Anybody had a knee replaced?

[Raoul]

How did it go?

I've had 2 repairs on the left one so I know the importance of the rehab. Any other tips?

How long were you out of commission?

[hammerdrop99]

I have had both knees replaced at different times. Both times recovery and physical therapy was about twelve weeks. It takes about a year for the knee to feel fully normal.

[peejman]

Dad is almost at the 1 yr mark from having his 2nd total knee, had the 1st one done the year before that.  A few things I've learned...

 

Incidence of stroke increases dramatically if both knees are done at the same time.  They don't have a good reason why, but it does.

 

It hurts.  A lot.  They load you up with the good pain meds during surgery and it takes about 24 hrs for them to fully wear off.  So day 1 isn't too bad.  Day 2, on the other hand... :eek:

 

Dad did not have full anesthesia for either knee, epidural only.  I think that got him out of the hospital at least 24 hrs faster than he otherwise would have.  He was home within 24hrs for the 2nd one. 

 

The swelling takes a long time to go away.  He still has some swelling 10 months later in the 2nd knee.

 

Flexibility is difficult to improve, especially if you don't have much now.  He was walking without the walker after a couple weeks.  He used a cane for a while after that.  Dad still does the "old man with bad knees waddle".  I'm not sure if it's because he just doesn't have the flexibility, or it hurts, or it's how he walked for the prior 3 years so it's just normal to him. 

 

Dad got a gizmo similar to this from my sister who's also had a couple knee surgeries.  While somewhat annoyingly loud, the not having to mess with ice packs is worth it.  Dad's half deaf so he didn't care about the noise. 

Edited February 1, 2016 by peejman

[hammerdrop99]

I have had both knees replaced at different times. Both times recovery and physical therapy was about twelve weeks. It takes about a year for the knee to feel fully normal.

 

As a follow up, physical therapy is painful, but it gets better after each session. Along with the therapy I was set up at home with a mechanical device that you strap your leg into and it progressively bends your knee over time increasing flexibility. It's a boring process, two 45 minute sessions a day, so invest in Netflix. Given the pain I was in prior to surgery, I would not hesitate to have them replaced again. It is great not to be in pain with every step.

[Raoul]

As a follow up, physical therapy is painful, but it gets better after each session. Along with the therapy I was set up at home with a mechanical device that you strap your leg into and it progressively bends your knee over time increasing flexibility. It's a boring process, two 45 minute sessions a day, so invest in Netflix. Given the pain I was in prior to surgery, I would not hesitate to have them replaced again. It is great not to be in pain with every step.

After 2 repairs I understand the pain and necessity of rehab. It's just getting to the point where it's really slowing me down.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Raoul

[blueheeler47]

My wife had her first total knee 3 year ago, her second in October, was back working 12 hour shifts in the hospital in 11 weeks. From an observer, pain if pretty intense the first couple to three weeks, progressively better after that. As stated before, rehab is the key to full recovery. There is some pain and swelling for 6 months to a year, but from what she says nothing like the pain she had before. She is 55 and walks without a limp now, plus, we are able to get out and walk again. 

[peejman]

Also... anything you can do to improve the flexibility and particularly strength of the muscles will help with recovery.  After a few therapy sessions, Dad made the comment that he had no idea how weak he'd gotten from not bending his knees much.  And for reference, he'll be 70 in a couple months.  I'm sure age has a big impact on recovery time. 

 

I remember that knee bender doodad.  Funniest thing was watching Mom try to help Dad with his exercises.  They fussed like an old married couple...  :D

[Raoul]

Also... anything you can do to improve the flexibility and particularly strength of the muscles will help with recovery.  After a few therapy sessions, Dad made the comment that he had no idea how weak he'd gotten from not bending his knees much.  And for reference, he'll be 70 in a couple months.  I'm sure age has a big impact on recovery time. 

 

I remember that knee bender doodad.  Funniest thing was watching Mom try to help Dad with his exercises.  They fussed like an old married couple...  :D

I'm not too far behind your dad.

[Sam1]

If you're in the Vanderbilt area, let me personally recommend dr. Gregory Polkowski. I think he only does hip/knees, he's done two major ones on me and I couldn't be happier. The nurses in the ortho section of the hospital say his patients normally recover quicker than from the other docs.

If you go shopping around, put him in the pool of candidates.

[hammerdrop99]

If you're in the Vanderbilt area, let me personally recommend dr. Gregory Polkowski. I think he only does hip/knees, he's done two major ones on me and I couldn't be happier. The nurses in the ortho section of the hospital say his patients normally recover quicker than from the other docs.

If you go shopping around, put him in the pool of candidates.

 

Dr. Scott Dube at Nashville Bone & Joint at Summit Hospital did both my surgeries. Great orthopedic surgeon. Give him consideration.

[peejman]

Here's the guy who did Dad's knees....  http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-william-matthews-x2plq

[Tuffus]

I had my knee replaced just before my 59th birthday due to a rather traumatic injury at age 26. My knee was replaced in October of 2012 and the following April I did a 2 day bicycle ride averaging 70 miles each day. One big thing is to start rehab before the surgery. Stretching and strengthening before hand will improve your rehab afterwards. I did the week long Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee the September before the replacement in October and although it was rather painful the whole week it made the rehab much easier. Still painful though. Just remember when you start rehab, it will be much better later. Be sure and stretch as much as you can stand for quicker results.

[Dirtshooter]

Well I haven't had mine replaced, but wife had both done about 6 months apart. If not for the surgery she would have been in a wheelchair. As most have said the therapy is painful, but gets better. One day about 6 months after her 2nd replacement we were walking and she turned to me and said " I don't hurt anymore". I have known some people with problems after and some with flying colors so ymmv. Get 2nd opinions and some referrals by patients is my recommendation. Hope all goes well.

[Sam1]

Well it looks like you're now in a terrible position.  Raoul, choosing one of our doctors over the other, may result in the loss of forum friendships.  The only way to resolve this is to forgo quality and go to groupon to find a surgeon that gives coupons and none of us know.

 

Please have the surgery video'd and post it here with the results.

 

On a serious note, what tuffus said is important, the stronger you are going into surgery, the better it is coming out.  The second thing I learned is that a good night's sleep helps recover faster than taking pain meds all day.  Stuff will hurt, but take the minimum.  It will motivate you to get better quicker on the days you want to sit around and just rest.  Everyone is different, but honestly, good sleep and exercising every single day helped me more than anything.  That surgery I just had around Christmas, I only did 3 therapy visits.  One to baseline, one to check progress, and one a few days ago when the PT said "you don't need us anymore".  As long as you stick to whatever they suggest, you'll be fine - they've probably done it a time or thousand more than any of us have and may actually know a thing or two about it ;)

Edited February 2, 2016 by Sam1

[peejman]

Please have the surgery video'd and post it here with the results.

As I said above, Dad only had an epidural so he was awake. And because he's Dad, he was talking to the surgeon and asking him questions and such. At one point, the surgeon looked over the screen and said (very politely) "you're gonna have to shut up now, I'm busy. If you have questions, ask her. " :D

When the surgeon told us that afterwards, I laughed and said he needs to mount a GoPro to his head and install a screen on the ceiling so his patients can watch the live feed.

Dad said the creepiest part was them drilling holes and driving the pins in. He said they didn't just lightly tap, it was like driving a nail into hardwood.

[Glenn]

I had the first one done 11/16/15 and the second done 12/28/15. With the first, I took the pain pills as directed for two weeks, and flexibility got off to a great start. The second knee I quit the pills much sooner and have had a harder time with flexibility. Already better than before the surgery. Good luck