TKR ???????

I had the left knee don't June 12. I get around pretty good but not 100% yet.
Pain is just about all gone. More of a presence, now. Knee still pops. Very little swelling on outside of knee when I walk much. I am being cautious on amount, of walking along with other problems.
Therapy is a must. If they hadn't forced the exercises and walking though pain the first several days, I might not be walking now. The scar tissue forms if you don't move it.
What has to be has to be. I would have much rather been fishing.
Now they tell me my left hip has to be replaced and it was perhaps the cause of the deterioration of my left knee. The Dos knew it long ago but didn't tell me so I could have done something about it and perhaps saved knee replacement.
Just stoke her up with magazines, a tv and visit her often, play cards etc.

emzee wrote:

Chock full o' nuts wrote:
I have some questions for y'all. My 80yo mother recently injured her left knee. It was already in bad shape but after an afternoon of kneeling in the garden, transplanting flowers, her knee is completely shot. The entire joint is bone-on-bone now and she is looking at a TKR sooner rather than later.

Now, Mom is a nurse and I am a nurse. I have had issues with my own knee so I know a good bit about these things but I do not have personal experience with TKR recovery. Mom is a widow who lives alone. None of us kids live near enough to help on an extended basis. Therefore, I have told her that she will probably need to go into rehab, at least for a few weeks, to get back on her feet. Of course, Mom is livid that I even suggested it.

So those of you who are older, did you need in-patient rehab for a few weeks or were you able to manage on your own? How did you manage the pets? Mom has an 80-lb dog and 2 cats. How did you manage to get to and from therapy? How about meals and shopping?

The more I think about this, the more nervous I get about it. Mother is frail. She has several chronic illnesses and really isn't a great candidate for surgery, let alone a major orthopedic surgery. Tell me about your experience, if you don't mind.

Gosh I think she is going to need a lot of help. I can't imagine going through that and coming back home by myself. You are emotional and drained and can be in some pretty bad pain and on top of that having to care for her pets. No way!! Too bad no one can just go stay with her for a few weeks until she gets comfortable. A live in to help would be the best bet. Does she have any nurse friends that could stay with her. Being in her own home would certainly add to her recovery. I wish her and you all the best!!

I believe you are right. I talked with Mom last night. She went camping this week with her big dog and her rollator. It was awful. She is really in a lot of pain and her knee is so swollen she can hardly even get her pants on now. I encouraged her to get in to see her doctor ASAP to at least tap the knee and get another cortisone shot. She wants to try the Orthovisc shots, if she can, but I told her that I think the knee it too far gone. There is no healing when your whole knee is bone on bone.

I think this knee replacement is going to have to happen pretty soon. I don't know how long she can stand the pain. Mom is still insisting that she won't go to rehab, but I don't think she has any concept of how hard her recovery is going to be. I think I'm going to have to go down there and help her when she does come home. Her friends are all in their 80s and 90s. I have a sister out in Washington who could probably come down, as well. If she goes to rehab, I'll go get her doggy and bring him to my house. I don't know what will become of her cats. She only has one friend that she trusts to go into her house, but he would probably do it for her; she is flat out against kenneling the cats.

We have a huge family reunion coming up in July. I am going to encourage Mom to go ahead with the TKR now so she can be mostly recovered by July 2015.

Chock full o' nuts wrote:
I have some questions for y'all. My 80yo mother recently injured her left knee. It was already in bad shape but after an afternoon of kneeling in the garden, transplanting flowers, her knee is completely shot. The entire joint is bone-on-bone now and she is looking at a TKR sooner rather than later.

Now, Mom is a nurse and I am a nurse. I have had issues with my own knee so I know a good bit about these things but I do not have personal experience with TKR recovery. Mom is a widow who lives alone. None of us kids live near enough to help on an extended basis. Therefore, I have told her that she will probably need to go into rehab, at least for a few weeks, to get back on her feet. Of course, Mom is livid that I even suggested it.

So those of you who are older, did you need in-patient rehab for a few weeks or were you able to manage on your own? How did you manage the pets? Mom has an 80-lb dog and 2 cats. How did you manage to get to and from therapy? How about meals and shopping?

