If every thing goes as planed I'm going in for a knee replacement on the 10th of this month. I've had a couple of hips done in the past and was wondering if any one has had one each (knee and hip) and how were the differences in recovery time between the two and the difference pain and suffering also how much time before you could DRIVE. This will be on my right knee....Just curious. Thanks ...Tedd

 

My dad had one done back on 05. My dads knee was in bad shape. He was ready to go home after the operation,he had very little pain. Made a huge difference on his life. You just have to make sure you exercise that knee after the surgery. If you don't, you will be in pain for the rest of your life they say

 

good luck all the best

 

I had my left replaced in 2009. I had major problems during therapy, but the therapists just kept saying I needed to suck it up and quit complaining. I was screaming out in pain during therapy, when everyone else just grunted a little bit. I think the replacement operation didn't go smoothly. There is movement in my joint, left to right. Doctor says it seems like the ligaments on one side stretched more than the other. That was probably from the therapists who forced more movement when my knee felt ready to explode. And I guess it did, by overstretching the one side. The fix is to redo the operation and either stretch the other side, or put in a joint surface that is higher on one side to tighten it up. Either way, it is like starting over. Therapy is a MUST, and it is long and painful...at least it was for me. I have been told by people who had both knee and hip that hip is much easier recovery.


I had no choice, as I was bone to bone and in intense pain. I will have to have it redone eventually. JOY!

 

Isn't there a limit on replacements. When dad got his done,they said only twice it can be done on your life. Maybe things have changed since then. And yes, recovery is different for everyone. Some get off easily, in your case you didn't. Hope the next one goes well.

 

This is what I heard, too. I have a friend who had issues with his hip joints when he was in his mid-40s, and the doctors were reluctant to do the replacements because of fear that they wouldn't last the rest of his life. But he was in enough pain and discomfort, and with a remedy sitting right there, they went ahead and did it. This was 10 years ago now, and he's been very much better ever since. I think they would do another set of replacements if necessary, but that would hopefully not be until he was in his 70s, 30 years later, and it would certainly be the last time they would do it.

 

Will this make you go any faster??

 

My dad had both knees done at the same time and later one hip. If I told you what he told me just after the knee surgery you wouldn't get it done. Three months later he danced at my wedding. Looking back he didn't regret it one bit.

 

Tedd: My left knee is close to "bone on bone", and I've been avoiding the replacement for about 5 years. Heard good/bad stories about it, and mainly to do the therapy afterwards, religiously! Hurts like crazy, but will make the mending process quicker. My main reason for avoiding is scared to death of staph infections, plus also have a partial tear in left shoulder from Big Red
wreck in '12 that needs doing, and avoiding it for the same reason. Good luck on your decision............
Aron

 

A co-worker of mine had a knee replacement about 4 months ago. He was back to work in about a month. He had some issues with his therapy as well. Just doing what he was told he ended up tearing some patella ligaments and now when he bends his knee his knee cap slides off to the side. So now he has to go back and have surgery to fix that in a couple of weeks. Fortunately he says he will only miss a week for this one. Needless to say from his experience and what your saying it is important to listen to your body when rehabbing. I would think slow and steady in the rehab is the way to go. Of course everyone is different

My buddy's dad just finished up a nuts and bolts resto of a 52 chev and then had his 2nd knee replaced (has had both done now) and he said he is done with the restos because of his knees. Its a shame. Hopefully you have better luck.

 

I am fortunate to have really good knees. Back in 2008 i took a 10 foot fall off a ladder and dropped straight down. I left footprints on the ground. I spent a couple days in the hospital due to a crushed vertebrae. My old buddy in Denver who has a 54 hardtop identical to me convertible just had knee surgery a couple days ago. I am waiting to hear from him when he has time. I think it is one of those things that you will initially think "what the hell was I thinking" and then in a few months you will be saying "why the hell didn't I do this sooner". The therapy will be the toughest part but is crucial to the recovery. Good luck on this one Tedd.

 

Can the doctor do orthroscopic surgery to make each side of your knee joint smooth again? If you can put it off I suggest you do. The longer you wait the less chance you have of getting a second operation done. My grandmother had both of her knees replaced and then had one of them done again. It was a painful recovery but once she was well it was definitely worth it.

 

Tedd, I'm trying to get my knee done soon, but being 55 years old the doctors are dragging their feet. I'll probably need both done in the near future, a combination of abuse and arthritis. I know 7 people that are friends/relatives who've had knees replaced. I agree with the others that their experiences varied, some having more pain and trouble with the therapy than others. Talking with them several months later they all say how glad they are that they had it done. Going from painful movement and struggling to put on your socks to pain free movement again is worth it. Good Luck and I hope all goes well for you!


John

 

They don't want to do them too soon in your life. They only last 10 to 15 years. Only twice can be done

 

My brother had one done last summer, he's 59. I don't know the make but he was telling me the one he got was different than older ones. Instead of using screws to hold the metal to the bone its glued in, and the pad between the metal pieces can be replaced without the whole joint being redone. If the standard joint is moving in that direction then it may not be a big deal replacing the plastic(?) pad when it wears down and leaving the metal parts of the joint alone.

