[Vince C]

For many years I have suffered from arthritis in my knees, particularly the right knee. I suspect that after I retired in 2008 at age 58 (having had arthroscopies in both knees, the left a few years after the right) and once a week took part in or led 10 to 14 mile walks in the Peak District, it did for my right knee.
Covid didn't help. The inactivity seemed to make it worse. However, the discomfort had started post-arthroscopy a few years before that. The advice from NHS specialists was to live with it as long as possible as knee replacements don't last forever. And I was still in my '60s.
I'm 75 next month and though I can get around OK, my mobility is compromised. I can walk without aids but relatively slowly, and it helps to sit down and rest if that is an option. If I do that, I'm OK, But walking more than moderate distances at a time is out of the question without a rest, though very much improved now since the lifestyle changes described below..
So obviously I pursued this through my GP practice, who referred me to my local hospital. I received a confirmation from them that they had me on file, and if I hadn't heard anything by a certain date to phone them. Nothing heard I did that. Reading between the lines of of what i was told - you are not a priority in these tough times in the NHS. You are on the back burner.
A few months later I got a call from the hospital. We have an unexpected cancellation for a consultancy appointment. Can you come in next Monday?
YES I can.
I met the consultant / surgeon and he said "What do you want me to do?"
"Have you read the medical history" I asked.
"You tell me the history" he replied, though I could see my X-rays on his screen, So I told him the history in my own words,
"I want your opinion on a knee replacement" I replied.
"I could do this op but I do not recommend it. The Op would be hard for me to do and the possibility of infection is higher than I would like. You need to lose some weight and go to the gym to strengthen the muscles around the knee and get fitter generally. When would you next like to see me?"
"Let's say, 6 months" I replied.
I could now walk much further - much improved mobility due the weight loss and the gym exercise.
6 months came and went. No recall to see him, and no way to contact him through the hospital system. So I went though my GP practice to give the system a 'kick' to see the consultant again.
I'd lost 3.5 stone and had done nearly a years of one-on-one gym therapy (not cheap!) when I got a second consultancy with the man, That was about 9 months after my first consultancy.
"Congratulations!" he said. "You should write a book on weight loss. It's not easy. We do not just treat de knee" he continued. "We treat the whole person, not just the knee. Is your knee preventing you doing anything you need to do? Is it impacting you life? If you think you can live with it, and if you think you can continue your program of weigh loss and gym exercise, I suggest you do that. Now, when shall we meet again?"
"6 months, But last time we made that appointment nothing happened. I had to pursue it through my GP"
"OK We make that appointment NOW!"
He tapped it into his computer. "If this does nor work.... blame the government!"
It did work
Last week I attended a 3rd consultancy.
I was expecting him to say "keep it up, see you in 6 months (I am still officially obese), but after some preliminaries he said "you have lost weight, you are doing the gym exercises, I think we should do a full knee replacement".
"What is the waiting list?"
"About 3 months" (so October).
"What is the success rate?"
"85% have no problems. 10% have problems which we sort out. 5% wish they had never done it. Now I need an up to date date X-ray (tappety tap on his computer) just across the corridor there"
So I signed the consent documents.
In X-Ray the guy there asked if it was for a knee replacement, by Mr X, the surgeon who had requested the X-Ray.
"it is".
He's the best here, Did mine, no problems.

S0 - has anyone here had a full knee replacement? Is there anything I should ask about? At my age, 75 when it's done, are there any other considerations?
I'm already aware the NHS physio afterwards is a bit limited. I have plans to supplement that.

[PeteSpencer]

Apeing de surgeon ‘s accent is a bit distasteful .

[johnm]

Maybe a bit more translation is in order??

A few months later I got a call from the hospital. We have an unexpected cancellation for a consultancy appointment. Can you come in next Monday?
Aye lad!
I met the consultant / surgeon a big African bloke, and he said "What do you want me to do?"
"Ast tha red t' medical istry" I asked.

[Sir Morley Steven]

Ma in law had one in her seventies, no complications but had to be on rat poison for a few months after.

[johnm]

I have zero experience but folks of similar age tell me that knee is harder than hip, more discomfort and a longer recovery period, but once through that seems to be no issues.

[thegasguy]

Get it done !
You will never look back (unless they accidentally put it in backwards I suppose).
I had it done 3 years ago, full replacement, and it is effectively perfect.

Back to flying in 2 1/2 months; self imposed time frame.