The more I think about this, the more nervous I get about it. Mother is frail. She has several chronic illnesses and really isn't a great candidate for surgery, let alone a major orthopedic surgery. Tell me about your experience, if you don't mind.

Gosh I think she is going to need a lot of help. I can't imagine going through that and coming back home by myself. You are emotional and drained and can be in some pretty bad pain and on top of that having to care for her pets. No way!! Too bad no one can just go stay with her for a few weeks until she gets comfortable. A live in to help would be the best bet. Does she have any nurse friends that could stay with her. Being in her own home would certainly add to her recovery. I wish her and you all the best!!

She really needs to go to a rehab location for at least one week, two is better or whatever the surgeon prescribes. Neighbors can take care of her dog and cats and take care of the yard while she's away. You and her should visit several rehab homes before scheduling the TKR to see what one she likes the best, most all of them are fully paid by Medicare. Give them the "smell test" when you visit, does it smell OK and is it cheerful and provide good food too. Get that knee repaired, she can't afford to have a bad knee any longer. I'm glad that I had mine done 3 years ago, have not had any problems since.

I have some questions for y'all. My 80yo mother recently injured her left knee. It was already in bad shape but after an afternoon of kneeling in the garden, transplanting flowers, her knee is completely shot. The entire joint is bone-on-bone now and she is looking at a TKR sooner rather than later.

Now, Mom is a nurse and I am a nurse. I have had issues with my own knee so I know a good bit about these things but I do not have personal experience with TKR recovery. Mom is a widow who lives alone. None of us kids live near enough to help on an extended basis. Therefore, I have told her that she will probably need to go into rehab, at least for a few weeks, to get back on her feet. Of course, Mom is livid that I even suggested it. :R

So those of you who are older, did you need in-patient rehab for a few weeks or were you able to manage on your own? How did you manage the pets? Mom has an 80-lb dog and 2 cats. How did you manage to get to and from therapy? How about meals and shopping?

The more I think about this, the more nervous I get about it. Mother is frail. She has several chronic illnesses and really isn't a great candidate for surgery, let alone a major orthopedic surgery. Tell me about your experience, if you don't mind.

Thanks all,

DICK

I just had my left knee replaced June 30th. Had the right one done 2009 or 2010. I can't knee comfortably for any amount of time. This was one of my biggest worries when getting up from the floor. My doctor said they aren't really meant to be kneeled on.

I waited on this one because I didn't like the thought of not being able to get up if I fell down.

I Googled it and did not get a definitive answer. In any case I wish you all the best in your recovery. Physical therapy and keep that knee going. Bend and stretch every time you think of it.

acker1 wrote:
Just had one knee done, other one in Dec. What kind of limitations can I expect to have such as kneeling, climbing, etc. I like to do as much work on my MH as I can and was wondering how much this will slow me down. Special kneepads? I've read that there are some that inflate but haven't found them yet.

Thanks
DICK

My wife had her first knee replaced in 2011, she had the second one done last week. She took therapy very seriously with the first one, just as she is with this one. When she was released in 2011 she was at 5% extension. She continued a few of the exercises and now that first knee is at 0%.

Prior to having her second knee done last week, she could kneel on the replaced knee without any problems. I insisted on her using my jell knee pads if she was going to be kneeling for more than a few seconds though.

Kneeling can be tough for two reasons: Achieving the max range of motion is required for kneeling also a lot of people do not tolerate the pressure onto the knee.

The clicking and popping is due to the components (tibial and femoral)coming into contact. This can sometimes be due to increase laxity of the ligaments on the side of the knee (collaterals). I've heard some surgeons say that with increase quadriceps strengthening the clicking will minimize. My mother had to have a revision of the tibial component which helped out drastically. I'd still ask the surgeon.

Not only should you shop around for your therapist you should shop around for you MD. Makes a HUGE difference.

Thanks for the replies! Therapy 3 times a week and I do the stuff on the off days. I'm up to 108 degrees when bending the knee and 3 degrees when extending. I fully believe in therapy. Had a plate put in my arm three years ago and have full range of motion. Did the therapy!!
Still curious about kneeling with/without pads while working on vehicle. Any had problems with this?

Thanks
DICK