I am having a partial knee replacement in the next few months but have read quite a lot of articles mostly negative and I am now wondering if I should go ahead with it or just put up!
Im 57 I like to walk each day I wear sensible shoes and have soles in them from the podiatrist to keep my leg aligned. Will I still be able to walk each day once fully recovered and if so how far will distance be restricted?
i have also read that your sleep is very disturbed after this kind of operation is this correct and if so is this forever or just during recovery.
Also very occasionally I wear a heal about 2.5 inches if I go to a function or have a meal out I only have them On for about 4 hours so would this still be possible after a partial knee replacement?
Finally am I right in thinking that have a partial knee replacement leads to a full replacement within a couple of years?
Any information would be greatly accepted.
Hi Maysol, stop panicking, I don't no where you got this rubbish info , I have had one parcial 7 week ago, it is a slow process but you'll get there, I'm doing well,not pain free yet but that's the nature of the surgery, I'm 54 by the way, you will not need full replacement in couple of years, if your knee is that bad, then they would do full now, you may need a full in 15 to 20 years. I am on the list to have the second parcial done , in about six more weeks. Once your fully recovered, yes you will be able to walk as you would normally, , I have 2 very lively border collies, and they go out for at least 2 hours at a time. Then weekend, we go off for the day, surgeon has said I will be able to do that no problem, . Heeled shoes yes once again , when your recovered enough and feel comfortable, I tried a 1 and a half inch heel a week ago, and that just wasn't gonna happen, but I was just trying to early, sleep wise yes it is disturbed , but then it is a major op, I still have nights where I don't sleep so well, sometimes I wake crying cause it hurts, but it passes, you will have your pain killers, ice packs ( very important) and massage, and it will be worth it in the end, . I just want my life back, haven't been able to walk my dogs on a proper walk, for over a year, it's been driving me crazy, . Keep coming on here , you get loads of encouragement, and always someone will no the answer to any questions you have. Go for it I would say, and ignore what you've heard before, that from the dark ages,. Good luck.😀
Hi
Thank you so much for the encouragement I feel a lot more confident about it now and your have a second one so can't be that bad.
May I ask how big is your scar im only 5 feet short!!! so mine will probably take over my leg haha,..
Hi Maysol, i had a partial knee replacement in January. I would say it depends how bad you are now as to whether to go ahead with op. In my case I could barely walk as I had bone on bone on the outer side of my left knee. I was on two crutches and even then could only manage a few step. Now at least I am able to walk on the flat with only one crutch. I am disappointed, as I have written in previous posts, as I thought I would be virtually back to normal by now. I also have a dog and I can only manage a 20 minute walk every other day and going up and down steps or slopes and standing from sitting is still very painful. I think you have to weigh up how you are now, I really had no choice but to try something. It is a difficult decision and it is a painful operation . Sorry to sound so negative, I think I may have been just unlucky with mine. I have spoken to many people with full replacements and they seem to be getting on by far better than me.
Hi Susan
Sorry to hear that. This is why I have started this forum because I have read & listened to mixed reports.
I don't think my knee is as bad as your was as I can walk an hour everyday which is painful but very manageable. Up & down is very painful & I try to avoid areas like this.
I am very undecided wether or not to go ahead because I am coping at the moment !!!!!
My scar is about six inches , already very tidy looking, I'm only 5f 4 , to be honest, I'd rather be able to walk a decent walk than have nice legs, they were never that wonderful in the first place, but they did at least get me around, lol. And any way I have quite a few scars,on my body at least, but as long as they leave my face alone I can cope, . Glad you feel a bit better about having it done, it's to depressing to think of not being able to go for walks, it's what I love doing.
