Knee replacement

[wanttobepainfree]

Whose had a knee replacement? And how was your recovery experience with the knee replacement with RA?

[vonniesims]

I had one 3 years ago. It took the stuffing out of me as I had a general anaesthetic, people seem to do better with an epidural.

It was ok walking about and doing stairs and I had 2 sticks to start with .

It is vital you do the excercises religiously although it can be painful.

I found the supermarket a good place to walk in on the smooth floor. Had to stop my RA drugs and was glad to get back on them! Good luck

[Pat13 in reply to vonniesims]

Sorry to add to my reply. The most important thing is to do your exercises. That really is the difference between success and failure. Also my rheumatologist insisted I didn’t stop my RA medication.!!

[wanttobepainfree in reply to Pat13]

I’m on Rinvoq, my RA medicine. I had to stop it before surgery and continue off of it after surgery. I’m on my 9th week off of it and my mornings are miserable because of the stiffness, inflammation, and pain. I dread them though I should be grateful to GOD that I am alive. I wake up with my upper back and chest hurting. Like if I have inflammation in my lungs cuz it hurts to move and breathe.

[stbernhard]

Hi, I had to stop the biologic med two weeks before the operation, but not MTX. I think that my recovery was barley affected by RA. The most important thing is to get the new knee moving regularly as soon as possible. So do all the exercises despite the pain. The doctors and physio will help you initially, but then it's up to you. Good luck!

[wanttobepainfree in reply to stbernhard]

Thank you!

[jacbub103]

I had mine both done in 2018 , 6 months apart , it was the first step to getting my life back as I couldn’t walk far before the ops , stick to the hospital quidence and all the physio and it should be fine , I had to change my meds after because you will need stop them for the operation. I went with epidural and recovery was good .

Best Wishes

[wanttobepainfree in reply to jacbub103]

Thank you!

[Pat13]

Hi. I had my right knee replaced in December and m left knee replaced at the end of July. Both have gone really well. I had an epidural with both despite having degenerative disc disease and also scoliosis of my spine. Recovery was amazing. I was in hospital for 6 days for both. I had my final sign off from OT and physio yesterday. If it is being recommended please go for it. Good luck

[wanttobepainfree in reply to Pat13]

Thank you!

[gilox]

Had my right knee done March last year, was able to drive after two weeks, walked without crutches in just over a week, was walking the dogs for an hour or so, within a month! Best thing I’ve ever done, having said all this, you have to take things easy,& at your own pace, the best advice I had was to continue walking before the op for as long as I could to build up the muscles in calf & thigh, this I did up to a week before the op, the pain by then was really bad! I didn’t have a full anaesthetic opted for an epidural instead. I was advised to continue my MTX, all the way through, but take advice from your rheumy nurse on this. Good luck,& ask all the questions you need to whether it’s the rheumy team or the surgeons team. All the very best, Gillian

[wanttobepainfree in reply to gilox]

Thank you!

[sylvi]

I had the same knee done twice, both times i recovered well, but the first one i kept telling them there was something wrong and it took a second opinion to prove me right. After the second op i recovered so well i could have walked out of the hospital thats how good the surgery was. It was a difficult surgery for the surgeon as he said it was a mess, but he did a great job.xxxx

[oldtimer]

My sister (who also has RD) has had both her knees done, one a year after the other. She said it was vital to do the exercises both before and afterwards. She even got back to what she calls 'social' tennis for a while (she was a high ranking tennis player once).

She was able through her contacts to be discharged to a clinic after surgery where she had daily physiotherapy sessions from what she described as a sadistic physiotherapist!

[beeckey]

I had mine replaced in November and after the pain after the operation which is painful for a wee while it is very good.It is still a bit numb.I am waiting for the other knee being done which has been held up due to covid but i will not worry about as the pain only lasted for a short time.Good luck

[wanttobepainfree]

Thank you!