I went with orthoscopic (sp) surgery to clean up my knees and get me by for a few more years. That was on the left one. Now I need to do the right one (this spring when the ice is gone). Hopefully I can put off replacement for a few more years.
Leslie

Friend has had both knees done, separate times!
First one works better than the second one, but she's glad she had them done.
She is one that participates in my water aerobics group, and she's 82.

My Dad had both knees replaced at the same time at age 84. After a lifetime of squatting while milking cows they were worn out. Walking just a half a block was very painful. Because of his age the Drs. decided to do both at once. He was up and walking with a walker in less than a week. In about six to eight weeks he was using a cane. A month after that he'd forget his cane. He's like a new man. Other than his knees his health is excellent. Now, he's 91 and walks uptown to get the mail when the weather is nice; a half mile round trip.
Ron

My Mom had both knees replaced about 6 years apart. She recovered fast with both operations. She was up and walking within days. In fact, she was walking so well, so fast that we had to hold her back...slow her down. She was free of pain which was such a wonder to her. She was 76 & 82. A very good friend of mine, age 70 just had both of his knees done at the same time. His operation was this past July. He is a very big guy, 6'4" and big. He is still not walking as well as he should be and his pain level is much higher.

I think that one of the biggest issues in the recovery is getting back your range of motion. The longer you wait to have the operation the the more limited you become, the stiffer and more rigid your tendons and ligaments become. All that makes it more difficult to get back to a full range of motion after the operation. I'm not sure about the 15 year issue but I have heard that they can do a second 'touch up' operation that is not as difficult as the original replacement.

The younger you are the less complications can occur. I'd encourage her to go now. Her quality of life will be much more enjoyable. Why suffer?

Gayle

My mom had both knees replaced in the early 1990s. She was about 70 at the time and had suffered with arthritis for years. I didn't live near her then, so I don't know the details of her recovery or rehab. But I do know that she didn't want to be "bothered" going to physical therapy, so she never did the exercises or walking that they told her to do. I'm sure she would have been in much better shape if she had done so. She always needed a cane, even after the surgery. I should mention that she was overweight, so that affected her recovery and contributed to her pain in the first place.

My sister, who is only 55, also needs a knee replacement (old injury when she was a teenager), but has been told the same thing by her doctor--to wait as long as possible because the parts don't last very long. Like most elective surgery, each person (and her doctor) needs to decide for herself when it's bad enough to require surgery. A risk/benefit analysis is needed.

I think if it was me, I'd get it done as soon as it started to affect my quality of life. None of us knows how long we'll live, so why not live pain free in the meantime?

Glenda--I remember my mom telling me about the first time she got into a pool after having her knees replaced. She was very surprised (and somewhat afraid) at how much more her knees weighed with all that metal. She couldn't float like she could with her real knees. Has your friend mentioned a similar experience?

Mom had both her knees done, five years apart and different doctors. She did go through lots of thereapy and
with the first one recovered fast but second was a little slower. She says she can really tell when the weather changes. Says she's glad she had it done.

Friend has been doing fine, in the water, except for the past 3 months, she now rides the noddle, during class to take the weight off her knees.

My brother in law just had his left knee replaces 2 weeks ago
He is 47 young but the DR said his knee was one of the worst he has seen

he is doing great probably because of his age, he is just using a cane and was able to travel up north for Christmas.
He got the one that gives you the lateral movements. He really didn't have a lot of pain after the first couple days.

"rides the noodle"

*snort*

sorry, but that made me LOL!

Donna- I'm nearly 58 and I've been postponing the surgery too. Both my orthopedic surgeon and my rheumatologist said it's not something to rush because as the others mentioned here the parts wear out and having the second replacement is more difficult that the first. They also have been developing new joints that wear better and allow more movement and pivoting in the knee than previous models.

One thing they both advised is to exercise, exercise, excercise. One of the factors in determining a good outcome is the condition of the muscles surrounding the knee prior to surgery. I went for physical therapy for several months and quickly noticed an improvement in my strength, range of motion and a decrease in pain. And of course the other big factor is weight and patient adherence to the therapy regimen post surgery.

But I'm not sure waiting 'until it get really bad' is the best way to go - especially if she isn't strengthening her quad muscles now. The therapy I had was so simple you could do it at home. Leg raises, bent knee raises, stretching, using a big rubber band - I was even able to ride the stationary bike after a month. My knees hadn't bent that far 2 years.

She needs a medical evaluation which will include a series of questions about lifestyle and pain levels experienced during daily activities - walking, climbing stairs etc. In fact if you google knee replacement several sites list the same questions to use as a self assessment. Is your sister taking any medication, Mortin, Celebrex, Mobic that might help? I started Mobic again last month. NSAID are best used on a short term basis but they do help many people. There is also a series of 5 injections into the knee joint that helps many individuals as long as your knees and the bones haven't deteriated significantly. The shots didn't help me but I already have advance osteoartiritis. Has she haad xrays or an MRI yet?