If you are in pain or your life is increasingly limited and you are frustrated go ahead. Everything for most people is temporary. I doubt you would be offered a partial or total if it isn't needed. My Physio said to me yesterday no pain no gain and this is so true. Some sail through, some have problems that go after three six or twelve months and exceptionally some take longer to resolve. It's your decision as we all have different lifestyles and expectations. Personally and even though I am dreading and postponing my second leg I would say get it done and the sooner it's done the sooner you get your life back. I would see if a partial is temporary and depending on age would go for total if it's inevitable. Why have two surgeries if you can have one. My arthroscopy delayed my tkr but next time I'm going straight for the tkr. What about your other leg? Finally this forum is mainly those with issues to share and there are thousands out there who are more typical but it does show how much we all have in common whether we recover smoothly or not so smoothly. But we are also all in different contexts so use it to help and inform but go with your instinct and surgeons advice if you trust him/her
Hi , me again, just read what Susan says, I to was bone on bone, which limits your walking greatly, Vvvvvvery painful, I even had powdered my bone, . How bad are yours?
Thank you caroline46398 for that. I know it's a personal decision & everyones different plus needs must. I think I just need to hear from others on thier personal views.
I think I'm just worried I get it done & I end up worse than I am now!
Hi Mandy
I'm also bone to bone & the sound when im sat & bend it is horrendous! But I still manage to walk the dog every day it is quite painful to start with but then seems to ease off as I get going.
If you leave it until it's really bad it's harder and takes longer to recover. Time does heal and it is a challenge for sure but do you really have a choice? I didn't and although it has been very tough this forum has really helped. Five months still not totally recovered but could certainly walk with v little discomfort most days and know I will get better and batter as muscles get stronger
Then your knees are not as bad as mine were just before they did my first one, I was booked for the 23may, they ended up bringing it back to the 1st may, because I could no longer walk 10 meters with sticks , get on and off loo, stairs, forget it, couldn't cook, as I couldn't stand , on morphin, basically a mess, . They messed about for so long before they offered me surgery, with phisco ( which my surgeon said made it 10times worse, steroid injections, waste of time, they were treating phibromialga, as I get that to, ( lucky me) . But they never thought to do an X-ray, which showed it straight away, . My ariganal appointment was only six weeks from seeing the surgeon, so from seeing him I only waited couple weeks, come the finish, which was just as well in light of my situation. If you can still walk an hour quite comfortably, I think I'd be inclined to hang on a bit.😀
You say 5 months Caroline & not fully recovered but walking ok how far can you walk?
I have foot problem aswel I have fallen arches (flat feet) so that is painful because the tendons are all stretched & it swells up from time to time. Doctor thinks this has contributed to my knee problem & is why I wear insoles.
This is why I am undecided when I listen to how bad some are. I too have fybromyalgia & osteoarthritis I am at present waiting for injection in my wrist that is very swelled & extremely painful so more steroid injections! I would say it worse than knee at the minute.
Oh it's such a big decision because the surgeon has said I need it but to be honest I felt very rushed Into making decision at my appointment I wasn't given much time to sit & discuss it & ask questions. I'm seriously thinking of asking if I could see him again to discuss it further but getting an appointment is like getting an audience with the queen!!!
I'm nearly 13 weeks following patellafemoral arthroplasty (new plastic knee cap and metal trochlea, the bit behind it). I'm 56 (currently feeling 76!) And waited 11 years for op because I was considered too young before. For those 11 years I wore a knee support as knee was so unstable and I needed to live my life, but in doing so the support did the job of my muscles and they've now forgotten what to do. My knee is healing fine but the muscles are a different matter. I've been having weekly physio sessions and only in the last couple of days have I managed without my stick in the house, and I seem to have lost my confidence to walk outside without it. Knee is gradually beginning to feel easier (hurray!), and I'm trying not to overdo things - which is very tempting when you've been used to leading an active life. My life saviour has been a static exercise bike that I use daily.
I've worn trainers and jogging bottoms for last 13 weeks and as soon as I'm recovered I'm going to have a bonfire - trainers, joggers, knee supports lol! I've never been a high heels wearer but do wear a moderate heel so am hoping to do so again!
Sleep? Yes it has been disturbed, so if I feel tired in the day I have a kip - hope I get out of this habit or else I'm going to be splayed across the keyboard at work snoring my head off! And 56 - also menopausal and although I was suffering with the occasional night sweats these have returned ten fold - so my sleep disturbances is more to do with these than pain from my knee.
