Total Knee Replacement at 50 yo (1 Viewer)

[BustedKnuckles]

I`ve decided after 30 years of pain to have total knee replacement . Wondering if anyone here has done this or know anyone who has and how long the recovery was ? Ive always recovered faster than what the doctors said i would after other numerous surgeries including Torn bicep ...9 knee surgeries...AC joint removed from both shoulders... 3 hernia`s . But this is the most involved and biggest surgery yet so im a bit concerned ill be laid up longer than ever before.

 

[otello]

A friend had a hip replacement and he said he wished he did it years earlier. Good luck.

 

[ShaqAttaq]

I'm 43 in a few days. I will be having a total knee replacement in a year or two. Please document your progress; I'm interested.

My aunt just had one a few weeks ago. She is morbidly obese and lazy. She is getting around amazingly well and said that the surgery made her pain go away.

 

[DiStefano]

I've had a total knee replacement; best decision for surgery I ever made. Prior to that time, when I came home after playing basketball for two hours, I had to ice my knee for 2 or 3 hours to get the swelling down. I've had it for 6 years now and it has given me no problems.

These are some of the things I would keep in mind. First, make sure that you have an excellent surgeon. Mine was an orthopedic surgeon who worked with US Olympic teams. Second, go into an exercise program for your knee before the surgery. That will make the rehab that much easier afterward. When I asked my surgeon what I should do before, he said: Just one thing; stationary bicycle. So I put in my hours on the bicycle before, and as soon as I could, I got back on the bicycle. I can't really remember the exact timing of things, but at one point after the surgery I told the surgeon I had spent 40 minutes on the bicycle the previous day, and he said: I wish all my patients were as committed to exercising as you are.

Good luck.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Nurse in the operating room. We do 5-6 of these a day. After rehab, most say they wish they had done it years earlier.

 

[glock]

My orthopedic guy (a lifelong athlete in his 70's) told me- based on my multiple meniscus surgeries- to give up running or run myself into a knee replacement. I reeeally miss my running, but am in no hurry to give up my knee... :(

 

[beer 302]

I'm interested as well. I was told about 6 years ago that I would be needing knee replacement at some point since arthritis was doing a number on it. I've since been on a med regime that I think has slowed the process but it is a when, not if proposition. In the last two years I've taken up running in fairly big way probably speeding up the process some but #### it, I'm not going to sit back and nurse it.

My biggest question is, can you go back to running afterward or is that a no-no after replacement?

 

[DiStefano]

I'm interested as well. I was told about 6 years ago that I would be needing knee replacement at some point since arthritis was doing a number on it. I've since been on a med regime that I think has slowed the process but it is a when, not if proposition. In the last two years I've taken up running in fairly big way probably speeding up the process some but #### it, I'm not going to sit back and nurse it.

My biggest question is, can you go back to running afterward or is that a no-no after replacement?

The standard answer a few years ago was no impact exercising. However, with the operation being done now for younger and younger people, that is no longer as true. Many have gone back to running and had no ill effects. But it is understandable that they will continue to stress "no impact" because what surgeon wants to have someone come back and say: "Your operation didn't work". It's one of those things you are going to have to feel your way back to.

 

[Jaysus]

Yikes, 50 is early... you must be in bad shape. On the plus side, recovery should be easier on you

How long are knee replacements supposed to last now-a-days?

P.S. Hi Ron!

 

[fruity pebbles]

I'm interested as well. I was told about 6 years ago that I would be needing knee replacement at some point since arthritis was doing a number on it. I've since been on a med regime that I think has slowed the process but it is a when, not if proposition. In the last two years I've taken up running in fairly big way probably speeding up the process some but #### it, I'm not going to sit back and nurse it.

My biggest question is, can you go back to running afterward or is that a no-no after replacement?

They don't recommend it. Can loosen the joint and cause premature failure. Total joints are made to survive daily activities. That said i do know some who act like they're training for the olympics.

 

[MAC_32]

If you can hold out until closer to 60 that would be optimal, but in many cases the pain is just not bearable as is. Earlier you do it the more likely you will have to have a second operation.

 

[shuke]

I'm interested as well. I was told about 6 years ago that I would be needing knee replacement at some point since arthritis was doing a number on it. I've since been on a med regime that I think has slowed the process but it is a when, not if proposition. In the last two years I've taken up running in fairly big way probably speeding up the process some but #### it, I'm not going to sit back and nurse it.

