Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Knee replacement

I have finally gotten to the point where it is time to have it done. I know several have had this done here on the fire, any tips or suggestions? If the left one goes well, the right knee is next..

Follow up therapy is the key. Don’t shirk it. I highly recommend them. Pick the best, most experienced doctor that you can find. Ask around.

Ask about avoiding the possibility of blood clots.

Good luck.

Had both of mine done. Most recently the right, about 6 months ago.

Mighty painful for a good long while. But still FAR preferable to the debilitating arthritis I was afflicted with.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. I am glad to have them done.
A good PT provider is essential.
My wife was critical in my recovery. For some time after the surgery, I was pretty much useless.
Pick a good orthopedic surgeon and go for it, Brother!

I need one, but have heard too many horror stories of the ones that didn't work out. I have hardware in my back and a replaced shoulder. Neither is anything to brag about. I have been getting the rooster comb injections for two years now, once every six months. It makes it bearable.

Had my left knee replaced last June. Painful the first week or so but worth it. I'm going on a hunt this November that I would never have been able to enjoy without the surgery. Scheduled for the other one this December. If it goes as well I might just be able to make a bucket list hunt that I thought before the surgery was out of the question.

Jumping through the hoops in that direction as well just got my first cortisone shot in my right knee 1 1/2 months ago...mb

Everyone will be along to tell you about it, the one thing I can say is don’t have them replaced any sooner than 6 months apart, if I had it to do over it would be a full year, I was told after I had both done 3 months apart it is the most invasive surgery there is except heart surgery. Good Luck

They do beat you up pretty good.

You can watch the full procedure on YouTube if so inclined.

Watching that and then realizing that you’ll get up and walk the same afternoon is pretty amazing.

You'll wonder why you waited so long to get the TKA done!

If you don't have a bicycle, get one. You don't list your location or procedure date, so you might prefer to get an indoor bike. I really like the recumbent.

Ride the bike for at least two months prior to the surgery. Having that strength BEFORE the sx, makes the recovery more bueno and easier.

Be sure to go to the best surgeon you can find, not necessarily the dude that "does the most". That can be a false metric.

Ask as many people that have had the sx who they used. If you know any nurses, ask them about what surgeon has the best outcomes. Research the doc's rating and infection rate online.

Good luck.

At 73 I will be following this closely. Have had full replacement in both hips and the steroid shots in my right knee. Last week got the first rooster comb shot. So only time will tell. Good luck on your decision.

Jim

I went through all of the shots for both knees and they were strictly temporary or didn't work at all.
I had both knees replaced seven years ago, (a month apart) and have been praising the doctor since. Not a single problem whatsoever. I was 69 when I had them done and after therapy a friend and I hiked over 900 miles in the hills around town in the first 4 years. We quit counting but they are still doing great. I think the main thing is to take your therapy serious, and don't ever quit walking !

Go for it, you won't be sorry!

PS I had an accident a couple years ago, and broke my left hip. The therapy was kind of tough, but in a couple weeks I was out hiking in the hills and I forget that I ever had it replaced.

I know a lot of guys my age that had both knees done at the same time. They had no problems at all .

Knees have been bad since '87 or so.. Tried PT shots etc. Nothing really worked beyond a month or so. Going on 68, retired to a 30 acre property. Didn't really realize how much work and walking is required.. Left knee is really limiting what I can do now so time to take the plunge. Wife has an indoor bike, and PT appointments already setup. Probable miss this year's deer season, to bad as the trail cam says the food plot I put in is really working well. Several 6-to-10-point bucks around.

Ninety days of hell. Do the physical therapy.

Knee replacement is much more difficult than hip replacement.

I could not bend it for a month. I could not drive for 2 months. I really worked at it, and eventually I came up to speed fast. After a year it is way better than the old knee, but 90% of my other knee. I would do it again, but a lot tougher than I thought. I did PT 2-3 times a week at a really good place, and I worked it hard everyday.

Get THE BEST SURGEON you can find
Do therapy, before the surgery, on the leg that your are having surgery on to strengthen it
Listen to the surgeon and ask questions
Get up and get moving after surgery
Get off the pain pills ASAP
Get up and get moving
Get in-home therapy right after your surgery
When they say PULL, you pull until you can't pull any more
When the say BEND, you bend until you can't bend any more
Get up and get moving
Walker--crutch--or cane use whatever works to keep moving
I've had both knees replaced and I have NO PAIN and NO problems 11 years from the first
Did I mention GET UP AND GET MOVING-----ASAP

Good luck

One brother had both replaced, another brother one replaced. Both had a lot of pain, but said best decision they ever made.

I had my right knee replaced October 2021. I strongly suggest at least 6 weeks of physical therapy before the surgery. It is very painful the first couple of weeks. I did pt post op for 2 months. I’m glad I got it done and hope I don’t have to do the left one.

^^^^This^^^^

Haven't had a knee done, but left hip is prosthetic and right shoulder is prosthetic.
Right ankle has two lag screws. Probably 3/8"×2 1/2"!

Don't know where you are, but if you're near OKC, try McBride on Edmond. Those guys are amazing!



They offered me cortisone shots in my right shoulder. I looked the doctor square in the eye and told him, "Hell no! Schedule me for surgery!"
He laughed and told me, "Good choice."
He estimated a shot "might" work for a month if I was lucky. More than likely less. Shoulder was on BAD shape!

PT on hip was a piece of cake. Just get up and walk...and walk...and walk!
Right shoulder?
Knew the therapist from another fiasco. If my right shoulder had been any good, we would have "throwed down"! Damn he hurt me! BUT....when he got through, my shoulder was almost like new!

PT can be hell, but if done correctly it's worth every ache and pain.

I'm looking at a left elbow replacement in time. It's bone on bone. Weight restrictions on the right shoulder is 25 pounds. Left elbow replacement restricts me to 10 pounds on the left side.
Damage an elbow replacement with a fall and it can't be "fixed".

^^^THIS!^^^