Anybody had a knee replaced?
 

My mother is about to go in for surgery in an hour or so to have her knee replaced. Anybody had it done or had a parent that did? How did it go?

Unfortunately due to my career before the net, I've had 50% of the cartilage cut out of each knee. What's interesting, is that my knees give me more hassle than my uncle deals with on his knee that was replaced. (My knees were done over ten years ago and his was done within the last 6 months) The recovery time was considerably shorter as well. I've known a few others that have had the replacements done as well and all have had no issues with it.

Good luck to her :)

My oldest sister needs both her knees replaced. She had one done about a year ago and it was obviously no picnic for her. Lots of pain, lots of ongoing therapy, pain meds etc... it was only the long term effects that were worth it most definitely. It took her a good three to four months to get mostly back to her old self with the walking, but these days I can tell it was totally worth it for her.

She's in her late 50's btw, and before the operation was way overweight and had been pretty much all of her life. Now she's able to be more active, has been going swimming regularly this past year, and has lost a lot of the weight. She's not looking forward to having the second knee done but I'm sure she'll go for it in the next few years. But whenever I ask her I can tell by the look on her face just how tough that operation is.

For her it was totally worth it though, definitely.

Thanks..she is 58 and it has been bothering her for a long time now. She is retiring this summer and I am getting married again in July. So, she wanted to get it done in time for being able to fly. I worry about her but for once it gets to be my job to worry about her and not the other way around.

After over 20 years of football in my younger days (Ruggy League for 15 and Gridiron 10) even though I luckily avoided knee surgery during the playing days (got out with a shoulder reconstruction), the knees these days get a little rickety at times, and the back plays havoc more regularly.

I foresee real dramas in the next 20 years.. touch wood, but not looking forward to that. That would put me then in your Mom's vintage.

Hope it goes well and keep us posted.

He he.. it seems maybe I am getting old in some ways ;-)

ooops.. damn double post !

;-)

My ex's dad had 2 knee done. He was in rough shape for a long time.

That was about 15 yrs ago now, so hopefully they've gotten better at it.

I had the knee in my back replaced with serveral baton blows to the back of the head and then he read me my rights.

my friends dad did who was one of our ski racing coaches when i was younger. he's quite happy... and still extremely active in his mid 70's.

the question itself might be a little unfair since there is most likely a few options/methods and the technology and procedures seem to make quantum leaps every year.

I had my left knee reconstructed twice and my right knee once - not as severe as a knee replacement but during my time in the hostpital I met many people who had them done and went through rehab with me. They were all happy they did it months later.

google "surface hippy" It's a yahoo group dedicated to hip resurfacing but they occasinally talk about the latest tech/best doctors.

they can help with link to best knee info

I had an bad knee injury as a teen, I'll probably end up getting a knee replaced when I am older, from what the doctors said. But i kind of doubt it now. The knees feel great and I'm not hard on them.

My neighbor has had both her knees replaces. She is older than your mom and is in her mid 60's. She had one done about 5 years ago and the other one this last summer. She actually moved into a nursing home for about 6 weeks while she went through the recovery and rehab. She said the first few weeks after it is done is the worst. She had pain and doing anything was a real challenge. After that it was sore, but she had daily physical therapy and after the 6 weeks were up she felt pretty good. She did say it took another couple of months until she really felt like she was back to normal, but she was pain free (other than some occasional soreness) and felt pretty good after that 6 weeks,

Married? Congratulations:)

Yup :) And thank you :)

I am hoping that she just listens to what they tell her to do and it will lead to a lot less pain than she has been. She is a very intelligent (phd) woman but man she can do stubborn things at times. I am envisioning her trying to go out and shovel the driveway a few weeks into recovery.

My aunt had one, my SIL mother had one, 2 of my HS friends mothers had one. My aunt's was something like 20 years ago - it's become pretty basic surgery now.

She'll be good to go in July :)

Damn - Congrats!

Your mums knee will be sore - tell her not to be a hero and take everything they offer - If its not enough tell her to ask for more :)

Always remember its the hospitals job to keep patients free of pain. It was one of my biggest beefs when I was nursing.... Docs that underprescribe.

It is America..she will be doped.

Oh hell yeah. During both my recent operations I had a morphine drip AND the push button thingy :) I was pushing just to make SURE I didn't have any pain that might come :) I figured I wasn't going to get physically hooked in just a week so I might as well enjoy it and since insurance charges you for the full cylinder anyway..........:thumbsup

When my mom had her gallbladder out last year she was so doped up when I talked to her on the phone afterwards that it was almost funny to hear her that zoned.

My dad shattered his knee when he was skiing about 25 years ago. He's 47 and needs a replacement within the next 3 years. The pain he is having now can't be worse than post surgery.

I talked to her right before I went to bed last night. She actually was pretty awake and able to talk normally. She will be in the hospital until at least Sunday. She was looking forward to being allowed to sit up tomorrow..lol.