Knee replacement recovery?

[BigArcher]

My Camp cook / wife / occasional hunting partner is looking at having both knees replaced in October.  So early elk camp is safe.
 Just wondering how long others have taken to recover to the point they are back in the woods?  
It has been years since she has been able to walk the trails and I know there is a lengthy recovery time.  She is not sure what the results will be like.  How soon the improvement vs pain will shift to the improvement side.  
Anyone else with a double knee replacement story?

BigArcher

[Maxx Black]

I had single knee replacement in Jan 09 . I have not had a major pain of any kind since the procedure . I had pain of sorts while the muscles and tendons while healing but continued to do the exercises four and five times a day. My hint to anyone don't sit around waiting for it to heal ,get up and keep moving. Best of Luck ! Ken

[Maxx Black]

The recovery time is three and half to four months with continual improvement .

[ron w]

I'm looking at getting mine done down the road.....All I hear is that the re-hab is very, very important. After that the quality of life is much improved! Best of luck to her.....

[TC]

I had a total knee replacement on my right knee in November 2012. As others have already said, doing your exercises and physical therapy is absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, I needed additional surgery in May 2013 to correct some problems. Things still aren't back to "normal".

I'm not telling you this to dissuade the surgery. What happened to me is out of the ordinary. I just want to stress the importance of keeping on top of the PT.

Good luck to your wife.

[smokin joe]

The first few days after the surgery will involve pain because they will want her up and moving on it before the end of the hospital stay. Then the rehab is very important and it involves moving the knee to more and more range of motion and pushing against the discomfort. Walking with a cane comes along pretty quickly and without the cane is about 4 to 6 weeks. Strengthening will be very important after that and can take 6 months to a year. My artificial knee is so good now that I am lifting weights again, hiking, hunting, etc. and there are days pretty often when I completely forget that I have it.
Getting a new knee is not an easy experience. The rehab is hard work, but it is really worth getting done if the old one is worn out. Good luck.

[cbCrow]

I was told by my doctor that I needed knee replacement due to osteo aritthis. After a lengthy discussion he told me to do the research and let him know what I wished to do. I found out that it takes most folks the better part of a year to get back to snuff, if they don't have complications. My research involved the web along with a few rehab doctors, who set up talks with some of their patients. Most of the 11 people were good with their operation but I found 3 that were having complications with the procedure and while not giving up were quite concerned about having it. One in particular was a younger man who had to have one due to an injury earlier in life. Since his initial operation 10 months ago he has had 2 more because of complications due to the operation. I have been told that while this isn't the norm their is the risk that complications can arise ,sometimes, years after the procedure. I'm at the point now at 63 that I don't think I'll be having one. I'm not scared of the work and dedication as much as in the replacement itself along with the tremendous amount of confidence you place in the hands of the doctor. I learning what to do to avoid pain and accept it as part of life.

[stabow]

Had my left knee replace it took me right at a year before I was back to normal and that was 7-8 years ago.

[Ron LaClair]

I had one knee replacement in 2000 and the other done a year later in 2001. Like everyone said, rehab is vital to recovery.

On a note, when I was going into rehab there was an older lady that was coming in the same time as me every day. I noticed that her progress was much better than me and when I ask the therapist why he said that women recover much faster than men with knee replacements...  

[Cherokee Scout]

I have had total knee replacement in the right knee 3 times. My problems started a few days after first knee replacement when another unknown/surprise health issue cropped up and required a separate surgery. Then an infection caused the first one to be removed and replace with temporary one while I was treated for the infection. After treatment for infection I had the temporary one replaced. I would suggest you do not have both replaced at the same tie. I know of some who have done that but after what I have seen, I would not do it. Good Luck.

[Cherokee Scout]

One more point reference to men vs women. Doctor told me I would have a tougher time than some. I had been an athlete my entire life and have rather muscular legs. He said that "little old ladies" have the easiest time because they generally have smaller muscles. The more muscle they have to cut thru requires more re-hab and more scar tissue can build up and make things more difficult.

[champ38]

Don't let the fear of complications keep you from getting the TKR if your MD has recommended one. I rehab knees for a living, and can tell you most ( better than 80%) are very happy with the outcome. I have people that previously couldn't take a step without pain, go back to playing tennis, hunting etc. Good luck

[ThePushArchery]

My dad had his replaced in March of this year. He is 63. He was hiking up and down our outdoor archery course for our summer league, and climbing the stair steps up to the elevated shot platforms by the 3rd week in April. He had a very speedy recovery. He put in a lot of work during Rehab.

He will be elk hunting next month in the mountains. He is just about 100%.

[Hopewell Tom]

I had a hip replaced in February of this year and I think the recovery time is longer, but as others have said the PT part is crucial.
I've heard other guys say that they didn't follow orders and things aren't good. I found that MENTALLY the exercises seemed kind of "stupid". "How's that little move going to help?" Then, I found some of them hard to do! Do the work and MOSTLY it'll be good.
At least the pain is gone, replaced with stiffness and less range of motion, but I'm only 6 months out. Hips are supposed to be 8-10 months, knees(I've been told) about 4 months.
You think an all day hunting sit is tough until you put in MONTHS waiting...
But everyone that's had them is back at it in the required time. As my wife says when I'm whining, "Is it better than before the surgery?" Oh Yeah!

[FerretWYO]

Please refer these questions the the appropriate medical profesionals.