Knee replacement ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Phil · #1 05-27-2010, 10:53 PM

Has anyone here had or know anyone who has had a total knee replacement? My wife need one and I know nothing about it.

Aquaticedge · #2 05-27-2010, 11:02 PM

me mum has it. and I've researched it extensively and watched 4 surgeries of it

layback40 · #3 05-27-2010, 11:33 PM

My Aunt had one done about 5 years ago. Before it was done she could hardly walk. 6 weeks after she could run up & down stairs. She has had no problems since. Its major stuff but if done right, it has fantastic results. She was in her mid 60's at the time.

t walgamuth · #4 05-28-2010, 04:33 AM

I need on on the left but am putting it off as long as possible because I am only 61 and they supposedly don't last much more than 15 years.

I am planning for the possibility of living til mid ninties since based on genetics that seems like a good possibility.

I was advised that replacing a knee a second time was very difficult because of bone loss in the first replacement proceedure.

jgranzier · #5 05-28-2010, 06:09 AM

Best of luck to you
My wife is a occupational therapist - 27 years .She has worked with a number of hip /knee joint replacements.
She recommends working a hospital that has a SPECIFIC joint replacement program - which insures she is up and out of bed in 24 hours.
Length of lasting depends on lifestyle , weight etc .

SwampYankee · #6 05-28-2010, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil

Has anyone here had or know anyone who has had a total knee replacement? My wife need one and I know nothing about it.

My boss had his replaced two or 3 years ago, he's in his early 60's now. He put it off for the better part of 20 years, and who knows how many Vicodins, just because he didn't want to deal with it. He had it done in early April, was back walking on it without crutches (after diligently following the physical therapy routine) by the end of April, and back to work by mid-May. All I can say is that he has repeatedly told people that he's sorry he didn't do it sooner, it has made a world of difference. He's planning on doing his other knee next year.

About the "life-span" of the new joints. His thought was if that he was going to go ahead and get it done now (then and next year for the other knee) when he was in his early 60's so that he could get out and about and enjoy the mobility while he was fairly young. He's an avid fly-fisherman and has young grandkids he wanted to be able to harass. If he was forced into a chair or crutches when he got to his mid-70's then so be it.

Edit: I wanted to add the following the PT program is absolutely critical for success. A family friend who is about the same age didn't (partly because he didn't want to deal with the pain and partly because he didn't want to stop smoking

) and he's no better off now than he was pre-surgery, other than the Titanium investment. Still limping, in pain and popping pain meds.

shoe · #7 05-28-2010, 08:29 AM

Yes, I had my right knee replaced a little over three months ago. it is painful but I believe it will be worth it once my recovery is complete. There are two ways you can go, one is the traditional eight to ten inch incision and cutting away the quads and patella. there is a new method called Quad sparing it is a relativley new procedure that my father in laws wife had done. It reduces some of the recovery time however my research showed me that they are still not sure how well the prodecure will last long term. Total knee replacement is a brutal surgery as those that have viewed video can tell you. Total recovery is in the six to eight month range depending on how well rehab goes. I have to say that the first month after my procedure I was questioning the sanity of my decision because of the amount of pain. If your wife decides to have the surgery she can expect a three day hospital stay if there are no complications such as infection which is what they are watching closely for. My surgeon had me up and walking the day after the surgery; in fact I walked about 75 feet that day with the aid of a walker. I turn 50 this October and when my surgeon told me they were getting 20 to 25 years out of the new prosthetics I was ready since my knee had gotten so bad I could not do anything that required exstensive walking. All in all I recommend it if she has tried all other alternatives.

aklim · #8 05-28-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I need on on the left but am putting it off as long as possible because I am only 61 and they supposedly don't last much more than 15 years.

I am planning for the possibility of living til mid ninties since based on genetics that seems like a good possibility.

I was advised that replacing a knee a second time was very difficult because of bone loss in the first replacement proceedure.

I'm not sure I follow the logic there.

The longer you wait the less you might have to replace it. True. However, the older you are, harder it is for your body to heal from any trauma like surgery so if you do it at 61 and then 76, isn't it better than 70 and 85?

t walgamuth · #9 05-28-2010, 09:02 AM

Just hoping to do it once and have it last the rest of my life.

soothappens · #10 05-28-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Just hoping to do it once and have it last the rest of my life.

Tell them to add grease fittings .

I wish they would have on my shoulder.
lasted about 15 years without pain.

t walgamuth · #11 05-28-2010, 10:19 AM

I was advised that replacing a knee a second time was very difficult because of bone loss in the first replacement proceedure.[/QUOTE]

Aklim.....

There is no second time, at least that is what I was advised a few years ago. If they come out with a sure fire setup for the second time I am on it.

aklim · #12 05-28-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I was advised that replacing a knee a second time was very difficult because of bone loss in the first replacement proceedure.

Aklim.....

There is no second time, at least that is what I was advised a few years ago. If they come out with a sure fire setup for the second time I am on it.[/QUOTE]

Difficult but not impossible, right? But in 15 years, difficult might be done more easily. How old will you be at the time you MIGHT need the 2nd "fix"? Will you be even sane at that point or mobile? You might be avoiding a lot of discomfort today

Phil · #13 05-28-2010, 01:05 PM

When my wife was younger she played a lot of tennis and was at the gym a lot so a lot of high impact stuff. I went to the doctor with her and saw the x rays and there is NOTHING between the bones in the joint so she has no choice any more. She kept trying to put this off but can hardly walk now. She is the kind of person that wants to get up and get going so I don't think the physical therapy will be a problem. The hard part will be if they say to do a certain thing she will probably figure if she does twice as much she will heal that much faster.

aklim · #14 05-28-2010, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil

The hard part will be if they say to do a certain thing she will probably figure if she does twice as much she will heal that much faster.

Twice as much could mean twice as slow. Don't overdo it. That PT guy isn't some bozo you met at a bar. Usually they hold Masters degrees and have a very good idea from schooling as to what your body can or cannot do. Ask me how I know. As Dirty Harry would say "Man's got to know his limitations.".

t walgamuth · #15 05-28-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Aklim.....

There is no second time, at least that is what I was advised a few years ago. If they come out with a sure fire setup for the second time I am on it.

Difficult but not impossible, right? But in 15 years, difficult might be done more easily. How old will you be at the time you MIGHT need the 2nd "fix"? Will you be even sane at that point or mobile? You might be avoiding a lot of discomfort today[/QUOTE]

Am I even sane now?