Knee replacement

Hi akinsanya.  Just "found" your enquiry re: an age limit for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement)?  I have a close friend who was, at least, in her 70's if not 80's when she had hers' done!!!  Luckily she was (ad still is) an "average"/healthy weight and was always (and still is) quite active and she literally "breezed through" her procedure and made a super post-op recovery!!!!!!!!!!  Therefore, don't believe there is an upper age limit regarding having the op but not sure if there is a lower age limit?  I think a Consultants' decision to do the op or not, is mainly based on how the patient presents i.e. their pain score and extent of their disability.  Having said that, TKRs may have a "limited" life span (perhaps 20 yrs) where they remain effective so if someone is relatively young they may need another procedure/op if the replacement joint stops being effective?  Hope this helps? Ann x

Hi Moonstone.  I'm sooooooo glad to hear of your scheduled TKR at long last!!!!!!! I also really empathise with you experiencing anxiety about your procedure but at the end of the day, I'm sure that your daily, quality of life is terribly hampered by your pain and disability and the only effective intervention will be a TKR!  I am "keeping EVERYTHING crossed" that this WILL hopefully happen on the 29th and within the next few months, you will begin to reap the benefits of it!!  Being a retired Registered Nurse, with an in-built, natural "insecurity", can only suggest you make sure you are given adequate and effective pain relief post operatively (and for as long as you need this) because you will need this in order to effectively complete the exercises you will need to do to facilitate the best recovery - VITALLTY IMPORTANT!  I also suggest that you "keep a eye out" for any sign of infection i.e. a raised body temperature (above 37 degrees C), generally feeling unwell, having headaches, feeling hot and the cold (after being discharged).  It will be natural / expected, that you will initially have some localised redness, pain, inflammation, swelling etc. as this is all "part and parcel" of the surgical procedure/wound healing but sure the hospital (staff) will give you both written and verbal information about this.  Once again, wishing you all the very best and although my husband swore he wished he never had the procedure done (the 1st couple of weeks afterwards), soon after this time, he realised it was the best thing he'd ever had done and now is a TKRs' biggest advocate!  Ann x 

I cannot find a better way to thank the lovely people who have found the time to give me their experiences over the tkr operations, to them i say big thank you. I am more encouraged to go ahead with my knees problems, hopefully i received a letter for my hospital appointment few days ago . I hope to come back to you all after my first appointment at the end of March.my door is open to further advices from people who might have the same problem. Experience is the best teacher.. I am more confident and encouraged than two months ago, while i was having sleepless nights and fear together. ONCE AGAIN I SAY THANK YOU, TO ALL THE JOLLY LOVING PEOPLE, WHOM HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR PRECIOUS TIME IN WRITING..MAY THE BLESSINGS IN THE SEASON OF LENT KNOCK ON THEIR DOORS WITH GODS GRACES  AMEN.AWAITING FOR MORE ADVICES .GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK FOR NOW.THANK YOU. KEVIN. 24/03/2017.

@Yank34Where i live you assessed well before you go into hospital for any aids you may need. These are brought to you soon after. Glad i live in ground floor apartment so no issue with stairs but you aren't discharged till physio sees you can climb 5 steps. 

@Moonstone1I was told to never kneel 

I was told that i will be able to kneel but to use a cushion to place under my knee (not very practical when you are trying to rescue a mouse that your cat has caught from under the settee lol) also told that i will be able to take up running again and aerobics and to continue riding (horses) which i had planned to start again this year but to make sure that i get a quiet horse so i think i will have to wait to ride until i am sure that my new knee is ok.

Hi @moonstone 

It was so good to hear that you have a date for your knee op on 29/3. I'm praying there won't be any delay and you have a good recovery.

My TKR has been provisionally booked for 18/4. As long as the pre op assessment and bloods are ok. The surgeon told me that the condition of my knee is so severe that by July He wouldn't be able to do the op! Which rather shocked me! 

Warmest regards

Tricia

Hi @akinsanya

its heartening to hear that the good advice you've been given, has encouraged you to go ahead with knee surgery.

I'm having surgery soon and I was advised to strengthen the quad muscles (in the thigh) to help facilitate a good recovery.

I hope it won't be long before you get an appt.

Warmest regards

Tricia

Well i had the replacement op on the 29th. Arrived at 7 am and finally went to theatre at 5pm..it was a long rather worrying time as i had been told that the surgeons finished operating at 4.30 so wasn't sure it would go ahead...i was discharged on saturday ( so just in hospital for 3 days) and am now recovering at home...had a lot of pain particularly at night which kept me awake and finished up sleeping on the settee as it was more comfortable..my GP surgery have now given me some stronger pain  relief which is helping control the pain and would advise anyone waiting to have this surgery to insist on good pain relief as they tend to just give you Paracetamol and Codeine (I now have Cocodomol)

Tomorrow i have my first physio session and on Thursday i am having my staples taken out so a busy week.

I had the op done with an epidural injection and light sedation so was awake during the surgery.

I am now 9 weeks post op for knee replacement..have had a lot of pain at night but am fine during the day (although tired through lack of sleep) my walking is good now and i am better at going up and down the stairs..i have just stoped taking ibuprofen to help with the night pain so must be on the mend...i have been keeping up with the exercises given to me by the physio as they do help!