To continue in the same vein, what kind of exercises did you do to prepare yourself for the surgery and to make the post-op recovery easier/quicker? What kind of therapy were you given to do? What would you recommend others to do to prepare physically for this operation?
I started to exercise about 5 months prior to TKR. I stopped by a physical therapist and got a print out of leg exercises to strengthen the muscles. Even though I'm 62 years old I still had pretty good muscles from years of jogging. You want to strengthen both legs. Due to good muscles I was ambulating 300 feet 2 days after surgery and had a pretty remarkable recovery. It pays to do the pre op exercises.
Physical therapy post op wasn't a horror for me because I had muscles to support the therapy. It also was helpful with extension. Lindy
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"The Chief Warrent Officer was unimpressed by everything and seldom spoke except to express irritation."Joseph Heller,Catch 22
While the vast majority of TKR's go well, you should be aware that there is such a thing as an unsuccessful TKR-- and if that should happen to you, it will be life changing.
My wife, four years ago at age 49, had her right knee replaced. Since then, it has been replaced two more times, and all were failures (she has had five additional knee surgeries as well in attempts to resolve the problem). Seven orthopedic surgeons, including the head surgeon at Mayo Clinic, swear there is nothing mechanically wrong with the knee, and every x-ray, MRI, CAT scan, and dozens of other tests she's had indicate that it should be fine-- but she can't walk on it for more than a short distance, and is in extreme pain all the time, despite being on Oxycontin.
She was declared totally disabled by Social Security on her first application (almost unheard of, but that's how bad it is). Next week, she goes in for implantation of a spinal cord stimulator in an attempt to control the pain. If that doesn't work, the only option left is amputation, which she has vowed to do-- she sees people coming back from Iraq without limbs, and they are getting prosthetics and within a couple of years are living relatively normal lives; she wants to do the same, rather than be wheelchair-bound and in constant pain.
And, no, there is no indication that any surgeon did anything "wrong"; she is just one of the very small percentage (less than 1%) of people that, for reasons that aren't understood, don't have a successful result.
Not trying to scare anybody, but you should be aware it can happen-- there's a good reason they tell you not to have the surgery unless you absolutely have to.
Very sorry to hear that your wife has had such a hard time of it and I sincerely hope that the stimulator will alleviate her pain and help her walk again painfree. I can understand her desire to have the amputation done but it seems so extreme, but again she's in a lot of pain and that will be a deciding factor I know. Whatever happens, I hope that she gets relief and won't be in such dire straits.
My wife needs a knee replacement but they are making her wait due to age (48). My parents have each had one knee replacement. While the recovery was difficult they are both very happy they had it done. They take the dog on long walks in the park for exercise and are pain free.
rcchallenger you're close to where i live, could i ask you what your parents doctors name was? i am in search of names of doctors that have a good rep on TKR's thanks. you can pm me if you'd rather.
anyone in so cal have a good recommendation i'd appreciate it.
emzee wrote: rcchallenger you're close to where i live, could i ask you what your parents doctors name was? i am in search of names of doctors that have a good rep on TKR's thanks. you can pm me if you'd rather.
anyone in so cal have a good recommendation i'd appreciate it.
Sorry, I just read this follow up. I will give my mom a call tonight. My mom had her's done by Kaiser but my dad's surgery was done by a private doctor. They had different insurance when my dad's knee was replaced. I'll post or PM you tomorrow.
I agree wholeheartily with Flibmeister. My intial knee surgeries were in the early 60's with 3 more scope surgeries during the next 20 years. After hearing those success stories through the years I finally decided to get the knee replacement surgery as I was limited from being active at all. I researched surgeons and picked a highly trained and successful surgeon previously practicing at John Hopkins. Even a great surgeon can't always work miracles when staph enters the picture. I had my first replacement in 2000 and over the next 30 months I had it done 3 more times/Spent 2 months in bed without a knee while taking massive antibiotics. We finally got a handle on the staph but I will be starting dialysis in the next few months. Got the staph and got the kidneys!! Just be aware what can happen and make sure before you have surgery. There are some things worst than constant knee pain.
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