Knee replacement

[Hickok]

Going on 63, I am soon having knee replacement surgery on both knees, the left, and then if all goes well, the right.

Did all the preliminaries, tried arthritis pills, then therapy, got all the xrays and tests, and Doc says knees are bone to bone, nothing left to clean up or repair. They found that I had previously torn both calf muscles in times past, had ligament damage to both knees, and a lot of scar tissue in the knees. High school basketball, motorcycle wrecks, and working in the coal fields for over 44 years has used up my knees. (Plus other parts of my body!)

Not complaining,:violin: but the knees are painful day and night. Feel like someone hit me in the knee cap with a ball-peen hammer! When they are not thumping, then they are burning.:groner:

Any one else with experience, words of wisdom, etc., about knee replacement?:bigsmyl2:

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Me personally no.
My Mom had both knees replaced in the late 80s.
Two different close friends have had both knees replaced in the last year...both are very happy campers.
They did what the Doc says and be sure to do your physical therapy as prescribed, you should be happy as well.
good Luck.

[poppy42]

I had my right knee replaced in 2008. I was 51 at the time. Before I could not walk to the bathroom without a cane! Know no cane at all. My knee was shot ( not literally ) bone on bone since I was 19 when I had my first surgery. I had to sleep with a pillow between my knees to get any sleep at all. I’m not going to sugar coat anything. The surgery is a *****! Along with the rehab. But there is definitely a lite at the end of the tunnel. Do the rehab! Every bit of it and more. You’ll be glad you did. If you ever need/want to talk to someone who’s been through it feel free to pm me.
You’ll do fine
Best of luck
Poppy42

[GOPHER SLAYER]

Two of my brothers had knee replacements. One of them had no problems but the other had to have his redone because of infection. He spent six months in a VA hospital. After that the doctors felt they had cured the infection they did the job again, they had
not cured the infection and now he has to take antibiotics each day for the rest of his life. If you can avoid hit, don't let the VA do the job.

[umwminer]

Had the R one replaced 6 yrs ago . Getting the L one replaced first week in March .
Not looking forward to another replacement surgery , as poppy42 says , the recovery/therapy is rugged BUT 2 months after the first one was done I kept asking myself why I had waited so long .
You get your mobility back and the pain is a memory .

[DCP]

Right knee replaced 2008. Do your exercises. Before and after surgery. Find a warm water pool it makes all the difference in the world. Send me a PM with your phone # We should talk. Need left done now.

[GEOMETRIC]

I think about 5 years ago, I had the left one replaced by the VA but the doctor was from MUSC (Medical University of SC). I am 71 now. I have one replacement & the other one isn't worth a ****. It was obvious that without the replacement I could not continue working.
I have difficulty getting up if sitting on the ground but the good news is I can go pretty good once on my feet. I was surveying a rural track of land recently when the lady I was working for asked me, "how many miles do you walk in a day?"

[johnho]

I had my R knee replaced about 3 and a half years ago. About 3 months before the operation I joined a gym and exercised religiously 3 times a week on both knees hard. I think it made a big difference during rehab. I had no problems and almost no pain after I got home, only took one pain pill. That's not to say it didn't hurt if I did something to cause it but just being still-no pain. Rehap is another story but that's what it takes. My brother in law just got his done and did no exercises. He's been in terrible pain since. Is there a relationship? Have no idea but I think it really helped. No matter what you experience you will be very happy afterwards. Just watch those pain pills.

[PB234]

Prepare for the recovery time before you get the operation. Make lots of food that can be reheated easily or eaten with almost no preparation before and you will be able to eat well when you get home. You will need a seat in your shower and probably a handicap riser for the toilet. You may need lots of ice to ice down the knee. Get some books or be ready to watch a bunch of TV. You will need a person to help you recover like even getting the ice in place and helping you around the first bit of time.

Do the rehab like your future depends on it. Be careful not to get too reliant on pain pills.

It will make your life better after you are done with the rehab and are back to enjoying/being able to walk.

If you have questions PM me.

[buckwheatpaul]

Me no....but my better half is suffering from it....just had her ankle replaced.....and sometime this year her knee.....you do have my prayers for comfort and healing.....Paul

Everyone I know had a great success story and were glad that it was done and overwork....one of the HAWKS had both of his done at the same time and he is doing great....

[Hickory]

Yes, do your exercises. You're going to have pain, but it's a good pain, because unlike what you have now, pain that will only get worse with each passing day, this pain will get better.
So, do your exercises, endure the pain and eventually it will disappear and your knees will feel as if you never had anything wrong with them.
The stationary bicycle is and will be your best friend.

