Total Knee Replacement - Your Experience

[Kim&Chris]

Wondering how you are doing, K&C. Hope all is going well.

Hi Dan, I'm getting along. Had the surgery on 4/7, home on 4/8 followed by 6 weeks of PT. I still experience a good bit of pain, especially at night, but ibuprofen helps. Sleeping is a challenge. Most nights, I get about 3-4 hours, but I'm told it will get better after about 6 months.

Thank you so much for asking! I should be much better by the Fall (that's what everyone keeps telling me! )

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hi Dan, I'm getting along. Had the surgery on 4/7, home on 4/8 followed by 6 weeks of PT. I still experience a good bit of pain, especially at night, but ibuprofen helps. Sleeping is a challenge. Most nights, I get about 3-4 hours, but I'm told it will get better after about 6 months.

Thank you so much for asking! I should be much better by the Fall (that's what everyone keeps telling me! )

Great to hear from you, K&C. Your experience echoes what many (myself included) have said here before your surgery. It gets better and better. Six months is a good barometer. One year, you won't even think of it. Best wishes.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Hope you feel better soon! I had total knee replacement in late October (left) and March (right). Infection so they reopened the right one in mid April and was hospitalized for 4 days.

I am now nearly pain free, with the exception of going up and down stairs (trying to do it like a normal person, not a 90-year old one) and getting out of a car.

I've been walking 3-4 miles a day, and I can't tell you how great it feels to not have pain when walking. I feel like a human again.

You'll get there, too!

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I'm 57 and I've had both of mine done in the past few months, one in Oct 7, second Dec 14
I was at Disney for Christmas less than 2 weeks following my 2nd one. 10 day trip, I did use an ECV because, well, you walk a lot at Disney and I was NOT ready for 10-12 miles a day 10 days post op.
I did the Princess 5K in February 2 months following my 2nd one. Walked a total of 10 miles that day, total of a 5 day trip
So I guess you can say mine went well.
I'm what, 3 months post op from my 2nd one and they feel fairly normal. My surgeon said it will take about a year for the implants to fully grow in to the bones and get to the point where you can no longer feel anything. It's hard to explain but right now I don't feel any discomfort or anything like that.
I was at the PT office less than 24 hours following each replacement. Went 3 days a week for 4 weeks, then 2 days for 4 weeks, then none.
I did not spend the night in the hospital for either replacement. Each took approx 4 hours, check in to check out. I was up and walking down the hall at the hospital, with a walking, as soon as I was awake and had feeling from the waste down. I was released as soon as I walked and went to the bathroom.
Mine were done semi-robotic. I had CT scans which they used to build the joint prior to surgery and that was put through all the necessary testing prior to implantation. According to my surgeon this speeds up both surgery and recovery.
I was on a walker for maybe 2 weeks first one, 1 week second one. I could have been on it less first one but I was chicken to switch to the cane. Didn't trust myself. I had to have a walker to leave the hospital.
I was able to shower immediately. Hubby had to help me lift my leg in until I could bend it over the tub.
I didn't have stitches, I had a zip tie suture system. It's really cool. Uses a mixture of super glue and adhesive zip ties that close the skin. It's all waterproof. Nothing to remove, just pull the whole thing off. I took it off myself at Disney.
Took a couple months to drive following first one as it was the right knee. Had to wait for surgeon to clear me. Could drive as soon as I was off narcotics following second one, which was right away. I didn't take any of the pain meds with either one.
I used a Peloton bike to build up strength prior to surgery and was on it a recumbent bike at PT a few days following surgery but it took a few sessions before I got all the way around. I was on the bike at home about a month following surgery and was doing rides again before my 2nd surgery. Same with 2nd.
I will not run/walk for exercise again. Bike only for me, that's why I invested in the Peloton.
Honestly, don't have much in the way of steps in my life so can't say really. I live in a ranch style home and work in a single level office. I can do them if I have to. I just don't have to much.

Did you get the Peloton bike or bike+? I’m ordering mine this week.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Did you get the Peloton bike or bike+? I’m ordering mine this week.

Bike+
Welcome to the "family"

 

[luv2cheer92]

Did you get the Peloton bike or bike+? I’m ordering mine this week.

