Total knee replacement, what to expect?

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,701
15,098
146
Age just spoke up.

;)

What about your knees, Gramps?

I had an ACL graft and menisectomy 15 years ago. (My how time flies)

I didn't have the best outcome...but am semi-functional. I probably need a knee replacement...but am not ready to do that...yet.

My ortho told me something that I've never forgotten...there's nothing that a perfectly good surgery can't make worse...
 
  • Like
Reactions: highland145

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,418
5,019
136
I had an ACL graft and menisectomy 15 years ago. (My how time flies)

I didn't have the best outcome...but am semi-functional. I probably need a knee replacement...but am not ready to do that...yet.

My ortho told me something that I've never forgotten...there's nothing that a perfectly good surgery can't make worse...


My surgeon freaked the wife out when he called it a double amputation. He said well you basically cut the ends off of the two largest bones in the body...
 
Last edited:

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,701
15,098
146
My surgeon freaked the wife out when he called it a doble amputation. He said well you basically cut the ends off of the two largest bones in the body...

Yep...then they try to put it back together right...
 
Feb 4, 2009
35,862
17,407
136
My Father had one knee done, he was recently retired at the time so time off was irrelevant. I remember it being about two weeks for him to move around confidently.
years later, he is much more mobile. Get the surgery done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pcgeek11

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,418
5,019
136
My Father had one knee done, he was recently retired at the time so time off was irrelevant. I remember it being about two weeks for him to move around confidently.
years later, he is much more mobile. Get the surgery done.


I think as you wait and allow the arthritus to get really bad it is harder to heal. Better earlier than later.
 
Feb 4, 2009
35,862
17,407
136
I think as you wait and allow the arthritus to get really bad it is harder to heal. Better earlier than later.

Not sure but it sounds logical. My Dad had it done years ago and I don't remember the specifics but I do remember it not being a big deal after the surgery was done. He was wobbly at first, then he was steady but walked slowly. I do know he has no regrets about having it done.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,418
5,019
136
I'm 63 in good health ( no major issues other than age ) Good blood pressure, Cholesterol on upper end of good, walk several miles a day, rarely drink except an occasional beer or two. After a week my new knee feels better than my old one has in years. I can walk without the walker already, but use it for stability. So far my range of motion is between 23 to 110, Normal Flexion range is 0 to 130 degrees
Not bad for a week and no PT except for 1 day.
 
Feb 4, 2009
35,862
17,407
136
I'm 63 in good health ( no major issues other than age ) Good blood pressure, Cholesterol on upper end of good, walk several miles a day, rarely drink except an occasional beer or two. After a week my new knee feels better than my old one has in years. I can walk without the walker already, but use it for stability. So far my range of motion is between 23 to 110. Not bad for a week and no PT except for 1 day.

Congratulations & good stuff
 
  • Like
Reactions: pcgeek11

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,418
5,019
136
I would like to thank all for your well wishes. After my PT Session today some of the bruising seems to have surfaced and it appears that my wife was beating on me with a baseball bat.

I'll post some images tomorrow. I gotta go elevate and ice.

:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chaotic42

skiguy79

Junior Member
Mar 13, 2019
1
1
6
Hi everyone, I have been reading all the great posts about total knee replacement surgery, unfortunately I found out a few weeks back that I’m not a candidate to have knee surgery. The doctors feel the risk of surgery is to great due to possible other health related issues. Both of my knees are completely gone due to osteoarthritis in both of my knees ( bone on bone) I can’t walk even with a walker. I’m basically stuck in a chair because the pain is so bad. Weekly Physiotherapy has not helped one bit in reliving the pain which has been going on for months now. The pain killers have lost the bite in easing the constant pain. I’m not sure what to do now, I feel I’m going to be stuck in this chair forever now with no hope insight.

Any suggestions on what to do going forward or advice would be greatly appreciated.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Hi everyone, I have been reading all the great posts about total knee replacement surgery, unfortunately I found out a few weeks back that I’m not a candidate to have knee surgery. The doctors feel the risk of surgery is to great due to possible other health related issues. Both of my knees are completely gone due to osteoarthritis in both of my knees ( bone on bone) I can’t walk even with a walker. I’m basically stuck in a chair because the pain is so bad. Weekly Physiotherapy has not helped one bit in reliving the pain which has been going on for months now. The pain killers have lost the bite in easing the constant pain. I’m not sure what to do now, I feel I’m going to be stuck in this chair forever now with no hope insight.

Any suggestions on what to do going forward or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Find different doctors. I'd be totally in their face. Doctors don't get to decide MY quality of life.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
But if he can't survive the surgery because of his heart or some such, no one will touch him, imo.
Then they better come up with a different plan. I would not allow the docs to turn me into a cute little drugged up non problem causing vegetable stuck in a chair. He has joint problems for Christ sake.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
That makes sense. I'm just not seeing a major surgical option if it's the heart.
Doctors tend to be narrowly focused. If it's not within their specialty, it might as well not exist. That's why a good doc isn't afraid to say, I don't know, let's find someone who may. They do exist, they're just damn hard to find.