[jdfoxinc]

Trying to lose weight so Docs will do surgery. My current doc says BMI of 39. Thats 150+- lb weight loss. Ortho hospital attached to St Anthonys here in Denvse says max BMI of 50. Thats 50 lb +-. My problem is that every time i fall, jump, leap off of the low carb wagon i regain what ive lost.

[jsizemore]

My sister got hers done a couple years ago. She did the PT exactly and no extra. Her recovery was right on time and she does as much as she wants to on it. Fella that rents some pasture on the farm did a bunch too much and ended up with infection from trying to tend to his horses. It increased his recovery by a year. He had to have his shoulder replacement done twice from doing too much too soon.

[nicholst55]

You may want to shop around for a surgeon, if you're not comfortable with the one you currently have. I lucked out and got a good, experienced one the first draw. Listen to the doc and the therapist, DO THE EXERCISES, even after therapy stops. They'll have you out of bed walking later the same day of surgery, which isn't terribly pleasant. Suck it up, and get on with rehabilitation. Do more than the minimum number of reps, and you'll finish with therapy faster.

[10x]

Start a physio program now to increase the strength of both knees . The stronger your muscles before surgery, the easier and faster the recovery post surgery
It took me 6 months of post surgery physio to become confident. A good execise phsýio prgram prior to surgey would have shorted that

[earlmck]

"Watch out for the pain pills" isn't enough info. It's not addiction you need to watch out for -- it is CONSTIPATION. Dang near died of terminal constipation after the first knee replacement about 3 years ago. Was much smarter by the second which was a couple months later. Stool softeners, laxatives, and get ahead and stay ahead of it.

The epoxy-on parts used now are not as invasive as the hammer-in parts they used to use, so recovery is faster now than it was a few years ago and infection maybe a bit less danger. If you are in shape ahead of time it is a big plus in the rehab department.

And something they don't tell you is that it takes a lot longer to get back to full strength than you'd expect. Sure, you'll be walking around the neighborhood just fine in a few weeks. But up and down the hills if you are hunting may take a couple of years. I was disappointed in my knees the first hunting season about 6 and 8 months after the knees were replaced but by the second season I was doing well. And this year I am back to normal for up and down hills (and ladders). Another thing they don't tell you is you'll never be able to squat to poop like you used to do. The fake knees just don't bend that far.

The new ones aren't as good as the old ones used to be. But the new ones sure beat what the old ones had become!

[MaryB]

I am facing this soon... 2 years ago the ortho doc told me to walk on it until you can't stand the pain any longer... cartilage is shredded, torn ACL both knees... right knee is the one giving me the most grief and it hurts constantly now... weather changes really suck too!

[knifemaker]

My wife had a knee replacement about 5 years ago. She is going in for the other knee this month. Her recovery rate was so fast and good on the first one that the doctor said she should be his poster child for knee replacement. Her advice is to do the rehab exercise every day as required even if it is painful. The more you exercise the knee, the better it will get and less painful as the weeks go by.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

Based on what I have heard from people who had both kinds, it is about as unpleasant as hip replacement, but there is less trouble getting about afterwards, and far less danger of doing serious damage by a fall. There is a lot to be said for getting one done at a time, if you are offered that option.

My wife had two hip replacements done, a necessity inherited from her Afrika Korps father. Only after Hip 2 did they realise, or think to tell her, that what she had inherited from him were shallow hip-joint sockets, rather than poor joint quality. That greatly reduces the chances that it will go on and on elsewhere, until she is replaced all over.

[Taylor]

Had my left knee done last April. As soon as I woke up,the therapist was there. Get up,let's go.She walked me up and down the hallway. The first month....sucks, no other word describes it. The therapist came to my house everyday for a month and then I started going out to pt. I was given a cane,walker, a thing to go on the toilet seat ( best gizmo ever invented) and a machine that bends your knee along with a ice machine with a pad for the knee. They took the bending machine back, bit I got to keep all the other things. The ice pad, I'm trying to figger out out to plug it into my truck as a small fridge. After I finished all of my therapy,which was July, I took a motorcycle ride..1200 miles! I made a scabbard to tie off my cane to the bike. And then deer season came along,like night and day from the last one. I am about 10 months into it now. You know that it ain't natural, but it is solid.Still can predict rain and it will ache something awful.Which it did anyway. I made a good decision,you may doubt this the first month.But this has also helped my back and hip pain by straightening and aligning my skeletal system. In july 1981 I broke/almost destroyed both legs and back during a helicopter repel. That cost 6 months in an army hospital. I think you may be pleased with the results. I did have a good doctor.
213344213345This one is 2 years after the initial injuries.

