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Readers Respond: Having Knee Replacement Surgery
Responses: 17

By Jonathan Cluett, M.D., About.com Guide

User responses are not monitored by About.com's Medical Review Board.

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From the article: Are You Ready For Knee Replacement Surgery?

A joint replacement surgery is a major surgical procedure. Deciding when the time is right for knee replacement can be a challenging decision. How did you decide it was time for knee replacement? Or, what is telling you to wait for your knee replacement procedure? When is it Time?

It is time!

After 8 years of increasing pain and at 47 years old it is time for bilateral knee replacement. I am looking forward t be able to surf again (can't squat down at all anymore) and be athletic. It is a bitter cycle of pain and gaining weight-to exercise hurts and to gain weight because of no exercise hurts...
—kauileslie

New Quality of Life

Having suffered from an old injury, becoming deformed in my 40s,decided at 53 it was time for knee replacement. I had been through shots, cartilage grafting, laser scaling, and numerous scopes. It was explained to me I would only get out what I put in. Today I walk without having to stop every hundred yards, and I'm enjoying it.
—chw53

I Regret My Decision

I had knee replacement 2 months ago. Unlike the hype that surrounds this procedure I am no better off. I have just as much pain as before surgery but less range of motion. At this point i would never do it again. I regret it and hope i will feel better about it later on.
—samna

Can I put it off for a while?

I'm 62 and very active. I've been told by my ortho doc that I'm facing the inevitability of knee replacement. I'm bone-on-bone by x-ray, but don't have significant pain yet. Should I wait and for how long? I'd love some feedback on people who have been in my position.
—Guest Nancy

putting off knee replacement surgery

To Teresacay- knee replacement surgery will not make you an old lady! The lifestyle you lead now, sounds like an old lady! I would think after the surgery you would feel younger because there would be no more pain and you will be able to more around more freely. Im 51 and its time for knee replacement. Both knees are bad. After reading most responds about knee replacement, I'm feeling more comfortable about the surgery. I want to get back to riding horses, any thoughts or comments about this?
—valree33

4 1/2 months post op

I'm 57, had bilateral knee replacement in February 2009. The worst part for me was the narcotics. Apparently I don't tolerate them and I was nauseous for 8 weeks. The knees are doing good. I'm walking 2 miles, 5 times a week and just stared back to tennis last week. I'm getting more mobile every week. When I overdo, I do experience some discomfort. Icing seems to help. I still swell in my knees and ankles. Am told that will go away around the 6th month. My big question? When will the knees feel like they are mine?
—Guest Marly

Pain free @ 44!

I had total replacement of my right knee on 4-13-09. Wonderful! No more pain and I have more mobility. My only complaint is the occasional stiffness. But it's only been 10 weeks and it will only get better.
—Guest Dave

No More Pain, Please!

I am having bilateral knee replacement on Sept 8,2009. I am very scared to do this. The doctor has said that if I don't have this done soon I may not be able to walk. I am hoping that I finally get relief from the pain.
—Guest Iamananny

Waiting, hurting.

I will be 66 in November 2009. I have had arthritis since in my early 30's. For the past 5 years I have had much pain in both knees. Doctor says I need replacement on both knees but he is willing to do injections for a while. He says I will know when i need replacement because of the pain and quality of life. I am 70 pounds overweight, have hypertension and slow circulation in legs and feet. I have never been very active, more sedentary. I can't walk for too long or I am in pain and have to sit. I have grown use to the pain and have learned to tolerate it without drugs. I am not going to have the surgery now. I think something else will come around in the near future. I just don't want surgery unless it is absolutely necessary. I still do my shopping but just can't walk around an amusement park or go for long walks. I am always in pain of some degree but to me that is better than having my legs taken apart and artificial parts put in. We'll just have to wait and see.
—Guest Marion

