topic Re: Knee Replacement Surgery in Wellness

Knee Replacement Surgery

hovis — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:05:21 GMT

I am going to the Dr. today and I know he is going to tell me I need this surgery. I have never had any surgeries and I am nervous about this. What's it like after the sugery and how long would I be laid up. Any suggestions to calm me down.?

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

barc43 — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:13:54 GMT

I sympathize with you but this is not a forum for giving or receiving medical advice. Ask your Doctor these questions or get another medical opinion from another Board certified physician. Best of success and wishes for a complete and speedy recovery.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

Must Love Dogs — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:15:15 GMT

Hello:

I am currently three weeks post op of a total left knee replacement. My surgery went well; everyone comments on how well I am doing. Physical Therapists were in my hospital room that very same day of surgery: surgery around 9 a.m., and PT in my room about 2:00 p.m. They worked me over good, but I dare say that is why I am getting along so well. I got a little nauseated by the anesthesia.

This was my first surgery ever as well, but it went well enough that I am not scared of having the other knee done now. Physical therapy is almost worse than the actual surgery: three times a week, and they have all kinds of ways to get that knee bending.

My surgeon said that I didn't have much of a knee left--bone spurs and no cartilge; he said I should feel more stable with my new knee.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

IMW — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:22:13 GMT

Make a list of questions, if possible go with someone to the appointment.

Listen to some soothing music, watch some funny movies, read. Take your mind off of it once you’ve prepared for tomorrow.

Take some deep breaths. Good luck.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

seaBreeze — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:22:57 GMT

My mother had two knee replacements just last year-age 82 (one at a time). She says she's better than ever before. Yes, three months recovery time, therapy which will make you cry, but focus on the positive and the new you~!

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

Imaoldhippie — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:41:16 GMT

@barc43..................Amen sister, there is too much uninformed medical advised given on this forum.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

chrystaltree — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 17:07:08 GMT

I believe many of us on this board have had knee replacements so you are likely to get some good advice. I had my left knee replaced in January and it was the best decision I ever made. I resisted for a while because I did not want another surgery and I was in denial. The steroid injections helped with the pain and I just hoped the situation would resolve itself but the mobility issue got to me. If you decide the surgery, you will get all the info you need from your surgeon and most hospitals in my area also have pre-surgery classes where you get to ask questions and the procedure and rehab is explained in great detail. I had my surgery on a Friday, went home on Monday. I had no post op pain the hospital because my surgeon gives his TKR patients femoral nerve blocks right before surgery and pain meds. He does that because he wants his patients up and doing PT the day after the surgery and patients cannot do that if they are in pain. Between PT, hall walking, OT I was busy for those 3 days in hospital. I came home on a walker, I needed a raised toilet seat. I had a script for Oxycodone but I took it for only a week or so. I had no significant pain, nothing that Tylenol extra strength didn't take care of. PT and OT came to my home daily for about 3 weeks, until I was off the walker and walking with a cane. At that point, I went to PT three times a week at my local hospital. And that was that. I got better and better. I marveled and still do at the fact that I have no knee and leg pain now. I had it for so long. I used a cane for about 8 weeks. After I was discharged from PT, it was just a matter or walking..walking...walking. I know several people who recently had TKR and their stories are similar to mine. I hope this helps, ask more questions if you have them and right down your questions when you speak with your surgeon so you don't forget anything.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

SeaMaiden — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:52:43 GMT

@hovis wrote:
I am going to the Dr. today and I know he is going to tell me I need this surgery. I have never had any surgeries and I am nervous about this. What's it like after the sugery and how long would I be laid up. Any suggestions to calm me down.?

@hovis I was the same as you prior to all my joint replacement surgeries.... and I put it off way to long and suffered in pain for years when I could have fixed the problem and had those years pain free that I suffered so. I lost more that 10 years of my life suffering needlessly because i was afraid of the surgery.......

I had both knees replaced at the same time in 2013. I now do everything and anything I want where before I was SO MISERABLE in pain and on crutches....

I had both hips replace after that... and now I a SUPER WOMAN.