[farmerjim]

I had both knees replaced at the same time 5 years ago. Done in the afternoon, they had me up and walking at 8 the next morning.Out of the hospital in 3 days.
Home therapy for a month, then drove to rehab 3 times a week. Do the rehab, it is painful, but if you don't you will never walk correctly. The worst part is the knee bending for range of motion. They must do this to break up the scar tissue.
I took 1 1/2 10-325 percocet before they bent my knees back, and they could still hear me scream a mile away.
Be sure to get a surgeon that has done hundreds if not thousands of knee replacements and have it done at a hospital that has a joint replacement ward.
Artificial knees are not as good as the ones God gave us, but they are not bad at all. If you are in good shape, have them both done at the same time. There is only one recovery period. You should be able to walk around the house without help in a few days. You will need a high rise toilet seat to be able to get on and off the toilet for a few months. Also elevate the bed so that you can slip off to standing. I slept in an elevated recliner and could just rock forward to standing. After a couple of months, you won't need them. Stairs will need to be climbed and descended one step at a time , or with a handrail for 6 months to a year.
I know many others that have knee replacements. Everybody is different, I am about the average. None are not happy with their new knees.
I agree with all the advice given above.
Don't worry about it, The knees and doctors are much better than a few years ago.

[winelover]

November of 2015, I had the right knee replaced. Wasn't as bad as most make it out to be. In fact, I went and had the left one done, four months later, right after I finished the therapy on the right knee. I filled the first pain prescription and still had more than enough left for the second replacement. Both times they released me from the hospital, a day and a half, after the surgery.

Biggest PITA was the "Iron Maiden".....knee bending contraption they brought out to the house, for unsupervised use. Strapped to it, four hours per day for three weeks. Each session, striving to increase the amount of deflection till you bottom it out at 135 degrees. Not all orthopedic surgeons use this procedure.

Two weeks after surgery is when the therapy starts. My surgeon has his own therapy department, right next door to his office. One on one with a therapist, three days a week for two and a half months. Was a piece of cake, IMO. I've always been pretty active and only about twenty pounds over weight. Surgeon told me that he dislikes doing surgery on obese patients. Harder for him and them.

All in all, everything went well. Would do it again, if need be. However, don't expect them to be as good as OEM equipment. Mine are pretty comfortable during the warm months, acting up, only during the cold and humid months. The left one, more so, than the right.

Good luck with your procedure.

Winelover

[opos]

Had a serious accident in 1972..had the "terrible triad" which is the injury that took Gayle Sayers out of football...blown ACL, blown Medial collateral ligament, blown medial meniscus...also shattered patella. There were no real good knee replacements back then so had a procedure called a Slocum procedure which is about the same as battle field surgery...pull up everything that isn't hooked to something else and tie it all together....2 years of "get well"...I carried that mess for the next 35 years...looked like "half a cowboy" with one leg straight and the other bowed way out....Finally it began to dislocate on it's own and time was right for a replacement .... I was just 70 when I had it done..

I knew the value of P/T before and after the surgery so just planned on that as being my "life style" for a while...Had the surgery by a seasoned old pro in knee reconsruction...he said the removal of scar tissue and "junk" took about 1 1/2 hours...then fitting the knee was a long and trying process because I'd just "ground on it" for so many years...but all got done and recovery began...I had a good recovery process and because I'd been through the massive p/t with the prior surgery I got along fine...I could have shed the cane at about 3 months or so but kept it to fend off kids and folks in crowds...The let me drive at about 3 months. It's no God knee but I'm way past 90 degrees (I was not even close before the replacement) and I don't get pain or stiffness except once in a great while...I seldom even think about the knee being a phony...I was told the worst thing would be the first time I fell with the artificial knee...Thank God I'm not a faller...I have not fallen with it at all since 2006 when it was done...but banging it into something solid can hurt like the dickens.

Because of the prior injury and some things the doc had to do I've been in a "study" for the whole time....that ends this fall...the result is perfect for what he did and frankly I was about to just go sit in a chair and not deal with the problems..man that would have been a mistake...it's been wonderful.

Best of luck...every day gets a little better and the result is well worth it all.

213349

[Beau Cassidy]

As a general rule every day for the first 2 or 3 months you will regret having it done but if it affects your quality of life such as sleep and mobility it is time to put a new one in. Part of the delay in healing is the need to split and cut a lot of the quadriceps tendon to get to the actual knee. The kneecap is actually turned upside down when doing a knee replacement. Think of knee replacement as a resurfacing procedure.

There are a lot of cutting blocks utilized to make the correct cuts. Everything is sized to your bone as well. Cement is placed on the components (it smells like super glue) and they are hammered on to the ends of the bone. The components are made of cobalt chrome and are non-ferrous. You would be surprised at how much they weigh.

Decreased knee flexion is the limitation is the limitation of the component. Any more than about 120 degrees and the knee would dislocate.

I might do this for a living.

