I am wondering if I can get any tips or recovery advice from members with Rheumatoid Arthritis that have had total knee replacements. I have an upcoming knee replacement in November. I will have to stop my Humira I think, so any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. I know that I will be renting an ice machine for my knee and a Walker and commode but after that I’m in the dark. I suspect recovery will be longer due to the RA? My last surgery almost 3 years ago put me in an instant flare after surgery and recovery was a journey.
I do have my husband to help me with things so I’m grateful I don’t live alone but I would like to be as prepared for this surgery as I can be. Thank you in advance 🙏
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lala1958
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Hi, I know nothing about Humira, but didn’t have to stop MTX. I was scared of a potential flare following surgery, but this didn’t happen. Surgeon pointed out that a cause of inflammation had been removed! I took paracetamol to keep on top of pain (which wasn’t at all severe), and followed Physio instructions to the letter. Good luck.
Thank you and yes I guess this is probably a big source of inflammation for me as well I think the common thread is exercise faithfully. I appreciate your advice and for all of the other responses. 👍
Good Morning, My friend recommends you ensure they supply you with the stockings/socks as he was not and it has made a big difference now he has some!! Hope all goes well.
Morning, I had a tkr 3 years ago, had to cone of enbrel for 2 weeks. Have to day I didn't flare at all so only had to work on knee recovery. But back then my ra was pretty much in remission. Advice I can give is do the exercises religiously. They work and aid recovery more quickly. Get yourself a bolster pillow to put under your knee, it's more comfortable. And get a bag put everything you need in it and take with you up and down the stairs. So your not forgetting anything. A paper diary helped too I put a tick down each time I completed the exercise. You have to do them 4 times a day and it's surprising how you forget what you've done. I also wrote down any pain killers I had and my ra meds just to keep track.
Best thing I have ever done in the longer term. Good luck!
Such great advice from you!, especially about the bag of things you need to have with you at all times. Also the diary, brilliant as it’s easy to forget taking meds or exercising even now as I’m trying to strengthen my legs pre surgery.
I will also ask about the bolster pillow as well when I go to my pre op appointment. Thank you 🙏
I had a tkr 6 weeks ago last Thurs. I agree about having a notebook to write down when you do each exercise, and also when you have each med as initially you will probably have quite a lot of painkillers.
My best advice is take the pain meds, then do the physio, then do the ice. Stick at the exercises just as you've been told to. The ice is your best friend!
Walk too. (With your sticks)...get used to using the new knee. Little and often works.
Rest when you need to, it promotes healing.
I didn't have to come off methotrexate, though I postponed it for a few days as was due to take it the day of surgery. I haven't flared 🤞🏻
As it takes longer to get to the loo in the night, I found tena pads useful in the first 3 -4 weeks (I'm a night wanderer!)
I'm doing well, and working hard on getting the best I can from my new knee.
Wow thanks for this informative text. The pain meds and exercise journal is fantastic and I have thought already how am I getting to the bathroom in the night quickly. Since I have had my mesh removal, I don’t have a lot of lead time when I wake up in the middle of the night. Great idea with the tena pads, never even thought of that. Also were those walking sticks you were speaking of or canes? I’m assuming walking sticks . I believe I will have to come off my biologic for this surgery but I think it’s worth it. I had extensive allergy testing recently that was ordered by the surgeon, metal, plastics and cement bonding materials. They will use titanium as I have a severe nickel allergy and I seemed to be ok with the other stuff. My fear is that I will react to the plastic as I reacted terribly to the mesh and it had to be removed so my surgeon said that if I reacted to the plastic then my knee would have to be fused together. There is a risk but i feel that it will work out for me and if the plastic particles leach out it will be less intrusive on my body as the plastic they use is more dense and compact than the cheesecloth looking bladder mesh. I am going to meditate 🧘♀️ on having a perfect recovery for this. Thank you again
Hi Lala, I came out of hospital with 2 walking sticks. Around the house I gradually got down to one, and now nothing. Outside I continued with the walking sticks for about 4 weeks post surgery (one or 2 depending on distance), and have now transitioned to trekking poles (I live in a hilly area and used to use them for hill walking, and they have been my preferred support mechanism as I became more infirm)
I am definitely of the opinion that, once you really need a new knee it's worth going for it.... doing whatever your surgeon, physio team, etc advise. I'm very pleased with my progress to date...it's hard work but worth it.
