 Poster: A snowHead
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Talking to somebody in the gym yesterday about knees she was saying she was told she needs a knee replacement and is bone on bone. Previous injuries from horses I believe. She is very active (or was) and really struggling with swelling and pain.
She has been put of having it due to believing it will only last 10yrs (the replacement knee). Is this right? I know they don't last forever but that sounds very short. She is only 57.
She also has a friend recently had one and still really struggling at 3monts post. What is a typical recovery time?
Many thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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3 months is very much early days.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I personally think the current guidelines are wrong.
They try to delay as long as possible so you do not get the same knee replaced twice.
I think giving them out at 50 & replacing at 65 is much better than replacing at 60 & having to replace again when someone is nearer 80.
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The UK/NHS has a history of trying to delay joint replacement surgery, preferring to stick with more conservative treatment to mitigate problems, like just not going skiing. Completely unacceptable of course 
Anyway, even >15 years ago when my wife had hers done the perceived wisdom was that the earlier advice that they'd only last ten years before needing replacement was nonsense. And they were right, it's still fine. She's been using a Ski Mojo to ski for all of that time, mainly because the other knee's also quite damaged, so that may have helped, I guess...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I have just had a knee replacement 7 weeks ago and I am struggling with knee flexion. Basically I can get to 90 degrees without pain and by really gritting my teeth to 100. Still insufficient for cycling. The physio doesn't think it will get much better. The surgeon said that was because I delayed getting the replacement for too long letting scarring build up (I blame Covid). So my advice would be don't delay getting the replacement done.
The 10 year life span may have been in place in the past but now it is 15-20 years https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/surgical-procedures/knee-replacement
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Thanks all. Really appreciate these answers.
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@NickyJ, It’s a good six months before you’re fully recovered.
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@johnE, Persevere and keep icing if it’s swelling. 7 weeks is very early days. I kept notes - it was 5 months before I got max flexion- 140 degrees which is not far off my ‘good’ knee
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@RUGBY PETER, Thanks for those words. it has lifted my spirits somewhat. I will persevere with the elevation and icing. The joint is swolen and warm to touch.
At the moment I'm having a lie down totally exhausted after only a couple hours sawing and spliting logs, a task that before the operation wouldn't have bothered me at all. Oddly, my blood pressure is down and my resting heart beat up (only a little bit).
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If it were my friend, I would tell them to get fixed right away. I had a friend who was “waiting“, and while he was waiting, he got cancer. He died four years later, limping all the while. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Does the amount of exercise and strain the knee is put under affect how long a replacement knee joint lasts?
As for recovery time, mine was 5 or 6 months in before inflammation went and it started to feel OK. Sticking with the rehab exercises, icing and elevation is vital.
Straightening the leg, aiming to lie it flat on the floor, is also important in the early stage, I was told. I found that tougher than flexion.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Scooter in Seattle wrote: |
| If it were my friend, I would tell them to get fixed right away. I had a friend who was “waiting“, and while he was waiting, he got cancer. He died four years later, limping all the while. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. |
The lost of fitness while waiting can be just as much a problem.
For any issue that’s progressing, it’s always better to fix it as early as possible. (except when the risk of the treatment out weighs the impairment).
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There are 3 questions to ask yourself:
1) Are you on permanent pain relief medication
2) Does it keep you awake at night?
3) Does it affect your normal everyday life
If all 3 then then get it done, if not then I would certainly consider putting it off. It is a big, big surgery with a difficult, painful and sometimes a worse outcome than hoped for.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
There are 3 questions to ask yourself:
1) Are you on permanent pain relief medication
2) Does it keep you awake at night?
3) Does it affect your normal everyday life
If all 3 then then get it done, if not then I would certainly consider putting it off. It is a big, big surgery with a difficult, painful and sometimes a worse outcome than hoped for. |
Actually, a lot of people do it even when the answer to all 3 were “no”.
They do it to ski/bike/hike.
(Or I supposed for some “normal everyday life” includes ski/bike/hike).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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In that persons case she could answer yes to all 3 but was still concerned. Will relay all these answers when I next see her. Thanks again
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Poster: A snowHead
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I thought ice was currently out of favour except immediately after injury? RICE is out, now we all like PEACE and LOVE
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If i put a knee replacement in today there is a 85% chance it will last 25Yrs.
That might not be enough for everyone on here, but certainly would for many!
Jonathan Bell
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Jonathan Bell, Good to know. Do the latest ones give a greater angle of movement that they used to? My wife's is now around 15 years old and IIRC the maximum angle was 110-120 degrees, or maybe that was just all she was able to achieve rather than a limitation of the replacement. I'm going to need one in the next years, I'm sure, but have been putting it off perhaps as a result of that - I can currently get both ankles all the way back to my bum, albeit slightly painfully with the 'bad' one, and would really like to not have to sacrifice that, IYSWIM.
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| Quote: |
My wife's is now around 15 years old and IIRC the maximum angle was 110-120 degrees
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I my dreams I would love to get that amount. after 10 weeks of painful rehap I managed 3 degrees from straight and 100 degrees bend for the first time yesterday. I'll keep trying and hope to be able to cycle again.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Chaletbeauroc,
I typically aim to get 120.
Many of my patients get back to skiing on/off piste/touring.
120 allows you do most things without restriction.
It is possible to achieve more flexion but to aim for that it
would tempt making the knee “looser” in flexion which could lead to instability.
The only way to deal with an unstable knee is to revise the whole thing.
So it comes down to choices.
Yes you can have more flexion but there is a slight risk that you end up an unstable.
There was a marketing ploy some years ago for “high flexion “ knees. It was just a marketing strap line and not much more
Jonathan Bell
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| johnE wrote: |
| Quote: |
My wife's is now around 15 years old and IIRC the maximum angle was 110-120 degrees
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I my dreams I would love to get that amount. after 10 weeks of painful rehap I managed 3 degrees from straight and 100 degrees bend for the first time yesterday. I'll keep trying and hope to be able to cycle again. |
Be very vigilant to get swelling down if it is persistent. Ice. Compression sleeve.
Take enough analgesia that you can push the flexion exercises.
If you are not progressing at 3-5 degrees per week talk to surgeon about a manipulation.
Jonathan Bell
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@Jonathan Bell, Thanks. I'm thinking that I'll probably just go for another arthroscopy 'shave' then. Previously had an ACL replacement and open-wedge osteotomy (9 degrees), but there's more osteoarthritis building up on the inner side despite this, I'm pretty sure. Attempts to regenerate cartilage with microfractures during the previous surgery didn't work.
Need to find the time and the required circular tuits to go see a surgeon again. Do I try to get it done before next season? A rhetorical question, of course.
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Arthroscopy is rarely helpful if the knee already arthritic.
I’d be cautious about having it done
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Jonathan Bell, Hmmm. Was reading up a bit about unicompartmental replacement, which might be an option for me, with OA on just one side of the joint. Seems to be less invasive, quicker recovery, less post-op restriction of movement. Anyone here had it done?
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