[white eagle]

I might be the odd ball in the group but I would not do it again if I could
had both knees replaced 2 years ago it was and is one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made
pain every day can't hunt,walking up and down grade is killer,can't do any heavy lifting,feel it in my knee's,up and down stairs is very painful
now I may be the exception because i had my hip resurfaced and have had ongoing pain as a result I just may be one of those who can not have metal in my body and react to it
not complaining just offering up my experiences with it

[Hickok]

Thanks friends for all the replies and relating your own experiences.

I am fortunate in that I will have a surgeon from WVU Med Center that specialize on working on athletes with knee injuries. In fact, the WVU stadium is in throwing distance of the hospital.

I really want to get the knees fixed soon, as spring is coming, and the road will be calling for my motorcycle!

One thing that did concern me, the surgeon said they would do a spinal block and I would be awake during the process. Sounds about like 1864 and having a leg removed after taking a Minie ball through the knee!

I realize I will be numb, but I really don't want to be aware of someone sawing my bones.

[DCP]

Thanks friends for all the replies and relating your own experiences.

I am fortunate in that I will have a surgeon from WVU Med Center that specialize on working on athletes with knee injuries. In fact, the WVU stadium is in throwing distance of the hospital.

I really want to get the knees fixed soon, as spring is coming, and the road will be calling for my motorcycle!

One thing that did concern me, the surgeon said they would do a spinal block and I would be awake during the process. Sounds about like 1864 and having a leg removed after taking a Minie ball through the knee!

I realize I will be numb, but I really don't want to be aware of someone sawing my bones.

Holy smoke never heard of such a thing! I would think you would be sedated.

[farmerjim]

"One thing that did concern me, the surgeon said they would do a spinal block and I would be awake during the process. Sounds about like 1864 and having a leg removed after taking a Minie ball through the knee!

I realize I will be numb, but I really don't want to be aware of someone sawing my bones."

They should be able to give you conscious sedation with the block. You are out, but not like a general anesthetic. I have had the arthroscopic knee surgery with just a local and got to see the complete procedure with the surgeon explaining what he was doing. It was only 20 minutes long.
The knee replacement is too long to have you awake the whole time

[white eagle]

had the spinal block
you are out like a light
my problem was arthritis in my back had to poke me 5 times before it worked

[Hickory]

I had the spinal block also. When I woke up, my leg was in a machine and it was working it back and forth without any pain
They did this for 15 minutes every hour. After two days they removed the spinal block and had me on my feet walking.
The real hard pain didn't show up for another two days, but it was nothing I couldn't man up to without pain medicine.
In 6-7 weeks after surgery you'll ditch the cripple stick and will be thinking that it was one of the best things you ever had done in your life.

[poppy42]

Thanks friends for all the replies and relating your own experiences.

I am fortunate in that I will have a surgeon from WVU Med Center that specialize on working on athletes with knee injuries. In fact, the WVU stadium is in throwing distance of the hospital.

I really want to get the knees fixed soon, as spring is coming, and the road will be calling for my motorcycle!

One thing that did concern me, the surgeon said they would do a spinal block and I would be awake during the process. Sounds about like 1864 and having a leg removed after taking a Minie ball through the knee!

I realize I will be numb, but I really don't want to be aware of someone sawing my bones.
They wanted to do a spinal block on me. I’ve also had multiple back Surgeries. I am fused at 3 levels. I told the anesthesiologist in know certain terms that under no circumstances would I allow a spinal block. No problem! Out I was. As a side note if you do opt for the block you might’ve awake, technically , but you be heavily sedated. Versed is your best friend. It’s one of those rip my arms off and beat me to death with them and I really won’t care kind of drugs. When I woke up from surgery my right leg was in constant motion device that flexed my knee every 30 minutes. I was up and walking with the aid of crutches the next morning and left the hospital the following morning after that. Mine was a total replacement. They wanted me to check into a rehab facility for two weeks. I don’t do well in situations like that and would much rather rehab at home for others it’s the only way to go. They would not let me go home until I could manage stairs. The second day after surgery I informed the doctor I was ready for the stairs he laughed and said OK let’s see what you can do. When I transverse them he shook his head and signed the discharge papers. As I stated earlier I went home to days postop. As I said earlier it ain’t no walk in the park but as I said I have no regrets. No one who I don’t choose to one form has any idea that my knee has been replaced. I attribute that in part to a good surgeon but mostly to my strong will and frame of mind . You must endure some discomfort at first but my case it has been more than worth it. For my back fusion I was in a plastic corset for year . The recovery for my knee replacement was over in six weeks .