Really push yourself on the rehab, I was told that “the amount it bends afterwards is set in stone after a couple of months -- so pull your finger out and keep it bending a bit more every day. “
Fair warning; that bit bloody well hurts, as is to be expected.
But so does not walking with the missus and the dog ever again, which is where I was.

If it doesn’t bend enough later - you can’t get up from a low chair !, which is no good at all.

Mine now bends exactly the same as the good one and I don’t even think about it - not a single twinge even after a 10 mile walk.

I was 66 at the time by the way.

Good luck.

[PeteSpencer]

My knees are perfect, having never been abused by any kind of sport in their entire 79 years .

[Hooligan]

First asked two years ago. Saw the surgeon on Friday. He reckons to have me on the table for the first within the month. Gulp.

I could do with losing some weight, biggest problem are several insect bites on my knee - "no shorts and try and get those to heal properly..." Reckon the buggers went up me trouser legs on Friday afternoon...

[tr7v8]

I have zero experience but folks of similar age tell me that knee is harder than hip, more discomfort and a longer recovery period, but once through that seems to be no issues.

Wife is an RGN of 3x years. Apparently hips are a dry joint, knees are wet. Hence why lots of successful hips, less with knees. Also accounts for the higher infection rate in knees. I know quite a few who've had knees done. One very successful. Others not so great.
Two things I would say, get physio, pay for it if needed, its not expensive. If given an exercise plan, DO IT to the letter. Both are vast factors in the quality of the outcome.

[Hooligan]

I have zero experience but folks of similar age tell me that knee is harder than hip, more discomfort and a longer recovery period, but once through that seems to be no issues.

Wife is an RGN of 3x years. Apparently hips are a dry joint, knees are wet. Hence why lots of successful hips, less with knees. Also accounts for the higher infection rate in knees. I know quite a few who've had knees done. One very successful. Others not so great.
Two things I would say, get physio, pay for it if needed, its not expensive. If given an exercise plan, DO IT to the letter. Both are vast factors in the quality of the outcome.

Physio I saw a few weeks ago said something about keeping your knees moving generated the fluid that lubricates them - I'm still walking six plus miles a day but it's usually painful. Just off now to take the - hopefully - cooler air.

[TheKentishFledgling]

My next door neighbour had both knees done 10 years or so ago. He didn’t so the exercises as they were “too painful”, despite endless nagging from all who know him. He’s now wheelchair bound, unable to bend his knees at all and frankly a bit of sorry state.

Father in law had one knee done a few years back and confirmed the exercises are bloody painful. The above story was repeated to him numerous times and he persevered. He’s now back on the tennis court three times a week!

[Hooligan]

I had it done 3 years ago, full replacement, and it is effectively perfect.

What was your mobility like immediately afterwards? Live on my own and while I'm not expecting instant miracles, hoping to be able to walk sufficiently well with stick within a couple of days to get to nearby bus stop and so on... happy that I can get by in the house!

[Bill McCarthy]

Doc sidles up to the bedside of a leg amputee and says - “ do you want the good news, or the bad news”
The bad news says the patient.
“Thing is” says the surgeon - “we've cut off the wrong leg”
“FFS” says the patient, “what’s the good news”
“You’re other leg is going to completely recover”

[Peter D]

I had the full monty right knee replacement last Jan aged 65. Struggled for several years with stabbing pains in my knackered knee and was struggling with mobility/walking the dog etc.

Fortunately my op was reasonably successful and am now pain free, can’t bend the knee quite as much as my good leg but can easily get in and out of the PA28 so I’ll take that! Don’t want to kneel down on the new knee as it feels weird and uncomfortable.

Physio appointments a couple of times a week with a daily home exercise programme that is progressively ramped up over the weeks. I bought an exercise bike off eBay (as recommended by the physio) and found this to be the best way of exercising the knee joint. The home physio was so, so boring but is essential in a successful recovery, overall I was lucky and I’m pleased to have had the op.

[Cessna571]

Do whatever the physio actually tells you.
Don’t make up your own, and don’t do extra.

Big issue “I know you said do these 3 times a day, 10 repetitions, so I thought I’d go one better and do 50”

Physio is evidence based, they don’t go and study at University, do their rotations then specialise for nothing.

(Married to a Physio)


(Oh, and if anyone says “I saw a physio once, all they did was give me some exercises”

Don’t get me started… that’s all I’m saying.., don’t get me started)