My TKR is in January 2025. Five months from now. I've just bough a stationary bike so I can start my prehab. I've also bought a big wedge pillow, massage gun and a massage roller. Will be getting an ice machine soon. I will talk to my Dr about some visits to PT. I'm 62 with a long history of sports related injuries. Recently tried the cortisone injection and it helped for about 3 weeks. Tried the HA (Synvisc One) and it didn't help at all. In fact, my knee blew up afterwards and they drained 40CC of fluid from it. My pain is tolerable as long as the swelling doesn't return. My Dr will be using the robot (Mako) for my TKR. I have watched many of the surgeries on YT because I like to research and I've know for a long time that this was in my future. I'm in pretty good shape and was playing a lot of disc golf up until 3 months ago. I'm 6'2" and 205lbs. I'd like to get down to 200 before surgery. I liked your video. What has your experience been working with patients who have had traditional TKR as opposed to the robot assisted TKR? Compared to people my age, height and weight. I still have good ROM. I can't squat down, but while standing, I can grab my foot and pull my heel to my butt. I does hurt a little, but I can do it.
Thanks for sharing some of your knee journey. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to prepare for your upcoming surgery. The answer to your question about traditional TKR compared to robot-assisted TKR is that it depends. Research has clearly shown that there is little benefit from robot-assisted TKR compared to Traditional TKR. The main difference is the marketing of the Robot-assisted surgery is really good. Therefore people hear the buzz and think it must be the greatest thing out there. But also keep in mind, that surgeons offices/hospitals that offer Robotic surgery have paid millions of dollars for this technology, which means they have to promote it and use it to get their monies worth. The most important thing to have success is having a surgeon that is an expert at however he does the surgery. Meaning, choose a surgeon that has done thousands of surgeries using the Robot or thousands of surgeries doing it the Traditional Method. Good luck on your knee journey!
I'm 61 yrs old. I had my TKR 5 months ago, and I am doing good. I'm still going to pt. My advice I can share is to be positive and think every day is a good day. Also, prayers help me falling sleep. Good luck, I wish you a positive recovery.
@@malendeguzman1385 Thanks for sharing! A positive mindset is definitely great advice. Lack of sleep is something that they don't talk enough about after knee replacement surgery, yet it affects the majority of people after this surgery. Keep up the hard work and hopefully you will be sleeping like a baby soon enough.
We try to put out accurate information, so thank you for saying that! Three weeks post-surgery is a huge landmark. Keep up the hard work and your knee will start to loosen up and you won't have to work so hard for every little gain. Good luck on your knee journey!
You are the best speaker I’ve heard on knee replacement surgery. Thank you for telling me these things. I am going to exhaust all my options before I get that surgery. Excellent advice. Thank you so much. Unfortunately it’s too late because I did watch the knee replacement surgery and it scared the beep out of me.
Thanks for the kind words! I have been working with knee replacement patients for 26 years now and I have gained so much valuable information, so I am glad that you found it useful. However, I wish you could 'unwatch' the surgery!? LOL.
Thank you for telling it like it is! The good the bad, and the ugly, I've done a lot of research on TKR and your advice by far has been the best, my dr. Never explored any options to me,im 70 and fearful of the aftermath of knee surgery.😢
Unfortunately, health professionals rarely take the time to discuss all options with their patients. I am glad that you found the information helpful. I also understand the fear associated with having the surgery, however, just know that not having the surgery could mean that your knee pain will continue to worsen and that is not a good way to live either. My advice is, remember that you are the customer. You have all the power and control. You can choose where to have the surgery and you can demand to have all of your questions answered. Good surgeons will take the time to answer your questions before you ever schedule the surgery. Knee replacements are a booming business for surgeons, and you are the customer that they want... please remember that! Good luck with your knee journey!
This I must say is one of the best videos I have watched. Thank you so much for your practical advice and down-to-earth explanation. Keep it up! So many people need to hear all this.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I really try to be honest and provide much needed information for those out there who are trying to figure out what to do with their knee pain. Thanks for taking the time to write something positive, it means a lot. Good luck on your knee journey, wherever you may be.
Thanks! I might have to have one knee replaced at some point, but I'm trying to discover every non-surgical option first. I have had both shoulders replaced, and I realize the recovery time. Thankfully my surgeon gave me a good exercise to do prior to the second shoulder replacement, and it helped. I try to warn other potential shoulder replacement patients that recovery takes time and that they need to follow all directions from the surgeon, hospital, and PT.
It is a great idea to explore all non-surgical interventions before considering knee replacement surgery. However, I think it is important to mention that shoulder replacement surgery is very different from knee replacement surgery. Most importantly, there are numerous restrictions on what you are allowed and not allowed to do with the shoulder after surgery, whereas, with knee replacement surgery, there are no restrictions. The only thing you need to avoid is falling hard on the surgical knee, other than that, you are permitted to move it as much as you want, stand on it as much as you want and do what you want. There are no slings, no weightbearing or lifting restrictions. Shoulder replacement surgery has its own challenges... but is very different than knee replacement surgery. You will be the bionic human with all these joint replacements! Congrats on surviving 2 shoulder replacement surgeries!
I’m 8 weeks post TKR. This video nails it. The only thing with which I disagree is the advice at the end to NEVER watch an online knee replacement video. I’m certainly glad I didn’t do it BEFORE my surgery, but I did watch one a few weeks after the surgery, and I found it helpful for me to understand just how severe the trauma is to the knee area during surgery and why it takes so long to recover afterwards. Others’ mileage may vary (especially if you’re squeamish)….
Watching the surgery online is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Personally, I love to watch surgeries, but I have also been in the healthcare space for 25+ years. Glad to hear that you agree with all the other advice. Good luck on your knee recovery journey and keep up the hard work!
Thank you. By the way, perhaps the best advice I was given before surgery was to talk to a physical therapist who specializes in PT for TKR patients. It’s precisely because so many joint surgeons don’t spend enough time on the “pre-hab” or on what the experience will be after surgery. You all live it with your patients, though, and your video is proof of why those kinds of conversations (and these kinds of videos) are so valuable.