[Rick Hodges]

My brother had both done at the same time...sent a month rehabbing in a nursing home. I know of many who have had it done....do every single bit of rehab or you will pay for it forever. Those who have trouble that I know were nonchalant about the rehab exercises and lost significant mobility.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

I had a biopsy taken from my arm once, for what turned out to be myasthenia, and absolutely the pick of the major nervous illnesses if you could choose. They used a local anaesthetic and put up a screen, and I would much rather have watched. It wasn't pain exactly, but felt like about half an arm's worth of excavation, and I would have been better off knowing it was only about a quarter cc. of me.

We can complain, with justification at times, about doctors and medical insurance. But this thread underlines that they can perform miracles, and will someday perform miracles beyond the present-day imagination. I tell my wife that she will be far more interesting to the archaeologists of future millennia than I will - at distinction she doesn't appreciate as she should, in my opinion. Probably they will be amazed to think of a time when we couldn't 3D print the thing in place without breaking the skin.

[poppy42]

Not sure in the hijack this thread or anything as I know how important it is to the OP to get useful information. but as another sidenote my surgeon got paid less than $1000 to replace my knee! That’s what he had to except from the insurance company. **** hospital got over 20,000 but my surgeon got paid less than 1000. You’re lucky if you can have your car tuned up that kind of money! So don’t anybody trying tell me that the insurance companies aren’t running medicine today. My wife is been in the medical field for 33 of the 35 years we’ve been married and it’s not the doctors getting rich. What with malpractice insurance and possibility of being sued because we all know everyone in America is Sue happy today. The only ones getting Rich in the medical field all the insurance companies and drug manufacturers. there are exceptions to the rule but for the most part Doctors become doctors because they truly want to help people. So next time you find yourself in the care of an excellent physician or surgeon thank him for his service to us. Sorry about the soapbox rant. once again OP good luck with your surgery you’ll be fine!

[EDG]

I was an knee and shoulder joint implant engineer and manager for a decade. Not every surgeon does enough knees to get really proficient. Many saw bones only do a few knees a month. A good surgeon might do 50 or 60 a month.
The most important info I can pass on is don't jump or run. Bone cement is only considered to last 7 years.
Work long and hard on the physical therapy to get your strength and range of motion back.

Never ever squat like the Japanese gardeners. Don't get down on your knees either. The patella is easy to damage and causes a lot of joint surgeries.

I have seen a lot of radiographs of arthritic knees. A bad knee stinks like a 2 year old basketball shoe.

The replacements are never as good as OEM equipment so be careful on stairs, ladders and standing up from a chair or toilet.
When you stand your patella tendon does most of the work to keep your femur from shooting forward off the top of your tibia.

Get a fully itemized bill for your surgery. I had a very minor miniscus trim in 2009. I got the itemized bill because of my knee engineering background.
I found $13,000 in bogus charges on a $33,000 surgery bill. The hospital tried to charge me for 11 bone screws and 2 cadaver grafts when none are used in that procedure.

[Hickok]

You all are outstanding for relating your experiences, and I do appreciate it greatly.

Now, I am really at ease about the spinal block and being "lights out" during the procedure.:bigsmyl2:

I have been doing the same workout I was given during physical therapy, legs weights and all. The therapists told me to keep it up as it would be of a benefit later.

Funny, when the therapist girl told me my therapy was up, and there was nothing they could do, I told them all goodby, and thanks for the help. She grinned and said, "You'll be back, we will see you again when you get your new knees."[smilie=s:

[opos]

Because of the potential for a lenghty surgery when they did mine they did both a block and a general...reasoning was that should the block wear off they would not want to try and re block me and on the other hand should the general wear off they would not want to deal with me without the block in place...the block was quite an experience....they took me into the operating theater..man was it cold...then had me sit on a tall table...the doc said he wanted me to lean forward and that I would feel the block and I had to be absolutely still...there was a young woman standing in front of me and her job was to grab me and hold me should I begin to fight...I'm 6'2 and 260# and back then I was very strong...she was about 5'4' and maybe 120...I mentioned this to the doc and he said when he got done with my little cocktail before the block she would be able to handle me with one hand...I didn't move...didn't care for the feeling but ok and it all worked.

I had a very nasty surprise....at the end of the surgery they gave me a big dose of morphine so that when I woke up I'd have some comfort for the next 12 hours or so since my surgery was major from all the prior mess and scar tissue in there, and there would be some pain involved...they hit me with a train load of morphine and it just didn't knock the pain down...it got worse and worse and they kept upping the morphine until I was flopping around like some meth head in the ghetto....but hurting worse and worse....it turns out I do not react to morphine as far as pain is concerned...they switched meds and took the edge right off and I was fine then..in fact my pain meds for rehab was mostly Extra strength Tylanol...

[MaryB]

There is no way I could do a couple weeks in any bed but my own. I do not sleep in strange places. 3 in patient surgeries so far and the nurses were always amazed I was awake at 4AM...

