Knee replacement anyone?

[butchlambert]

Well, if you can make it to Dallas, go to the Carrell Clinic, https://www.carrellclinic.com/history/
I think it is the oldest Ortho practice in the South. Myself and family have used Dr. Bruck, Burkhead, and Kitsinger personally. They have their own operation facility at the clinic. A longtime friend, Dr. Lance Bruce, that was over the Rehab units for the Baylor Facilities in the Dallas area recommended them to me. Lance knows Orthopedics, Him and a buddy were drinking a little in college and decided to go flying. Lance was almost killed and had a rod installed in his lower leg. Lance is a big car and motorcycle guy. Several months ago he crashed his m/c and tore up his old injured leg. Carrell Clinic did his surgery including removing the rod that was installed about 50yrs ago. Being almost as old as I his rehab will take quite a bit of time.
Bruck has done 4 of my 5 neck and back surgeries. Congenital problems and for the first time in 40years I have no pain. Burkhead did both of my son's shoulders and detached biceps. Kitsinger did my wife's knee. My nephew that was an ultra triathlete pounded his knees and had the clinic to do his knee.
My son has a Masters in PT has a lot of good things to say of them also.

 

[butchlambert]

I need to add, my wife cannot tolerate pain medication and I did have to get up at night to put ice in her machine that circulated ice water around the knee.

In other words, she took no medication!

 

[Capt45]

OK; I've not had a Knee Replacement, but I have performed 100's of Anesthetics for said procedure. With all the info on the interweb concerning Dr's and their ratings, pick one that does lots of them and that uses the latest in technology. Getting all the appropriate pre-op testing INCLUDING a imaging of the Knee so that a prosthetic can be made exclusive for you should be done. All that said, I do have a torn Meniscus and it's especially painful going up or down stairs, UNTIL I got a Inversion Table, I have the Mr Teeter model and I can tell you (at least for me) a daily Inversion has made my Knee pain free. What happens is that the decompression benefits to the Spine are also taking place in my Knees (if you can relax enough).
Best thing is to do your due diligence and choose carefully.

 

[CharlieNC]

I had both mine done in 2006/7. Now at 70yr old, the knees are about the only joints that don't hurt. Do your research to find a good doc, and work hard on the rehab which is absolutely no fun. But the destination is well worth the ugly journey!

 

[Fast14riot]

I've had multiple knee surgeries and both my parents have had both knees replaced (thanks genetics). My dad was in near debilitating pain before his first, trying to survive on injections. His only complication is he cannot straighten one out completely, but can bend it just fine. My mother is a large woman, but now doesn't complain of pain while walking. To have them both be mobile again is nice. I know I will be needing both replaced eventually, I just try to stay active and keep my weight down. I have partial cartilage left in both, limited ROM and an annoying amount of pain daily, running is out of the question but I can walk and hike all day just fine.

Good shoes/insoles go a long way to keeping pain and swelling manageable daily.

 

[mikehotel]

I injured my left knee in my thirty's on a dirt bike, but at the time I had Kaiser, and they said there is nothing wrong, go back to work you slacker.

I finally had my left knee replaced in my late sixties after years of pain. So glad I had it done, I had a great doctor and interesting enough after about a year my right knee and hips stopped hurting, I guess that how much trauma the left knee was inflicting on the rest of the body. Recovery is a little agonizing but do all the drills to gain full mobility.

Good luck with your procedure.

 

[grovey]

I'm probably 1 outta 10 here, but I had issues. I had Ortho on both of mine yrs ago, and 6 or 7 yrs later I couldn't stand the constant pain any longer in my left. I had it replaced by someone who turned out to be a hack and I had complications. Ten yrs later... what I have works, but it clunks and cracks and groans. It definitely beats the constant throbbing pain, but after this I'm not rushing for replacing the other, and it's about kaput. I agree with the guys about getting on your knees. Mine feels as if the flesh is tearing away from the inside if I crawl. It takes a yr or so till it feels like it's yours.

 

[nmkid]

My next door neighbor had it done at age 78 and says he doesn't know how long it's been since he felt as good as he now does. Followed doctor's orders and he healed up perfect. On the other hand, one of my brothers had it done TWICE on the same knee and he still suffered until he passed away from other issues.

 

[mousegunner]

OK; I've not had a Knee Replacement, but I have performed 100's of Anesthetics for said procedure. With all the info on the interweb concerning Dr's and their ratings, pick one that does lots of them and that uses the latest in technology. Getting all the appropriate pre-op testing INCLUDING a imaging of the Knee so that a prosthetic can be made exclusive for you should be done. All that said, I do have a torn Meniscus and it's especially painful going up or down stairs, UNTIL I got a Inversion Table, I have the Mr Teeter model and I can tell you (at least for me) a daily Inversion has made my Knee pain free. What happens is that the decompression benefits to the Spine are also taking place in my Knees (if you can relax enough).
Best thing is to do your due diligence and choose carefully.

You bring up something which may apply to me. I've had problems also with my sciatica and the pain radiates down my other leg. I've been told (and seen X rays) that one side of my knee is bone on bone and my knee is no longer centered and my leg sticks out to the side as I walk and put pressure on it. It's not a lot but it's there therefore I wondering if that slight misalignment is affecting my lower back. Good question for the doctor later.

