Having a total knee replacement in three weeks
Discussion
I've read the various threads on PH with interest over the years, so I think I know what to expect 
I had a minor arthroscopy (Keyhole operation) sixteen years ago which helped, but it has got worse the last four years.
I'm 70, fit and active, but things have got that bad I can't put it off any longer, I used to think nothing of walking thirty miles, but now struggle to walk two without being in quite bad pain .
Actually looking forward to it funnily enough.
I'll let you know how I go on.
I had a minor arthroscopy (Keyhole operation) sixteen years ago which helped, but it has got worse the last four years.
I'm 70, fit and active, but things have got that bad I can't put it off any longer, I used to think nothing of walking thirty miles, but now struggle to walk two without being in quite bad pain .
Actually looking forward to it funnily enough.
I'll let you know how I go on.
My Dad had both kness done during Covid.
Best advice is after the OP.
Get up get walking.
Use the zimmer to start with if you need it.
You wont be allowed out until you can do the stair test.
When your home do your exercises religiously and keep walking until your healed.
You will also have cracking scars.
Best advice is after the OP.
Get up get walking.
Use the zimmer to start with if you need it.
You wont be allowed out until you can do the stair test.
When your home do your exercises religiously and keep walking until your healed.
You will also have cracking scars.
When I had my wrist fixed there was a guy in the same ward who had a double knee replacement 2 days before and he was in good spirits and could walk to the bog using a walking frame.
He said he was in a bit of pain but that was just from the surgery but importantly his problem knee pains had gone.
Hope it all goes well and make sure you do what the phisio says.
He said he was in a bit of pain but that was just from the surgery but importantly his problem knee pains had gone.
Hope it all goes well and make sure you do what the phisio says.
My other half (under 60) had her left knee replaced back in August. She enjoyed the experience so much that she is getting the right one done this coming August!
She built up her strength and fitness in the 6 months before the first one was done - this really helped her have a speedy recovery. She was almost a religious fanatic about doing the physio - it really is essential. We borrowed an exercise bike from a friend that hadn’t used it for years - it’s in one of our spare rooms and got a lot of use, and still does get some.
As others have said, movement is the key - not a lot at first but some, building up gradually. She was on her feet the day after the op using a frame for a day, then 2 crutches, then one She loves swimming and swam as much as possible from about 6 weeks after the op.
The scar has faded to be just a faint red line, not bad when you see the size of the thing they shoved in there!
Best of luck with the surgery and recovery OP.
She built up her strength and fitness in the 6 months before the first one was done - this really helped her have a speedy recovery. She was almost a religious fanatic about doing the physio - it really is essential. We borrowed an exercise bike from a friend that hadn’t used it for years - it’s in one of our spare rooms and got a lot of use, and still does get some.
As others have said, movement is the key - not a lot at first but some, building up gradually. She was on her feet the day after the op using a frame for a day, then 2 crutches, then one She loves swimming and swam as much as possible from about 6 weeks after the op.
The scar has faded to be just a faint red line, not bad when you see the size of the thing they shoved in there!
Best of luck with the surgery and recovery OP.
dobly said:
My other half (under 60) had her left knee replaced back in August. She enjoyed the experience so much that she is getting the right one done this coming August!
She built up her strength and fitness in the 6 months before the first one was done - this really helped her have a speedy recovery. She was almost a religious fanatic about doing the physio - it really is essential. We borrowed an exercise bike from a friend that hadn’t used it for years - it’s in one of our spare rooms and got a lot of use, and still does get some.
As others have said, movement is the key - not a lot at first but some, building up gradually. She was on her feet the day after the op using a frame for a day, then 2 crutches, then one She loves swimming and swam as much as possible from about 6 weeks after the op.
The scar has faded to be just a faint red line, not bad when you see the size of the thing they shoved in there!
Best of luck with the surgery and recovery OP.
Cheers. Appreciated. She built up her strength and fitness in the 6 months before the first one was done - this really helped her have a speedy recovery. She was almost a religious fanatic about doing the physio - it really is essential. We borrowed an exercise bike from a friend that hadn’t used it for years - it’s in one of our spare rooms and got a lot of use, and still does get some.
As others have said, movement is the key - not a lot at first but some, building up gradually. She was on her feet the day after the op using a frame for a day, then 2 crutches, then one She loves swimming and swam as much as possible from about 6 weeks after the op.