@@MrNoahZark Thanks for the kind words! Setting realistic expectations are so important for the entire knee journey to go well and sadly so many patients do not have access to that. Due to changes in reimbursement and insurance, Prehab is not the standard of practice anymore, but it should be. Keep up the hard work!
I dislocated my right knee a month ago. The ligaments are still so very painful I’m having ruse a cane. My doctor wants to do a knee replacement in the next month or so. I’ve had OA for the past 50 yrs in both knees. I’m a 76 yrs old. I was always very athletic and active until 6 yrs ago when I developed OA in my spine. I’m a little apprehensive about the surgery because of the ligaments.
Sorry to hear what you have been going through. Living with pain and discomfort and not being able to do the things you enjoy is not living :(. The recovery after knee replacement surgery is tough, but there is a very high likelihood that your pain will improve significantly, which means a better quality of life. As for the physical recovery, that is more up to you and the work that you do. You can do this! If you have been able to deal with OA of the spine and 50 years of knee OA, then clearly you have a high pain tolerance. Good luck on your knee journey!
Wow. Best advice on knee replacement. I have osteo in both knees, have had stiffness and crunching for 20 years. Can’t remember the last time I’ve gone up and down stairs in the normal way or been able to squat or get up and down from ground. My right knee is becoming knock knee because it’s collapsing on me. Thing is….I am not in pain. I go through my daily activities, shopping, gardening etc. just doing it slower these days. I have no pain at night. I’m really debating this knee replacement thing now that I’m turning 80. I’m in physical therapy to strengthen muscles and stretch, and I’m getting the gel injections twice a year which helps the inflammation but does nothing for the knock knee. I may be able to avoid TKR if I keep doing these things since I’m so old. I just don’t know if the severe pain and long recovery time is worth getting new knees.
It sounds like, other than the appearance of your knee (becoming knock-knee), you are functioning well. I don't know your other medical conditions (co-morbidities) but if you are able to do the things you need in order to take care of yourself, then you may not need knee replacement surgery. Continue the PT and injections and keep living life. I don't think that 80 is 'too old' for a knee replacement, but I also don't suggest major surgery at any age unless it will significantly improve your quality of life. Also, if your pain does become a factor, you could start using a cane to help offload the knee and control the pain... you could talk to your doctor about the benefits of an anti-inflammatory medication... or about a uni-compartmental knee surgery (look it up and talk to surgeon). The point is you still have options. Thanks for sharing and good luck on your knee journey!
Definitely have a talk with your 'new' knee!! I hope your recovery is going well and just know that it will keep getting better and better. Work hard and you will reap the benefits. I made a video recently about the brain-knee connection that I think is worth watching if you haven't already as it will enlighten you as to why the recovery is so hard. The title of the video is, "Scared to have Knee Replacement Surgery?' Good luck on your knee journey!
Given that your 'handle name' is so unique, I noticed that you watched my other video on the neurological component. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment. It means a lot! Good luck on your knee recovery, wherever you may be.
Geez I need TKR have severe arthritis in my right knee no cartilage been bone on for for a very long been trying everything to avoid TKR but crunch time is not far now and every time I see one of these videos it just makes the decision harder and harder
It is definitely a difficult decision. My advice is, if the pain you are experiencing now is impacting your daily activities and you are no longer able to do the things you enjoy, then it is time to consider a surgery. However, if you are able to do the things you enjoy and your everyday activities with minimal or intermittent pain, then maybe you can wait. It is different for everyone and it is a challenging recovery. However, living with pain everyday that is worsening over time, is no way to live either. Good luck on your knee journey.
Yes Iovera shots can be used 1-2 weeks before surgery and have shown to help with the pain after surgery. This is something that you would need to talk to your surgeon about.
My knee arthritis was bad, in both my knees. My left leg was bowed terribly. I had bi - lateral knee replacement on February 6. It will be 6 weeks this coming Tuesday that I’m post surgery and I’m doing well but I definitely have a way to go yet. I am walking now with no devices but it’s going to be a few weeks before I think I’m ready to return to the activity I was use to. My knees before this were just shot. It was painful to walk in sort of distance. I did do the prehab she spoke of, the amount of trauma to your legs is just unreal. Mine were black and blue all over. The first 10 days were miserable, the pain is severe. Im not having much now in my knees but in the mornings they’re stiff. This obviously will take some time.
Thank you for sharing. It is a traumatic surgery, when doing one knee but to do both at the same time is definitely challenging (to say the least). It sounds like you are doing really well. Keep up the excellent work and cheers to having the best summer because of these 'new' knees!
Thanks for your video, it’s very informative. I’m preparing for knee replacement surgery in January. Dealt with a degenerative knee for the past decade and started with the least invasive treatments to get this under control. I feel like I’m out of options at this point. Trying to drop 10 more pounds and working to Pre-hab via a digital app ( hinge health) to work on flexibility and strengthening. Can’t say I’m not a nervous going in……
Being nervous is normal and expected. However, take solace in knowing that you have done the prep work. You have exhausted non-surgical options. You are trying to optimize your body weight. You are doing Prehab. You are doing great! Good luck and here is to 2024 being the best year!
Follow up: Had surgery 1/15/2024. The day of surgery wasn’t bad, but my doctor told me going in I’d get 1, maybe 2 days of a “honeymoon period” as the spinal and nerve block wore off . The day after I was pretty miserable and really struggled to get some of my post operative exercises done. Today’s the 18th and was able to do two full rounds and can almost turn the cranks over on my bike. Feeling pretty good good about this
Thanks for the update! Being able to complete a full revolution on a bike or peddler is a huge feat so great job! Keep up the hard work, and you will reap the benefits for a lifetime.@@gibbeys
Unfortunately, most orthopedic surgeons in our city do not recommend pre rehab exercises before surgery!!! Only one grouping does. In fact I argued with several surgeons I have interviewed concerning knee replacement surgery. They had the nerve to tell me that they saw no benefit in an exercise program before surgery. I had my right hip replaced a few years ago and that grouping had me do specific exercises at home for two months before surgery. A hospital physiotherapist taught me the exercises and gave a notebook with all the exercises. I was ahead by over 3 weeks after my hip surgery because I had done specific pre surgery exercises. Unfortunately, that group doesn’t have a knee specialist that I trust. I’m really very fearful to go into knee replacement at 73 without knowing specific exercises to prepare ahead of time and strengthening. I’m not overweight, I climb stairs all the time, I feel better moving, but when I lie down to sleep my knee throbs and disturbs my sleep all night long. I’m bone on bone. I’m so frustrated and don’t know what to do.