Just gonna throw it out there, I would look into a NordicTrack, ProForm, or any bike that has iFit. I very, very significantly prefer it over Peloton. More offerings, better tech, and cheaper. It's not even close.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Just gonna throw it out there, I would look into a NordicTrack, ProForm, or any bike that has iFit. I very, very significantly prefer it over Peloton. More offerings, better tech, and cheaper. It's not even close.

I had a tread with iFit before my Peloton
I hated iFit
So clearly ymmv

 

[bazatron]

I’m just wondering if you might be able to give a little insight into something whenever you can. My mum had a knee replacement three years ago.She has recently had pain and huge swelling in it and went for an X-ray and then a scan. The radiographer called in a superior and seemed to be able to rule out things like scar tissue, inflammation, lipoma, bursitis and she has been put forward for a incisional biopsy on the 6th of February. She’s up the walls worrying it’s something very sinister. Is that biopsy a procedural thing before any further operation or are they looking for something more sinister. Anyone any experience or insight into what this might be.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I’m just wondering if you might be able to give a little insight into something whenever you can. My mum had a knee replacement three years ago.She has recently had pain and huge swelling in it and went for an X-ray and then a scan. The radiographer called in a superior and seemed to be able to rule out things like scar tissue, inflammation, lipoma, bursitis and she has been put forward for a incisional biopsy on the 6th of February. She’s up the walls worrying it’s something very sinister. Is that biopsy a procedural thing before any further operation or are they looking for something more sinister. Anyone any experience or insight into what this might be.

I don't have any insight into what it might be, baz, but best wishes for your mom. I'm sure it is, as you said, procedural. Welcome to the dis.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I’m just wondering if you might be able to give a little insight into something whenever you can. My mum had a knee replacement three years ago.She has recently had pain and huge swelling in it and went for an X-ray and then a scan. The radiographer called in a superior and seemed to be able to rule out things like scar tissue, inflammation, lipoma, bursitis and she has been put forward for a incisional biopsy on the 6th of February. She’s up the walls worrying it’s something very sinister. Is that biopsy a procedural thing before any further operation or are they looking for something more sinister. Anyone any experience or insight into what this might be.

Have they done bloodwork on your mom? When my right implant and tibia bone got infected 7 months after my knee replacement, they could see the tibia bone deterioration on the X-ray and could see the infection markers (elevated white blood cell count) in my bloodwork.

Please join the Bonesmart forum. It’s a discussion board, much like Disboards, for joint replacement. They have nurses affiliated with the forum who can answer your questions better than we can here. Good luck to your mom. I hope she gets good news soon.

 

[RoseColored97]

My mom had knee replacement surgery about a year and a half ago. My biggest recommendation is find a doctor you're comfortable with. The first doctor she saw was a recommendation from a friend and he ended up being such a butthead. Consultation went like this: "I know you're in a lot of pain, your knee is bone on bone but I will not even entertain performing surgery on you at this point. You need to move into a home with no stairs. You will not be receiving much pain medicine, 5 days maximum. Maybe not even that, you will most likely go home and need to switch off on over the counter tylenol/ibuprofen. This surgery is out-patient, you will not be coddled. Come back and see me when you've moved and we'll see if I'll entertain the idea at that point." I was in the room with her and was flabbergasted by his tone and demeanor.

We got a rec from our family physician after that experience and it was night and day. The surgeon she went with was amazing with fantastic bedside manor. He had no issue with providing pain medicine and other medicine to manage pain while she recovered. She could walk up three flights of stairs at less than a week post-op. A pencil-thin scar because he had his PA do the sewing up and he used to be in plastics. An absolutely phenomenal experience. Everyone should be able to have that same experience with a typically stressful surgery. Don't settle and if you're being treated like her first doctor, switch. You don't want that experience when you inevitably have to interact post-op and at the checkups up to a year after.

 

[bazatron]

Have they done bloodwork on your mom? When my right implant and tibia bone got infected 7 months after my knee replacement, they could see the tibia bone deterioration on the X-ray and could see the infection markers (elevated white blood cell count) in my bloodwork.