My biggest question is, can you go back to running afterward or is that a no-no after replacement?

The standard answer a few years ago was no impact exercising. However, with the operation being done now for younger and younger people, that is no longer as true.

According to who?

 

[glock]

If you can hold out until closer to 60 that would be optimal, but in many cases the pain is just not bearable as is. Earlier you do it the more likely you will have to have a second operation.

Great thing is- today's "second operations" involve swapping out the "biscuits" that serve as the meniscus'...

 

[shuke]

If you can hold out until closer to 60 that would be optimal, but in many cases the pain is just not bearable as is. Earlier you do it the more likely you will have to have a second operation.

Even at 60 you may need a revision, based on your activity levels. There is a thought now that younger may be better, because the bone stock available for fixation is better and may lead to a better experience over lifetime.

 

[CurlyNight]

50 is young but I know Zimmer knee implants can go 30 years. I work for a minimally invasive hip and knee replacement surgeon who has pts come from all over the nation, and have been with his practice for 10 years. He uses Zimmer implants which are the best on the market. Don't go for the crap that is Striker I think it is that says it rotates too. Your knee should not rotate.

My aunt had both knees replaced at the same time with my doc employer. Was in the hospital 3 days, walking with a walker to start the next day. Scars are 4 inches long vs the traditional 6 many docs do. If you are interested in who I work for that has years of the real minimally invasive surgery, pm me. The post op care is bar none. He has his own center with nothing but joint replacement pts so you aren't around sick pts in a hospital. It's like a hotel of a hospital, you are catered to like no other place. Many hospitals don't have nurses and pts who deal primarily with joint replacement pts and this one does with this doc.

With this doc, you have a PT come to your home the first 2 weeks after surgery. Then you go to outpatient PT generally 2-4 x a week depending on your progress. Expect about 2 months of intense PT (at least with this doc) and you need to keep up with stretches and such. My aunt (72) who is almost 2 years out will get a little stiff from time to time. Pain is gone, that's the big thing.

Good luck. I've scheduled surgery for knee or hip replacements on even younger than 50. I think the youngest was 37. She was born with little cartilage in her hip so naturally it became an issue early on. We are all different, some of us have nice thick cartilages in our joints and some not so much. Also wear and tear, we have a lot of athletes coming through some in their 50s and 60s. It isn't just an old person's problem like I thought when I first started working here.

If it affects your quality of life enough and you are very comfortable with who you are going with, then do it. They key is getting someone really good so you don't face infection issues which can occur and/or revision surgery down the road. Again let me know if you want more info. Good luck!

 

[CurlyNight]

After a knee replacement, you cannot go back to high impact sports such as running. Walking, swimming, skiing (not downhill hardcore stuff), doubles tennis comes to mind.

 

[CurlyNight]

If you can hold out until closer to 60 that would be optimal, but in many cases the pain is just not bearable as is. Earlier you do it the more likely you will have to have a second operation.

Even at 60 you may need a revision, based on your activity levels. There is a thought now that younger may be better, because the bone stock available for fixation is better and may lead to a better experience over lifetime.

Revision at 60 is uncommon unless you are with a ####ty doc who didn't do it right to begin with. That's most of our revision cases along with post op infection when the whole joint needs to come out, infection cleared, then reimplantation can take place.

You would have to do some serious high impact activities to need a rev at 60 or become infected.The type of implant and the surgeon are very important as is the post op activities you choose.

We give prophylactic antibiotics before ant type of dental appt after surgery for life to prevent infection. It used to be for the first 2 years.

 

[CurlyNight]

I'm 43 in a few days. I will be having a total knee replacement in a year or two. Please document your progress; I'm interested.

My aunt just had one a few weeks ago. She is morbidly obese and lazy. She is getting around amazingly well and said that the surgery made her pain go away.

My doc won't even do surgery on morbidly obese folks because of the weight, a revision will be in store. You need to have a certain bmi max for him to do it. I've had to tell many a folks they need to lose weight before I could schedule them for surgery. Not fun but in the end, the knee replacement will fail with too much weight on it.

And why are you having it so young???

