Knee Replacement Limitations
 

Considering replacements and am asking what physical limitations I can expect? Will I be able to jog, play softball, pickle ball, etc? Anyone doing these things? Thanks

I had my left knee totally replaced about five years ago.

To be honest for the first two weeks after the surgery I thought the cure was far worse than the disease, but once that initial period passed, things progressed pretty quickly. It is VITALLY important to follow up conscientiously on physical therapy both before and after the surgery (before so that the muscles are strengthened, after so that you get your range of motion back). Takes awhile for the swelling to go down--I still had some residual swelling six months after the surgery--but after that I could do pretty much anything that I could do before the surgery.

A caution though...gradually work back up to your desired activity level. I played a lot of tennis before my surgery, but didn't play at all for the first six months after, and then gradually increased the pace so that by the time I was 1.5 years past the surgery I was playing at about the same pace as before. I had heard horror stories about people trying to do too much too soon and injuring the bones.

Today I don't even think about the replacement, just live a normal and active life.

Had total knee replaced some years ago.
That knee is now the best joint in my body.
A new pair of lungs, I reckon I could play rugby again.
Most important, is put in the hard work during the recovery period, and all will be well.

Can you do those things, yes. Is it smart, highly questionable. Knee replacements are great, but can fail. The disaster failure scenario is loosening the bond between the prosthesis and the bone. That involves things like pain, bone grafting, and possible infection. Any activity involving impact can lead to that scenario. I live a great active life with a knee replacement (the other one will need to be replaced eventually) but it required me changing my lifestyle. Activities like swimming, golfing, biking, weight lifting, gardening, and walking the dog keep me active and fit without risking impact to the knees. And not being up north in the winter is critical, slipping on ice is very dangerous. I have given up a lot of activities I used to love doing including snow skiing, water skiing, basketball, softball, lacrosse, hiking in the white mountains, etc… because I would rather play it safe and not risk jeopardizing my quality of life. Good luck.

The only restriction that I have noticed is I can't get on my knee to kneel anymore. I don't know if it would damage the joint, but it sure does feel different and I resist putting any weight on it to kneel anymore. Other than that, I don't have any problems doing any of the activities I did before. Unfortunately, it didn't improve my golf game any, but I guess that was way to much to hope for since I wasn't any good before the surgery either. :)

Fully agree. I am also a member of the 'wont kneel down club.'
No pain, just feels weird.
At a push, I can do it with a cushion under knee.

Another member of the “won’t kneel down club”. I can tolerate it with a cushion when pulling weeds. I had the replacement done the old school way through the front. That method usually involves some collateral nerve damage which makes kneeling uncomfortable. I would be interested in feedback from people who have had the procedure done through the side as I will eventually need to have the other wheel replaced.

Had both of my knees done 2016 & 2017. My knees are doing fine. Able to get around, work in garden, play golf. Just do the therapy and give yourself time to heal and all will be well. Best of luck to you.

If you couldn't play those sports before, you won't be able to play them now

I know many people who are back to playing pickleball successfully after knee surgery. Some way too soon IMO (1 month), normal seems to be 3 months. All the best to you.

I had both replaced three years ago. No limitations. I play pickleball and golf every week.

You're going give up roofing and laying floor tiles.

I had both knees replaced (side incision), 10 yrs ago. I still play tennis and everything else. I have no problem kneeling.

I had both knees replaced on the same day 4/15/15, was playing 18 holes of golf 8 weeks later.Still feels weird to kneel and definitely need cushion when I do. Must do what is required on your own by your PT and as much as you can do more than required. DO NOT stop seeing the PT until he/she says so. Lots of therapy at home on your own & that is the recovery formula. New a few guys that thought they could do it on their own and they are miserable.

Had both replaced, about 5 years apart. Read the printed instructions for regaining range of motion and did the "rehab" on my own. Made my own little goniometer the second time. :-) Was back ready for my old man tennis tournament participation (clay courts) within two months both times. *Love* my new knees. Can't really think of any physical limitations that I wouldn't have anyway at this age.

Interestingly, the first one was done in Savannah by a tennis buddy, and the second one in Pompano Beach by random draw. :-) The second guy had this bizarre (to me) post-op pain pill regimen - 7 or 8 different pills, but I followed it anyway. It led to an amazingly pain free recovery period, despite my disbelief in magic.

BTW, this same random orthopedist recently gave me the wonderful news that I didn't need the hip replacement which I had assumed that I was ready for. A prescription for "once a day" meloxicam has me living with very little joint pain of any ilk these days, though it wouldn't have been "enough" had I been able to continue the tennis hobby. Plenty, though, for this renewed attempt at golf. Now, if I could only find appropriate "head case" drugs. . .

Give yourself plenty of time to fully recover. I would never consider jogging, or putting any jarring stress on your knee after replacement. Once you have it done you won't want to mess it up. My doctor told me, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Best of luck.

Based on posters experience, side incision seems the way to go if you want to offset the kneeling problem.
If I had other knee replaced, I would go for that method of surgery.
I also read recovery period is quicker with the side entry method.

Knee Replacement
 

If both knees need to be done do one knee at a time. You need the other knee for rehab. The key for a normal return is to religiously do the rehab. Generally what you get in range after 30 days of rehabilitation is all the range you will get. I wouldn’t recommend a partial replacement. Get a total knee replacement. Find an orthopedic surgeon who does a minimum of 300 knees per year.

My physio stressed that 30 day point so much.
I know several people who never did the work with knee and hip replacements who never got the full benefit of the procedures.
It's painful, but not as bad as walking bone on bone.

Me too!

