Need knee replacement

[Titianlady]

Hello all!! I am 54 years old and have had the meniscus removed from both knees over the last 5 years. I am now bone on bone in the right knee, and it has begun to collapse inward making me knock kneed. I was told last week that I need a total replacement. Needless to say, I am scared to death!! Can anyone tell me if the replacement feels like a natural knee? I still have total 130 degree or more flexation in my natural knee, and total extension dispite the problems. Will my new knee do this?
I have been looking at the different types of knee hardware out there and am torn between the Zimmer Gender knee, or the Stryker Triatholon. Any help or words of experience would be appreciated

 

[Texas]

Hi Welcome I am 42 I was shocked as well to here I needed it. . I wouldnt really wouldnt worry about the hardware. If you are confident in your Dr. Thats what counts. Soo Important. He prob uses a certain one anyway. It feels like a plain old normal knee. I know I wondered my self..lol..It hurts for awhile and then, gets better. Any questions you have we will glad to help you with. If you are having that many problems with your knee you will be happy you did this. I would think you should come close to your old bend, but I guess everyone is diff. I do have stryker though. Sounds like you are having a hard time with that knee take care of your self till you can get some relief....PS I was also absolutly terrified..You are so not alone...But it worked out fine...We will all help you the best we can...

 

[tooyoungforthis]

Hi Titianlady and welcome you will get great answers to any of your questions. If you dont mind where do you live? I am in N.J. and just found a great doctor in Philadelphia who will be doing a revision on my left knee ,he developed the Gender knee,I do have the Zimmer Gender in now the only problem is that it wasnt put in right by someone else so on July 23 I am going to have a new knee again, Its normal to be scared to death I was the first time and now the butterflies are going again.I am just 53 and you will find that there are alot of us that have a TKR that are young. You came to the right place!

 

[sstoots]

I too am 54. My left knee (total) replacement is scheduled for Monday at 7:15 am. Yes, I am anxious. I met with the surgeon yesterday. Says given my level of fitness conditioning, I should recover quickly. He says I will be riding my bike after four weeks. He is using a Stryker implant and is using MIS (has done close to a thousand). I will likely be in the hospital for three days. The ice machine and passive resistance gizmo are being delivered to my home. The PT resource will come to my home. Rehab is the key. As soon as the PT resource says I can hit my stationary bike, I'm on it! I know the pain is intense , but I was comforted by the surgeon's response ; 'we have the pain mgt thing figured out, not to worry'. The key is not to let the pain interfere with the rehab.

 

[VikingFan]

I am 45 and had my first knee replacement last year at 44. I have about 130 degree flexation in the replaced knee and my natural knee has 131. There is no pain anymore and wish I had done it sooner, in fact I am doing my other knee this coming tuesday because it is also arthritic and is the only thing holding me back from being able to be more active.

 

[Judles]

And to keep AHEAD of the pain altogether in anticipating it!!!

 

[Sticker Lady]

Titianlady--
Welcome to Bonesmart! You've found a wonderful resource in this site--the people are very loving and eager to share experiences with eachother. The nervousness is very normal--this is a big deal, after all--and we were all there . You will get through it as we all did.
This surgery is truly amazing. I'm more comfortable driving now than I was before the surgery. Going up and down the stairs is getting easier every day.
Is it hard? yes. Is it painful? Yes. Is it worth it? YES! Everyday gets better.
Blessings,
Irene

 

[Judles]

OHHHHH!!!!!!! And WELCOME Titian Lady!!!

 

[FrogFeathers]

Welcome!

I feel like a kid, dangit. I'm only 39 and had my left knee replaced. I knew for about two, maybe three years that I needed it done. I honestly didn't know I had a choice in hardware- my doctor suggested Biomet, seemed happy with it himself (almost excited), so I went along with it.

I have days (like today!) where I feel absolutely normal and other days I feel like I'm dragging my body around like excess baggage. The only thing on me that feels "weird" or not natural is the scar. We scar ugly in my family and thus far, it is the only lingering annoyance from the surgery.

 

[Texas]

Viking thanks so much for posting that. I am 12 weeks and it is so good to hear that. Really gives me something to look forward to. It is really nice when people post that far out and let us lil ones know Thank you. Good luck on your next knee, I hope you keep us posted there as well
Ss. You both will be in my prayes for your up coming surgeries. Ss I think you will be happy as well. Look at Viking that is amazing.I hope you check in and let us know how you are. First few days are a lil rough keep up with your medicine, and ice you will be ok. Please post anytime we would love to hear from you both....PS I would like to know how the MIS went, Ive heard alot about it.Thanks

 

[Texas]

Yes Frog you are the yougen of the bunch...lol ..:( Thats a good thing..

