Welcome to the club, arosegirl. I must have my right one replaced as well. So far, everyone I have talked to that has had it done says it makes a world of difference and they are glad they had it done. I hope we are among them. Vique.

Had both of mine done 6 years ago ( 3 months apart) Mine were so bad I had to use a walker get around the house. Still have some pain in muscles and ligaments when I first stand up, due to being VERY over weight, but just to be able to walk freely WOW. I waited almost 10 years to have them done, hoping never to have to have them replaced. Had known since I was 52 that they needed to be replaced.

Sue

I have had both knees done. The first one was 13 years ago. The second one was almost 4 years ago.

The surgery itself is up to your doctor. Your part in the recovery is to do the THERAPY!! I've told everyone I know that if you aren't willing to work on the therapy, don't bother with the surgery. It can be hard!

I've read that there are new types of replacements now. Talk to your surgeon about the options, and/or google knee replacements.

I've never regretted having mine done.

Sue

Iv'e had both of mine done. One in 92 and the other about 7 years ago. Can get up and start walking in just a few days.

Yup, I've gotta have my right one worked on. I don't know if I need a replacement or othoscopic (sp). I keep putting it off. But I want to do it soon, before summer sets in.
Leslie

My left was replaced two years ago this month.
No regrets on my part.
Physical therapy is VERY important if you want full use of your new joint.

Lori

I'm getting my right one done on the 15th of May.I put it off as long as i could,and it's bone rubbing against bone and painful 24/7 now.So the time has come,as i can barely walk through the grocery store now or even 5 houses down the street to my sons house.I feel like i'm 100 years old.LOL

My dr has already shown me what he'll do and what the new parts will look like.He told me i'll have an 8 to 12" incision starting above the knee and going below it.I have to go back and see him on the 5th,get the lab work done etc.Then i have to go to an orientation and also a 2 hour class,all before i have the surgery.The class is mandatory,no class,no surgery.He wants me to be as informed and aware as possible.

I also have to take an iron supplement twice a day 2 weeks before surgery.

I also know a lot of people that have had this surgery and they all say they wish they had had it sooner.

Good Luck to all of us!!
Kathi

I had total knee replacement in '99 and have had tremendous success with it. I had no cartlidge left and it was bone on bone. I begged doctors to do it sooner, but they all told me I was too "young." Finally found a rheumatologist who said replacement was the only thing to be done, no matter my age.

I will have to have the other knee done within a year, since there's a sliver of cartlidge left.

Rehab was tough, but I was motivated and worked very hard. My twin's cancer was in remission for a short period of time, and I had to get where I could get in the car and make the 8 hour ride to her.

There's a great forum on Delphi, "On Our Feet," that I found helpful. Good luck on your surgery and recovery.

Here is a link that might be useful: On Our Feet forum

Sorry, but the link takes you to the Delphi site where you can register (for free) and do a search for "On Our Feet."

I had mine done last June. What a difference! Pain is no longer an issue. I can run, frolicked in the snow with my GK's, can walk on uneven ground..........I'm so totally impressed with the whole thing. As for the physio therapy, I felt better after each session. They were hard, no doubt about it, but later in the day, I noticed the difference. I actually started to look forward to going! LOL!

All I can say is GO FOR IT! You won't regret it. And as LorifromUtah did for me, you can email any of us for help, or just to ask questions. We're happy to help.

Laurel

I'm getting my right one done Friday May 5. I'm tired of the pain. I have stalled because I was so worried about the plate/pins/screws from breaking that leg and ankle several years ago! I waited a extra 2 weeks to get my nerve up. Since I already have a fused ankle joint, should be a very "interesting" rehab..Kathy

I actually can't wait. I am so tired of not being able to walk anywhere. I have a scooter to get around in my yard. I cannot sit any length of time without my knees just killing me. Things have got to get better. Thanks so much for the good thoughts and for your experiences. Charlene

P.S. Good luck to you Kathy and Kathi!

A friend had both done on March 18th and is already walking with a cane and getting out some.

My mom at 79 had her's replaced in October and by Thanksgiving she was walking fine with no pain. She said it was the best thing she ever did, she also had bone rubbing on bone for years. BUT, the physical therapy is very very important and she did everything she was told and recovered very fast because of it.

My MIL had hers done in Dec. She had the bone on bone too. Her friend told her the pain was bad, but each week it got better and better to the point you wished you had done it sooner! She definitely had pain and used a walker for a little while, but she is feeling much better now. She did say she couldn't imagine anyone doing both knees at once.

Her docs made her do exercises (water walking and swimming) before surgery to help build up the muscles. And yes, physical therapy afterwards is even MORE important. Like someone said above, you've got to do the work, to help yourself.

Evatx,
I went to that link and registered,WOW,what a wealth of information there is there.

To those that asked is it free to register,yes it is and it's also very easy.Go to it,you won't be sorry.They even tell you how to make your own ice packs,so it won't be this hard big block of ice.

Good luck to all that are gonna be doing this.
kathi

My wife had both knees joints replaced; first one knee and then the other about 2 years later. It made a big difference in her life - her knees do not 'kill' her when she gets up. I can not stress too much the importance of doing the therapy and daily flexing after surgery. Flexing keeps the joint mobile and with gradually increase in range of motion, you can build up to almost the same amount of knee bend you had before surgery. However, those who slack off on the daily flexes end up with limited range of bend and have sore/tender joints, and may not get full benefit of the new joint - it becomes too painful to flex very much. Do not let this happen to you.

When they sent my wife home, a serviceman came out to deliver and explain the opertion of the flexor machine and the doctor had prescribed the daily regimen. It worked! She also got to go to a heated pool at a health center as part of the therapy. A therapist at the health center put her through some bend/stretch manupilation. She when about twice weekly for the first 4 weeks.

I have another friend who had both knees done at the same time and he reported an unusual effect. He said that he had to learn to walk again. His sense of balance was affected. His surgeon explained that the human machine gets a lot of sensor feedback from the knee joints for maintaining balance, sense of surface condition, and control of stride. A total knee replacement can mess this up, and it has to be re-learned by the body. My wife never reported having trouble with this, but maybe it was because she had one knee done at a time. Its something you may want to discuss with your surgeon. It's another good reason to expect to use a walker for the first couple of weeks or so.

Thanks for all the input. I am going tomorrow to give blood for myself. I've done the hospital preregistration, having a complete physical next week.

About to check out the site given. Thanks again. Charlene

I had one total knee replacement done around 5 years ago. I need to have the other one done too, however. It was such a bad experience I don't think I will have it done again. I was so sick for months and had no energy at all. I had to be in the hospital for 8 days after surgery and be on oxygen and more pints of blood. My husband has had both of his done and did not have the problems I have had. I don't think one of the knees works like it should as he always goes down the stairs backwards. Says it is easier.

I can not get on my knee to like mop or something because there seems to not be anything there to cushion it. Does anyone else have that problem?