[starbits]

2 years ago the ortho doc told me to walk on it until you can't stand the pain any longer... cartilage is shredded, torn ACL both knees

A knee replacement fixes the bone on bone problem, but does very little to nothing to fix the soft tissue damage. The longer you walk on a bad knee the more the soft tissues in the knee area change to compensate for the bad knee. Bone spurs will grow which may or may not be removed during surgery. The longer you wait the harder rehab is because you not only have to fix the damage the surgeon did, but also correct the soft tissue damage from years of walking on a bum knee. Waiting causes more problems than it solves.

Hickok, I had both knees done 6 years ago, 3 days apart. Highly recommend doing it that way if you can because you only have to rehab once. I have known people who did one knee and never had the other one done because they didn't want to to go through the whole thing again. I am very glad I had it done. Stopped the narcotics the day I got home, but wound up taking sleeping pills for a month afterword to get to sleep at night. Wound up driving again the first time 3 weeks after surgery.

Starbits

[ARKLITE881South]

I had a spinal block with my hip. Believe me, you will not be awake. I was in and out of surgery in 2.5 hrs, and it took me another 3 to wake up. I didn't want to wake, up, it felt so good. It was like i was suspended in a vat of warm oil. Like i was floating, i kept hearing them call my name, but, i didn't want to leave that feeling. Finally i had to give in. And, the block took perfectly, i felt a little sting, or a pinch, my feet started warming up, by the time it got to my knee's, and i said, ''its almost to my thei, and thats all the farther i got. I was laughing through the whole spinal block procedure, prior to me going under. The Dr said, ''whats so funny'', i replied, this feels soooooo good, they just shook their heads and out i went.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

Not sure in the hijack this thread or anything as I know how important it is to the OP to get useful information. but as another sidenote my surgeon got paid less than $1000 to replace my knee! That’s what he had to except from the insurance company. **** hospital got over 20,000 but my surgeon got paid less than 1000. You’re lucky if you can have your car tuned up that kind of money! So don’t anybody trying tell me that the insurance companies aren’t running medicine today. My wife is been in the medical field for 33 of the 35 years we’ve been married and it’s not the doctors getting rich. What with malpractice insurance and possibility of being sued because we all know everyone in America is Sue happy today. The only ones getting Rich in the medical field all the insurance companies and drug manufacturers. there are exceptions to the rule but for the most part Doctors become doctors because they truly want to help people. So next time you find yourself in the care of an excellent physician or surgeon thank him for his service to us. Sorry about the soapbox rant. once again OP good luck with your surgery you’ll be fine!

The garage bill included the rest of the team, the parts department, light heat, rent, taxes and a small slice of the tooling, and can be fairly compared with the $20,000. Did that surgeon do two hips a day and get paid holidays? There foes $104,000. He may also be on a scale that pays him the same for whipping out a few tonsils or ingrown toenails.

Doctors run the full scale from profiteering to selflessly dedicated, leisurely to brutally overworked, rich to just slightly enviable by most of us. The burden of study has increased hugely since Sherlock Holmes's Dr. Watson. But the certainty of permanent full-time work unless they get caugatioht bending has to be factored in.

Commercial insurance may be another matter. When I was working abroad I voluntarily paid National Insurance on a reduced scale which paid for little but eligibility for the government's own National Health Service (though nobody actually checked, and they wouldn't check if you had a non-pre-existing accident on vacation there.) It was laughably small, just a few pounds a month, and although the government pays more from other taxes, that is mostly on capital projects. The NHS is currently in crisis. Indeed I can never recall it being out of crisis. You could face long delays or arguments if treatment was just about comfort, or psychological complications from the shape of your nose. But on the rare occasions I really needed treatment, it was done as well as you could ever get by paying for it - and as it happened, by leaders in the relevant research.

My wife's experience for Hip 2 was interesting. A company built a huge private hospital, and got into financial trouble just before the startup. So the government, fearing large numbers of casualties in the Iraq war, bought it at a substantial discount. The war failed to fulfil its quota in casualties, so my wife got a private room with a river view and TV, and some of the most advanced facilities anywhere. She had her operation at 10.00, and at 2.00 I got a phone call from her, with a sandwich in her hand.

The question has to be where the money put into private medical insurance, either voluntary or from their buying a slice of the public, is going. for. Hospital costs aren't just a business expense they would like to keep down. They are a commodity they can sell on a cost plus basis. Still, I doubt if many people in threads like this are buying shares in medical insurance companies. Top management's salaries and bonuses probably have a lot to answer for.

