Has anyone had a knee replacement at 50?

[Hopalongnancy]

I've been having serious knee issues for 3 years. Massively impacting on my mobility and lifestyle. I've had scans and surgery and physio and seen consultants and they have all said the last thing they want to do is a knee replacement. They said they great for older people but not good for younger, active people.
I've now been told that a knee replacement might be my only option.

Has anyone fairly fit and active had a knee replacement? What has been your experience? Good and bad?

@Cameleongirl - my consultant explained to me that knee replacements only last for 15 years-ish so I might well need another in my late 60’s. I decided to go for it as I want to have my best 50’s and 60’s and I will worry about the second op if I make it to my 70’s!

I was in discussions about a knee replacement in my mid 40s due to osteoarthritis. However I decided to lose weight and took up exercise. It’s not been a quick fix, 10 years!, and I still get knee discomfort but I can now go up and down stairs, run, swim and do intensive exercise including squats and lunges. Building up leg and supporting muscles means I now no longer need surgery. My GP could not believe the changes in ability. I know this route would not work for everyone but it might be an option.

Ah, that makes sense, @ComeBackPeterComeBackPaul . I think I'd do the same as you and enjoy the 15 years!

I had one 12 months ago age 54, I had a ceramic knee so hopefully last as long as me. I can kneel but really don't like the feeling - but do keep trying to get used to it. I can ride, walk, go to the gym, do yoga (badly)

For the first three weeks I was in absolute agony, couldn't sleep, questioning wtf had I 'willingly' done now it's great, can sleep at night (main reason for op) my other knee is making itself known so I'm trying to do extra exercises to build up the muscles round my knee as an alternative.

OP, do you know what's causing your bad knees. I get pain round my knees from irritated nerve roots in my spine, At least, I think that's why but I'm not sure.

@Cameleongirl - I too was told that the 1st replacement is the best. Subsequent ones aren't as good, as the 1st needs to be cut out and replaced. Bone is lost etc. I was told a younger person is 'generally' more active than say a very elderly person, might be walking more, shopping, working, commuting etc, therefore the replacement wears out quicker than someone older, that is less mobile. I was told in a younger person it might last 10 yrs, 15 if I was lucky. I'm early 40's, so therefore might need multiple replacements. My nan only recently died at 102 and another close relative at 104, so I don't think having 5+ replacements would be an option if I lived that long too!

OP- do you know if you have arthritis or what is causing you to need a replacement? I'm early 40's and have osteo arthritis, but mainly on the inner side of my knee. I will need a replacement in the future, but was advised to hold off as long as I can. Due to the pain being on the inner aspect, I finally found an off loader brace. It pushes the knee across, so the weight goes down the 'better' side of your knee. For me, it was a game changer!

Prior to finding this brace, I slept with a hot water bottle strapped to my knee, no analgesics worked, and I would literally be crying at night in pain- even when the leg was absolutely still.

The 1st brace style is more discreet and fits under clothes easily, but seemed to lose shape after a few months. The 2nd was more robust but cumbersome and something like the 2nd link. I can't find the exact one I had. I got both on the NHS, and needed to change them because I lost weight to try to help the pain.
thuasne-store.co.uk/product/action-reliever/
www.springloaded.com/knee-braces/top-five-offloader-knee-braces/

I realise that arthritis doesn't improve, but in my case, I needed to wear the brace to walk outside the house for over a year. I had physio and did exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscles. It meant I could return to work, shop and basically 'live' again, so to me, the brace was amazing. By some miracle, when I stopped physio, I was able to wean myself off the brace too! I do get the odd knee twinge now, but absolutely nothing like it was 2 yrs ago and I'm still brace and replacement free! If they have recommended a replacement, then a brace may not be suitable though for you.

My mum was hit by a car in her 30's and due to the damage, was advised that she would need hip/knee replacements at a younger than average age. She had a 1/2 knee done in her late 50's, a whole knee 60's and both hips in early 70's. She said that hips were better than knees in terms of recovery. She now needs the 1/2 knee re doing, but dances 3x a week, shops, drives, climbs 30 steps to get in/out of her front door.

She cannot squat or kneel, but hasn't been able to since being hit by the car. She doesn't run, but never has. Sorry this is so long 😬

I had my right knee replaced when I was 57 in November 2007, and my left one in the following February. Quite close together but manageable. I would never advise anyone to have both done at the same time.
It is helpful if you can strengthen the muscles above your knee by exercise before your operation.
It is absolutely vital that after your operation, you do your exercises regularly or otherwise its virtually a waste of the surgeons time and yours.
My surgeon said they would probably last about 15 years, but it depends how active you are. Mine have now been working for 15 years and still feel good. But then again I am rather sloth like!
In my opinion, if a partial knee replacement is offered, ask why, and would you need a full one at sometime in the future.
There is no doubt, it is a painful operation, worse than a hip replacement. Take any painkillers offered post op
No I can't kneel. If they have offered it have it done, they obviously think it needs it. They don't want to do it on people who are too young, because they know they will have to do another op, further down the line.