At this point I'm waiting until my husband retires (within 12 to 15 months) and then he'll be able to help out.

Thanks for the replies,
She's been going to physical therapy for several months and has been told that they have finished her sessions and have done all they can do to help. I have told her to go to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona for evaluation. I told her to ask the doctors if there are any new types of surgery waiting for final approval.
I myself would not wait too long and lose my quality of life now.
Donna

ALLEUIA,this is the first i've been able to get on here in several days,since i posted that question about the security alert.After i posted that,i could never get back here til now.I was having severe withdrawl symptoms!!LOL

Anyway,i need to have knee surgery,and have needed it for the past few years.Dr has suggested that i wait awhile as it really doesn't last for the rest of your life.So i have done that,but am seriously considering having it done this spring.I too have arthritis in my knees,and i'll be 70 in March.

My ds had it maybe 5 years ago,but his knees were worse than mine due to motorcycle/dirtbike racing.He got the knees from a cadaver and is doing very well.His recovery was super fast,He had it done on a thursday and went back to work on Monday,at first in a wheel chair for a couple days,then on crutches.He never went to rehab,instead he had some contraption set up in his bedroom at home as he told his dr,i have a businees to run,and don't have time to be running to someplace for therapy,so they got him set up and he did very well.Now you would never know he had knee problems.

My sons dr and my dr both told me i should start exercising my legs now to get them strong before the surgery as that will make the recovery shorter and less painful.So ds is going to bring me his stationary bike and set it up in my sewing room.Yipee!! Not,LOL
Kathi

uxorial, get your mind outta the gutter. ;-)
Ron

Donna, I'm 54 and I had my right knee replaced nearly 7 months ago, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I feel so good, and can walk miles and run....yes, run! I can now play outside with my DGKs instead of telling them, Sorry, Gramma has a sore knee.

My DM has had her knee for 25 years, so it's definitely worth it. Please tell your sister to go for it.

Laurel

LorifromUtah has had it done too, and has had no regrets either.

I have had both knees replaced One in 1992 and one in 2001. Both are in good shape. Now if I could get my back taken care of.But that won't happen. Just thanking the good Lord for the health I do have.

The doctors can only estimate how long a joint replacement will last, so they give an estimate, usually lower than their experience, in order not to get sued if it doesn't last as long as they think. So many factors go into the lifespan of a joint - weight, general health, bone health, etc....they really can't give a true number.

When I read this question, I think of my late DH. He fell and broke his hip when he was 51. Surgeons debated a replacement vs. pinning..giving an expected lifespan of 15-20 years before he would need another one, if it could be done at that time. As they said "in this day and age, we don't know what medical advances may be around for 2nd joint replacement when the time comes, but you could end up in a wheel chair if they don't and you'd be only 65-70 years old". So..they recommended the pinning, and he went with it.

He was left with one leg 1 1/2" shorter than the other, and after a couple of years, cussed himself regularily for not going for a replacement.

Well, he himself only lasted another 10 years....and when he was dying, he said that he wished he had had that 10 years with a good hip.

So, I think one should take quality of life into account when deciding to bear pain, etc., just because of odds. You never know what life has in store for you.

My MIL had one knee done beginning of Dec. I saw her over Christmas and she is still in a good amount of pain (and cranky! LOL). Her friend also had it done about a year ago and said the 1st week or two and you'll regret getting it done b/c of the pain, then two weeks after that-you'll regret not getting done sooner!

She's only mid 50's, but her knee was so bad it was just bone on bone, and getting hard to do much. SHe had a lot of prep work-going to physical therapy, going to the pool as much as possible to strengthen muscles and lots of doc appts. She goes to rehab about 3 times a week. She can walk by herself now but gets tired fast, and uses a cane if she's out anywhere. Can't drive for 6 weeks minimum. She said she doesn't know how anyone can get both knees done at the same time!

Thanks everyone,
I'll pass this on to my sister. If it were me, I would get it done.
Donna

I had total knee replacement at age forty nine.
My doctor saw no problem with my age or the longevity of the joint. The surgery was a good decision and when my other knee gets bad I will have it replaced as quickly as possible too.

Lori

I had both knee joints replaced in 2001, was so sorry I had waited..standing up was SO HARD, walked with a walker everywhere, rode stores electric wheelchairs. I was 62 years old.

First knee surgery went so well after 6 weeks of physical therapy, by my 2 month check up I told the doctor I was ready to have the second one done and that he had an opening the next month, his reply was "people don't beg for knee replacement" I told him I was begging. Had it done 3 months 1 day after the first, this time by the end of physical therapy I walked well, NO cane, just took it easy, did use cane 7 weeks late to walk on uneven dirt fields.

Sue

My mom just had her knee replaced in October and she is doing great. She is 79 and now she is painfree and walking better than she has in 10 years. In two months she was finished her therapy and off the cane. On Xmas Eve she had 40 people over and made all the food!