Where are you located? You used the word physiotherapist, so that tells me you are not from the U.S. which is where I am based. So UK, Canada, Australia... where?? Here is the U.S. we have something called 'direct access' which means you can access a PT without a doctor's referral and that PT could teach you what exercises are best to prepare for knee replacement surgery. Unfortunately I am not going to dignify the surgeon's response to the comment, "no benefit in an exercise program before surgery", because it is simply untrue. The good news is that you are not overweight, you are climbing stairs and moving. I would add knee stretching to your repertoire, because this helps to prepare the soft tissue surrounding the knee joint for the upcoming surgery. I see that you have sent another message, so I will review that now.... You are asking all the right questions!
I would also ask your primary care doctor if something like 'Tylenol arthritis' or 'Tylenol PM' would be appropriate for you to use at night to sleep better and be more comfortable.
Mental pain? Are you kidding ? Anyone having this surgery is used to limited activity and pain. Most are battle trained before the surgery for years of pain. The pain is real before and expected after. This is a good video with sound advice.
Thanks for the feedback. Individuals with chronic knee pain are WARRIORS. You are absolutely right, in that they have lived with pain for soooo long, well before they have knee replacement surgery.
I had a TKR 6 weeks ago. My Dr. and therapist were not happy with my range of motion. I had sooo much swelling from the beginning😢 the PT wasn't as successful. I had a manipulation under anesthesia yesterday and my knee is so sore. I have PT for 10 days straight. Your right it is a commitment. I was bone on bone for a long time, and the shots were not helping. I hope this was the right move. It stiffens up right after excersize or sleep. I have an ice machine to keep my knee from swelling again. Praying this works.
So sorry to hear about your knee journey. I know that is difficult and not just physically on the body but also mentally. I encourage icing and elevating frequently throughout the day. My recommendation would be to limit how much you are standing and walking and instead focusing just on the knee bending and straightening for the next few weeks. Also, the more you do on your own at home, the better off you will be. Your brain does not trust your PT and is likely resisting and guarding during your PT sessions which makes them less effective than what you can do on your own at home. Sending you lots of prayers and hope the MUA was a solution for your knee. Keep up the hard work and good luck on this 'marathon' journey.
I’m back. I tried different shots, none helped at all. I can not use a cane at all because I’ve had both thumbs operated on, took tendons out of wrist forearm to put into thumb joint due to severe arthritis in 2005 and 2006. My thumbs now aren’t good, my surgeon said it would only help for so many years. I use my hands. So when I’ve needed something, I’ve had to use one crutch. I would gladly go to physical therapy but these orthopedic groups don’t prescribe because “they think it doesn’t make the surgery any better”!!?? Seriously, I know they are wrong. I’m not in my 60’s anymore and age isn’t on my side. Fortunately, no diabetes, not overweight, no other real health issues but severe arthritis in many joints of my body. Help? If you can advise. Thank you for a very informative and excellent video.
Thank you for sharing. Let me know where you are located and let me see what I can find out?? There are some programs online that offer Prehab exercises specifically for knee replacement, but they cost money.
My mom is 74.she is around 70-80 kg. Having little HBP & Sugar. She is walking very painfully. Her leg is curved . So we gonna do this surgery.. Now I'm bit afraid. Dr.Can you please tell me what we should do now.
I am unable to provide specific advice as I am not her medical provider. However, my recommendations would be to have her see a local physical therapist who can do a full assessment and prescribe appropriate exercises that she can do now to help with her pain and to prepare her for upcoming surgery. For instance, they might have your mother use a recumbent bike, which is done in a seated position, which would be less painful. This would allow her to address knee motion with less pain and if she was able to do 10 minutes of this, it would also help with blood sugar and blood pressure management. They might have her use a cane to decrease the pain with walking. There are so many things that Physical Therapists can help with, so I would definitely start there. Good luck with your Mom and her knee journey.
I’m 70 with heart problems. I’ve had 3 arthroscopic surgeries on both knees and PRP injections. I was told with the cartilage and arthritis, I have no options left. I’m in line for my right knee replacement first, and am petrified about the pain and my heart issues. It would be robotic.
I can understand your reservations and concerns. You are not alone. However, just know that your surgeon and his medical team will not do the knee replacement surgery if they are concerned about your heart. As for the pain, well that is real. However, it will be short-term and will continue to improve as you heal from the surgery. I believe that 70 years old is too young to be living with severe knee pain that will only worsen over time and that impacts their quality of life. Find a good PT and start a Prehab program to prepare your knee for the upcoming surgery. This will help to ensure a better recovery after the surgery. Good luck on your knee journey!
You are welcome! Don't be scared, be intentional. I believe that mindset is key to a successful recovery and sounds like you are already there. Good luck! @@lindaelston4728
I fell on my knee years ago and shattered my knee cap. The bone growth is overgrown. I can not straighten my leg. I will be having a total on the right in Jan. And 21 days in rehab afterwards.
