Im 53 and have osteoarthritis in both knees level 3 and 4.
After seeing consultant today only thing left is the big op however he did his best to put me off telling me success rate is lower if under 60. Anyone here similar age i cant wait 7 years way things are will be in a mobility scooter before im 55.
Hi I had my right knee done 2 years ago at age 53 and my left one done 3 weeks ago at age 55. The doctor has never mentioned a better outcome if you are over 60. It’s about quality of life. I would see another surgeon.
Don’t do it. Go for other options. I wish I had never had it done..
Hi Bellelouise
I had a full knee replacement 3 1/2 years ago when I was 56. My operation has been a great success, although I did have problems in the early months with pain and achieving the bend. My surgeon told me that the pain level was due to higher bone density than older patients but once I was able to manage my pain I was able to make good progress.
I had my first TKR done at age 53 and was back at my 12-14 hour nursing shifts in 14 weeks. I am having my other one done in less than a month. Success uggs better determined by your strength (esp quads) before surgery, the skill of the surgeon, and being realistic about how hard you are willing to work to rehab. My surgeon says this: "I can put it in but YOU need to make it work". I have only heard the opposite about age, that the older the patient the less successful it is. Both are generalizations and you need to evaluate your own circumstances. I cannot wait to get my second one done. Good luck to you and keep following this page for great guidance and feedback.
I had my left knee TKR when I was 56. That was 20 years ago and the knee is still great. The other knee was done 1½ years later and that is great too. No sign of any problem with them. Have the op as soon as you can, don't suffer any longer than you have to. You will read many different stories about recovery here, but remember your recovery is your own, may be completely different from others. There may be times during recovery that you wish you never had the op, but trust me you will get there in the end and it really is worth it. Ask questions here, you should get very sound advice. Good luck, do your physio and exercise as much as you can without overdoing it. use your medication to control pain it helps if you are not in too much pain when exercising. Another thing have a spinal rather than a general anaesthetic, much better for after op recovery.
I’m a 54 year old who had a running injury spiral into a total knee replacement in late March. I have had pain standing and walking since, despite compliance with the home exercise plan. Original Surgeon wants to go back into my knee and do a scope and scrape and diagnosed me with arthrofibrosis- a rare complication. My knee has a 15 degree contracture and doesn’t straighten and it only bends to 110 degrees. That diagnosis is considered “functional” despite the constant pain.
Second opinion doctor disagrees. He says the implant is loose either due to infection or metal allergy. If those come back negative- then it is arthrofibrosis and he wants to take this one out to remove the scar tissue that had adhered to it.
Either way - I have to go through two brutal knee surgeries in about 9 months at 54.
Wait
I am sorry asking ? Are you in uk?
My surgeon said more or less the same, something like I've done my job now it is up to you to do the hard work. No point having it done if you're not prepared to do the physio and exercise etc to make it a success.
Have you tried SynVisc or something like it? At your age, I did that for years. The three-shot regimen lasted almost a year each. Got me all the way through my 50's....and more. Then I moved from the cold and humidity of New Jersey to the dry warmth of Fort Worth, TX and needed NOTHING for the following 7 years...NOTHING. Had my TKR at 68. Year-long recovery but 100% success. Check the SynVisc injections.
Hi,
I have to say, your surgeon is an idiot....
It doest matter what age you are, if you need it you need it, why wait sitting in a chair and find that year after year you are slowly getting less and less active and then 7 years down the line get a new knee to them find out it’s to late becouse of other complications.
I was 52 when I had my knee on the 12th Jan 2017, hideous op, painful, exercises very hard, but as a 52 years old I knew I wanted to get back out there and do things I’d not done for ages. I worked hard and put loads of effort into my rehabilitation. Having a TKR is the best decision I ever made, I am mobile more active and have even started teaching Yoga which I now do 3 times a week. I started a course several years ago, never had the confidence due to my mobility but now you’d never know I had had a TKR.
The key is keeping those muscles in the thigh, buttocks, hips and legs strong, you can’t go that with a damaged knee. My legs are now the strongest they have been so I’m actually using the muscles in my leg to do the work and not the actual knee.
Good luck with what ever you decide.
Louise x
Ive had everything available even the very expensive knee brace and nothing has worked.
There are no other options left ive tried everything
Thanks everyone im now going to have physio on my other knee to strengthen as had fat cell treatment and meniscus repair 9 weeks ago and it didnt work. Then im going back to be put on the list for the tkr on the other knee. The left one will need doing too in time x
I had one done at 58 older than you , first surgeon said wait if you can do limped for nearly two years , second one said just do it , but he did say the younger you were the more pain . My first one was due to a torn meniscus , worst thing I did was wait as it just damaged good leg . I think they may try and put you off because of time the prosthesis last
I am 68 and have had problems with both knees for as long as I can remember.
One knee just constantly clicks, no pain, so no operation.
Other knee in constant pain but no offer of operation.
I believe its a postcode lottery.
I got put off for at least ten years. On waiting list now for new knee - possibly in new year now. Most scary bit for me was to be told I'll have to inject myself in my stomach every day for six weeks after the op! And they put a catheter in - nightmare.
I was 52. Now 18 months post op. Life is fantastic, I am no longer disabled. No regrets at all.
See my profile and copy the address into your browser.
May be helpful!
I wrote all about my experience from before op until one year later.
Amen!😀😁
Get some topical aesthetic. .emu gel or similar. Before you inject...makes it psychologically much easier. Or just numb the area first with ice.
take a look at my profile and the page on my blog where I describe my own knee journey.
Its well worth the effort.
I did not have a catheter. You could ask if possible not to have one.