Knee replacement and truck camper

I had a knee replacement about 15 years ago. It has been an almost complete success, with one exception. I lost the ability to ice skate backwards with authority. We have been TC'ing since 2004, for almost 100,000 miles with no problems. Doing the rehab is very important!

At eighty my hockey days are about done, I've left all the knee pain behind and highly recommend the KRS.

I'm only 7 months out on the 2nd TKR. We went out in February for a cabin fever trip a month after the first. 6 weeks after the 2nd, we had a death in the family 1100 miles away. Sometimes I can kneel and crawl on the N/S bed, sometimes it hurts and I have to quickly roll to my behind and scootch instead of crawl on hands and knees to the closet and to settle in. The other thing to remember is to get out every hour or so and move around while you are driving.

I have had 3 knee replacements. The first one was at age 50 and lasted 10 years before it wore out.
Last December, I had both knees replaced at the same time. The only time they give me a problem is when I unload a few hundred sacks of grain or hay and then they are only sore for a day or so.
I have never gone to therapy. One reason is that it would be a 200 mile round trip, another reason is that it is not necessary if you use the new knees.
I live on a 4000 acre ranch and have a lot to do. The only time the knees really hurt is when I bend them to far, they don't bend quite as far as OEM.
The metal in the knee does cause muscle problems when in very cold water and being on you hands and knees on hard surfaces is hard on the tendons.
As far as the camper goes, no problems.

Still on my original Knees, but had to have a total left hip replacement about 3 years ago. DON'T PUT OT OFF ANY LONGER, is all I can say. The lack of pain is sooooooo gooood.
We lived in our TC for about 2 1/2 years while daughter got her life in order. We swapped rooms for about 4 weeks, then back to the TC. My wife had her right done 3 months later. We both love it, now she is going next year for her left, (psoriasis ate away her hip sockets). Now our surgeon is my good buddy.
The big thing is to get to a pool and just gently knees up, walk for about 1 hour every second day to build up the muscles to help with the recovery. You will be laughing after you get them done. My mom had both hers done at 78, and then went to Canada to ride a Harley..go figure.
Good luck.

I had a right full replacement done 15+...maybe actually getting closer to 20 years ago...no issues. Just make sure to ask about the success history from your surgeon and look into what device they intend to use (I remember looking into it once upon a time and even found the surgeon's install instructions for mine on the mfg. website). As every one says...keep up on the PT and you will be amazed.

exhaustipated wrote:
I don't have bad knees but I do have a pinched nerve in my lower back that causes excruciating pain that runs down the left leg to my foot.
This has been going on for almost a year now and trying to get into the camper or hoisting myself up in the cab-over to go to bed is almost impossible. Needless to say it isn't very much fun to try and camp or travel so I haven't been doing much of anything for awhile. I've done everything that the doctors wanted me to do from taking pain medications, epidural shots and now physical therapy to no avail so now I'm waiting to have surgery in the next several weeks. I'm not looking forward to it but this will probably be the answer to my problem. I can't wait to recover so that I can get back to living again and start traveling and camping once more.

Had 2 bulging discs L4/L5 ......lived with it for 10 yrs. Every Doc wanted to remove disc/fuse vertebrae. Everyone I talked with that had it done was not happy with results.
Did PT, did TENS, ate pills.......pain went from lower back down hip across back of knee down shin then numbing/tingling across foot.
Eating Vicodin like candy to get thru 12 hr shift.
Went to a neurologist ......he trimmed discs/reamed bone to relieve pressure in swollen sciatic nerve.

10 stitches and bandaid.
No sitting for 10 days---laying flat or standing/walking OK
No PAIN after surgery...happy dance.

If you haven't -go see neurologist ASAP
Never damage doesn't always heal---muscle control affected

I had a total knee replacement 6 months ago. Still doing the therapy work but there is no problem using the camper. We went truck camping 10 weeks after my surgery. Can't kneel on hard surfaces like the roof yet but I am continuing to improve. I'm pain free walking now. I say go for it. Everyone I talk to says they wish they had done it sooner. -Mark.

I don't have bad knees but I do have a pinched nerve in my lower back that causes excruciating pain that runs down the left leg to my foot.
This has been going on for almost a year now and trying to get into the camper or hoisting myself up in the cab-over to go to bed is almost impossible. Needless to say it isn't very much fun to try and camp or travel so I haven't been doing much of anything for awhile. I've done everything that the doctors wanted me to do from taking pain medications, epidural shots and now physical therapy to no avail so now I'm waiting to have surgery in the next several weeks. I'm not looking forward to it but this will probably be the answer to my problem. I can't wait to recover so that I can get back to living again and start traveling and camping once more.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Good luck.....and hope you do get replacement

I am in the preverbal 'rock & hard place'

Knee worn out but still functional so no replacement option at this time...saw orthopedic this AM with decision.
Cortisone shot for now.

I am so tired of the pain ....really was looking forward to new knee.

Wishing you better news come Dec.
Good Luck!


Oh I don't have a TC

I had a cortisone injection in both knees before I left 5 months ago due to meniscus tears in both knees. Surgeon said wear and tear on my 57 year old knees.. Pretty much pain free since.. Not a cure but hold off surgery for awhile.

No knee replacement here but I almost fell climbing out of the bed the first time I slept in it. :B

Good luck on your knee replacement. I been told that they almost have it down as an out-patient procedure.