Thank you 6ftrat about the Micro port medial pivot knee which I'll also ask about.

 

[chuckgreen]

As, at 82, I'm scheduled to have my right knee replaced in a few weeks I'm finding this thread very useful. My surgery will be done at the VA hospital in Tucson and I'm wondering if anyone else has had their knee surgery done at a VA facility and if so what their experience was like.

One of the pluses for me in using the VA, aside from it being free, is that I should be able to spend a week or two in the onsite rehab facility after the surgery if I want to. As I live alone and don't have much of a support system to help me during the first stages of recovery this might make the experience a little more tolerable. If all goes well I'll have the other knee done as soon as I recover sufficiently from the first one.

The VA system has turned out to be a great resource for me so far.

 

[skeeljc]

Don't know about knee replacement but I had my right hip replaced two weeks ago.

 

[Twicepop]

I know several people that have had knee replacements, most with only minor issues. A buddy of mine had one in for several years, and then developed an infection in the replaced knee. Anti-biotics and other treatments wouldn't clear up the infection so it had to be removed. He went 10 months with what he called a "spacer", he had a leg that would pivot at the hip and bend at the ankle, but no bend where the knee would have been. When the "new knee" was put in, the bones at the attachment points had to be shortened because of the erosion caused by the infection from the first replacement knee.

 

[longbow59]

I had my left knee replaced over 10 years ago. Had some prostate problems at the same time and didn't get to do much PT, but I walked everyday and recovery was quick. I would say about 3 to 4 weeks. I have done everything after the replacement and have been pain free. I have done concrete work on my hands and knee with a little strain but it wasn't bad. Had my left shoulder replaced a year ago. That is working great also. Main thing is to move, walk and it will be ok.

 

[CADDIE5]

Had both knees replaced in 2016 at age 63. Operations were 6 weeks apart with cataract surgery for both eyes in between. No problem with knees now. Full movement just follow exercise by therapist no cheating. Full range of 125* knee bend. Travel to LR competition with 125# worth of gear and clothes carried thru airport to rental car. Forced retirement when Nabisco moved operations to Mexico since we wouldn't give $65 million concessions. Electricians make $3/hr in Mexico compared to union scale in Chicago.

 

[Capt45]

You bring up something which may apply to me. I've had problems also with my sciatica and the pain radiates down my other leg. I've been told (and seen X rays) that one side of my knee is bone on bone and my knee is no longer centered and my leg sticks out to the side as I walk and put pressure on it. It's not a lot but it's there therefore I wondering if that slight misalignment is affecting my lower back. Good question for the doctor later.

Thank you 6ftrat about the Micro port medial pivot knee which I'll also ask about.

Which came first; back problems or the Knee problems? What you're describing about your Sciatica is evidence you have L4-5 Disc (or other Lumbar) problems which definitely would effect your gait, and influence how you stand/walk. Usually the radiating pain is on the side of nerve compression.

 

[gillettehunter]

I had a double knee replacement done in June of 2017. Scars have faded nicely. Still some soft tissue pain. I used a DR a couple of hundred miles away. My first piece of advice is to go talk to some of the local physical therapists. They get to see the results. They can tell which Dr is doing the best job after a few years and several hundred knee replacements coming through the door. Next is to follow the Dr's advice on PT and exercise. Follow the regime and do your best. That will help with recovery. I missed a hunting opportunity because my knees just wouldn't let me do it. That was my motivation. Still somewhat uncomfortable kneeling. Walking is fine. Feel like my balance is a little better too. Good luck.
Bruce

 

[nicholst55]

I think the key points to consider here are:

1. Do your due diligence, and select a surgeon who does a lot of knee replacements and has good reviews.
2. Ask questions. The better informed you are, the easier it is to make good choices.
3. Do the therapy.
4. Do the therapy.
5. Do the therapy. You will be glad that you did later on.

I knew of a retired paratrooper/SF Weapons Sergeant who badly needed new knees due to too many parachute jumps. He was badly overweight, and generally wasn't taking care of himself due to many years of debilitating pain. He had both knees done simultaneously but did NOT do the therapy. Next time I saw him (about a year later), he was still limping very badly and walking with two canes. Don't be that guy.

 

[mousegunner]

Which came first; back problems or the Knee problems? What you're describing about your Sciatica is evidence you have L4-5 Disc (or other Lumbar) problems which definitely would effect your gait, and influence how you stand/walk. Usually the radiating pain is on the side of nerve compression.

I thinking since I'm starting to limp on the right leg I'm putting some pressure on the lower back and it's pinching something causing the pain on my left left but then what do I know. I've had the bad knee for a long time only gotten worse recently and sciatica has been off and on for over a year. I do have a HS freind that's a chiropractor, maybe I'll talk to him and of course the doctors.

 

[PhilKeil]

My knee was replaced 6 yrs ago at age 52. As far as pain it is 100% better. I wish I could/would have done it much sooner. I had a lot of complications and my progress was not normal. I don't kneel much unless i have to. Going prone no big deal Good luck

 

[Cryhavoc]

Both done....like others have mentioned, it's awkward to kneel without padding. For me, it's mainly because all the nerves in one kneecap are shot from multiple knee operations while in the service. Other than that, navigating stairs, walking etc all like normal for me with no pain or discomfort at all.