The scar has faded to be just a faint red line, not bad when you see the size of the thing they shoved in there!
Best of luck with the surgery and recovery OP.
bristolracer said:
Can I ask how long you need to take off work to get this done?
I’m 60 and my knees are shot. It’s something I’m going to have get done at some point.
It would depend on your work. I’m 60 and my knees are shot. It’s something I’m going to have get done at some point.
If its desk based 2 months and could probably walk far enough to get to or from your desk.
Driving will be a nono for around 6 weeks.
The other thing to note is you may develop a limp as your new knee will straigten your leg and make it longer than your other leg if they are both affected.
sherman said:
bristolracer said:
Can I ask how long you need to take off work to get this done?
I’m 60 and my knees are shot. It’s something I’m going to have get done at some point.
It would depend on your work. I’m 60 and my knees are shot. It’s something I’m going to have get done at some point.
If its desk based 2 months and could probably walk far enough to get to or from your desk.
Driving will be a nono for around 6 weeks.
The other thing to note is you may develop a limp as your new knee will straigten your leg and make it longer than your other leg if they are both affected.
A bloke I know had his done many years ago. I recall him stressing the importance of the physio. He made a device from pieces of card that pivoted, and was placed against his knee. Every day he marked off on the device the angle of bend he had achieved, so he could see the improvement. I never saw this device thing he'd made, so I can't explain any better than that, sorry.
He made a full recovery and took up walking as a pastime
He made a full recovery and took up walking as a pastime
The Gauge said:
A bloke I know had his done many years ago. I recall him stressing the importance of the physio. He made a device from pieces of card that pivoted, and was placed against his knee. Every day he marked off on the device the angle of bend he had achieved, so he could see the improvement. I never saw this device thing he'd made, so I can't explain any better than that, sorry.
He made a full recovery and took up walking as a pastime
Sounds like a home made goniometer.He made a full recovery and took up walking as a pastime
sherman said:
It would depend on your work.
If its desk based 2 months and could probably walk far enough to get to or from your desk.
Driving will be a nono for around 6 weeks.
The other thing to note is you may develop a limp as your new knee will straigten your leg and make it longer than your other leg if they are both affected.
My wife was back in the office part time in week 5, full time in week 6, driving herself the next week. She had been doing emails etc. from week 2 or 3, subject to painkillers / sleep levels…If its desk based 2 months and could probably walk far enough to get to or from your desk.
Driving will be a nono for around 6 weeks.
The other thing to note is you may develop a limp as your new knee will straigten your leg and make it longer than your other leg if they are both affected.
UPDATE:-
Well I had the full right knee replacement yesterday at 1 pm, according to the consultant surgeon, everything went well with minimal blood loss.
I had an epidural and sedation to put me to sleep (Not a GA )after coming round, for the first hour was a weird sensation in my legs, there was absolutely no pain and i could not even feel my legs or waggle my toes.
In the hospital i did three sessions with their electronic compressing ice machine, (Apparently you can hire these at home for about £300 for four weeks, but I will see how I go on.)
I left the hospital at 9 pm armed with about five different types of tablets/blood thinners and a strap that you put in the freezer and apply for twenty minutes every four hours to reduce the swelling.
At home, I had a fairly poor nights sleep, and as I type am in a lot of pain, but this is to be expected for a week or so.
I'll be doing loads of physio as this is the key to getting back to normal apparently.
I'll update the thread a couple of times a week for those that are interested
Hopefully after six/eight weeks I should be driving again and it should all be a distant memory,
Well I had the full right knee replacement yesterday at 1 pm, according to the consultant surgeon, everything went well with minimal blood loss.
I had an epidural and sedation to put me to sleep (Not a GA )after coming round, for the first hour was a weird sensation in my legs, there was absolutely no pain and i could not even feel my legs or waggle my toes.
In the hospital i did three sessions with their electronic compressing ice machine, (Apparently you can hire these at home for about £300 for four weeks, but I will see how I go on.)
I left the hospital at 9 pm armed with about five different types of tablets/blood thinners and a strap that you put in the freezer and apply for twenty minutes every four hours to reduce the swelling.
At home, I had a fairly poor nights sleep, and as I type am in a lot of pain, but this is to be expected for a week or so.
I'll be doing loads of physio as this is the key to getting back to normal apparently.
I'll update the thread a couple of times a week for those that are interested
Hopefully after six/eight weeks I should be driving again and it should all be a distant memory,
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