 

[fruity pebbles]

50 is young but I know Zimmer knee implants can go 30 years. I work for a minimally invasive hip and knee replacement surgeon who has pts come from all over the nation, and have been with his practice for 10 years. He uses Zimmer implants which are the best on the market. Don't go for the crap that is Striker I think it is that says it rotates too. Your knee should not rotate.

My aunt had both knees replaced at the same time with my doc employer. Was in the hospital 3 days, walking with a walker to start the next day. Scars are 4 inches long vs the traditional 6 many docs do. If you are interested in who I work for that has years of the real minimally invasive surgery, pm me. The post op care is bar none. He has his own center with nothing but joint replacement pts so you aren't around sick pts in a hospital. It's like a hotel of a hospital, you are catered to like no other place. Many hospitals don't have nurses and pts who deal primarily with joint replacement pts and this one does with this doc.

With this doc, you have a PT come to your home the first 2 weeks after surgery. Then you go to outpatient PT generally 2-4 x a week depending on your progress. Expect about 2 months of intense PT (at least with this doc) and you need to keep up with stretches and such. My aunt (72) who is almost 2 years out will get a little stiff from time to time. Pain is gone, that's the big thing.

Good luck. I've scheduled surgery for knee or hip replacements on even younger than 50. I think the youngest was 37. She was born with little cartilage in her hip so naturally it became an issue early on. We are all different, some of us have nice thick cartilages in our joints and some not so much. Also wear and tear, we have a lot of athletes coming through some in their 50s and 60s. It isn't just an old person's problem like I thought when I first started working here.

If it affects your quality of life enough and you are very comfortable with who you are going with, then do it. They key is getting someone really good so you don't face infection issues which can occur and/or revision surgery down the road. Again let me know if you want more info. Good luck!

It's Stryker and its personal preference what brand of implant is used. Also depends a lot on the deal the hospital cuts. We use Zimmer because they offered us a great deal to exclusively use their products but before that we used Stryker, Depuy, Biomet. They were all pretty equal.

 

[Spike]

My dad had double knee replacement done when he was 64ish and said it was the best thing he did. He was basically walking like Herman Munster before it, due to his knees being so bad.

 

[CurlyNight]

I laugh hard at those Stryker commercials. Knee needs to rotate my ###. It's not a personal preference. Doc has been in the mis joint replacement biz since the 90s when mis knee was coming to really be. He is also a researcher on this. He is one of the pioneers of mis hip and knee replacement surgery and that's all he does. Depuy has had so many recalls it's funny. Every time there is one I am flooded with calls about what brand we use.

 

[DiStefano]

I'm interested as well. I was told about 6 years ago that I would be needing knee replacement at some point since arthritis was doing a number on it. I've since been on a med regime that I think has slowed the process but it is a when, not if proposition. In the last two years I've taken up running in fairly big way probably speeding up the process some but #### it, I'm not going to sit back and nurse it.

My biggest question is, can you go back to running afterward or is that a no-no after replacement?

The standard answer a few years ago was no impact exercising. However, with the operation being done now for younger and younger people, that is no longer as true.

According to who?

According to these people:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100312071800.htm

Obviously there is more risk. But that does not necessarily mean it is an absolute no-no.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Hey BK, grandma has both bionic hips on my wife's side of the family. She suffered for years in pain, the surgery was not easy but after a little rehab she has been mostly pain free for 10 years now, she is 80 years old. She said she probably needed the surgery in her late 50s early 60s but she waited and waited.

Good luck with this, hope it works out well for you, fantastic doctors and sports medicine these days, just make sure you get a top notch doctor, no pinching pennies on this. I would encourage you to make sure beyond the rehab and walking it, strengthening it, you might take a while before you are mobile, get some books to read and catch up on.

Again good luck Buddy.

 

[CurlyNight]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

I'm sure they all have had recalls but in my 10 years as the surgery coordinator with this doc, I don't recall hearing Zimmer or I would have been massively flooded with a zillion calls as that's the only implant he uses. He and his partner do over 2K cases a year since that's all they do. I'll go with the docs who that's all they do, hip and knees, and are researchers in this field.

 

[CurlyNight]

Hey BK, grandma has both bionic hips on my wife's side of the family. She suffered for years in pain, the surgery was not easy but after a little rehab she has been mostly pain free for 10 years now, she is 80 years old. She said she probably needed the surgery in her late 50s early 60s but she waited and waited.

