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  #1  
Old 09-05-2014, 09:31 AM
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Knee replacement experiences

I am finally scheduling total replacement for both knees shortly after the New Year. Exact date unknown because "the book" isn't out yet.
I'd like to hear from those who have had total knees. How did it go for you? I am expecting to be up in a day. Return to work will depend on my being able to drive and no pain-killer drugs-- 4 to 6 to 8 or 12 weeks.
I am a construction inspector, so ladders and scaffolds, and jumping down into footings is all part of the job.
Knees have been bone-on-bone for years. I have been getting injections for years,too. Plus, the surfaces are gnarly from arthritis.
Time to get them replaced!!

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Old 09-05-2014, 09:59 AM
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My aun had hers done, made a quick recovery. Was 2-3 days in the hospital and then through PT. Total down time was something like 6 weeks(?) ish
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  #3  
Old 09-05-2014, 11:21 AM
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My wife had one done

Down time is sort of up to you although six weeks before you are totally free sounds about right. I counsel strict compliance with the rehab schedule. If you don't, the new knee will severely limit range of motion to far less than 90 degrees. In her case, she was extremely flexible, what we used to call double-jointed. She can still kiss her own toe on the left side but her fake knee side only allows about 100 degrees of motion which is as good as it can get on anyone.

They also told her to avoid jumping on it ever. On the positive side, in my job as a medic in my previous life, I have come into contact with many who have had knee and/or hip replacement surgery and they all loved it and were sorry they waited so long.
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Old 09-05-2014, 11:42 AM
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Neighbor had his done. 2 days in the hospital. Back on his feet in 2 weeks.
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Old 09-05-2014, 11:54 AM
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My friends mom just had this done 3 days ago. Surgery was Tuesday morning and she's back home now. Feeling lots of pain but I think it's to be expected.
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  #6  
Old 09-05-2014, 12:34 PM
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My dad had his done one at a time. Dec. , then Mar.
To do both is a bold move.
You obviously want to get out of the hospital asap and they want you out as well.
Now, with that, he is very pleased he did it. The knee pain is gone, except for when his patella (knee cap) snapped last month.
He went in and the end result is that he has 20% of his kneecap left and the tendons, etc. are attached to that. He is still healing in week 2 with a 5-6 week recovery time since they had to open up the same place they just were, though I think it is a parallel incision.
Key is to do all the exercises and rehab.
I suggested that was the opportunity to get back a 1/2 inch or so in height, but nobody listened.
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Old 09-05-2014, 01:42 PM
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I had half of my left one changed out. At age 63 I was afraid to do a full replacement due to the 15 to 20 year life expectancy of the knee not being as long as I am likely to be around. After a partial replacement a full replacement is not a problem in 20 years. I did have a little trouble finding a surgeon who can do the partial.

Left hip is acting up the last week or so....its next.
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  #8  
Old 09-05-2014, 05:19 PM
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Had 1 knee done in April 2013, I was 59 at the time. It was from a previous injury - a long time ago. My bone was breaking down, and chips were falling into the joint. From the onset of the pain, to the replacement, was only 10 weeks. No long suffering from grinding bones, as most people experience.
The first 3 days after the operation suck! 10 days out and I could see vast improvement. Could have returned to work in 6 weeks, but since I had over a year of sick leave, and am retiring in Nov. 2015, I was off for 3 months.
Don't fool around with the rehab! JUST DO IT! I went above, what I think, was the 'call of duty', and kept moving it, so it would regain full range of motion. To cheat on the rehab, is only cheating yourself.
Watch it with the hydrocodone, easy trap to fall into. The only side affects of that is constipation (combat that with over the counter meds), and a relaxed feeling - so, sometimes you have to force yourself to get up and move! Be a 'tough guy' if you want, and do without the pain meds; but I wouldn't suggest it, why make a bad situation worse?
Both knees is a different situation than one. I was in the hospital for 48 hours, and came home. You won't be able to do that. I think (although others will disagree) going both at once (if they both need it) is the way to go. Sure, easy for me to say, but why do 1/2 the job twice? You might want to get others opinions on that.
After a year(it's now 16 months) I avoid jumping off of things, squatting, working on my hands-and-knees, and running; otherwise okay.
My doctor promised me "You'll never forget it's there!" and he was right.
All-in-all, keep your spirits up, keep moving as soon after the surgery as you can, and you'll be fine. Best to you my friend, Matt
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Old 09-05-2014, 06:39 PM
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I had an uncle, now deceased, who had both knees replaced in his early seventies. He was a very active sports player all his life but could literally hardly walk as his legs were so badly bowed outwards before the operations. He was playing tennis again within two months of the procedure and you would never had known he had ever had a problem.

