@mtsumomm22 Hi and welcome to Bonesmart. Forgive my novel, and I tried to shorten this, but there was no quick way to answer your question.
Yes,I am glad I had it done, but keep in mind I had enough structural issues going on to help make my decision. I wasn't in constant pain before-hand, so it's harder to find direct comparisons for improvement this early on, especially considering my unusual start to recovery (see below) ....but so far, here is where I'm at:
The Good ("Thank God I did it!" ):
1) The grinding/sticking pain is gone, especially when driving. I used to have to sort of "unstick" things if I'd driven more than 25-30 minutes or when sitting in certain chairs.
2) The only true pain I have is from ongoing swelling (and I swelled "severely" resulting in lots of unusual and large fracture blisters), plus muscular tightness/soreness and occasional cramping. I do have very sensitive, borderline "painful" areas on the medial side of my knee, but that's also where I had the most intense burning and pain as soon as I woke up from surgery. It increases when I try any new exercises that puts lots of stress through the joint, so my PT thinks that's likely where the most surgical work was performed. Keep in mind that medial side had also been through 7 other knee surgeries, one of which was extensive and brutal pain-wise. I think it's ALL part of why that area will hurt longer.
3) The ankle problem I developed in December has only flared once since the TKR--and that was as soon I began walking and being on my feet more for laundry, cooking, etc at 6 wks post-op. I still shift a lot of weight to that other leg, but straightening the TKR leg/knee HAS helped that ankle. Even my ankle surgeon thought most of the ankle problem was brought on by how I was walking due to this knee needing replaced.
4) Shopping/walking is easier in a way---it's a different kind of pain, making me think it's swelling and inflammation still (see below!!).
The Ongoing Frustrations of Recovery (Notice I didn't say "The Bad" )
1) I had what my surgeon calls a "severe inflammatory reaction" to my TKR surgery, resulting in 14 large fracture blisters and severe swelling. Not your usual range of TKR swelling, but
severe swelling. I was basically on bedrest from Days 5-9 with only bathroom breaks allowed---no PT, no standing/walking/bending or even sitting in a chair with my legs down.
Even at 4 wks, I still had major swelling, so my surgeon put me on a strong anti-inflammatory (Arthrotec) specifically for joint stiffness.
2) Because of #1, I was told to think of my recovery as beginning at 3 wks post-op instead of Day 1. My PT agrees I'm currently more like a 4-5 week post-op patient at the low end of "normal progression" instead of an 8-weeker.
I've made loads of progress since week 4, and she and I are super happy with the progress. She says I'm catching up quickly. I still worry about how stiff I am at times from the on-going swelling. I was told not to compare myself to anyone at ANY stage after TKR though, because like the crazy past that got me here, I'm Just.Not.Normal.
3) Because of #1, I've avoided ALL strength training. PT is very gentle--only stretching, soft tissue massage, and balance work. Thus, I can't yet say if I can do my usual fitness/exercise activities without pain. Time will tell. I see my surgeon next Wednesday for my next post-op visit, and he wants to see what happens without the anti-inflammatory in my system.
4) So in a nutshell, I'm unable to say "Woo Hoo---this is awesome" yet. We're all just cautiously optimistic.
Also, I had given up ALL strength training as of last fall because the knee was so bad. This eliminated a lot of pain, but it wasn't how I wanted to live. I finish the 4 wks of Arthrtec tomorrow and fear I will regress, but I'm trying to stay positive and hope I'm over the hump. I tend to be majorly athletic and love to exercise (bike, walk, hike, weight lift), so I have a way to go to know if I can do all THOSE things pain-free. I don't just want to be pain-free---I want my life back with my son and husband, even if it's just walking, vacationing, and basic physical fitness.
I forgot to add that I was so worried over whether to go through with the TKR or wait a few more years. I had had a famous sports surgeon do my last 6 knee surgeries, and he actually lied to me many times about the state of my knee in 2016-2018, and kept telling me I was too young for TKR.
Luckily my Rheumatologist told me I seriously needed to consult someone new, and that's how I met my wonderful TKR surgeon.
I had scheduled the TKR for Dec. 18, 2018, but then my mom got sick and passed away within 11 days. She actually died the day before my TKR. Even with postponing the surgery, I still doubted my decision----
until the ankle injury in at New Years!!!!!!. All of which was brought on by mom's situation that severely worsened everything "knee."
That proved I'd actually waited too long and had let other parts of my body become affected by shifting too much weight to the other side and walking oddly....plus my TKR leg had started bending inward at the knee very quickly as of last Fall. My surgeon says once that starts, it progresses rapidly, unfortunately.