Knee replacement- give me the deets

[Anonymous]

How awful will it be? Was it worth it?

[Anonymous]

Following.

[Anonymous]

The Wapo had a great article recently about it. The gist I got was most doctors aren't honest about how difficult the recovery is and for some people it doesn't help a lot. People who "guard" from the pain have a tougher recovery.

[Anonymous]

Search the wapo for the article and read the comments. There was a lot of helpful info in the comments.

[Anonymous]

biggest advice is MOVE--the more you can keep that knee moving after the surgery the better it will feel. nothing worse than sitting with an ice pack on it for 12 hours a day.

[Anonymous]

If the surgery is a week or more off, do strengthening exercises now. The better shape leg is in, the better recovery goes.
If there is TKR class st the hospital, go.
Start the range of motion work they show you in the hospital.
Get arrangements made for PT to come to home first 2 or 3 weeks until you can go to PT at hospital . VHC is very good, so is Sibley.
Do your range of motion exercises faithfully. Depending of how leg was before. It may hurt like hell. Do it anyway. Keep ahead of pain as instructed by nurse and PT.
Ice is your friend. Lots and often. You will keep using cold packs for months ime.
Rehab gains in range of motion have a 6 week window to get that leg straight and bending over 100 degrees. Your prosthetic has a limit. Ask surgeon what it is and write it down. Never ever let anyone try to exceed that limit it's like prying the prosthetic off with a crowbar said my surgeon.
If you ever had a metal rash, irritation from cheap earrings, etc. you may have a nickel chromium allergy. Get titanium prosthetic. Talk to surgeon.

[Anonymous]

I’ve not had one but my parents have four between them and it has been all positive. One did two at once and the other did them several years apart.

[Anonymous]

THANKS to all! I'll check out the post article, too.

[Anonymous]

I had 2. My experience is if you do the rehab as directed and are assertive about getting a referral for about 6 weeks of outpatient PT you will be glad. You will have a knee that works well.
MY OBSERVATIONS of others is that if you
If you do not because it hurts, you are too busy, whatever you will not get full range of motion, it wil hurt, you can't walk far.
I was bone on bone for decades. My knees hurt night and day. They do not hurt now. I have 180 degrees and 120 degrees ROM (limit is 125). I do stairs no biggie. I hike up mountains. I was 65 and 66 when they were replaced,
I am 09:29 if you ca, get titanium. People who don't know they are allergic to chrome have bad results.