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  #10  
Old 09-05-2014, 07:02 PM
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Thanks for the responses--they pretty much echo what I've heard from friends that have knees replaced.
Yes rehab is important. My PLAN is to go above what is demanded, but I will have to see if I can actually do that. My history is that I heal fast. I hope that holds true.

A friend who had both done at the same time, recovered well, and was actually in his garage a week after surgery. he said, the initial pain was so sever, he doubted that he could force himself to do a second one if he had done one at a time.
I am looking forward to it. I asked my surgeon about why there are still unsuccessful knee replacements, and thats when he said you avoid that by choosing a surgeon who does many, many replacements every year; not just a couple.

More experiences are great, please keep posting.
I will post my progress.
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  #11  
Old 09-05-2014, 07:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MS Fowler View Post
Thanks for the responses--they pretty much echo what I've heard from friends that have knees replaced.
Yes rehab is important. My PLAN is to go above what is demanded, but I will have to see if I can actually do that. My history is that I heal fast. I hope that holds true.

A friend who had both done at the same time, recovered well, and was actually in his garage a week after surgery. he said, the initial pain was so sever, he doubted that he could force himself to do a second one if he had done one at a time.
I am looking forward to it. I asked my surgeon about why there are still unsuccessful knee replacements, and thats when he said you avoid that by choosing a surgeon who does many, many replacements every year; not just a couple.

More experiences are great, please keep posting.
I will post my progress.
The bolded section sounds like a good friend of mine in Colorado. He and his wife were very active (had scaled all of the fourteeners) and he said the reason he did both is that's what he heard, the pain from the one will scare you off of doing the other. However, same surgeon, same day, same procedure, same manufacturer, and one was perfect and the other had to be redone because something about it was a little off.

That's the problem with knee surgeries, as opposed to hips. The latter are very nearly cookie-cutter routine, but the knees are a different story.

I'm facing one at some point, I tore my right one up when I was 17 and had it opened up back then (this preceded the arthroscopic procedures) and it's been scoped twice, I'm a faithful follower of the magic elixir compounds of glucosamine, chondoitin, and a few others, but if's full of arthritis and scarring and the ACL is now gone as well. That said, until the pain is more frequent than not and it limits my lifestyle, I'm fine with waiting.

Good luck with yours. And definitely do as much of the rehab exercises as you can stand...plus one. That's true with any joint surgery.
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  #12  
Old 09-07-2014, 09:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by t walgamuth View Post
I had half of my left one changed out. At age 63 I was afraid to do a full replacement due to the 15 to 20 year life expectancy of the knee not being as long as I am likely to be around. After a partial replacement a full replacement is not a problem in 20 years. I did have a little trouble finding a surgeon who can do the partial.

Left hip is acting up the last week or so....its next.
I can't bear to think about hip replacement stuff. That's intense...
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  #13  
Old 09-08-2014, 08:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDon View Post
I can't bear to think about hip replacement stuff. That's intense...
When you follow the doctor's orders and aren't overweight it's fine. I know a guy with one that was done 10-15 years ago and runs aorund doing yardwork, splitting firewood, etc. no problem
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  #14  
Old 09-08-2014, 04:09 PM
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I responded earlier. But I wanted to add: I used a (doctor ordered) electric knee bending machine. You lay your leg in it, and it bends it automatically. I know it sounds like a 'lazy man's therapy'; but when you're just too worn out to get up and walk around, at least you're doing something! You start out slow with it - with just as much movement as you can stand - and slowly increase to the limits of the machine. At first you will be able to only do just so much, then you increase the movement until you can start it at full range of motion as soon as you turn it on. At that point (about 3 weeks, or so, you are done with it. It is something that you rent from the medical supply store. They also brought me this thing that went around my leg, Velcro shut, and then inflated snugly. It circulated ice water around my leg/knee. It seemed to help with the swelling.
I am just letting you know these are available, if you choose to use either one, or both. What would the results have been without them? Hard sayin', not knowin'. But I feel they made a pissy situation, a little better. Matt
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Old 09-09-2014, 10:47 AM
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Hip was a piece of cake. Walked without cane on the third day IIRC. Only fly in ointment was the surgeon made the right femur about 3/4" longer so now i have to wear a lift in my left shoe at least until I get the left hip replaced and the femur made to match (hopefully). The advantage is most people my age are shrinking and I'm getting taller.

Glass half full...

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