[EDG]

Your perception of doctors is quite mistaken based on my work and personal experience. Your example of a doctor only making $1000 for a surgery is based upon a choice that he negotiated with the insurance group. He got paid $1000 for maybe 1 hours work. Multiply that times 20 to 30 hours a week. Now who is getting rich? My employer had a designing surgeon for knee implants who often did 3 bi-lateral (both knees of one patient) surgeries in a morning of work. That is 6 knees. He did hundreds a year. He was so wealthy that he used his limo as his office. While being driven to work and to home he conducted all his business, phone calls and read his mail.
I know of a cardiologist that stops by your room to check on you after he puts a stent in your heart. For that 15 minute visit you get a $1000 bill. Doctors are no different than the rest of the population. If you stop paying them they stop showing up for work.


Not sure in the hijack this thread or anything as I know how important it is to the OP to get useful information. but as another sidenote my surgeon got paid less than $1000 to replace my knee! That’s what he had to except from the insurance company. **** hospital got over 20,000 but my surgeon got paid less than 1000. You’re lucky if you can have your car tuned up that kind of money! So don’t anybody trying tell me that the insurance companies aren’t running medicine today. My wife is been in the medical field for 33 of the 35 years we’ve been married and it’s not the doctors getting rich. What with malpractice insurance and possibility of being sued because we all know everyone in America is Sue happy today. The only ones getting Rich in the medical field all the insurance companies and drug manufacturers. there are exceptions to the rule but for the most part Doctors become doctors because they truly want to help people. So next time you find yourself in the care of an excellent physician or surgeon thank him for his service to us. Sorry about the soapbox rant. once again OP good luck with your surgery you’ll be fine!

[MaryB]

My neurosurgeon had a hospital wing built just for him and his patients. 1 nurse per 2 rooms, every room is private with full amenities like a 32 inch LCD flatscreen TV, free phone service, in room fridge they will stock with whatever you like(I had V8 and coke in mine)... he does very good work and is so busy the wing paid for itself in 2 years. And he is not that expensive. My neck fusions was $37k total with everything added in, room, his fee, his assistants fees, anesthesia... He has created a name as one of Minnesota's best neurosurgeons and it is paying off with 2-4 surgeries a day plus out patient procedures like back injections.


The garage bill included the rest of the team, the parts department, light heat, rent, taxes and a small slice of the tooling, and can be fairly compared with the $20,000. Did that surgeon do two hips a day and get paid holidays? There foes $104,000. He may also be on a scale that pays him the same for whipping out a few tonsils or ingrown toenails.

Doctors run the full scale from profiteering to selflessly dedicated, leisurely to brutally overworked, rich to just slightly enviable by most of us. The burden of study has increased hugely since Sherlock Holmes's Dr. Watson. But the certainty of permanent full-time work unless they get caugatioht bending has to be factored in.

Commercial insurance may be another matter. When I was working abroad I voluntarily paid National Insurance on a reduced scale which paid for little but eligibility for the government's own National Health Service (though nobody actually checked, and they wouldn't check if you had a non-pre-existing accident on vacation there.) It was laughably small, just a few pounds a month, and although the government pays more from other taxes, that is mostly on capital projects. The NHS is currently in crisis. Indeed I can never recall it being out of crisis. You could face long delays or arguments if treatment was just about comfort, or psychological complications from the shape of your nose. But on the rare occasions I really needed treatment, it was done as well as you could ever get by paying for it - and as it happened, by leaders in the relevant research.

My wife's experience for Hip 2 was interesting. A company built a huge private hospital, and got into financial trouble just before the startup. So the government, fearing large numbers of casualties in the Iraq war, bought it at a substantial discount. The war failed to fulfil its quota in casualties, so my wife got a private room with a river view and TV, and some of the most advanced facilities anywhere. She had her operation at 10.00, and at 2.00 I got a phone call from her, with a sandwich in her hand.

The question has to be where the money put into private medical insurance, either voluntary or from their buying a slice of the public, is going. for. Hospital costs aren't just a business expense they would like to keep down. They are a commodity they can sell on a cost plus basis. Still, I doubt if many people in threads like this are buying shares in medical insurance companies. Top management's salaries and bonuses probably have a lot to answer for.

[Lloyd Smale]

no knee replacement but have had an ankle and hip replacement and have to say although all the pain isn't gone the little bit of stiffness and soreness is minor compared to what it used to be.

[EDG]

One thing I forgot to mention is a lot depends on the quality of patient you are. Rather it is really the quality of your bones and soft tissue in the damaged joint.

There was an early implant surgeon in the UK named John Charnley. His hip implant design was one of the first in use and compared to modern implant designs it was pretty poor. Yet he had a spectacular rate of success in his surgeries. He was very careful and selective when choosing his patients. Those patients with the best quality bone were chosen and he had excellent results using a crude implant that looked like a railroad spike with a ball welded on top.