There is no simple answer to that question. Do you have to manage stairs daily? What is your bathroom/bedroom set-up? Have you prepared meals in advance of the surgery that will be easy for you to manage? Do you have pets you have to care for? Do you have other medical conditions? There are so many other factors to answer that question effectively. However, just know that after your surgery, you will be able to get up and move around (with a walker or crutches), you will be able to get in/out of bed, up/down from a toilet, get yourself dressed... none of it will look pretty and it won't be easy, but you will be able to do those things. I find that patients who have less support at home, do better, simply because they have to do more, because they don't have any other option. My recommendation is to have meals taken care of beforehand (meal train help from friends/family, or freeze meals ahead of time), set up your house in preparation for the surgery (set up a tray table next to where you will be sleeping and sitting during the day to ensure easy reach of pain meds, ice machine, remote control, phone charger, book/magazine, water bottle, etc), have a friend lined up to take you to PT or MD appointments. Most importantly, don't be scared to ask for help from friends/family, because we don't know what you need unless you ask and most humans want to help others. Good luck and I hope that was helpful!
Very helpful advice thank you. Before the operation I understand it's important to get the best range of movement as possible, does this mean I should push through some pain to achieve this? My knees feel restricted when I try to bend them beyond 990 degrees, how can I improve this? Thanks for any advice.
All exercises are not created equal, so pushing through the pain is not something I advocate. However, there are various exercises that can help increase knee motion with very little actual movement. For instance, joint mobilizations are a technique that physical therapists use in the clinic to help improve knee motion while minimizing complaints of pain. These types of techniques increase circulation (or lubrication) to your knee joint, thereby making it feel better and allowing more motion. Also Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) are another type of exercise, we PTs use to not only help strengthen the knee with very little actual knee movement but also can help with gaining ROM (think of a 'plank' or a 'wall sit' - not much movement happening, but very challenging to do and working lots of muscles). You can either ask your PT about these types of exercises and let them help you with them prior to your surgery, try to find a Prehab Program or you can do these types of exercises at home using GoKnee. Great question! @@victorpelaou685
@@thegoknee thank you for replying. I am in the process of trying to strengthen my knees before surgery, previously I would have cycled or attempt to power walk, but my knees are grinding too much and I experience swelling which is counterproductive. I have recently found 90 degree knee bends with my back to the wall has been very beneficial. I am using a big exercise ball with my knees up tight against it, then lean forward gently to encourage knees to straighten. It helps too. Thanks for your help, we all appreciate what you are doing for us.
Those exercises sound good. The key is to keep moving as much as you can leading up to the surgery. The mistake I see, is when individuals schedule the surgery and then stop everything, thinking that the surgery is a miracle cure and will fix everything. The surgery fixes the bone issues, but not the soft tissues around the knee. So keep stretching and strengthening as much as you can tolerate without aggravating your knee or increasing your pain. Good luck on your knee journey!@@victorpelaou685
Here is some food for thought... is the physical therapist incentivized to get the patient better quicker?? Or is the PT happy to see you 2-3 times/week for 6-8 weeks because insurance is paying for the visits? I am asking this question, because my research has showed that only the patient cares about the fastest recovery because they have an urgency to return to life. I'm a PT and I created an advanced home program, because I knew that a faster recovery is possible for knee replacement patients and they don't need to be reliant on me. I am not going to bore you with what it is and why it works but we have individuals return to work in weeks (starting in modified duty and progressing to full-duty). Obviously it depends on the job and its demands, but it is possible. Not easy, but possible for individuals who are motivated and compliant. Good luck on your knee journey where ever you are.
They send you home after twelve hours with P.O. Pain meds that are totally inadequate. For the first few days you need IV narcotics, nerve blocks, maybe an epidural? I think I have PTSD from my first week home, and my wife who took care of me is an RN.
Knee replacement surgery used to require a 3-5 day hospital stay with 24 hour nursing care and pain management. Nowadays, you are lucky to spend the night in the hospital and more commonly they send you home the same day. There have been numerous advancements in the surgical techniques and the implant designs, but the pain after this surgery is real. Unfortunately reimbursement (money) drives health care changes. I won't get on my soapbox right now... I am sorry for what you have been going through. I am glad that you have a wife that is an RN and can assist you on this recovery. My advice, just work on bending and straightening the knee every hour that you are awake and to your pain tolerance. Do not let anyone aggressively stretch your knee. You got this!
The decision to have surgery is intricate and should not be made lightly. The intent of the video was not to scare you from surgery, but to inform you. I hope you found it helpful and not 'doom and gloom'. Good luck on your knee journey and thank you for watching.
@thegoknee I've been thinking about it for a long time. I have a very beennt Q Angle from an old bicycle accident. It's a Mechanical Disaster but doesn't hurt. I'm 76 and healthy but live alone - nobody to help me. I'll manage.
3 weeks post op. Everything is going good EXCEPT for sleeping. I can't get comfortable enough to sleep. My constant moving in bed is ruining my wife's sleep. I've been staying up all night waiting for her to wake up at 5am. It's become a problem.
Sleep is definitely an issue after surgery. I encourage you to talk to your doctor about whether Melatonin or Tylenol PM or both could help you. Also, many patients tell me that they can't sleep because they think they need to sleep on their backs or in a certain position, however, at 3 weeks post-op, my suggestion is to sleep in whatever position feels best for you. Definitely consult with your PT and your doctor as they may have other suggestions that could help. Keep up the hard work and good luck on your knee journey!
I wish I watched you before my surgery.
But even after surgery, you encouraged me to do more exercise. Thank you so much.
Thank you for watching and for the kind words. Good luck on your knee journey!
My TKR is in January 2025. Five months from now. I've just bough a stationary bike so I can start my prehab. I've also bought a big wedge pillow, massage gun and a massage roller. Will be getting an ice machine soon. I will talk to my Dr about some visits to PT. I'm 62 with a long history of sports related injuries. Recently tried the cortisone injection and it helped for about 3 weeks. Tried the HA (Synvisc One) and it didn't help at all. In fact, my knee blew up afterwards and they drained 40CC of fluid from it. My pain is tolerable as long as the swelling doesn't return. My Dr will be using the robot (Mako) for my TKR. I have watched many of the surgeries on YT because I like to research and I've know for a long time that this was in my future. I'm in pretty good shape and was playing a lot of disc golf up until 3 months ago. I'm 6'2" and 205lbs. I'd like to get down to 200 before surgery. I liked your video. What has your experience been working with patients who have had traditional TKR as opposed to the robot assisted TKR? Compared to people my age, height and weight. I still have good ROM. I can't squat down, but while standing, I can grab my foot and pull my heel to my butt. I does hurt a little, but I can do it.
