Is my mother too old for knee replacement

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Ellen

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I just came back from visiting my mother who is 88 years old. She has been told she needs a knee replacement, she is in considerable pain when walking. Her own doctor told her she was too old, but the specialist said she could have it done. She was told that the recovery is long and painful and is trying to put up with it. After being with her for a week and watching what she is going through, it is hard to imagine her going on like that for years. So the question is, are there others out there who are in this age range and have had it done, and would they recommend it. What would she go through at her age, knowing that she would heal much more slowly?

Ellen
 
88 too old? Hardly! I have known of 70 year olds who were "too old" in that they were not in the right shape physically or mentally to make best use of a joint replacement or to cope with the rehab. Likewise, I have looked after people in their late nineties who have had hip and knee replacements and have done wonderfully well. It all depends upon how bright and active your mother is. If she is lucid, able and active, I see no reason at all why she should be excluded. That's just ageism, pure and simple!

As for the recovery, you only need to read through the numerous posts in these two sections of the forum to see how some have a better time than others but basically most do really well.

I get really cross with these doctors who make such statements a) because they are not being sympathetic to the patient's pain and b) because it is patently obvious they are not well versed in joint replacement issues and don't know what they are talking about!

You listen to the surgeon - he does!
 
Josephine

Thanks for the quick reply. I do think that my mother needs to have the knee replacement surgery. She's never been particuarily active, and has been overweight until recently. But her facultys are great and she is all there. I just can't imagine her going on like this for years. This helps to know that it is feasible for her.

Ellen
 
I wish her well with it.

BTW, a short while before I retired last year, I cared for a wonderful lady in recovery who had had one knee done. My sister was on the ward at the time so I popped in to see her as well every time I visited. She did ever so well, being up to 'speed' on her new knee in no time. She was in her 70s and weighed 400lbs!!
 
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