself I am fighting using a cane and I know I need to use one. Its HELL to get old....:pepper: but I have had a good ride.. lol
 
Norman, good sage words. I've had a good ride too and danced all over the place but now paying with these damaged joints. Surgery is trauma to the body, just like if you're hit and damaged in an accident of some kind.

Only we elect these surgeries, now I'm talking myself out of a replacement. I go back and forth so much.
 
Norman said....

"but when you are in pain you grasp for straws."


How true, and many people just do not "get it" I have a knee, a hip & a shoulder that need replacing , but as said I'll keep them till I just can't go on with them. Then what?...don't know. In the mean time I just keep looking for a tad of relief .
 
With a major procedure like that the follow up/rehab is just as important as the skill of surgeon. Anytime something major like the tendons are cut the scaring will tighten the tissue and affect the movement of the joint. Any rehab needs to be taken as seriously as the operation.
 
Your body, your choice. As I have posted on another thread, my SO had a total knee replacement done the first of January. Left knee, robotic assisted surgery. She could hardly walk because of the bad knee. She is still in rehab, but yesterday we went to a giant "flee market" (1,500 or so booths) and she walked and shopped for two hours. I finally begged for mercy and we went home. She has several other health issues that made the pain quite severe for the first couple of weeks after surgery, and has said she would not go through it again. But she is also greatly enjoying the new found freedom.

YMMV
 
I have two really bad knees. I use supports but at my age and situation (I am alone) I wouldn't have surgery. I'll go to the other side with two shot knees.
 
With my situation and my knee is damaged and a LOT from hip replacement in 2010...so besides the knee issue I deal with a whole thigh area above the knee from the THR. So some triple whammies.

And on these replacements, stuff can come up months down the road after the surgery. I had 5 good months post op with THR and then it all went downhill. So I live with a messed up right side of body going on 9 yrs.

Everytime I weaken and think of adding more injury to the body I start to go into fear mode.
 
I had partial right knee surgery in 2004 because I couldn't bend my knee all the way back was,in a lot of pain
I was off work for 3 months which was great because it was in summer
I had PT/OT at the rehab place where I stayed for a week.I also did out patient PT a month before I went back to work
My PT therapist gave me a list of exercises to do.I still do them every day,first thing I do when I get out of bed
I have NO REGRETS Sue
 

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