Yerdua has questions

[Yerdua]

Is there really a difference between the knee replacement that does not put the metal piece in your bones vs the ones that do? I am getting both my knees replaced march 1st and I have faith in the surgeon i chose after 8 years of researching and interviews but the type of knees to use is so confusing. I was extremely active and athletic and want to get back to as much as possible but i am only 58 so worried about the need to repair again. Especially scared of the pain upon waking up and first few weeks as i am not in a good way. Advice on best exercises before surgery to help reduce pain and increase mobility. Right now can't bend left leg , can't straighten right, can't stand for more than 1-2 minutes before pain is bad. By 4 minutes in tears. What is the best way i can maximize my surgery results and realistically with both knees replaced how much will i really be able to do?

 

[bottomshollow]

@Yerdua, from the March surgery list thread into a thread of your own where you and your questions and concerns and observations will receive the attention they deserve. And FYI, all total knee replacement have metal parts.

Welcome to the forum----we are so pleased that you have joined us here. Click on the links below to get info.

- if your knees rule your life , it's time
- take charge, don't be dictated to; it's your knee, your future
- don't believe in either horror stories or in miraculous recoveries that happened to 'a friend of a friend'
- there is no such thing as too young or too heavy or even obese for TKR
- choose a specialist surgeon who does several hundred TKRs a year. Ask the nurses, if you can; they know who's best
- all replacement knees are very similar, don't believe that a special new one will give magical recovery -- it's the skill of the surgeon that counts
- if you need two done, think carefully about the time gap between surgeries, it's not a trival decision
- try to plan for at least 12 weeks off work
- your recovery is your time to be selfish and idle; plan to embrace this, you'll need it
- don't think you can work hard (even if you're an athlete ) to speed recovery, healing works at its own pace
- look at our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) thread and for full reference the Library index.

- finally, if there's any part of this that you aren't clear about, ask here; it's what BoneSmart's for.

We are here to help in any way we can: answering questions and concerns; supporting and encouraging you from start to finish; giving you a place to vent, whine, complain if you need to; sharing experiences with one another; and having fun and some laughs along the way.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[SusieShoes]

I am getting both my knees replaced march 1st and I have faith in the surgeon i chose after 8 years of researching and interviews but the type of knees to use is so confusing.

Is your surgeon asking you to choose the type of knee? Most surgeons have a preferred type of implant and are expert in placing that type. Ask your surgeon what implant he/she will use or prefers. Don't be afraid to also ask why.

Especially scared of the pain upon waking up and first few weeks as i am not in a good way.

Though TKR will be painful --consider all the cutting and bone shaping being done-- you should be provided with excellent pain control post-op. I was surprised when I stood on my two new knees a few hours post-surgery that the pain was not as bad as my pre-op pain! Also, the horrible bone-on-bone pain in my knees was completely gone. Keep in mind that the immediate post-op pain (which you will be medicated for) diminishes as time goes on. It becomes less and less until you become pain-free.

Advice on best exercises before surgery to help reduce pain and increase mobility.

There aren't any exercises that I know of to reduce pain. Many people benefit from doing exercises to strengthen their quad muscles before surgery. Also, the most helpful exercises are those to strengthen the upper body. You'll want strong arms and good core muscles for all the positioning, getting up, and moving around you will want to do.

What is the best way i can maximize my surgery results and realistically with both knees replaced how much will i really be able to do?

If by maximize your surgery results you mean have the best and fastest recovery... do what best promotes healing in your new knee(s). Rest a lot, because the body heals most during rest and sleep. Elevate and ice to reduce swelling and pain. Exercise gently, rather than aggressively, to keep inflammation down and promote healing.

As for how much will you be able to do with two new knees... I had both knees replaced and now, eight months out, I can walk for miles, stand for very long periods, kneel, bike, swim, chase my grandchildren, greatly enjoy intimacy with my husband, and generally forget I have new knees. Other members, some out of surgery for longer than me, ride horses, ski, bike competitively, bowl, and play sports like softball and soccer. Just about the only activities surgeons discourage completely are marathon running, triathlons, singles tennis, professional sports, and power lifting. Those are hard on any knees!

