Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Total Knee Replacement?

How did you damage your knee(s) that required replacement? And, at what age?

I was doing Motocross when I was 17. Was power sliding & throwing up an awesome rooster tail. Doing so in low gear the rpm's were maxed out, it was going good, so I clicked into second gear & the bike was no longer sliding & it shot straight out from under me. Figured I'd just stand up and let it go. Except my toe cap on my boot hung under the foot peg. I don't know how that happened. The bike was completely off the ground when my right knee joint ended its forward motion. Hyperextended the joint as all of my ligaments stretched to their limits.

42 years later I am walking like a new man.

What's your story?

One of my good friends is spending Christmas without a knee. Neither the one he was born with or the artificial one that replaced it.

He had one knee done and everything went fine, so they replaced the second one. It became infected and after none of the antibiotics worked, they took the mechanical joint back out a couple weeks ago and stuffed the empty space with something like plaster of Paris. They wont put the new one in until, or unless, they get the infection cleared up. The Doctors said maybe six weeks with no knee.

Keep him clear of assk~cking contests for the holidays !

I was a commercial diver for 20 + years,wearing the helmet,the weights,and breathing the 84/16 gas mix wiped out my carlidge.I ve had both knees done,and now my elbows are going.

Reloder28: Back in 1997 I was wrestling with an urban youth, welfare spawn, type criminal and "we" landed on my left, knee on cement!
The resulting injury included torn meniscus and a broken bone in the left knee.
The knee specialist Doctor I sought out was able to place the bone back in its cleft and repaired the meniscus as best he could.
The Doctor at that time warned me that I could expect "troubles" with that knee later in life. He advised that he often would not even try to repair the meniscus the way he did on me, because 50 year old peoples meniscus's loose the ability to "mend" correctly - and I was 49+ at the time.
He was right about those things - 15 years later injury induced arthritis and bone spurs developed in that left knee.
I dealt with the pain caused by the dissolving cartilage (bone on bone!) the now "un-done" meniscus and the other problems in that knee as long as I could (Cortezone shots were an absolute blessing!).
Finally we (wife, Doctor and I) decided to have full knee replacement.
That was done in March of this year - and what a blessing!
I walk wonderfully well now, I sleep through the night, the many and varied aching pains in that knee are all gone - I am a new man!
Only discomfort I experience is after sitting in one position for two hours or so my muscles in the left knee area will ache.
Its hard for me to drive long distances and I try to get out of the car and walk every hour - that helps and I believe this condition is getting better as time goes on.
I am absolutely incredulous that modern medicine and Doctors can "remove" a humans knee and "replace" it with one made of artificial stuff and attach it and make it work.
A miracle in my estimation - nothing less.
I am most thankful that my right knee is "perfect" and won't have to go through what I did with my left knee ever again!
I protect my right knee at ALL costs!
Knees are a human "weakness"!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

In 2007 I cut down a big white pine tree, dropped it right where I wanted. On a very steep hill, top of the tree landed aiming uphill. Tree sat right there.
I began walking downhill, in 5 seconds the tree began to slide, caught me up in it and I was trapped under the tree. Landed right on my right leg. Broke the big thigh bone, the femur, in the knee.
I had surgery, doc screwed the femur back together with 4, three inch screws. Like building a deck. Doc gave me a "100 percent guarantee of a good result."

Instead I had 100 percent failure. The femur was dying in the knee joint and had to have TKR. Either that or amputation.
Had TKR in November 2008 and it worked out well. Thank you Dr. Schroeder. And, screw you Dr. LeCroy, Mission Memorial Hospital Asheville.

I tried to sue the bastard but couldn't get a lawyer to take the case. Talk about pain and suffering.

Just wear and tear. What seemed to be a few minor knee twists or sprains piling on. Probably working without healing completely too. I mean, what's a little ache and pain in the morning. I got to where walking to the mailbox was really painful, just a mild slope. When the meniscus goes, arthritis grows it seems.

Had my right knee done 5 weeks ago at 67 years old. Arthritis being the cause. Still not sleeping well and still not driving. The swelling is down, and pain is definitely reduced from when I first had the surgery. I am meeting with the physical therapist as scheduled and doing my exercises at home between PT visits. The PT says my range of motion is excellent.
Still too early to know whether the surgery is successful. The surgeon said most of his patients don't start feeling better until around 8-10 weeks after surgery.

Plain ol' life and age related arthritis. I have replacement scheduled for March 2019.

Like Varmintguy said, cortisone shots had been working for a few years. My meniscus surgery back on 2010 or so went well, but then the arthritis started on the other side of the knee a few years back. Last shot I got worked for about 4 weeks only, instead of the 4-6 months they had been working. Arthritis steadily getting worse.