Thanks for sharing some of your knee journey. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to prepare for your upcoming surgery. The answer to your question about traditional TKR compared to robot-assisted TKR is that it depends. Research has clearly shown that there is little benefit from robot-assisted TKR compared to Traditional TKR. The main difference is the marketing of the Robot-assisted surgery is really good. Therefore people hear the buzz and think it must be the greatest thing out there. But also keep in mind, that surgeons offices/hospitals that offer Robotic surgery have paid millions of dollars for this technology, which means they have to promote it and use it to get their monies worth. The most important thing to have success is having a surgeon that is an expert at however he does the surgery. Meaning, choose a surgeon that has done thousands of surgeries using the Robot or thousands of surgeries doing it the Traditional Method. Good luck on your knee journey!
I'm 61 yrs old. I had my TKR 5 months ago, and I am doing good. I'm still going to pt. My advice I can share is to be positive and think every day is a good day. Also, prayers help me falling sleep. Good luck, I wish you a positive recovery.
@@malendeguzman1385 Thanks for sharing! A positive mindset is definitely great advice. Lack of sleep is something that they don't talk enough about after knee replacement surgery, yet it affects the majority of people after this surgery. Keep up the hard work and hopefully you will be sleeping like a baby soon enough.
3 Weeks post surgery. This information is SPOT ON!!!
We try to put out accurate information, so thank you for saying that! Three weeks post-surgery is a huge landmark. Keep up the hard work and your knee will start to loosen up and you won't have to work so hard for every little gain. Good luck on your knee journey!
You are the best speaker I’ve heard on knee replacement surgery. Thank you for telling me these things. I am going to exhaust all my options before I get that surgery. Excellent advice. Thank you so much. Unfortunately it’s too late because I did watch the knee replacement surgery and it scared the beep out of me.
Thanks for the kind words! I have been working with knee replacement patients for 26 years now and I have gained so much valuable information, so I am glad that you found it useful. However, I wish you could 'unwatch' the surgery!? LOL.
Lol I watch them video also on knee replacement that's some heavy sh!t I'm fixn have to go through
It is definitely going to be tough. Good luck on your knee journey!@@1Happygranny
Thank you for telling it like it is! The good the bad, and the ugly, I've done a lot of research on TKR and your advice by far has been the best, my dr. Never explored any options to me,im 70 and fearful of the aftermath of knee surgery.😢
Unfortunately, health professionals rarely take the time to discuss all options with their patients. I am glad that you found the information helpful. I also understand the fear associated with having the surgery, however, just know that not having the surgery could mean that your knee pain will continue to worsen and that is not a good way to live either. My advice is, remember that you are the customer. You have all the power and control. You can choose where to have the surgery and you can demand to have all of your questions answered. Good surgeons will take the time to answer your questions before you ever schedule the surgery. Knee replacements are a booming business for surgeons, and you are the customer that they want... please remember that! Good luck with your knee journey!
Thank you @@thegoknee
This I must say is one of the best videos I have watched. Thank you so much for your practical advice and down-to-earth explanation. Keep it up! So many people need to hear all this.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I really try to be honest and provide much needed information for those out there who are trying to figure out what to do with their knee pain. Thanks for taking the time to write something positive, it means a lot. Good luck on your knee journey, wherever you may be.
Amazing! Everyone considering TKR needs to watch this!!
Thank you for your kind words! I am so glad you found it helpful and informative.
Thanks! I might have to have one knee replaced at some point, but I'm trying to discover every non-surgical option first.
I have had both shoulders replaced, and I realize the recovery time. Thankfully my surgeon gave me a good exercise to do prior to the second shoulder replacement, and it helped.
I try to warn other potential shoulder replacement patients that recovery takes time and that they need to follow all directions from the surgeon, hospital, and PT.
It is a great idea to explore all non-surgical interventions before considering knee replacement surgery. However, I think it is important to mention that shoulder replacement surgery is very different from knee replacement surgery. Most importantly, there are numerous restrictions on what you are allowed and not allowed to do with the shoulder after surgery, whereas, with knee replacement surgery, there are no restrictions. The only thing you need to avoid is falling hard on the surgical knee, other than that, you are permitted to move it as much as you want, stand on it as much as you want and do what you want. There are no slings, no weightbearing or lifting restrictions. Shoulder replacement surgery has its own challenges... but is very different than knee replacement surgery. You will be the bionic human with all these joint replacements! Congrats on surviving 2 shoulder replacement surgeries!
I’m 8 weeks post TKR. This video nails it. The only thing with which I disagree is the advice at the end to NEVER watch an online knee replacement video. I’m certainly glad I didn’t do it BEFORE my surgery, but I did watch one a few weeks after the surgery, and I found it helpful for me to understand just how severe the trauma is to the knee area during surgery and why it takes so long to recover afterwards. Others’ mileage may vary (especially if you’re squeamish)….
Watching the surgery online is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Personally, I love to watch surgeries, but I have also been in the healthcare space for 25+ years. Glad to hear that you agree with all the other advice. Good luck on your knee recovery journey and keep up the hard work!
Thank you. By the way, perhaps the best advice I was given before surgery was to talk to a physical therapist who specializes in PT for TKR patients. It’s precisely because so many joint surgeons don’t spend enough time on the “pre-hab” or on what the experience will be after surgery. You all live it with your patients, though, and your video is proof of why those kinds of conversations (and these kinds of videos) are so valuable.
@@MrNoahZark Thanks for the kind words! Setting realistic expectations are so important for the entire knee journey to go well and sadly so many patients do not have access to that. Due to changes in reimbursement and insurance, Prehab is not the standard of practice anymore, but it should be. Keep up the hard work!