If you get an implant and you have poor bone quality don't blame all problems on the surgeon. Some people are just poor patients. Some of the worst patients are 5 ft tall 250 small framed women with osteoporosis. Their bones are tiny and poor quality. Their bones are badly overloaded due to obesity. They are likely not very active, not very strong and may be clumsy and subject to falling. Some patients will not work at rehab and never get back on their feet and back to normal activities. These people let a bad joint get them down and they never get back up. They often die prematurely.

Those patients are not difficult to spot in radiographs. They will have tiny chicken leg bones but the thighs look like they are from an NFL lineman.

[Col4570]

I had both done in 2005,six months between operations.I was in poor condition prior to the ops and could not have run away even if the Hobbs of Hell where chasing me.Since then I have never looked back and it has made me a new man.I would recommend having replacement knees to improve your quality of life.Initialy after the ops you have some discomfort for a couple of months just stick with it the light is at the end of the Tunnel.Make sure you walk a lot to build up Tissue around the wound.
P,S I am an old guy aged 81 and still walking good Fingers crossed.

[Echo]

I had my left knee done about 5 years ago, and had no problems - and still have no problems. It clicks, but the environment must be dead quiet for it to be heard. I heard the the Doc and his helper only spent 20-25 minutes, leaving the opening & closing to staff, and I don't care! they did a good job...

[Boz330]

I had my left knee done about 5 years ago, and had no problems - and still have no problems. It clicks, but the environment must be dead quiet for it to be heard. I heard the the Doc and his helper only spent 20-25 minutes, leaving the opening & closing to staff, and I don't care! they did a good job...
I said something to my surgeon about the clicking after the first knee and he said yes everybody complains about that. I don't even notice it anymore. I will go in for my 5 year checkup this fall. Everybody is different but you have to go into it with the attitude that you are going to make it work. My recovery was way better than I anticipated and I was deer hunting 3 weeks after the first knee (carefully mind you) was replaced. Had the second done 10 weeks later and it was a little more difficult but it sure beats the hell out of the pain before the replacement. I don't even think about them being replacements anymore. Good luck!

Bob

[goodolejim]

Had both knees done last September. Four days in hospital and three weeks in rehab. Had my 80th birthday while in rehab. went to the gym three times a day. Once with the PT and the others because I vowed I would be the poster boy for full recovery. Have full range of motion and returned to work about sixty days after surgery. Stopped opioids about day or two after returning home. Strength maybe sixty percent but still gaining. Some pain but nothing like before surgery. Yes I would go for it all over again and do both at the same time if both knees need replacing. Good luck!

[Hickok]

Thanks again to all. Get my family Doc's final check-up on Tuesday the 13, and he sends in paperwork and then final date will be set.

Really want to get it done as soon as possible.

Might have to wear a cane on my back like a sword when riding the sport bikes for awhile!:bigsmyl2:

[David2011]

Hickok,

My total knee replacement was 10 months ago. I posted the recovery in this forum. The pain of surgery and recovery is long forgotten. I remember that it hurt but not "how" it hurt. I guess it's like women having babies. If they remembered the pain of childbirth they would never let us get near them again. I still feel some leftovers of the procedure but I can carry on a life mostly like before the meniscus split 5 years prior. I can spend hours on my feet in the shop now. The knee will hurt a LITTLE at times after 6-8 hours on my feet but I wasn't good for more than 30-45 minutes on my feet before the replacement. As has been said, the exercises before and after are everything for your recovery. I have not regretted having the replacement at all. The surgeon said that they had to do "a little extra work" on my knee but wouldn't elaborate. It took me several weeks to bend my knee enough to put my foot on the floor while sitting in a chair. Most of the people that had replacements the day I did were able to put their foot on the floor the following day. I can bend my knee 120-125 degrees now. Before surgery 90 degrees was painful.

My Dad (84 years old) had his replaced last October. He could bend his knee about 115 degrees the day after surgery and had far less recovery pain than I had. His recovery was amazing. Every patient is different.

Good luck! I hope you have an easy recovery.

David

[Hickok]

Thanks Dave, and all of you.

Got the final check-up from my family doctor, everything is good to go, now I am waiting on the "saw-bone's" to set up the date.:bigsmyl2:

[donald duck]

I have had three knee replacements on my right knee. Had a tumor and took out all down to bone on bone. In 79 had first, teflon and stainless steel, tore it loose coaching girls softball, second one in 82 lasted till june 95. Had titatinum on June 5 , 95 and was fishing in Alaska two months later. Be sure and do Physical Therapy even though there is pain. Had friend who would not do PT and ended up in wheel chair and did not last long. My present Tit. has slipped and right leg is one inch shorter than left. Have shoe built up. Am now almost 84 and still sub teach 1 or 2 daYS A WEEKShoot AT RNGE ONE DAY A WEEK. nOT REWADY TPO TOSS IN THE TOWELL YET.