We are all different, we suffer things differently - I have friends who have had partial or full knee replacements - one was fine at 6 weeks, the other at 8 weeks. I think I've been despondent because I've not done nearly as well and I had a lesser (I say that tongue in cheek!) op. But, I've learnt to be patient and I'm hoping things now continue to improve.
Go for it, be prepared for good days and bad days, be patient (easier said than done on occasions!) and when you come out the other side........YIPPEE!
Thanks pam1313 you sound positive & I hope all ends well for you after 11 years!!! Haha the bomfire i bet you can't wait. As I said earlier I iccasionally wear heels not often but I do like to if going somewhere special & the thought of wearing a pair of trainers with insoles in with a posh frock to say a wedding or night out OMG.
After reading all the lovely replies it is very true everyone different how they come out the other end.
I can only share with you my experience of a Total Knee Replacement 3 years ago. Yes it is hard work and a long recovery period but well worth it in the end.
You mention problems with sleep. I have to be honest with you here.
I had problems with sleep after operation. I initially went to sleep fairly quickly. after 1 or 2 hurs i then used to wake up in pain and discomfort. This meant I could not get back to sleep for a long time. Even now 3 years later i still wake up nearly every night, though not i n pain anymore and usually get back to sleep fairly quickly. However I think my sleeping pattern has changed and will probably never be the same as it was.
All this came as a huge shock . I had always been such a good sleeper and was something Ihad not really anticipated.
But ofcourse everyone is different and this does not mean you will have problems sleeping, I am only sharing with you my own experience.
On balance I would say have the operation but yu have to do what is right for you and only you can decide that.
Take care and keep in touch
Praying for you
Love Sarah xx
Yes mine is osteoarthritis to, in knees hands and jaw, leading to neck, I hate to think what I'll be like at 65😒 I have put off surgery on my jaw, because my knees are so bad, and your pretty stuffed if you can't walk, I can at least use a straw for soup, if my jaws that bad, lol. I've been told that having all this in my knees has been made worse, or speeded up, because I've always done a lot of walking, and then my grandmother had arthritis, but only in 70 .😒
Hi Maysol, yes, it is a very difficult decision to make. I wouldn't rush into making it if I were you as you are still managing to walk really well. I was lucky I think as my surgeon gave me time to make my decision (mine was TKR) . He told me it was only a total replacement would help. He let me go away and think about it and I had a further appointment 6 weeks later. I then waited 6/7 months on his list. I was offered a consultation with another consultant to try to get it done sooner. I took up the offer and was astounded when he suggested trying an injection and waiting a bit longer before the op! He could see my reaction to that after me taking so long to come to my decision and changed his mind and said ok we'll go ahead and he put me on his list too. So, what I'm trying to say is even the specialists find it a difficult decision to make and can have differing opinions.
i eventually had a TKR last July and although it's been a long recovery and I still have some secondary problems, I don't regret having it done. I can now do long walks again which I was unable to do for a year or so before the op. It was that goal that motivated me to have it done. You need to weigh up what your aim is. It isn't a magic cure and I can't tell you what the chances of you needing a total after a partial replacement. I feel like I've got a new knee and can do most things I want to do but it's not a "normal" knee.
Sorry I've rambled a lot. I hope you make the decision that's right for you.
Jen (11 months pot op)
Hi Maysol I am almost 3 weeks post op from having partial knee replacement and am getting there slowly! Like you I waited nearly a year on the NHS going through an arthroscopy, steroid jabs and a hylanuronic acid injection with one consultant who agreed there was nothing more that could be done apart from knee replacement then to be fobbed off by the 2nd consultant I was referred to because of my age I'm 51!! Fortunately I have private medical ins through work so used it and within 3 weeks of seeing my surgeon I was booked in for surgery! I too was bone on bone but only in my inner joint outer and knee cap fine and I have osteoarthritis as well?
it is a slow process but I have gone from using 2 crutches to 1 and sometimes don't even use it when pottering around the house
I have my good days and bad and I find the worst part is getting comfortable in bed but with the right medication this has also been addressed and I'm getting much better nights now
i had dissolvable stitches and my scar is really neat
good luck with everything
regards
Mandy