Excellent post, I am 5 months post op, I am 70 and was fairly active. Cron
Thanks for watching! I hope you are enjoying your 'new' knee!
I dislocated my right knee a month ago. The ligaments are still so very painful I’m having ruse a cane. My doctor wants to do a knee replacement in the next month or so. I’ve had OA for the past 50 yrs in both knees. I’m a 76 yrs old. I was always very athletic and active until 6 yrs ago when I developed OA in my spine. I’m a little apprehensive about the surgery because of the ligaments.
Sorry to hear what you have been going through. Living with pain and discomfort and not being able to do the things you enjoy is not living :(. The recovery after knee replacement surgery is tough, but there is a very high likelihood that your pain will improve significantly, which means a better quality of life. As for the physical recovery, that is more up to you and the work that you do. You can do this! If you have been able to deal with OA of the spine and 50 years of knee OA, then clearly you have a high pain tolerance. Good luck on your knee journey!
Wow. Best advice on knee replacement. I have osteo in both knees, have had stiffness and crunching for 20 years. Can’t remember the last time I’ve gone up and down stairs in the normal way or been able to squat or get up and down from ground. My right knee is becoming knock knee because it’s collapsing on me. Thing is….I am not in pain. I go through my daily activities, shopping, gardening etc. just doing it slower these days. I have no pain at night. I’m really debating this knee replacement thing now that I’m turning 80. I’m in physical therapy to strengthen muscles and stretch, and I’m getting the gel injections twice a year which helps the inflammation but does nothing for the knock knee. I may be able to avoid TKR if I keep doing these things since I’m so old. I just don’t know if the severe pain and long recovery time is worth getting new knees.
It sounds like, other than the appearance of your knee (becoming knock-knee), you are functioning well. I don't know your other medical conditions (co-morbidities) but if you are able to do the things you need in order to take care of yourself, then you may not need knee replacement surgery. Continue the PT and injections and keep living life. I don't think that 80 is 'too old' for a knee replacement, but I also don't suggest major surgery at any age unless it will significantly improve your quality of life. Also, if your pain does become a factor, you could start using a cane to help offload the knee and control the pain... you could talk to your doctor about the benefits of an anti-inflammatory medication... or about a uni-compartmental knee surgery (look it up and talk to surgeon). The point is you still have options. Thanks for sharing and good luck on your knee journey!
Excellent! I only wish I had explored other options before my TKR. I'm 2 weeks post-op. I'll have to have a talk with my new knee.
Definitely have a talk with your 'new' knee!! I hope your recovery is going well and just know that it will keep getting better and better. Work hard and you will reap the benefits. I made a video recently about the brain-knee connection that I think is worth watching if you haven't already as it will enlighten you as to why the recovery is so hard. The title of the video is, "Scared to have Knee Replacement Surgery?' Good luck on your knee journey!
Thank you . Information is key.❤
Given that your 'handle name' is so unique, I noticed that you watched my other video on the neurological component. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment. It means a lot! Good luck on your knee recovery, wherever you may be.
Geez I need TKR have severe arthritis in my right knee no cartilage been bone on for for a very long been trying everything to avoid TKR but crunch time is not far now and every time I see one of these videos it just makes the decision harder and harder
It is definitely a difficult decision. My advice is, if the pain you are experiencing now is impacting your daily activities and you are no longer able to do the things you enjoy, then it is time to consider a surgery. However, if you are able to do the things you enjoy and your everyday activities with minimal or intermittent pain, then maybe you can wait. It is different for everyone and it is a challenging recovery. However, living with pain everyday that is worsening over time, is no way to live either. Good luck on your knee journey.
What about iovera shots a week before surgery to help post-operative pain?
Yes Iovera shots can be used 1-2 weeks before surgery and have shown to help with the pain after surgery. This is something that you would need to talk to your surgeon about.
@@thegoknee Thank you!
My knee arthritis was bad, in both my knees. My left leg was bowed terribly. I had bi - lateral knee replacement on February 6. It will be 6 weeks this coming Tuesday that I’m post surgery and I’m doing well but I definitely have a way to go yet. I am walking now with no devices but it’s going to be a few weeks before I think I’m ready to return to the activity I was use to. My knees before this were just shot. It was painful to walk in sort of distance. I did do the prehab she spoke of, the amount of trauma to your legs is just unreal. Mine were black and blue all over. The first 10 days were miserable, the pain is severe. Im not having much now in my knees but in the mornings they’re stiff. This obviously will take some time.
Thank you for sharing. It is a traumatic surgery, when doing one knee but to do both at the same time is definitely challenging (to say the least). It sounds like you are doing really well. Keep up the excellent work and cheers to having the best summer because of these 'new' knees!
Wonderful information
Glad you found it informative!
Thanks for your video, it’s very informative.
I’m preparing for knee replacement surgery in January. Dealt with a degenerative knee for the past decade and started with the least invasive treatments to get this under control. I feel like I’m out of options at this point.
Trying to drop 10 more pounds and working to Pre-hab via a digital app ( hinge health) to work on flexibility and strengthening.
Can’t say I’m not a nervous going in……
Being nervous is normal and expected. However, take solace in knowing that you have done the prep work. You have exhausted non-surgical options. You are trying to optimize your body weight. You are doing Prehab. You are doing great! Good luck and here is to 2024 being the best year!
Follow up:
Had surgery 1/15/2024. The day of surgery wasn’t bad, but my doctor told me going in I’d get 1, maybe 2 days of a “honeymoon period” as the spinal and nerve block wore off . The day after I was pretty miserable and really struggled to get some of my post operative exercises done.
Today’s the 18th and was able to do two full rounds and can almost turn the cranks over on my bike.