I look forward to good results as I have more hunting to do and want to go hiking in the Sierras or our local Warner Mtns with my niece.

Geno

Had mine done in 2004; result of a high school sports injury. I was bone on bone and leaving work felt like a bad toothache in my knee. Rehab was not fun, as I'm sure anyone who has had one will tell you. I was an RN and worked on an orthopedic ward, so pretty much knew what I was in for. I discharged to my house, am single and live alone; but kept up with all exercizes therapists told me to do. Had home PT for about a week. then outpatient PT for about 7 weeks(outpatient PT was only about 3 miles away). TKR prosthesis that projected lenghth of viability has increase by a few years. Go for it; you'll hate the PT for a few weeks, but welcome the effects for years afterwards.

Kick-starting my CR 125 everyday a hundred times for a couple yrs

Roofing, carrying shingles on my shoulder up a ladder for 15 yrs

Spelunking under houses doing ductwork, moisture mitigation, termite control

Still holding out on TKR, doc says I'm too young. Did get cortisone in both knees last week, I've PM'd a couple guys on here- they advised getting a new doc that will take me on.

I worked in construction for 35 years and everything wore out. I was in a bad car wreck at age 18 and my right leg was pinned and plated to make it work again. I had my right knee replaced in 2010 and busted my butt to get through rehab. All worked out and I healed up pretty good. Left knee was replaced last February at 71. Rehab went well without any problems at first. Then after 10 weeks I had nerve problems and that was hard to get rid of. No problems now that aren't expected. I get around fine now and do anything I want to do. You have to do the rehab and more to get back to normal as quick as possible.

7 weeks out from total replacement tomorrow.

Start with genetics (grandfather, father and uncles all have replaced knees).

Add in high school football, hockey and running.

Adult life spartan races and many years as a soccer referee (read more running, plus conditioning)

Couldn't go for a walk with my wife without needing ice.

Replacement was 5th surgery.

PTs thrilled with bending, still haven't gotten it straight, but it hasn't been straight in 6 years.

On the plus side the ONLY pain, outside of PT is muscles, felt like a permanent pulled quad until the internal stitches let go. I did have a nerve block on the knee so didn't feel a thing for 3-4 days didn't feel a thing in the knee, was wonderful

The first three months are hell, after that, you will be OK. You gotta do all that physical therapy. Best thing is to ride a bicycle an hour a day.

I learned that a 10mg Vicodin chased with a double gin and tonic* will make the knee stop hurting.



*not recommended by physicians

Both replaced 9 1/2 years ago. First surgery on left knee forty years ago. Torn cartilage. Before arthroscopic surgery was available. Fast forward..... left knee scoped in 2001..... right knee scoped in 2002. Pretty much removed the cartilage on the inside of both knees. Was never really pain free after the first surgery. 2007 had pain and thought I was ready for more scoping. Doc said he couldn't scope them again. Upstairs to the replacement doc. He looked and said I would have replacement, but wasn't symptomatic enough. 2009 couldn't ride my motorcycle because I couldn't bend my left knee enough to shift gears. Got the left one done in July. Right one three days before Thanksgiving.

Even after the replacement, can't remember being totally pain free. Sit too long and they get stiff and hurt. Stand too long and they get stiff and hurt. Good thing is if this was eighty years ago, I would be in a wheelchair.

Motrin was my magic pain reliever. Had no idea it would work as well as it did, post surgery. Ironbender suggested it. For sleeping, 2X Motrin PM is your friend. It was the difference between sleeping & not sleeping.

About 20 years ago that same thing happened to a friend and he killed himself. Hopefully this person doesn't do the same as Bob.

Motocross, football, baseball, general abuse and being ignorant about the importance of having healthy knees. After a number of meniscus repairs I finally had a partial left knee replacement at 48 and another partial right knee replacement at 54.
Walking 4-5 miles a day 3 to 4 days a week helps to keep them mobile and feeling good. No pain since and I’m 60 now.

I'm 49 and a right knee replacement seems to be in my future. Couple small injuries over the last 20 years and running have taken their toll. My right knee got really bad this summer/fall but a renewed focus on lifting has helped. I had a cortisone shot that helped for a very short time, like two days. Arthritis is a bitch.

I had my right knee replaced 2 years ago when I was 67. It was so bad I missed hunting season that year. Doctor told me most important thing was to do exercises that he gave me starting 6 weeks before surgery to make all the muscles in my knee strong. My surgery came out really good. I never used a walker or cane after 3 days. Did physical therapy twice a week for 5 weeks plus all the exercises they told me to do at home every day. I did a lot of walking, since it was November I would go to Home Depot to walk so I did not have to walk in rain. Was driving after 10 days. I was almost totally healed and doing most things after 12 weeks. All stiffness gone after 12 months. I think really important to do lots of exercise before surgery.