I’m 61, had the left done May 31 of this year, and starting to work on scheduling for the right knee.

They will have you up walking the day of the surgery and don’t be surprised if it’s outpatient. I went under the knife at 7:30 in the morning and was in the car headed home at 2:30 in the afternoon. About a week using a walker, then a cane for a week or so, then on my own.

I’ll tell you knee replacement is better than bone on bone, but at 6 months after the replacement, I still have some swelling and pain. It is a more invasive surgery than you think. Takes a while for the muscles and nerves to fully heal.

Down the street neighbor in his early 70s had one knee done late last year and the other one 3 months later.

He was out walking the block days after the surgery and now that he's had both, he says he's happy about being able to walk and be pain free.

He said it's all about doing the PT and HEP.

Not from my experience ...

A few days ago a woman who is best friends with my wife had her knee done a few days ago. She is now 75 and is telling my wife she is having a tough time especially with pain ... and compared to her first knee surgery when she was 60 when went so smooth.

As I have no personal experience, if seems to me easier when younger than older.

Just sharin' ...

I'll be 50 in about 3 weeks. I had my right hip replaced in 2015. It got infected 3 months post-surgery and the socket had to be replaced. My right knee was just replaced in July. I ended up getting a blood clot in my leg and am now on blood thinner, and wearing compression socks. There are definite risks to consider.

Both my hip and knee correlate back to an ACL/meniscus tear that happened when I was 19. My gate was off and I was a journeyman drywaller until I was 33ish. I held off doing my knee longer than I should have over concerns about getting another infection and potentially losing my leg. My knee surgery has been mostly positive so far. I can walk downhill without limping or stopping. My knee was bone on bone. I don’t get those bone splitting pains down my shins anymore. Main issues now are that I work at home and sit in front of a computer all day. I try to do PT and walk every day. I bought a stationary bike for the winter when I can’t get outside to walk. My knee is pain free for the most part. I still have swelling and fluid buildup. Recovery has been worse than expected. Those first 2 months were not fun. It was a lot of icing and elevating your leg, pretty much all day.

Do your PT religiously, and keep your leg elevated. I wish you luck if you go through with it.

I had my right knee replaced in 2017, it never quite "took", even after 2 bouts of rehab. My ROM is great, but it just never felt comfortable. I gimp on it sometimes.
Then my left knee became bone on bone and I don't want to go thru the possibility of it not taking like the first one. I would go to a different doc if I end up having it replaced. I'm just gun-shy.(haha)

Note: Do NOT watch videos of this procedure!!

Had right knee done at 76.
Prepare for procedure by strengthening exercises.
Post surgery stretching is painful but mandatory.
Do leg exercises, for quads and hamstrings, at least once per week.
Stay stong and keep moving.

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Originally posted by xd45man:

quote:

Originally posted by kyoung:
I have had both replaced over the years and it is a lot better than bone on bone. I couldn't sleep at night because of the pain...

Its nearly 7am and I have been up since 1am because of pain in my left knee. I see a Dr. this week for a follow up from my first visit where I got an injection. I think I need to go for a replacement. I'm trying to drop weight as well hoping that will help.

My Ortho in Tulsa has it down, they usually do knees on monday and you go home on thurday. You wake up after surgery with your knee flexing on a range of motion machine and no pain until the Femoral block wears off. Walking the first night on it, theysend a machine home with and you use it a lot. They have Home Health come out and take care of the wound, and Physical Therapy couple times a week.