Feeling pretty good good about this
Thanks for the update! Being able to complete a full revolution on a bike or peddler is a huge feat so great job! Keep up the hard work, and you will reap the benefits for a lifetime.@@gibbeys
Unfortunately, most orthopedic surgeons in our city do not recommend pre rehab exercises before surgery!!! Only one grouping does. In fact I argued with several surgeons I have interviewed concerning knee replacement surgery. They had the nerve to tell me that they saw no benefit in an exercise program before surgery. I had my right hip replaced a few years ago and that grouping had me do specific exercises at home for two months before surgery. A hospital physiotherapist taught me the exercises and gave a notebook with all the exercises. I was ahead by over 3 weeks after my hip surgery because I had done specific pre surgery exercises. Unfortunately, that group doesn’t have a knee specialist that I trust. I’m really very fearful to go into knee replacement at 73 without knowing specific exercises to prepare ahead of time and strengthening. I’m not overweight, I climb stairs all the time, I feel better moving, but when I lie down to sleep my knee throbs and disturbs my sleep all night long. I’m bone on bone. I’m so frustrated and don’t know what to do.
Where are you located? You used the word physiotherapist, so that tells me you are not from the U.S. which is where I am based. So UK, Canada, Australia... where?? Here is the U.S. we have something called 'direct access' which means you can access a PT without a doctor's referral and that PT could teach you what exercises are best to prepare for knee replacement surgery. Unfortunately I am not going to dignify the surgeon's response to the comment, "no benefit in an exercise program before surgery", because it is simply untrue. The good news is that you are not overweight, you are climbing stairs and moving. I would add knee stretching to your repertoire, because this helps to prepare the soft tissue surrounding the knee joint for the upcoming surgery. I see that you have sent another message, so I will review that now.... You are asking all the right questions!
I would also ask your primary care doctor if something like 'Tylenol arthritis' or 'Tylenol PM' would be appropriate for you to use at night to sleep better and be more comfortable.
@t
hegoknee
Mental pain? Are you kidding ? Anyone having this surgery is used to limited activity and pain. Most are battle trained before the surgery for years of pain. The pain is real before and expected after. This is a good video with sound advice.
Thanks for the feedback. Individuals with chronic knee pain are WARRIORS. You are absolutely right, in that they have lived with pain for soooo long, well before they have knee replacement surgery.
I had a TKR 6 weeks ago. My Dr. and therapist were not happy with my range of motion. I had sooo much swelling from the beginning😢 the PT wasn't as successful. I had a manipulation under anesthesia yesterday and my knee is so sore. I have PT for 10 days straight. Your right it is a commitment. I was bone on bone for a long time, and the shots were not helping. I hope this was the right move. It stiffens up right after excersize or sleep. I have an ice machine to keep my knee from swelling again. Praying this works.
So sorry to hear about your knee journey. I know that is difficult and not just physically on the body but also mentally. I encourage icing and elevating frequently throughout the day. My recommendation would be to limit how much you are standing and walking and instead focusing just on the knee bending and straightening for the next few weeks. Also, the more you do on your own at home, the better off you will be. Your brain does not trust your PT and is likely resisting and guarding during your PT sessions which makes them less effective than what you can do on your own at home. Sending you lots of prayers and hope the MUA was a solution for your knee. Keep up the hard work and good luck on this 'marathon' journey.
I’m back. I tried different shots, none helped at all. I can not use a cane at all because I’ve had both thumbs operated on, took tendons out of wrist forearm to put into thumb joint due to severe arthritis in 2005 and 2006. My thumbs now aren’t good, my surgeon said it would only help for so many years. I use my hands. So when I’ve needed something, I’ve had to use one crutch. I would gladly go to physical therapy but these orthopedic groups don’t prescribe because “they think it doesn’t make the surgery any better”!!?? Seriously, I know they are wrong. I’m not in my 60’s anymore and age isn’t on my side. Fortunately, no diabetes, not overweight, no other real health issues but severe arthritis in many joints of my body. Help? If you can advise. Thank you for a very informative and excellent video.
Thank you for sharing. Let me know where you are located and let me see what I can find out?? There are some programs online that offer Prehab exercises specifically for knee replacement, but they cost money.
My mom is 74.she is around 70-80 kg. Having little HBP & Sugar.
She is walking very painfully. Her leg is curved . So we gonna do this surgery.. Now I'm bit afraid. Dr.Can you please tell me what we should do now.
I am unable to provide specific advice as I am not her medical provider. However, my recommendations would be to have her see a local physical therapist who can do a full assessment and prescribe appropriate exercises that she can do now to help with her pain and to prepare her for upcoming surgery. For instance, they might have your mother use a recumbent bike, which is done in a seated position, which would be less painful. This would allow her to address knee motion with less pain and if she was able to do 10 minutes of this, it would also help with blood sugar and blood pressure management. They might have her use a cane to decrease the pain with walking. There are so many things that Physical Therapists can help with, so I would definitely start there. Good luck with your Mom and her knee journey.
Thank you for this realistic presentation and valuable information. The best that I've seen!
So glad you found it helpful! Good luck on your knee journey!
I’m 70 with heart problems. I’ve had 3 arthroscopic surgeries on both knees and PRP injections. I was told with the cartilage and arthritis, I have no options left. I’m in line for my right knee replacement first, and am petrified about the pain and my heart issues. It would be robotic.
I can understand your reservations and concerns. You are not alone. However, just know that your surgeon and his medical team will not do the knee replacement surgery if they are concerned about your heart. As for the pain, well that is real. However, it will be short-term and will continue to improve as you heal from the surgery. I believe that 70 years old is too young to be living with severe knee pain that will only worsen over time and that impacts their quality of life. Find a good PT and start a Prehab program to prepare your knee for the upcoming surgery. This will help to ensure a better recovery after the surgery. Good luck on your knee journey!
Thank you so much. I need the reassurance! We kayak and light hike, and hope to continue for some years!
You are welcome! Don't be scared, be intentional. I believe that mindset is key to a successful recovery and sounds like you are already there. Good luck! @@lindaelston4728
Thank you! @@thegoknee
I fell on my knee years ago and shattered my knee cap. The bone growth is overgrown. I can not straighten my leg. I will be having a total on the right in Jan. And 21 days in rehab afterwards.
It must be so difficult to get around and do everyday tasks when your leg won't straighten. Thanks for sharing your story and good luck in January.
How much help will people need at home.
There is no simple answer to that question. Do you have to manage stairs daily? What is your bathroom/bedroom set-up? Have you prepared meals in advance of the surgery that will be easy for you to manage? Do you have pets you have to care for? Do you have other medical conditions? There are so many other factors to answer that question effectively. However, just know that after your surgery, you will be able to get up and move around (with a walker or crutches), you will be able to get in/out of bed, up/down from a toilet, get yourself dressed... none of it will look pretty and it won't be easy, but you will be able to do those things. I find that patients who have less support at home, do better, simply because they have to do more, because they don't have any other option. My recommendation is to have meals taken care of beforehand (meal train help from friends/family, or freeze meals ahead of time), set up your house in preparation for the surgery (set up a tray table next to where you will be sleeping and sitting during the day to ensure easy reach of pain meds, ice machine, remote control, phone charger, book/magazine, water bottle, etc), have a friend lined up to take you to PT or MD appointments. Most importantly, don't be scared to ask for help from friends/family, because we don't know what you need unless you ask and most humans want to help others. Good luck and I hope that was helpful!
Very helpful advice thank you.
Before the operation I understand it's important to get the best range of movement as possible, does this mean I should push through some pain to achieve this? My knees feel restricted when I try to bend them beyond 990 degrees, how can I improve this? Thanks for any advice.
All exercises are not created equal, so pushing through the pain is not something I advocate. However, there are various exercises that can help increase knee motion with very little actual movement. For instance, joint mobilizations are a technique that physical therapists use in the clinic to help improve knee motion while minimizing complaints of pain. These types of techniques increase circulation (or lubrication) to your knee joint, thereby making it feel better and allowing more motion. Also Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) are another type of exercise, we PTs use to not only help strengthen the knee with very little actual knee movement but also can help with gaining ROM (think of a 'plank' or a 'wall sit' - not much movement happening, but very challenging to do and working lots of muscles). You can either ask your PT about these types of exercises and let them help you with them prior to your surgery, try to find a Prehab Program or you can do these types of exercises at home using GoKnee. Great question! @@victorpelaou685
@@thegoknee thank you for replying. I am in the process of trying to strengthen my knees before surgery, previously I would have cycled or attempt to power walk, but my knees are grinding too much and I experience swelling which is counterproductive.
I have recently found 90 degree knee bends with my back to the wall has been very beneficial. I am using a big exercise ball with my knees up tight against it, then lean forward gently to encourage knees to straighten. It helps too. Thanks for your help, we all appreciate what you are doing for us.
Those exercises sound good. The key is to keep moving as much as you can leading up to the surgery. The mistake I see, is when individuals schedule the surgery and then stop everything, thinking that the surgery is a miracle cure and will fix everything. The surgery fixes the bone issues, but not the soft tissues around the knee. So keep stretching and strengthening as much as you can tolerate without aggravating your knee or increasing your pain. Good luck on your knee journey!@@victorpelaou685
You have to get back to work is simply put, a reality for many of us. We don’t have the option to take 6-8 weeks. Sad but true.
Here is some food for thought... is the physical therapist incentivized to get the patient better quicker?? Or is the PT happy to see you 2-3 times/week for 6-8 weeks because insurance is paying for the visits? I am asking this question, because my research has showed that only the patient cares about the fastest recovery because they have an urgency to return to life. I'm a PT and I created an advanced home program, because I knew that a faster recovery is possible for knee replacement patients and they don't need to be reliant on me. I am not going to bore you with what it is and why it works but we have individuals return to work in weeks (starting in modified duty and progressing to full-duty). Obviously it depends on the job and its demands, but it is possible. Not easy, but possible for individuals who are motivated and compliant. Good luck on your knee journey where ever you are.
They send you home after twelve hours with P.O. Pain meds that are totally inadequate. For the first few days you need IV narcotics, nerve blocks, maybe an epidural? I think I have PTSD from my first week home, and my wife who took care of me is an RN.
Knee replacement surgery used to require a 3-5 day hospital stay with 24 hour nursing care and pain management. Nowadays, you are lucky to spend the night in the hospital and more commonly they send you home the same day. There have been numerous advancements in the surgical techniques and the implant designs, but the pain after this surgery is real. Unfortunately reimbursement (money) drives health care changes. I won't get on my soapbox right now... I am sorry for what you have been going through. I am glad that you have a wife that is an RN and can assist you on this recovery. My advice, just work on bending and straightening the knee every hour that you are awake and to your pain tolerance. Do not let anyone aggressively stretch your knee. You got this!
Thank you! I am NOT going to have knee surgery.
The decision to have surgery is intricate and should not be made lightly. The intent of the video was not to scare you from surgery, but to inform you. I hope you found it helpful and not 'doom and gloom'. Good luck on your knee journey and thank you for watching.
@thegoknee I've been thinking about it for a long time. I have a very beennt Q Angle from an old bicycle accident. It's a Mechanical Disaster but doesn't hurt. I'm 76 and healthy but live alone - nobody to help me. I'll manage.
@@suzannederringer1607 Thanks for providing more context. Sounds like you have a good plan.
@@thegoknee Thanks for your advice!
Doctors never go into all this information.
We are so glad that you found the information helpful.
3 weeks post op. Everything is going good EXCEPT for sleeping. I can't get comfortable enough to sleep. My constant moving in bed is ruining my wife's sleep. I've been staying up all night waiting for her to wake up at 5am. It's become a problem.
Sleep is definitely an issue after surgery. I encourage you to talk to your doctor about whether Melatonin or Tylenol PM or both could help you. Also, many patients tell me that they can't sleep because they think they need to sleep on their backs or in a certain position, however, at 3 weeks post-op, my suggestion is to sleep in whatever position feels best for you. Definitely consult with your PT and your doctor as they may have other suggestions that could help. Keep up the hard work and good luck on your knee journey!