Hello, everyone Am writing to ask for advise and insight regarding full knee replacement. Have any on the forum had a full knee replacement? I am due one in a little under 6 weeks. Having lots of reservations about going ahead because my health has taken such a battering in the last 3.5 years. Overweight but fit before PMR diagnosed Apr 19. Reduction in Pred brought chronic fatigue and virtually no excercise for last 3 years. Now adrenal insufficient and being monitored by Endocrinologist. He is happy for me to go ahead with knee surgery.
Had hoped to improve fitness before op but still very overweight, still finding walking a struggle and currentlyhave Covid.
Would like to hear experiences of those with similar issues .
I have had 2 knee replacements- one partial- whilst on about 11mgs pred. I am very overweight too. I also had 2 hip replacements. All the ops went well, my healing was normal and I didn’t get any infections. I was pretty immobile beforehand. There are always risks with surgery but despite many surgeons refusing to operate on me, it went well. We just have to do the post op exercises which are brutal at first but get easier.
I was lucky enough to go to a convalescent facility after my last knee op and would highly recommend it as they provide daily hydrotherapy and physio therapy as well as the “ Game ready” icing machine which really helps with the pain.
My partner had a full knee replacement. Upon getting out of hospital her leg above the knee when purple and sore and she had to go to hospital for a fortnight to cure her for blood poisoning.
If you surgeon is happy to operate you will be fine. They would refuse to operate if they felt you were too overweight. I know my surgeon would not do hip replacements or knee replacements for anyone with a BMI over 40.
I had a full knee replacement in March, I was on 10 mg of pred. at the time,. Surgery was a success, I was afraid to have it done, but it went very well & was not as bad as I had heard this surgery was.
I am 3 weeks post op hip replacement. The best thing I did, previously had other hip replaced 5 yrs ago. My PMR is under control but fairly newly diagnosed. Had to go back up to 15 but down to 10mg now. The way I look at is I can exercise more now get as fit as I can. Trying to stay on top of the weight was hard enough as I also have hypothyroidism. I just feel so much happier get that knee done it’s life changing. Good luck
i had both knees replaced over ten years ago,with a break of five months between ops.You must persevere with exercises after op,they are painfull but will get easier in time.I still get swollen knees but i cannot get fluid taken off as it could cause an infection in my knee.I use frozen peas wrapped in tea towel to help with swelling.I have had two hips replaced in last year,what a difference this has made.I had no infections with four operations.Take painkillers to keep on top of the pain.Good Luck.
I had knee replacement while on 6 mgs pred several years ago and hip replacement this year. After knee op, I did have to up pred to 7 mgs. Do be sure to do the exercises afterward. Both legs were terribly bruised and swollen after op but soon went away and knee has given me no trouble.
Not what you want to hear, but I developed a septic prosthetic joint infection seven years after my initial surgery. Bacteria forms a biofilm infection on the replacement- it's a dangerous, life threatening situation. Surgical infections are not the only possibility for infection. You are right to be concerned if you are very overweight- this increases your chances of both surgical and long-term infection. The average weight gain post joint replacement is 16 pounds- there is a clinical study on this. Most people underestimate how long it takes to recover from this surgery, and how immobile they will be. Can this be a life enhacing surgery? Of course. But when things go wrong, I cannot exxagerate how bad it can .
Thank you for posting this! I too am facing an upcoming right knee full replacement (and then left knee soon thereafter). It is very intimidating! I am trying hard to eat low low carb but so far have not been able to shift any of my excess weight. I was told to do pre-surgery exercises AND post-surgery ones so I have opted for physical therapy to strengthen and stretch what is a super tight, painful knee. I also do my home exercises (very painful). My rheumatologist thinks it may sort out which pain is which (PMR or mechanical issues with knees) as I have become very immobile and I hate it. I'm at 10 mg pred so surgeon says that is fine.
So pleased you have posted. When you say you have opted for physical therapy is this a private physio you attend? I haven't been given direction re any pre or post surgury exercises.
So first, I am in the U.S. so my orthopedic surgeon visits and the surgery is covered through my Blue Cross insurance though he has to be part of my insurance "network". I just have to pay a small "copay". He recommended that I do physical therapy before and after the knee replacement. His belief is that if you strengthen the legs and stretch out the tight muscles beforehand, the operation tends to be more successful. Then afterwards, he recommends physical therapy to make sure the muscles and tendons and all remain flexible and strong. Some people, he mentioned, do the exercises on their own and he gave me a booklet with the exercises that he recommends. However, I do better with physical therapy (PT) as they push me and guide me to do things which helped greatly in the past. The exception is I have to tell my PT person to go light on the massage and also the muscle work due to not being able to recover as well as others due to my PMR. I am lucky my retired teacher's insurance covers most of all this. (I am in the U.S.)
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Knee and hip replacement hampered by Covid lockdown then PMR was 
Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement
