Has anyone had Partial (inner) / Full KNEE replacement?
If so can you elaborate on the experience & rehabilitation afterwards?..

thanx

Donny ... I've had both knees fully replaced - first one 14 years ago, second one 12 years ago - ...
Don't know exactly what they are doing now, but back then I woke up in the recovery area with my leg strapped in a machine that was slowly and gently bending and extending my leg ... After 3 days in the hospital where I had PT three times a day, I opted to go into a rehab center to continue that regimen ... Five days later I was back home and then it was outpatient PT - going to the surgeon's PT facility three days per week and doing PT at home three times a day ... It is ALL about the post operative PT if you want to regain full use and strength of the knee and leg ... basically, the PT becomes a full time job ...
When I was in the PT facility, I could tell the patients who were diligent with the PT at home, and those who were not ...
The PT road may not be easy, but, like playing music, you will get out of it only what you put into it ...
If you are located anywhere near this facility - or one of their other locations - I strongly recommend you try to get them to see you ...
http://www.orthoinstitute.com/doctors/orthopaedic-surgeon-petrosini/
We have known Dr. Petrosini (Anthony to us) since he was in grade school with our son ... Along with being an excellent surgeon, he is also a really great guy ...
After med school, he received a fellowship to the Harvard University/ Massachusetts General Hospital Fellowship Program. He worked with the ortho team as assistant team physician for the New England Patriots (when Bill Parcells was coach and they went to the SB with Drew Bledsoe), Boston Bruins and New England Revolution soccer team.
If you do contact them, make sure to tell them you were recommended by Tony Madalone ...

Best of luck with whatever you do ...

PS I did not have mine done by Dr. Petrosini because I was already living in RI, and a 4 - 5 hour drive to a doctor's office wasn't practical ...

Donny, Had meniscus repair last Halloween. Still not back to 100%. During PT, the therapist stated that for people considering knee replacement, do a full instead of partial. The re-hab is the same, and you won't have to re-do the other side down the road.

jingleman

Thanx for the replies...its in early stages now only had X-rays so far,
....doctors are sending me to PT for evaluation a few times first & MRI to see exactly what's going on.
step by step (no pun intended)...

Thanks for the information in this thread. I most likely need a replacement but still putting it off. Had surgery 40 years ago and it is bone on bone.

I had the same 3 years ago. I'm sure it was due to my weight. These original knees were never meant to carry 2 1/2 men. (well, maybe 1 1/2)
Easy rehab - never took the pain meds (hate that dopey feeling) I used a circular cooler ice machine that was very helpful for about 3 days, then nothing.

Dave how have you been since then....knee wise..?
I'll know more after Physical therapy....hopefully no surgery needed..

No issues from the surgery

dave so you had a full knee replacement?..

Nope - just trimmed the meniscus. 2 teeny holes that looked like a snake bite.

ok thanx for the info....carry on

Tony...first....thanks for the details and shedding some light on what's required besides the actual operation. I telephoned them this afternoon to inquire about further information.

I wasn't aware that PT is the most important aspect of successful recovery.

I don't need knee replacemnt, but I DO have a torn meniscus that has to get dealt with.

I've been to three orthopedists in my area and I wouldn't trade a harmonica for all three of them. I was going to go to the (nationally known) Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC, but you reminded me the PT would be difficult.

I think I could do Freehold....much easier than trying to get into NY every day.

Would you mind telling me what else you know about him. My biggest need is to talk to an orthopedist who knows what dialogue actually is. Second biggest need is "medical track record."

I'm due for another MRI and another consultation. I know you know him personally, and I'm sure he's a nice fellow but DO you know him "medically." And, you're saying he's "easy to talk with and addresses your questions?

Mark, I do not have 'personal' medical experience with him ... as stated in my post, after receiving the Harvard/Mass General fellowship (which I would think says quite a bit), he was assigned to the orthopedic team for 3 professional NE sports teams ... He started with a small practice in NJ which has grown tremendously, to the point that I think they now have a specialist for every bone in your body ...
I have met a number of his associates through social settings with our son, and, yes, I believe he is the type of doctor who will discuss the situation with a patient.
Granted, he knows us as 'family', but he has never hesitated to talk to us at length about any question we may have.

Donny: my meniscus repair was a little more involved. It was floating un-attached to anything. They had to drill a hole at an angle through myTibia, and then run sutures through the hole and anchor it to the Tibia. All in hopes that the meniscus will grow together with the bone. The doctor said the procedure went well and I have to admit...my knee feels a lot tighter now. Before, it would feel loose and tend to give out occasionally.

Glad I had it done. As Chicago said, “Feelin’ stronger everyday”.

Good luck,
PS: preliminary PT did not help my situation. Hope it works out for you.
jingleman

jingleman ... while PT would not have helped a meniscus that was 'floating around', PT might have had residual help for the other muscles around that knee, thereby helping with post-op rehab ...
Your thoughts ...?

Tony........I called them late today. I'll call again tomorrow morning and get more info. She DID say they have a staff of 18 doctors so that says something there. It's not urgent but I'm not doing stairs well. It HAS to be done....only things holding me up is fear of an operation (had a bad experience when I was a kid), and, as I said, three different orthopedists and they all say something different ("walk until you can't walk anymore"..."the operation has to be done immediately".....etc, etc.