Three Months PostOp

I'm 55 years old and had bilateral knee replacement in February. Recovery was hard and fast and very successful. I used a walker only one day, crutches for a week (except for longer walks). I can bend and straighten my knees as much as I want to. I play twelve holes of golf walking and enjoying it! I believe that the greatest element of my success was the preparation before surgery. I used my exercise bike 5 days a week for 30 minutes and did the pre-surgery exercies daily. I was ready to start the PT the mornning after surgery and had over 100 degrees of flexion before leaving the hospital. Three months later I'm back to my normal morning routine of 30 minutes on the exercise bike - but now I also have 15 minutes of stretching. I still do leg lifts with weights now, and I walk almost every evening between 1-2 miles. I wish everyone the best - choose a surgeon with a good record, prepare yourself, and work hard. Accept the support of family and friends.
—PenAnn

Knee Replaced At Age 44

Hi everyone, last year at 44 yrs old i had my right knee partially replaced, very painful before surgery, couldn't walk far or do much else, but after surgery the pain is minimal and i can straighten my leg and sleep much better. I am now due to have my left knee partial replacement tomorrow 27/5/09. I am scared but gong ahead with it, the scar isn't bad, the after care is excellent and my mobility and pain is much better. I am now 45 yrs old and had the knees of an 80 yr old but my joints will be better and my quality and enjoyment of life will be 100% better. I would recommend replacements to anyone if their doctor agrees, its now very, very common for people aged 40 to 50 yrs to have replacement joints. I also have to have my shoulder and hip done later this year, quality of life is most important, makes things better for yourselves, its worth it. Good luck everyone!
—Guest tracey

it is time

I am 60 yrs young and just had both knees replaced 2/09. 12 weeks post op and doing good. Returned to work after 9 weeks and started driving 3 wks and 4 days after surgery. I did physical therapy 2 mths prior to surgery and am convinced that helped tremendously. I reached doctor's range of motion target 2 wks post op. Still getting my strength back, but joints are pain free, just stiff. I also have a total hip replacement that is 15 yrs old - got it at age 45 due to a fall. Still going great. If your quality of life is suffering, it is time.
—Guest Becky

Young & In Pain

I'm 46 years old and had 8 different surgeries on my left knee; nothing is helping. I'm told I'm too young to have a knee replacement, and the cartilage under my kneecap is completely gone. Any thoughts from others?
—Guest CATHT

surgery date May 11th for my Dad.

Iam feeling somewhat not too comfortable with my my Dad's up-comming surgery- he is 86 years old and his knees or should I say his left knee is deteraiting..lot's of arthritis ..not much pain at this stage, just slower mobility, he has a hard time doing stairs, and walking a fair distance; However, his Dr. stated that he would do just fine for a Knee relacement. I feel he is not the perfect healthy canadiate, he is very much over weight around 250lbs,along with A slight heart murmur along with some weakness in his lungs- Asma. At his age and a few health issues. I feel it would be a very long recovery and maybe he might not recover totally.. I truly beleive the surgery would be successful. I think he needs to think of other solutions, along with his DR...
—Guest Darlene

Ready at 42

I am in much the same situation as teresacay except that I am only 42. Unlike her though, I am ready to have asap. I figure I would rather be active in my forties than in my sixties or seventies, if I have to make a choice. My doctor wants me to lose about 40 pounds before we do it. That is the only thing holding me back right now!
—Guest elisia33

Putting off knee replacement surgery

Hi. I am 53 and have bad arthritis in both knees. I used to by very athletic, running 3-5 miles most days. I've quit running, gained 60 pounds and can't/don't do much of anything now. I shuffle and limp around and live with moderate to severe pain. I think my microfracture in one knee has worn out. I was scheduled for bilateral knee replacement, but chickened out at the last moment. I turned to cortisone injections, which for some reason helped my chronically painful achilles tendons, but didn't do much for my knees. I keep hoping new technology will come along soon that will offer a better alternative to total knee replacement. Maybe cartilage replacement or something like that. At 53, I'm not that old. But once I have two replacement knees, I will be an officially old lady. I'd love to hear from someone much younger than me who's had knee replacement and if/how it has changed their life. Right now, in my mind, knee replacement if for the elderly, and I'm not there yet.
—teresacay