So what's the point of a TKR?

I am awaiting my TKR in the next 12 weeks.  

I am finding this forum useful but it's also scaring the life out of me!  So much reads as tho having a TKR just leaves you in as much pain after the op as you have been in for years anyway?  So .... what's the point?  Should I cancel my surgery and resign myself to a housebound life? Or are there any experiences out there of people saying that EVENTUALLY it is the best thing they have ever done for their knee pain??  Help ....!!

Don't cancel it there are lots of people on here that are glad they had it done me being one of them my other knee needs doing and I can't wait it is so much better than the oa pain just remember afterwards to take your pain meds exercise ice rest and elevate I am 9 weeks post op and can now use my static exercise bike go upstairs properly haven't quite got the going downstairs yet but working on it everyone is different keep us posted you get a lot of good advice on here 

I think everyone (or nearly everyone) who has had the operation at least six months ago will say definitely YES.  It's a bit tough for a lot of us to begin with, and for many it's not so tough.  That depends, and every knee seems to be different, even when they are attached to the same person!!!  there is for most of us pain for the first weeks, and especially the  bending of the knee is painful and necessary, but I can now walk pain free after a long time of grinding, burning pain after about a hundred yards.  Yes, I would definitely say it is worth doing.  I would NOT have said that during the first couple of weeks, but at the beginning it is true that the lack of sleep, discomfort and for many of us pain, makes you feel a bit down and depressed!  Just be sure BEFORE YOU  have the operation that you are going to be given proper pain control for when you leave hosital, so that you don't have to spend days in unnecessary pain.  Don't even think of cancelling because of our groans and complaints!  it's all part of the process. . .we just need to let off steam occasionally!

 

well its scary i know but when your housebound ,then you have to go for it .there are so many great results from TKR but i supose what this forum is about is letting you know that yes its hard work and yes its very painfull but im gussing you know that it because of the nature of the op.some go wrong i unfortunatly was one of them,but since getting it done again my life is back im out enjoying things i can stand to talk to people for long periods before id be looking to find somewhere anywhere to sit it was all i thought about but now ive returned to the human race ,just be prepared for hard physio and you will get your reward of a new life i wish you the best let us know how you do

I would stop reading on here and come back afterwards. We are all different with varying reasons as to why we needed the surgery. I'm only 36 and was facing life in a wheelchair without it. A no brainer really. Even though I need further surgery I still think it's worth it. Life was a struggle before surgery for me. Yes it's not great now but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A TKR is a violent and incredibly tough surgery (it shouldn't be underestimated) but for most it gives them their life back. This forum is full of honest accounts and is found by those who are mostly struggling. The views you read will therefore reflect that. Those who sail through the recovery won't be needing something like this....they'll be too busy living again. The rest of us will eventually get there.

Good luck x

Thank you for your wise words.  

Thank you for your reassurance.  I know all about that grinding and burning, I want it gone!  

Sleepylu..

I  had my knee done 16 years ago and it's still okay..as the others have said the first few months, are challenging,...now I have a full range of movement in that knee, I have ridden on rides at the amusement parks...shopping...swimming etc etc.

. I have travelled oversease countless times. I couldn't have done that before....

most of the members who are fabulously fit and active are out there getting on with their new lease on life...

i was asking a question about knee arthroscopy  here, and got one answer. 

his

 

I had my TKR 10 weeks ago and for me the experience has been harder then I expected, but the end results will be well worth it!  You're lucky to have 12 weeks

to prepare. My advice would be start doing the leg/knee exercises now for "muscle memory", it will make a big difference in your recovery.  Best of luck to you!

No! Not at all. Don't cancel it. But use this time to prepare yourself emotionally and physically. Do exercises, work on lifiting your legs straight up while laying on the bed. Strengthen your stomach and arm muscles. And know that you've got a journey ahead of you. I think there have been very few here who have said they regret the TKR. I had a bilateral 7 months ago. I wish I'd stumbled upon this site sooner than I did, but it was still comforting to know that much of what I was experiencing was normal. When you think about what is done on that operating table it is crazy - don't dwell much on that now. I didn't know the challenges that awaited me. But I can truly say that even after only 6 weeks I was doing more than I could before the surgery. And while there was still pain, it was a different pain and I could stand up for longer periods of time than I had in years! I don't regret it at all. There were times when I thought maybe doing them both at once wasn't a wise decision, but even in that, I am very happy that I don't have to go through the sleepless nights or stay in the hospital a second time. I'm ready to go for the next 20 or so years.

Hi sleepy,  I am 10 weeks post op for first knee and two weeks on second.  I could bowl after 6 weeks and cycle outside at seven weeks.  My first knee is not quite pain free but certainly on the way.  Before I had my second knee done,  could walk 3 klms. Which I couldn't do that before the op.  Yes it's hard for while but don't cancel.  It's worth all the angst.  You must have a positive frame of mind, you will be fine.   Good luck. 

Hi, I am 3wks post op and I am definitely glad I've had it done. Yes I can't sleep at the moment, yes I still have pain and discomfort  but I do my exercises regularly, apply the ice and elevate my leg whenever I can but I already find the exercises easier than I did, I can get upstairs and downstairs and can already see there is a light at the end of a long, long tunnel.

Don't cancel, the pain your in now will be gone, replaced by a new pain, a pain you can work with, and work through, and it will go,, and you get your life back. And at the end off the day , that's what we all want. It will be well worth it. Good luck😀

Please don't cancel.  Of course you I'll have pain after the op as anyone would after any operation, but think in the longer term.  This is a different kind of pain altogether.   I am six months now and am glad I had it done.  Yes I moaned a lot for the first two months, yes I was in pain, yes I didn't sleep and had an horrendous christmas BUT I don't regret it.  I am able to walk without pain and get on with my life.   Don't be put off by what people are saying.   Nothing is as bad as the pain before the operation.  Make sure you do pre op exercises, that will help you. Xx

Thank you all for this.  It os just what I needed to hear.  I wsh you all the best with your recoveries and will doubtless be back on here for support in due course! 

Hi there Sleepylu, glad youve found us!

PLEASE dont cancel - Im 12 weeks post-op on my right knee, and although I moan, groan, grumble and cry, its absolutely worth it! My left one needs doing, and it cant come quick enough! At least the post-op pain is productive, whereas the Arthritic pain is just horrible, grinding pain which is only going to get worse.

There is absolutlely no need for you to become housebound, If youre well-prepared, and youve strengthened your muscles as well as you can prior to surgery, Im sure youll get a great outcome.

Please keep in touch in here, there are so many people who have different experiences, and therefore different pearls of wisdom to share. 

Take care

Terri xx

PATIENCE in abundance I is what you need.   I didn't over exercise and still have got there in the end.  Your body will tell you what you can and cannot do.  Always listen to it.

Sleepy,

I had a left tkr on January 6th of this year and a right tkr on April 9th. It IS very painful and it is a lot of work and effort, but as of right now I can bend both knees over 140 degrees and straighten them almost to zero. I can walk normally and bike and I even danced for a few minutes with the wife! It's a commitment to work everyday to get better rain snow or shine. You will have days where you wonder why you did it, but if you work hard you will come through it and be so much better than you were!

Thank you.  Good luck with no.2!

Thank you again for your reassurance!  Keep dancing.