 

[Josephine]

Hello, lady! Welcome to BoneSmart from me as well!

I had a TKR last March and I can also tell you it feels normal, works normal and is no bother whatsoever! You'll never regret the day you had it done - like another 'birth'day! In other words, you get your life back again!

 

[skigirl]

My doc also told me that I would be all set in a few weeks. What they don't tell you is that when you hit that stationery bike, you can go all of five minutes. If you go more, your knee will hurt and swell.

At four weeks, I could ride my own bike for maybe a mile. I am a ski instructor, so I think I can garauntee you that I was in top shape prior to my knee replacement. Seven week so sitting around waiting for it to heal have not been fun. I go to Pt three times a weekk for 2 hours---but until last week could not do much else. I got a "stress reaction" which is level 10 knee pain because I stood in my studio for more that three or four hours.

At seven weeks, my knee feels like some artificial squishy thing---NOT like a real knee at all. I have a Stryker and would not recommend them--it makes a lot of noise--clicks, clunks===most of them when I extend my leg. If I am somewhere with other people, I hold my knee tight so that there is no noise.

I would not do this surgery unless you are desperate with pain or disability. I will never do my right knee.

 

[Jamie]

Welcome, Titanlady. You're like all of us....we were apprehensive before our surgeries. But you'll be surprised at how quickly that turns to amazement as you are able to do things again that were lost to you because of pain.

Shop for a surgeon who has done LOTS of these surgeries and who you can trust. Then let them make the choice of prosthesis for you based on your activity level. Their skill is infinitely more important that the actual device itself.

Also, spend some time reading in the pre- and post-surgery forums. There is a TON of information there to prepare you for the main even and what comes afterwards in recovery.

Post anytime....we're really glad you're here.

 

[Judles]

Kelly.....the older one gets, the more you realize that "never say never".....you never know the circumstances! If everytime we heard...Lover my dead body".....well, you get the point! Hopefully, of course, everything will work out optimally for you!!!

 

[Judles]

Haha!! Spell correction!!!!! OVER my dead body..... Yikes!!!

 

[Josephine]

I have a Stryker and would not recommend them--it makes a lot of noise--clicks, clunks===most of them when I extend my leg. If I am somewhere with other people, I hold my knee tight so that there is no noise.

This is not the fault of the prosthesis. All of them can do that. It's just bad luck, is all.

I would not do this surgery unless you are desperate with pain or disability. I will never do my right knee.

Again, the way this dear lady has been pushing and punishing herself, I can't say I'm surprised she feels like that! This is not the way with the other 1,000 and some knee members on here, nor the other few hundreds I've known on the 'outside'. For the majority, it's a great operation which is very successful.

 

[Judles]

Ski......aren't you ABLE to even get BACK to your self imposed torturous routine (kinda kidding!!!) BECAUSE of your NEW KNEE? May I just ask,,,,,,what MORE do you EXPECT????

 

[skigirl]

I EXPECTED, just like this woman to be back to my usual routine in four or five weeks. I wish someone had been honest with me PRIOR to surgery and told me the truth. This is a one year rehab---swelling is common, even after the year.

That at four weeks you will be lying around with your leg up as much as down. That you cannot "hit the bike" because your knee will not let you. I am nowhere near the level of fitness that I was in before the surgery.

So, no, my new knee has not brought me BACK to my where I was. I am not even half way there at seven weeks. If I work out too hard in the gym, I pay for it with pain and swelling. Judles we all are not going to think the same way.

I don't make fun of people whose goal is to walk around the block, or play with grandchildren, or go to work without pain. However, my goals are to remain a professional athlete----and I am not sure why you think that is so preposterous. I am not going to lie about my reaction to this surgery and pretend that "it all feels completely normal". You seem angry that I am not GRATEFUL---I 'm not and don't feel that I have to be---I paid $50,000 to a surgeon that I saw twice so far---I think he does not need my gratitude in addition. And my new knee DOES NOT feel the same as the real knee.

Jo, I talked to the staff at the surgeon's office and they tell me that the little clicks I hear are simply the metal hitting the plastic and that they are completely normal for this knee--that most people hear them. I have talked to many people with these knees and they all talk about the clicks that happen at different times in the gait. I have trouble believeing that this is completely unusual---the PA assures me that "I will get used to it". HA

 

[Judles]

Kelly! Really, hon...I'm not angry at you at all! Your standards as a professional athlete are a lot different than mine! Just the fact that you can resume your routine is a testament to your hard work and drive! I think you are expecting too much out of yourself sometimes...that's the sentiment that jumps off your posts! But your udeniable passion will reign in the end! No one knows your body or its limits like you! Just make smart decisions and realistic adjusgments! Something we ALL have to do with age! Happy 4th!!!!