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Total knee replacement, what to expect?

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Make sure you always take the antibiotics prior to dental work. My mom had her knee done a couple years ago. Massive improvement in quality of life, then it got infected the day before Thanksgiving 2021 and she had to have emergency surgery thanksgiving morning. Then the infection came back 6 months later again and had to have a temporary spacer put in right before Thanksgiving 2022. Luckily that seems to be holding.

Not sure sure where the infection came from but they suspect from her teeth.

That is the only horror story I've personally been around, everyone else I know has just gotten the massive quality of life improvement.
 
Zorba said:
Make sure you always take the antibiotics prior to dental work. My mom had her knee done a couple years ago. Massive improvement in quality of life, then it got infected the day before Thanksgiving 2021 and she had to have emergency surgery thanksgiving morning. Then the infection came back 6 months later again and had to have a temporary spacer put in right before Thanksgiving 2022. Luckily that seems to be holding.

Not sure sure where the infection came from but they suspect from her teeth.

That is the only horror story I've personally been around, everyone else I know has just gotten the massive quality of life improvement.
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I have been doing the large intake of antibiotics before every dental visit for 4 years now after my right knee was replaced...

Thanks for the reminder.
 
Zorba said:
Nowadays they have you up and walking in new joints the next day. No more sitting around for 6 weeks. Even with hips.
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This. I was up walking (with a walker) same day in about two hours after surgery. I had to go up some stairs before they would release me. I've already moved on to a cane and am now riding a stationary bike as part of my PT Rehab.
 
Good luck on the recovery.

What is the quality of life like with replacement knees? Are you expected to be able to run or do light athletics. Not talking running marathons or anything, but maybe a few miles at a time or some pickup basketball. I guess most folks getting new knees are older and not doing these things anyway but I'm curious.
 
pcgeek11 said:
This. I was up walking (with a walker) same day in about two hours after surgery. I had to go up some stairs before they would release me. I've already moved on to a cane and am now riding a stationary bike as part of my PT Rehab.
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My daughter has a doctorate in physical therapy and the trend now is do as much therapy as you can before the replacements. It shortens the recovery time after surgery. She's 43 years old and has had both hips relaced (blame it on my wifes genes). Sent home the same day after the last one, my wife took care of her for a while. Wanted to make sure she could drive safely to go to her doctor.
 
Mr.IncrediblyBored said:
Good luck on the recovery.

What is the quality of life like with replacement knees? Are you expected to be able to run or do light athletics. Not talking running marathons or anything, but maybe a few miles at a time or some pickup basketball. I guess most folks getting new knees are older and not doing these things anyway but I'm curious.
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Not sure about running, but 25 years ago my Uncle had a knew replaced and could still bike a lot.
 
Mr.IncrediblyBored said:
Good luck on the recovery.

What is the quality of life like with replacement knees? Are you expected to be able to run or do light athletics. Not talking running marathons or anything, but maybe a few miles at a time or some pickup basketball. I guess most folks getting new knees are older and not doing these things anyway but I'm curious.
Click to expand...


I'm not doing those things...
I can do all I could do before a knee replacement. I don't run or jog or BBall etc.. I do work hard ladders, building sheds etc, mixing concrete by hand...
 
When I'm of the age of needing replacement parts, I hope the profession has up'd its game a bit!

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Back up and walking without a cane or walker now. Dr. says all knees are different and he isn't wrong there, this one has been a pain in the ... leg.

PT people say that I should be done with PT before the end of August. At present other than minor tweaking aches after sitting and some annoying night pains keeping me awake. Looking good. I'm glad I have no more knees to replace. I hope the hips hold up... 😳
 
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