Do not put it off... JUST DO IT and do whatever they tell you to do in the weeks afterward for your therapy. The pain of the surgery is LESS than the pain you have now... and it is pain that GOES AWAY......

just DO IT and do not put it off.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

grandma r — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 17:31:18 GMT

@hovis. The surgery has come a long way in recent years. I had both done at the same time. Pt in hospital and I was able to go home. Pt continues and it is the hardest part. Once staples are removed, PT wants the knee to bend. My doc and his nurse gave the best advice; take pain pill 30 min prior to PT and ice, 20 min on, 20 min off. Ice will be your best friend.

Recovery takes a good 3 months, sometimes longer. Your body will let you know. The surgery is the best thing you can do to get your life and mobility back!!!!

I am thankful that I had mine done together!!!

I wish you the best of luck!!!!

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

hckynut — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 17:58:19 GMT

@hovis

What treatments have you had on this knee to suspect your doctor is going to say you need TKR surgery? I have had many surgeries and seen more doctors than many, but I never "know" what he is going to tell me.

A doctor can "tell you anything", but it is you that makes the decisions, not the doctor.

While I have had "recoveries" from many injuries/procedures, some as long as 18 months, I have never had and organ or joint replaced. There are many on this forum that have had TKR surgery(s), I am sure many can tell you about their recoveries.

hckynut(john)

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

hovis — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 17:58:39 GMT

Thank you all for your kind words

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

hckynut — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 18:13:56 GMT

@Imaoldhippie
@barc43..................Amen sister, there is too much uninformed medical advised given on this forum.

@barc43

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
@barc43..................Amen sister, there is too much uninformed medical advised given on this forum.

@Imaoldhippie

Really? Been here for double digit years, and on this particular forum, even under it's different names. Have read many stories/experiences/suggestions/even occasional advice, but "too much uninformed medical advised(advice) given on this forum"? Some yes, but you are greatly exaggerating making your point, which I classify as your opinion, but not factual.

hckynut(john)

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

Justice4all — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 19:00:43 GMT

Here's what I know..a relative had damaged his knee in college playing basketball and had some knee repair surgery that was not a problem solver..only a total knee replacement would help...some time later he had TKR..as a result, he was walking down the hall one day and realized he was not in pain.

Do your research..find the best orthopedic surgeon you can who does a large number of successful knee replacement surgeries each year..who is associated with a top notch orthopedic hospital that has a great reputation for low infection rate, and successful outcome. Two sites I recommend for information and that I have used extensively is bonesmart dot org-there is a wealth of great information and their forum on TKR pre op and post op will undoubtedly help you with decisions and recovery. The other site is HSSdotedu..which is the Hospital for Special Surgery-the#1 orthopedic hospital in the country where there is superb information.

Given the best doctor and hospital, your fears will be allayed! Will be waiting to hear from you from the other side! All my best!

@hovis

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

BriggsiePeawiggle — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:01:10 GMT

Don't be scared. I was, and I waited too long to have my hips done. I had them each done 5 months apart, and it really isn't that bad. Just prepare for it. Have help if you can at home. I got a snap on tray for my walker so I could put my dinner plate on it and slide into the livingroom. It has a cup holder on it too. Get a good ice bag. Ice really really helps the pain of replacement surgery. Take the pain meds. It will help you heal. Realize that your body might become attached to the pain meds, but it's not a problem. You wean off of them, and you will be just fine. DO YOUR THERAPY. I get comments all the time when people are amazed that I had my hips replaced. "You don't WALK like you had your hips redone," and no I don't because I had a good therapist and did the exercises every day on my own when I wasn't at therapy. I just wanted to be as better as I could be. You will be fine. GO FOR IT.....

And as for "not giving medical advice on this forum" that's bunk. When we are faced with daunting health problems, I thought people were here to help and encourage? I get that fear.....but don't let it win. You can do this.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

sfnative — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 21:02:54 GMT

@barc43 wrote:
I sympathize with you but this is not a forum for giving or receiving medical advice. Ask your Doctor these questions or get another medical opinion from another Board certified physician. Best of success and wishes for a complete and speedy recovery.

@barc43

@hovis

(1) The OP did not ask for medical advice, per se. One of the things the OP asked was, "What's it like after surgery"? Folks here who have had a TKA will have much information to share that the OP will NEVER receive from her surgeon or his/her staff. Believe me, I worked in Ortho.

(2) Post-op recovery time is specific to the individual, so this is a valid question. Surgeons and nurses tend to recite a litany of staid information, rarely departing from the memorized narrative.

