Knee Replacement While Young(ish)

[OneFootintheRave]

Hi, has anyone out there had a knee replacement? I'm looking to hear what the results feel like, was it worth it for the gain in mobility?

I'm relatively young at 50 so if I had one now I'd likely need a revision at 75. Mostly the advice is to wait as long as you possibly can but I'm sick of the pain, stiffness, clumsiness. Anyone got any advice? Thanks in advance.

My sister had both her knees replaced between the ages of 25 and 27. Without. She's now 53. Without them she'd still be in her wheelchair.

My patients (I'm an HCA) have knee replacements & some are 40s / 50s.

What I can say is: it's a very painful operation especially for younger people; despite that patients must take their prescribed strong pain relief & must do the exercises the physios give them as soon as possible to get a good degree of knee bend & a straight leg raise, & keep doing the exercises to stop the knee stiffening up. This is what gets a good result.

Certain knees are designed for people who are active & sporty - you could ask your potential surgeon about this.

Do your research online.
For example one of our surgeons is very good called Paul Pavlou; he has a Facebook page you could follow as he puts some interesting stuff about knee replacements & arthritis in the knee on there.

Many of the top Orthopaedic surgeons do both private & NHS work. My patients who've experienced both say that they feel they had a better post surgery experience with the NHS as they had better physio follow up.

I have at least three young 50 - 60 year old colleagues who've had total or partial knee replacements & have returned to Nursing afterwards. They say it was painful but worth it!

Hope that helps!

Thanks @Sargass0

I'm not in such a serious situation. I can walk but running, skiing , dancing are out. Even walking downhill is very awkward and uncomfortable. I don't want to be inactive through my 50s waiting for it to be "bad enough" for a replacement.

I had a part knee done at 45, best thing I ever done. My life before that was so limited, it's a hard operation to get over but tbh the last 5 years have been well worth it. I can run, jump, walk, exercise without any pain. Before the operation I was a coach potato, life was so miserable and I as in constant pain. The only thing I can't do is kneel but then I couldn't do that before the operation.

Thanks @LilyJade for taking the time to write that. I know it's invasive and painful. I can't do any of the things I used to love. I will look at the surgeon you suggest.

OneFootintheRave
I think living without pain is a more than good enough reason for you to need it. You shouldn't be expected to wait until it's "really bad" It sounds really bad now.And if increases your mobility then you live your life and have more freedom- hopefully.

@Ilovemyshoppingtrolley I have heard about the partial.

I can't kneel now either so I have already had to let that go. This aspect has affected my sex life too. Makes me feel old before my time. Who did your knee?

I had one at 54, after I fell and displaced my kneecap (they didn't realise what I'd done for a year, so it rubbed against the bone) It really needed doing, and I wouldn't hesitate to have the other one done if necessary.
It took a while to get the range of motion back, and 11 years later it's still a little tender to kneel on; but it was so painful before that it had to be done.

I had both mine done early sixties. Both very painful before hand. It's not a nice operation and takes a while to recover. Lots of physio and painkillers. Need some adaptations at home for a while....raised bed, loo seat etc. I'm ok now for pain. My walking is only ok but I have stenosis and some problems from Gillian Barres syndrome 20 years ago. For the pain relieve it's worth it, but it's not an easy option.

A family member had a knee replacement in her twenties and the original one is still going strong over twenty years on. I think her consultant said they tend to last longer is younger people as they are used more so don't seize up like with an elderly person who might only give the joint a little use?!