Well tbh the hindsight is that she would never have had the surgery if she knew what her life is now like.

It is very rare what happened to her, but before surgery, make sure you know what plans they have in place regarding clot prevention.
How will they prevent it in you?
How quickly will you be on your feet after surgery?
What do they offer to prevent clots while you're recuperating at home?
Good luck in whatever you decide to do xx

My mum's friend is 79 & had both done in the space of 6 months, she was back gardening 3 weeks after her second one, she walks miles, childminds her grandchildren & great grandchildren twice a week. She was in agony for about 10 days after but persevered with the exercises & her surgeon said she was one of his best patients because of how hard she has worked in recovery.

I had a partial knee replacement three weeks ago. Like others the first few days I came out of the security of hospital I seriously questioned what I’d done and still do some days

The recovery isn’t easy, pain wise and just practical aspects of doing things ie sitting down on the toilet were agony for first week

I’m slowly getting there and now making knee bend four/five times four times a day and gradually increasing walking with crutches now. I’m confident now not to use them in house.

Top tip is if you do have it done ice it a lot (I used frozen peas) and an ice wrap initially every two hours

Its a much harder slog both physically and emotionally than I ever imagined and there’s been a lot of tears but I’m confident I’ll get there

My husband has just turned 52 and has just had his second knee replacement in the space of a year. He's always been very sporty and active and I think he messed his knees up by running too much when he was younger. He initially had his consultant say to him that it was best to wait - both because the recovery is harder for younger people and there's a chance you'll need them doing again in the future. Then at the next visit they changed their mind and said the time was right because he just had bone rubbing on bone. To be honest, it really was the right time - he was in so much pain and it was so limiting. They are big operations, he has needed a lot of help for the first couple of weeks after, hasn't been able to drive for 6 weeks and off work for 8 weeks followed by a phased return (but his job is fairly physical). His top tip would be to be tenacious with the physio afterwards, as it really does help get everything back working well. His physio has also done some acupuncture, which he has found helpful. Difficult to say what he can and can't do, because when he'd just had one, his other still really held him back, and he's still recovering from his second (8 weeks today). He could definitely kneel down on his first one - even though everyone said he wouldn't be able to. I'm pretty sure he'll be able to cycle and walk up-hill again soon. Not sure he will ever run again, but he probably could in an emergency. He knows that he needs to lose some weight as well, as he doesn't want to put any undue pressure on his shiny new knees.

My DH is a bit older - late 50s - but he had a partial knee replacement in July. It has gone really well and his physio had said that he would be able to start running again about now (but he now has covid so has to wait to see her again). He cycles in the garage on a stationary bike.

He did his exercises religiously but wasn't in a lot of pain. He did have it done privately as he had insurance from work.

Not sure about the kneeling down, I think I read somewhere that that is the one thing you can't do after a knee replacement as it's not designed for that, although if you kneel on a cushion it will be more comfortable.

He can certainly walk much further and faster and pain-free than he could pre-op.

Oh DH was driving again after 2-3 weeks as we have an automatic - that does help

Oh and I also forgot, it's worth renting a Helotherm machine - DH had it for a month post op and means you can constantly ice the knee whenever you want to. They are expensive but totally worth it. www.hilotherm.co.uk/

I had my first when 48 second a few years later, both hips done too and yes i can do all these things, i may be recyclable as a ford escort but my quality of life is vastly improved from the lurching, moaning, crying in pain mess i used to be.

Thanks everyone. 2 more questions..

• have you got a massive scar and does this upset you?

• could you have sex on top ?

My scars are about 8 inches long. The one on my left is 3 years old, the other is 5 years old. Excuse my pale skin, I’m from Northern Ireland. Mine were stitched rather than stapled.

Yes and no.

yes.

Oh these aren't that bad at all! That's reasurring

They appear much darker when it’s cold but are generally covered then anyway. These operations made a huge difference to my life. Previously I couldn’t bear weight on my knees without pain, my legs were not straight, I limped and in bed I had to have a pillow behind my knees and still the pain would wake me up.

The only thing that bothered me after mine was a slight numbness around the knee which massively improved after about a year or so, it was just weird not painful or anything but strange. Sex was off the cards for around 6 weeks but everything resumed as normal, the numbness made any sort of kneeling a bit uncomfortable but soft cushions are your friend. When in the recovery i used to sleep with a pillow between my legs so if i turned in the night the scar was not in contact with the other knee, just made it more comfy. The scars are quite long but thin ( i was stapled) and have really faded. If you are a sun lover its best to keep them covered if you sunbathe as they can go red and sore. My mum had hers done years ago and when i needed mine doing she said the main thing was to stay active, she was up and about running after my Dad in just days! I followed her advice and recovered well, do the exercises the physio gives you every day, the people i know who did not have a great result after their op were the ones who were over cautious about moving and let the physios slip too.
honestly, you will be pain free after and wonder quite how you struggled on in discomfort for so long before. Good luck.