Well said. My physical therapist during rehab said yes, you can do all those things, but they will definitely increase the risk that you will need another replacement when you are older. If you modify what you do for fun, there’s a great chance that the prosthesis will last you the rest of your life. They are much better made than they were ten years ago. So exchange pickle ball for pool volleyball.

My doctor said I should consider the new knee to be like a new set of tires on a car. The key point he made was that it will be the last set of tires you will ever get, so you don’t want them to wear out before the car dies. Don’t spin the tires, slam on the brakes, and most importantly avoid the potholes. In other words, avoid anything with fast starts and stops, and most importantly avoid impact. Focus on things like swimming, biking, golfing, and walking. Avoid things like running, jumping, cutting, and slipping. Good luck, and for the first month take the pain meds and double down on the painful physical therapy. Early recovery of range of motion is critical for success.

I had my right knee done 18 years ago. It was old school way, like 6 weeks before ANY weight could be put on leg. Physical therapy very painful but Doc said my range of motion would be permanent after 12 weeks. I now have full range of motion as he said, the ONLY thing is I cannot run or peddle a bike standing. He said that was normal. He claimed I had a "Good Catholic" knee.

Both Knees Replaced
 

I had both knees replaced at the same time and they are great. I agree with those that can't kneel anymore but everything else for me is a go! I play basketball, tennis, pickleball, softball, and whatever else there is to play except maybe football or rugby. Quality of life is playing those things for me so I don't suggest you give up anything you want to do. I highly recommend you getting it done!

What were the 7 or 8 pills you were taking daily to relieve the pain. Thats something all of us future replacement recipients would love to know.

Sounds like good questions for your surgeon!

Knee replacement
 

I have had both knees replaced, left in 2007 and right in 2010. I am able to play pickle ball, golf, bowl, ride a bike and do pretty much anything I want except kneel. To get around this limitation I use gel knee-pads when I need to work in the yard or on my golf cart and have to get down on my knees.

It was the best decision I’ve ever made! The pain I suffered with all those years was gone. Yes you will have pain from your surgery but that will go away. One bit of advice is to ask your doctor/surgeon to put you in physical therapy before your surgery. The purpose of this is to build up the muscles and help the recovery process. It worked for me. Good luck!

Memory and anecdote
 

Danged if I can remember - but it was more like every few hours. *So* much more comfortable than with the first one. But, I'll bet Dr. Raul Gosthe in Fort Lauderdale would probably share his protocol.

As to going easy on the new knees, it might be a question of priorities. A *lot* of the guys playing our old man tennis tournaments were sporting new knees and hips. The most interesting one that I'm aware of is King Van Nostrand, generally top ranked in the country in his age group. Believe he ages up to the 90's come January. Anyway, he's on his third and fourth knees. . .

Sounds like great questions that need to be answered by your doctor.

I had knee replaced in 2011. I play pickle ball, on a dragon boat team and bike. I never was a runner. Do the PT faithfully. Prep before and strengthen legs with quads and hams.

Left knee replaced in 2000; right knee 2004. Both still working fine. Don't kneel much like in church. If I have to kneel for something in my house, I will use a pad. Don't run much anymore, but walking and golfing; no problem.

Have had both knees done 5 years ago. Was playing tennis (on clay courts) and pickleball within 2 months of just practicing, actual playing within 3. Gave up slalom course waterskiing, no more snow skiing, still flowride hours each day on a cruise, and gave up tennis when we moved here because all the tennis courts are hard courts. I play from 2-5 hours of pickleball 7 days a week. I have also laid 1200 sq ft of tile (used heavy duty knee pads and extra pads), and play golf multiple times a week.
I can get on my knees if it’s on carpet with no issues, hard tile floors, that still hurts/feels weird.
If you need new knees, get them done, it’s well worth it

Loved my side knee surgery results. Kneel with cushion only!

I was 52 when I had one knee replaced. Best thing I ever did. Being in pain every single day just walking a block sucks. I play Pickelball about 3 times a week, golf, bike, hike. Anything I feel like really and am pain free. The physical therapy is no walk in the park but you have to work hard at it, do not be afraid to stay on pain pills to get through it because they will allow you to work even harder in PT.

Had my left knee replaced when the opioid scare was at its height, and Minnesota, in its usual over-reactionary way, implemented some bizarre stuff more for show I think than anything else. Case in point: I was sent home with (as I recall) five oxycodone tablets. If I needed more (which I did after maybe three days) I had to call my doctor at the clinic, who issued the prescription which I picked up at the front desk (after providing positive ID), then took the prescription in A SEALED RED ENVELOPE to the Clinic pharmacy, where it was opened and (again after providing ID) the prescription, another five pills total, was filled.

Inconvenient to say the least. The clinic pharmacy was only open Monday through Friday and closed each day at 5 PM.

Bottom line, I made it mainly on Tylenol. NOT fun.

Share with us why you say "...no partial...".
Especially when the other side of the same knee is normal/healthy.

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:censored:

I had both knees replaced several years ago, a couple years apart in Fort Lauderdale. The doc was amazing!
Done on Monday and walking with a walker that night. Used a walker when I went home Tuesday and Wednesday switch to a cane Thursday and Friday and threw the cane away Saturday and shot sporting clays in the woods that day. I hiked mountains since then. don’t do any jogging, but other than that I’m fine.
I even drove to work the next day, even though I wasn’t supposed to. Lol

It wasn’t me that said “no partial”. That being said, I have two friends that got partials who now need a total. The both wish they got the total the first time so they don’t have to go through two procedures and rehabs.

How old were you when you had the operation done?

Age
 

My two were at around 60 and 65.