Comments on: Is a Total Knee Replacement Worth It?

By: Trisha

Trisha — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:16:43 +0000

Janice,
I had 2 TKR’s in 2008 (January and June). Neither of my knees were cemented and I was 61 yrs old. The doctor went on and on about what great bones I had. He said that it was better than having them cemented as it is the cement that wears out and since you are so young, this is the way to go.

Don’t know why you are having pain sleeping, but maybe you should try putting a thin pillow under your calves/feet which would keep them elevated and getting more blood flow so to speak. I am no doctor, but it would certainly be worth a try.

Hang in there – it IS worth it.

Trisha.

By: Janice

Janice — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:08:14 +0000

I had TKR on my left need November 19, 2009 and am still on the mend. What a process so far! There have been some very low, depressing days. I never thought it would be this difficult and I am only 47. BTW, I was bone on bone with bone spurs and arthritis behind my knee caps. Will have to have the right one done in the future.
Doing well with ROM, still using a walker but I was not cemented, it is fusing. Has anyone else gone through with fusing instead of having it cemented? Any advise?
On another note, anyone have advise on trying to get comfortable sleeping? My knee feels so heavy! I am scared to lie on my stomach and if I lie on my side, it is really hard on my shoulder and I am in shoulder pain for it so no luck that way. When I sleep on my back, I wake up because of pain in the top left side of my foot, like a cramping.
Thanks for any input.

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:50:27 +0000

I had a total left knee replacement on January 26,2009 and I still have pain on the outside of my knee and have trouble doing stairs. I ride my exercise bike daily 5 miles, but I don’t see any difference. Has anyone else had this problem?

By: Trisha

Trisha — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:30:59 +0000

To Everyone in General:

I had my tkr on the left knee Jan 2008 and my right knee June 2008. I was in the hospital for 2 days then stayed with my sister for about a week. My therapy was: one done at home and the other was out-patient. I see that in February and March of 2009 I wrote about having trouble with stairs. That is almost completely gone with all the activitiy I have in my work where I encounter stairs.

I asked my doctor in December 2008 on my last follow-up visit “when will I get to the point where I will forget I ever had the knee surgeries” and he said probably never. He said that replacement hips on the other hand were different and once it is done – it is forgotten. He said that there will always be things that will remind us about having “knee trouble”. However, I don’t have the desire to play tennis, snow ski, or run – so I am good in that respect. Having said all that – he was wrong – there are many days and weeks that I do “forget” and I am almost completely free from my angst with stairs which was mostly going down being the problem.

So, to everyone I just want to say that I NEVER regret having them replaced although I am 62 and might face this again 20 years from now when these wear out. I am way, way too active to live like I did before and in addition live with the pain.

One more comment: to the person or anyone having trouble sleeping – remember this – the narcotics can mess up your sleeping, especially when you are getting off them. Ask your doctor how best to taper off. I had the same problem with my first knee, but learned my lesson by the next one and never had the insomnia from drug withdrawl.

My advice is: Do your therapy and don’t rush it. I read on this site where people are pushing to return to work, drive and some have problems afterwards. It takes time and the return of your quad muscles mostly. Mine were turned to mush from 3 yrs of babying my knees prior to the surgery. Also, as for the pain – I had a lot with the first one, but found out that I was allergic to morphine which was being given to me when I woke up screaming. I think I never “got ahead of the pain” from that very point, but eventually got past it with enormous combos of drugs. Had different drugs for the next surgery and all went well.

P.S. I would NEVER have considered doing 2 knees at the same as I am way, way too independent on having someone help me do anything. Period. And, my doctor said that the recovery for one at a time isn’t too much longer than doing it at the same and easier all around. Not having “a leg to stand on” sold me on doing it separately so I could take of myself even at my sisters house.

Good luck to everyone.

By: Tina

Tina — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:55:11 +0000

I asked physical therapists I met who they like in terms of good MDs ( since they have to do rehab to theri paitents). And I asked who have they known that have done both at the same time.

By: steph

steph — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:52:25 +0000

I live in Atlanta and am having a hard time finding a doctor who will do both knees at the same time. How did you find yours?

By: sharon

sharon — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:31:04 +0000

WOW! Good luck. I never heard of it done that way before. Will you be in the hospital all that time? And I would not like going under twice either. What kind of knees are you getting put in? Where are you from?

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:26:47 +0000

I am scheduled to have both knees done, one Dec. 1 and one Dec. 7. Did they give you the option to space the surgeries out, or why did they do them both at same time? I am not looking forward to being put under twice. Thanks.

By: Phyllis Taylor

Phyllis Taylor — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:56:22 +0000

Gale, I am considering having Dr. Donald Reilly do my knee surgery. Have been reading about him on the internet. How was your experience with Dr. Reilly?

By: karen

karen — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:52:38 +0000

Be careful and see an orthopedist asap. I had a damaged right knee- had to wait for surgery since my accident happened at a young age. Now I am having both knees replaced in 2 days. BUT I developed a plantar fibroma on the bottom of my left foot. Apparently from a combination of causes- much of it related to repeated damage from limping. The early stages of development include severe foot cramping and pain.