I hope you get as good an outcome as I'm getting, and manage not to flare. Or have any allergic reactions.
Thank you for your advice 😇the women in my building use them and I see some people around my town with them but I didn’t realize how beneficial they actually are, I’m going to check them out and thank you for your kinds words, I do appreciate it.
I am so grateful for all of you that have reached out to give me advice., it makes me feel more positive and not as fearful. This is definitely a blessed Thanksgiving 🙏🙏🙏
I had a total knee replacement last January while I was having a flare up with my RA but with prednisone for my flare up and co-codamol for pain I was up and walking within a week without any walking aids around the house
Hi lala, I am pleased to hear that you are renting an "Ice machine". I had mine from gameready,co.uk for £300 for 28 day, still the same price now (they left it with me for a week longer at no extra charge) which did not just ice but also compress. That contributed greatly to a speedy recovery. And of course doing the exercises religiously, regardless of the pain.
I was lucky that I was in remission before the TKR, so could do as much as possible to strengthen my leg muscles and general fitness before the operation. That's also a very important point as you probably know.
During and after the operation I stayed on MTX and stopped my biologic. The consequences for the RA were relatively mild. A few flares, but nothing really serious.
I wish you good luck and the strength to do your exercises every day!
Thanks for the advice especially your experience with the ice machine. I live in Canada but I’m sure I can rent that here. I have seen them at another surgeons office so that will be mandatory to rent. Apparently the hospital I’m having it at puts the machine on in surgery idk. I am using 3 water bottles to ice my knees now and ice is my friend so I can imagine we will become best friends. The general thread I am reading is exercise religiously as you say and the pre exercises before surgery . So many wonderful pieces of advice I am grateful🙏
My sister, who also has Rheumatoid Arthritis, has had both knees done. She did really well, no flares and went back to playing social tennis, rather than competitive tennis. But she echoed what everyone has said 'Do your exercises!'
Thank you for your sisters experience and yes Do my exercises. That will be the difference I suspect to a quicker and long lasting recovery. Thanks so much. 🙏
I have had tkrs to both , one last year one this, and recovered quickly. I was only away from work for a month this year. The first two weeks are painful, there is no point in pretending otherwise but after this, things are much easier. I was lent a 'cryocuff' ice pack unit which was wonderful - really soothing. Walking really helps too - keep the knee moving . Good luck - its worth it!
I had both knees replaced, 2012 and 2014., and it has gone brilliantly. My biggest piece of advice is to find a pool asap, ideally a warm therapy pool, but any pool is better than none, where you can relax and practice walking and bending your knee. It did wonders for me. There is a point when the knee doesn't feel like part of you at all and then very gradually it does! Water therapy helps the process. It can take a long time but is definitely worth it.
Oh my goodness, thank you 🙏 we have a pool and sauna in our building and I love to swim. also, thanks for the explanation about how the knee feels foreign at first I wondered about that. I appreciate your input. Thanks again
Hi, I'm from Canada. My knees are bad re xray , was told I might need knee surgery, I just seen surgeon. I don't have constant knee pain, but do have bone on bone at times which is instant pain when rubbing. Dr. said I have 2 choices surgery at this time.... surgery OR Durolane (hyaluronic acid injection) which is a gel filling injected into the knee for cushioning between joint. And knees work again; lasts 6 mos. to a year. Hope will it work for ME!! I'm a senior, I think I'll do the gel. I've had RA since 88, which I managed mostly with Hydroxachloriquine, and arthrotec. Flare-ups started couple yrs. ago, on biologics; Orencio at the time. My RA is controlled, but osteoarthritis is my problem now, effecting my knees, feet. Knees being the worse. I have made up my mind to try the Durolane injection. If it works, my knees will be back to working as usual. Wishing you the best in your knee surgery. Take care!
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