Total knee replacement

Helps to hear from folks that have survived the procedure. Good luck.

I have had one knee replaced, my wife has had both knees replaced. Before we were discharged from the hospital we had to walk up and down a full flight of stair. On day one the physical therapist had us up and walking, climbing a single step. In every case we were out in less than a week, as I remember 5 days, 4 nights. At home, in our two story house, we went up and down the stairs once a day...coming down in the morning and going up for bed. It is fantastically important to maintain a physical therapy (PT) schedule and work closely with a PT competent coach, even if the coach is not from the hospital but from your local gym. We were back to daily activities in less than 6 weeks. The Docs would not write off on driving for 6 weeks with the right knee (for liability reasons) but we were driving around the 4th week. My wife had one knee replaced approx. 15 years ago, the other 12 years ago, mine was 10 years ago. Our medical group offered home PT weekly, which we augmented with the coach from our local country club. We liked that gym because most guest were old people like us. You will do just fine. You should be able to get into and out of the 5th wheel the day you get home, with a handrail or supporting bar, and perhaps someone to watch your back for safety. Best to you, and Happy Trails.

darsben1 wrote:
I worked with Orthopedic surgeons in the OR for years and saw the people after surgery during follow up visits.
The ones who recovered the quickest where the ones who did the physical therapy EVERY DAY multiple times per day. The ones who did the worst where the ones who just went through the motions on the 2-3 times per week they saw the therapist.
Yes there will be discomfort. That is what the pain pills are for it lessens the discomfort so you can do the therapy.
I saw people back to normal after 6-8 weeks and guys who permanently were worse because they did not do therapy.

This is the way to recover. Tell your therapist while in the hospital what you'll have to deal with at 'home' and they'll work with you. You will be walking and bending that knee within hours of surgery. As stated, it will hurt. However, it won't break. While you're still in the operating room they'll bend that knee farther than you can imagine to make sure it works o.k.

A RV is excellent for recovering from any surgery. There are things to hold on to within easy reach. You won't have room for the walker in the RV and definitely forget about crutches. They're dangerous, especially on steps. If you have a handrail at your outside door that will be a good help. Definitely have someone standing by you when doing the outside steps.

If you have room in your shower, either purchase a shower chair or many senior service kinds of places will lend you one. You'll definitely need a cane.

Best of luck with your surgery and do the physical therapy exercises EVERY day 2-3X/day. It'll be a job but the outcome will be good.

We both had knee replacements and were on the pickleball courts two months later. :)

I have had both knees replaced. My advice is to spend the first month concentrating on getting a good range of motion.

Sure, you can probably climb up stairs much earlier, but you will only be able to get that range of motion back during the first month so use it wisely.

I have to admit, my goal was not to resume RVing but to resume a normal life which, in my case, includes serious skiing (on snow).

Best of luck with the result.

I had both of mine done on the same day. Totally agree that doing the exercises is the 'secret' to the whole thing. They had me up and walking down the hall the afternoon of the surgery. It was 8 years ago and if I remember correctly, we were out in the motorhome in about a month. I was determined, we had places to go and things to see. You will be glad you had it done.

I've had both of my knees done, one in Jauary 09 and one in September 10. In both cases they had me going up and down stairs with a walker before leaving hospital and after 6 sessions with a therapist I was walking with a cane in my home and able to go up and down a flight of stairs. That was two sessions a week for 3 weeks for each knee.
After 5 weeks I was cane free.
Be diligent with your rehab and you will be camping in short order.

Bob Vaughn wrote:
Next week I go under the knife and getting a total knee replacement. I am wondering from some who have done this and have a 5th wheel how long was it before you were able to climb the steps to get into the 5th wheel and up into the bedroom.?

The surgeon and P.T. told me 6 weeks before driving my 6 speed truck. A major factor to your question is how dillengent you will be with your physical therapy program. The operative word is "pain" Your tolerance to pain will be the operative indicator of when you can start doing your normal physical activities. Plan on "icing" your knees 2 or 3 times a day, everyday or as often as the pain dictates. I was probably driving in 3 to 4 weeks but I paid the price in pain. Most people also have the an unrealistic expectation of knee replacement, the knee will never feel or function like it did before surgery. You will just have a "new" range of feelings to learn to recognize and live with. I had both knees done and still play tennis.

While most folks come through a total replacement very well a word of caution...

Find out before your surgery what type of replacement knee they will be putting in and make sure your doctor has you checked for any possible allergic reaction. While rare it does happen and if it happens to you, "totally screwed" doesn't quite describe your situation. :S

Turns out I am allergic to Cobalt and Nickel, both found in the Chromium knee the VA put in. My body was rejecting that knee before I was off of the operating table. After 17 days in the hospital and 6 agonizing months working my butt off in physical therapy, I finally gave up and fired my surgeon ("Oh just keep doing your PT and it will be fine...").

The new surgeon saw the problem immediately and 8 months after the first surgery they cut my leg off a second time, called a "Revision" {Doctor speak for the first one failed}, the second knee is ceramic and I only had to spend 14 days in the hospital this time. The double layer of scar tissue that I will have forever precludes it from working well but it is better than the first one. :M

The key to a successful recovery is to work, work, work your butt off in physical therapy. Expect lots of pain and hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised if it does not come. Ice is your friend and know that "PT" does not stand for "Physical Therapist".... they are "Physical Terrorists!"

:B

DW has had 2 knees and now a shoulder. Since our bedroom is on the second floor of our house, she had to negotiate a full flight of stairs the day she came home from the hospital. Just remember, take it slow and get someone behind you when going up and in front when going down to help with balance. The trick is "Good knee goes to heaven (good leg first going up) and the bad knee goes to ---- (lead with the replaced knee going down). Do all the exercises exactly as they tell you and as many times as they say. Yes, it'll hurt at first, but DW did it and is 100%. Other friends would not do their exercises and can barely get around.

I worked with Orthopedic surgeons in the OR for years and saw the people after surgery during follow up visits.
The ones who recovered the quickest where the ones who did the physical therapy EVERY DAY multiple times per day. The ones who did the worst where the ones who just went through the motions on the 2-3 times per week they saw the therapist.
Yes there will be discomfort. That is what the pain pills are for it lessens the discomfort so you can do the therapy.
I saw people back to normal after 6-8 weeks and guys who permanently were worse because they did not do therapy.