I'll leave you some reading in the next post, but feel free to ask questions. People here are happy to answer and address your concerns.

 

[SusieShoes]

Hello, @Yerdua, and to BoneSmart! We're so glad you found our community and hope you make friends while enjoying the site's support.

Here's some pre-op reading for you.

If you have concern about pain with this surgery, Plan For Pain, can be helpful for having this discussion with your medical team.

New BoneSmart members like you are in various stages of their journey to joint replacement. Making the decision whether or not to have surgery and preparing for surgery can be easier once you have done your research and know what lies ahead. Here are some tools that can help you decide what is best for you.

If you are at the stage where you have joint pain but don't know for sure if you are ready to have surgery, these links may help:

Score Chart: How bad is my arthritic knee?
Choosing a surgeon and a prosthesis
BMI Calculator - What to do if your surgeon says you're too heavy for joint replacement surgery
Longevity of implants and revisions: How long will my new joint last?

If you are at the stage where you are planning to have surgery but are looking for information so you can be better prepared for what is to come, take a look at these links:

Recovery Aids: A comprehensive list for hospital and home
Recliner Chairs: Things you need to know if buying one for your recovery
Pre-Op Interviews: What's involved?

Regardless of where you are in the process, the website and app My Knee Guide can help you stay organized and informed. The free service keeps all the information pertaining to your surgery and recovery in one place on your smartphone. It is intended to be a personal support tool for the entire process.

And if you want to picture what your life might be like with a replaced knee, take a look at the posts and threads from other BoneSmarties provided in this link:

Stories of amazing knee recoveries

If you have any questions, fire away - we're here to help.

 

[Celle]

Is there really a difference between the knee replacement that does not put the metal piece in your bones vs the ones that do? I am getting both my knees replaced march 1st and I have faith in the surgeon i chose after 8 years of researching and interviews but the type of knees to use is so confusing

As bottomshollow said, all knee replacements put metal in your bones. This article gives some illustrations:
Knee replacement surgery types and suggested videos

Are you concerned that you might have an allergy to metal? If so, have the full blood tests before surgery. There are some implants that do not contain the metal to which you are allergic.

As for choosing a type of knee replacement, that is best left to your surgeon.
There is very little difference between the various makes of knee replacements.
It is much more important to choose a good surgeon and let him/her choose an implant for you, one with which he/she is familiar and has had success.

I was extremely active and athletic and want to get back to as much as possible but i am only 58 so worried about the need to repair again.

You will be active again after your knee replacements, but you will first need to give your knees and your body time to heal. recovery from a knee replacement takes a long time and nothing you can do will speed it up. It's a year-long recovery, so it's a marathon, not a sprint.

Don't worry about the need for a revision later - knee replacements nowadays can last for 30+ years. The idea that you have to wait until you are "old enough" for a knee replacement is old-fashioned now.

Advice on best exercises before surgery to help reduce pain and increase mobility. Right now can't bend left leg , can't straighten right, can't stand for more than 1-2 minutes before pain is bad. By 4 minutes in tears.

Concentrate on general fitness and upper-body strength. With both knees replaced, you will be glad of strong arms in the first few weeks.

You might try gentle exercise in a pool for your legs, where the water will bear most of your weight. Don't do any exercises that hurt your knees.

What is the best way i can maximize my surgery results and realistically with both knees replaced how much will i really be able to do?

The best way is to let your knees heal before you start stressing them with exercises. For the first month, you need to spend most of your time resting, icing and elevating your legs, and walk around the hours about every hour. Don't be temped to start on an exercise regime too early. Your knees need to heal for about 3 months before you start any strengthening exercises - your legs will be getting stronger with just daily use in the early weeks.

Given time, you will be able to do almost everything you could do before your knees turned bad. One of our staff had bilateral TKRs. He has continued to act as a football referee and he helps to run a farm. He's very active.

I've had both knees replaced and I'm very active. I've travelled the world with those knees. At 76, I can still climb a ladder, play with my granddaughters, do all my own housework and gardening.

Do read some of the stories in this link that SusieShoes left you.
Stories of amazing knee recoveries