But I DO have to see an ortho again around now and get another MRI. So I'll call the office again tomorrow morning and make a decision on seeing Dr. Petrosini this time around.

Mark

Coincidentally, I ran into a friend last week who had a hip replacement. He said he never felt better.....feels like a kid again......wishes he had done it sooner. Been thinking about that ever since. I'd like to get back to running and weightlifting again. Can't do it now 'cause I have no stability in the legs (both knees suffered meniscus tears when I jumped from a height).

So.......two questions.

Any of you had knee operations and come out of it feeling like new? Any come out feeling worse?

And.......any of you going through the "no communication or caring from you doctor routine" like I've been experiencing. It's strictly business where I live....you either sign up for the operation or you don't. Nothing in-between. I mean, like, would you buy a TOTL keyboard without researching it thoroughly with someone like Frank or George or AJ?

Come to think of it, maybe I'll ask Frank if he can do the operation for me. I trust him more than these "big business" doctors I'm dealing with now!

Tony: You probably are right about strengthening the muscles around the knee. Any form of PT in the area of an injury can't be a bad thing.

My Dr. just came to the conclusion that further PT would not improve the condition any further. So...time to cut.

Word around the office (where many have had similar surgeries)have stated that full healing can take about a year (depending on the procedure). I think mine will take about that long.

My mother, who is dead now, had both knees replaced at the age of about 70. She regained full mobility and had almost zero problems during recovery. I'm sure procedures have improved even since then, 25 or so years later.

My brother, now gone... blew out a knee playing college basketball back in the 50's and ortho was not available then. It was so painful and the recovery was so long, he would not even consider the newer forms of surgery as he developed knee problems later in life. His weight was brought on by over-eating and the lack of exercise... he had loved golf.

Sadly, if he had gone ahead with the "repair or replace" surgery available, he would have been able to continue golf and kept his weight down. Pain can be a terrible memory but I sure miss him.

Don, I sent you an MP3 of my first attempt on the 970. Thanks, it is a fantastic instrument... even in the hands of a Klutz like me. LOL! Break a leg tonight at Ernests. ----Dave (the other one)

OPEN MRI next week we'll see what it shows...fingers crossed.

dave & dave sorry for your loss.

Donny, I can only add to the many comments and emphasise (only if you have the time), Build up your leg strength prior to the op, and DO THE REHAB.
In my case and partly my fault, the importance of the rehab was not put to me post op, and eventually the surgeon put me back in for manipulation to achieve 90% bend of the joint.
Four years down the track I am rarely conscious of the implant.
It is not perfect, but it is a damn side better than when I had it done ?????

Ray (without the limp)

Donny, there are many, many non-surgical alternatives to full replacement, avenues that should be explored thoroughly before making a commitment to surgical intervention.

Keep in mind that orthopedic surgery is a big business and there are lots of orthopedic surgeons out there that recommend joint replacement when it is not necessary at that particular stage of the disease. Far too often they tend to jump the gun. The MRI will provide the correct information on this, so be sure to read the radiology report yourself before making the decision.

While I know there are several forum members here that have undergone successful knee replacements, working in the field of medicine, I got to witness, first hand, many individuals that did not enjoy the same success. Surgery is not a panacea - it's a last resort.

Good luck,

Gary

Gay great advice the last thing I want is surgery or replacement of any kind...thank you for the concern and always helpful advice.

take care

I am very happy that in my personal experience, and that of several relatives and friends, we have not come across the same doctors that Gary refers to ...
People I have been in contact with generally say that the doctor has suggested waiting and trying other remedies first ... In my case, my ortho doc even injected Synvisc - a substance made from the combs of chickens - which provided relief for about a year ... it was only when nothing else was working and the knee was affecting my way of life that he said surgery was necessary ...

And, as Gary himself has said, it has been many years (decades?) since he worked in the medical field, and - like most things in life - prosthetics and surgical procedures have steadily improved in that time ...

All this being said, Donny, get yourself at least two opinions based on the results of the MRI, and most of all remember: both pre-op and post-op, your best friend - regardless of how arduous it may be - is PHYSICAL THERAPY ...

best of luck, paesano ...

Thanx Tony for the good words

Donny, I've only had a hip replacement but I'm sure a lot of the same things apply. From my own experience, both with DOCTORS and the procedure itself, all I can do is completely endorse what Tony has said in the above post. General, common sense advice from laymen is fine, but PROFESSIONAL advice should come from medical professionals trained in that field and with years of experience in that specific specialty. Got doubts? Do what Tony suggests; get a second (or third) PROFESSIONAL opinion. Friends MEAN well but unless that friend is an orthopedic surgeon, thank them but take their OPINIONS with a grain of salt.

Hope you come through this okay. My own knees could probably stand a little overhaul , and now my other hip is starting to act up. One of the compromises we make for not dying early I guess . Good luck. BTW, everything these guys have said about the importance of post-op rehab is true.

chas

Thanx Chas

I think that is some fantastic advice! Surgery should indeed be the last resort.