 

Well thanks for all the comments/advise and I'm set up for next Tuesday for sure. I am at the point that I can't do hardly anything that requires standing for more than a few minutes, can walk a little while but then the left knee will give out( its next to get replaced) and I have to set it out for a while and give it a rests. Both are bone on bone and shot. According to my sergeon I treated my body with reckless abandon in my youth and I'm paying for it now.

I'm a little concerned about this new knee replacement, they can't do a conventional replacement because of my hip replacement is already taking up space for the rod that anchors the knee so I'm a little anxious over that but my doc. said he does a bunch of these and has had great success and i trust him so here goes nothing. I'll let you guys know how it goes sometime next week....Tedd

 

I had my knee scoped first because it had trash in it that was preventing it from straightening all the way. The doc told me it was bone on bone and was probably needing replaced. A few months later it totally failed. Doc gave me some strong Oxy and said to stay off it and we scheduled surgery. It then swelled up about 3 times normal and I was ready to put a bullet in my head...literally. The oxy didn't touch it. He drained 3 1/2 HUGE syringes of fluid and that eased the pain to manageable levels until surgery. It would have been impossible to live with that pain.


Good luck

 

Best of luck Tedd. You will be dancing by new years eve

 

Ted, Make sure you tell the Drs. That this is your accelerator leg and to be extra careful.. Good luck and my guess is by spring you will be sayin I wish I had done this sooner.

 

It would have already been done except I got the walking pneumonia and had to have that damn lung operation. That was about as much in the pain department as I could handle, kinda makes one a little gun shy......Tedd

 

If you don't mind my asking, how did your knees get that way? What kind of "wreckless abandon" from your youth lead to knee replacement?

 

Tedd, Just Hang Tough When You Get To The Therapy! I Think That's The Key To Whether You Do Good Or Not! I Had Mine Done About 10 Years Ago And It's Doing Great. Best Of Luck, Larry

 

Football,, motorcycle racing wrestling trying to leap tall buildings with a single bound, you know the regular stuff one does as a youth,except even as a youth I was over 200 lbs and was the third fastest runner in my school (100 yard) puts a strain on the lower body parts. If I had to do it all over again I would only skip the football and I probably be doing the knee thing anyway....Tedd

 

Definitely understandable. And thank god there is something that can be done to make it better.

Wishing you good luck and a speedy recovery.

 

Still on for tomorrow?
You'll do fine and wish you had done it sooner.

Heal quick.
Best Regards,

George

 

Wishing you a painless and speedy recovery also!! I'm looking at a hip replacement next spring...........

 

Good luck on this tomorrow Tedd.

 

Headed out to the hospital in a hour and everything is a go, talk to you all sometime around Saturday, thanks for all the advice and words of wisdom....Tedd

 

Good luck Tedd

Two of my friends have gone thru this just recently both recovering nicely. Both say the same thing. Do what the therapist says to the letter.

 

Thinking of you today Ted. Good Luck.
Steve

 

Good luck Ted and remember to tell them the grease nipple goes to the back and not under the knee cap.
Steve

 

I hope everything goes well today Tedd !!!

 

Well it's a done thing, doesn't hurt to type but everything else does! The first week is supposed to be the worst they say... The doc did a great job even matched up the scar on my knee to the one on my *** so i have a match pair.All in all it it;s doing just about what I expected luckily I have good upper body strength and that has helped a bunch in the getting in and out of bed or chairs thing...Oh did I mention the good drug thing if I did disregard the last sentence, I haven't been this toasted since the seventies....See you when I'm back to earth....Tedd

 

Well Tedd take care of the knee. Remember to exercise, going to hurt but it is a must. Guess you might need to find some of that herbal magic. lol Careful for the munchie monster

 

Tedd,Some Of The meds Used To Put You Out While Doing The Surgery Even Effect You After You Get Home. I Kept Seeing "Bugs On The Ceiling "And Was So Insistent That They Were There, That My Wife Finally Went Through The Motion Of Trying To Remove Them With A Dust Mop! Just Be Extra Tough When Therapy Comes Along,That's The Key. Good Luck. Larry

 

Hey Tedd
That is cool they let you free so soon. Hope pain gets less soon and you are able to amble.

take care

 

Good luck with your recovery Ted. One word of advice throughout my ordeals is to take your meds as prescribed (ie. before you think you need them). You'll need to build up the
anesthetics in your body and that way the pain will be well managed. (wife's a nurse too).

You know how tough we think we are and our aversion to pain meds...

 

I hope your recovery does smooth, a friend had both knees done at the same time, he wished he'd had it done sooner..

 

Small update, the long and short of it is I'm doing great, got the pain med thing evened out so I can type and carry a thought somewhat like before, not good not to bad just me. Pain is sorta just there but doable, I must watch the weird angles I get myself into and where I park my walker and can it be retrieved by me at some later date, just little stupid things one does but everyday is better.

I'm doing paint spot repairs on the 55 and getting better with each chip so I'm still working on the Olds through this even though only for a few minutes at a time before I need rest....Life is still good...Looking forward to tomorrow...Tedd

 

Awesome news Tedd, keep it up. Careful with you walking.