It does the OP no good for anyone to put the kybosh on her wish to have some input on a possible TKA, especially given the fact that she's never had a surgical procedure.

If I could give her my contact info, I would, as I have experience in that field and have also had a left knee TKA.

Give the OP a break, for crying out loud.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

RedTop — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 22:27:19 GMT

My left knee was done in 2012 and my right knee was done last October. With the first knee I was working in a hospital and got my information first hand from those who were eventually my caregivers. I knew what to expect in the hospital, and what was expected of me. My recovery was an awesome experience.

My surgery experience in October was quite different, but still very good. More in-depth teaching about the surgery is being done in advance now, which helps the patient better understand what is expected of them starting the very afternoon after surgery. I did not have to attend the teaching sessions.

I think the biggest thing to comprehend is that orthopedic patients are not treated like they are sick. You are expected to get moving as quickly as possible, and get that knee bending and flexing normally. In my local hospital you have to get dressed and attend group therapy 2x a day the day after surgery, as well as walk a minimum of 2 laps around the nursing station daily.

I did my outpatient PT at this same hospital, starting on day 5 after surgery, just as I did in 2012. This time around I barely used a walker, or cane, and only needed 9 PT sessions to exceed the goals for bend and flex measurements. The pain was definitely there, but more tolerable this time around. I have no pain at all now.

I do suggest that you ask how your incision will be closed. My first was closed with staples, which was fine, healed well, and my scar is a thin, white line. My last incision was closed with a type of glue, and it did not hold. When the bandage came off at 2 weeks, the incision above my knee was splayed open. The deep stitching in the under layers held, but the top edges that were pinched together and glued did not. It took until the week of Valentine's Day to close the incision completely. Due to such an open wound, I did not leave my house for 2 months, in an effort to avoid infection. I am left with a keloid scar that is 1 inch wide and 4 inches long, that I am still massaging and moisturizing every day. I strongly urge you to ask in advance how your incision will be closed.

Very best wishes to you if surgery is in your future.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

software — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 00:59:24 GMT

If you've exhausted all other treatments and this is what your doctor recommends, do it.

I've never had it done but I've friends had different replacement surgeries, including knee and they don't regret it.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

Travone — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 15:04:02 GMT

I had both of my knees done about 9 months apart. It was the BEST decision I made. As long as do you all of your exercises and follow the advice of your therapists and doctors you will be fine. The day of my second replacement they had me walking a flight of stairs. I live alone with the bedroom and bathroom upstairs and I was able to take care of myself with no problem.

You will tire easily....take your time with things. It isn't a race. Some days I would have to sit down after showing and before toweling off because just showing exhausted me.

One tip that worked for me. Before I had surgery I went to Omaha Steaks and filled my freezer with individual steak, burgers, and chicken. I knew I wouldn't be able to get to the grocery store for awhile and wanted to make sure I still ate healthy. In the morning I would take out one item and start defrosting it. I was able to eat lots of protein instead of relying on something easy and unhealthy like pasta.

Just do all the excercises and you will do well. Good Luck...tell us how it goes.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

Travone — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 15:08:58 GMT

Wanted to add to my comment.....I knew I was completely healed when I was at work one day and I looked down and saw a run in my nylon......wasn't a run, it was my scar.....the knee was so healed I didn't remember I had a scar.

Re: Knee Replacement Surgery

Ditzydori — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 21:37:34 GMT

The very best decision I could back ever made. I had both of my knees done. I literally couldn't walk and would have wound up in a wheel chair if I didn't do it. I held off because I was petrified.

Well I am happy to tell you both went very well. I walk perfectly now. I can do things that I haven't done in a long time.

Make sure you have a reputable doctor. My doctor came very highly recommended. I had no problems or complications.

I know they control the pain very well. I was really never immobile. I only had one knee done at a time so I walked all around my house, including climbing the stairs. I showered by myself, and I didn't require any help using the bathroom or taking care of myself at all. I went out to the grocery store very shortly after. I rode the cart in the grocery store, and had fun doing it. Lol

Little by little, week by week you begin to heal, noticing that the cane is enough instead of the walker, and then you start to feel secure walking without any aids. Time and patience and pain killers, little by little.

I wish you luck. Try to not be so scared because it really is a very manageable surgery, and very well worth anything you need to go thru because the outcome is the reward.