Please join the Bonesmart forum. It’s a discussion board, much like Disboards, for joint replacement. They have nurses affiliated with the forum who can answer your questions better than we can here. Good luck to your mom. I hope she gets good news soon.

Hi Mrs Ciz,

Thank you for your reply. She hasnt had any extra bloodwork done. She had the operation three years ago and didnt really say anything about the swelling which has been ongoing for about a year now. She put it down to post op inflammation or most likely fear of needing another op.It was the unprofessionalism of the radiographers that spoke when they shouldnt have that are making her think it might be cancerous as some of the other main possibilties have been ruled out accoriding to the radiogrpaher. I will join the other forum thanks again for your response .

 

[Robber Baron]

The surgeon did a house call.

Waaaaaait a second there, what kind of hoo doo wizadry is this?

 

[leeniewdw]

Waaaaaait a second there, what kind of hoo doo wizadry is this?

I know! That's how big a deal it was. He's a tall guy (6'4" at least) and apparently got the "biggest knee size" that they make for replacements. I suppose it was a choice between calling a medical transport to take him to the hospital/ER or have a home visit. I believe he got a pain killer injected into the knee in order to be able to get out of bed. IIRC, it was a weekend day so maybe the Ortho just decided to handle it that way.

 

[bazatron]

Has anyone any ideas or other forunms i could go to get more information on this ? Thanks a million

 

[leeniewdw]

Hi all, my DH is 6 weeks tomorrow since he TKR. On paper, he's done very very well. He was "ahead" on range of motion, his swelling went down quickly (still a little swollen obviously, but generally speaking), he's been off pain meds since the 3rd week (does take a little OTC).

The question I have is about his 2 specific complaints. He describes the feeling in his knee as "clunking". The PA told us in the pre-op visit that he'd have "clicking" but that his brain would learn to ignore it down the road... but he seems to be really distracted by this clunking that also hurts. I'm presuming his "clunk" = "clicking", but it's not my knee. I've tried to convince him to have more patience since he's still got pain and hoping once the pain subsides he'll start forgetting about the "clunk". He seems to think that's impossible -- compares it to having 1 wheel on a car that is a square.

His other concern/complaint is about a "pinching" on the outside of his knee. He's been talking about that since it was 2 week from the surgery (he mentioned on his 2 week followup with the PA). At the time, the PA said it could be due to the clamp they use to keep the surgery site open. He says there has been no change in the feeling or pain associated with this "pinching".

Any of this sound familiar to anyone? He goes back to the PA for his 6 week follow-up on Thursday so he'll obviously be asking those questions.

I have to say, he's pretty down in the dumps. I think it's mostly because he's not convinced his current scenario will move to "best thing I ever did" which is what some friends have said. I know he's being impatient - I just hope that's all it is.

 

[macraven]

I had my knee done 5 years ago and it took a long time before the pinching and issues left me.

Tell him he will be fine as some peeps need more than a few weeks for all to feel better and recover.

Wishing him a speedy recovery!

 

[lovesmurfs]

I'm 18 months out from my first and nearly a year out from my second. I understand what he means by "clunk." I have that as well -- some days are louder than others.

Not sure about pinching, but my nerves on the right and left of my knees are still somewhat numb.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

My left knee replacement didn’t feel like mine until a full 2 years post op. Now it’s pain free and the “clunking” is not a big deal. Either it’s gone away or I don’t even notice it. The total healing process takes a looooong time! He’s still in the very early stages of recovery.

I’m still waiting on my right knee replacement to feel normal. That one got infected and had to have 2 additional surgeries. I’m not sure it will ever feel normal.

 

[Southernmiss]

I broke my kneecap in October.

I still feel the knee all day everyday.

However, I also have break through to normalcy every day. I walked an amusement park and up hills and steps weekend before last with no issues. I woke up Sunday and could tell something else in the knee released and improved over night.

Does your husband's knee feel like cement inside with the clunky? That's normal.

There's a band called the IT band that runs down the inside of the leg/knee. That band can make the knee feel like a rubber band is squeezing the knee. It's one of the last things to feel better.

I was just released from PT week before last.

The more exercise with medical approval, the quicker and better he will feel.