Good luck with this, hope it works out well for you, fantastic doctors and sports medicine these days, just make sure you get a top notch doctor, no pinching pennies on this. I would encourage you to make sure beyond the rehab and walking it, strengthening it, you might take a while before you are mobile, get some books to read and catch up on.

Again good luck Buddy.

Glad to hear. You wouldn't believe how many gifts we receive after surgeries from pts who are so grateful. They treat me like I did the surgery and all I did was coordinate it! There is no age limit as long as folks are healthy or if not, get clearance from the appropriate docs.

 

[glock]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

Is that really the case?

 

[fruity pebbles]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

I'm sure they all have had recalls but in my 10 years as the surgery coordinator with this doc, I don't recall hearing Zimmer or I would have been massively flooded with a zillion calls as that's the only implant he uses. He and his partner do over 2K cases a year since that's all they do. I'll go with the docs who that's all they do, hip and knees, and are researchers in this field.

Thats all any ortho surgeon does anymore. They almost always do either joints or trauma and most strictly do just knees or just hips. And they are all researchers in their field.

http://www.drugwatch.com/nexgen-knee-replacement/recall.php

Just because you're his secretary doesn't make you an expert in the field of implants. But no point beating a dead horse. If you think Zimmer is far superior so be it. We use them exclusively simply because they offered us the best deal. Before that we used a lot of Styker.

 

[rct]

I`ve decided after 30 years of pain to have total knee replacement . Wondering if anyone here has done this or know anyone who has and how long the recovery was ? Ive always recovered faster than what the doctors said i would after other numerous surgeries including Torn bicep ...9 knee surgeries...AC joint removed from both shoulders... 3 hernia`s . But this is the most involved and biggest surgery yet so im a bit concerned ill be laid up longer than ever before.

Did you play professional sports? Or are you just more susceptible to these type of injuries? Reason I ask is that I am older than you and have had none of those health issues (knock on wood). I hope the knee replacement improves the quality of your life.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

Is that really the case?

Between manufacturers yeah. They all have pretty much the same technology. The choice by hospitals typically comes down to cost.

 

[CurlyNight]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

I'm sure they all have had recalls but in my 10 years as the surgery coordinator with this doc, I don't recall hearing Zimmer or I would have been massively flooded with a zillion calls as that's the only implant he uses. He and his partner do over 2K cases a year since that's all they do. I'll go with the docs who that's all they do, hip and knees, and are researchers in this field.

Thats all any ortho surgeon does anymore. They almost always do either joints or trauma and most strictly do just knees or just hips. And they are all researchers in their field.

http://www.drugwatch.com/nexgen-knee-replacement/recall.php

Just because you're his secretary doesn't make you an expert in the field of implants. But no point beating a dead horse. If you think Zimmer is far superior so be it. We use them exclusively simply because they offered us the best deal. Before that we used a lot of Styker.

lol. No that's not all any orthopod does anymore. Many are still doing sports med stuff in addition to replacement surgeries. But since you assist in the OR you are more of an authority than me the "secretary." I also do NP consults and have had education in this field over the 10 years here. Our doc believes his employees including his "secretaries" need to know everything about this stuff minus the technical surgical stuff.

 

[glock]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

Is that really the case?

Between manufacturers yeah. They all have pretty much the same technology. The choice by hospitals typically comes down to cost.

Okay- so they all utilize these 4 types of knees?

 

[beer 302]

After a knee replacement, you cannot go back to high impact sports such as running. Walking, swimming, skiing (not downhill hardcore stuff), doubles tennis comes to mind.

Oh well #### that then

 

[CurlyNight]

After a knee replacement, you cannot go back to high impact sports such as running. Walking, swimming, skiing (not downhill hardcore stuff), doubles tennis comes to mind.

Oh well #### that then

I should say you 'can' but it's not advised if you want your implant to last the # of years it's supposed to. If you are fine with your quality of life right now, then do hold off. Majority do wish they would have done it sooner but there are some that weren't ready to possibly become limited athletically so it's a careful decision that each person needs to make for themselves.

 

[DiStefano]

After a knee replacement, you cannot go back to high impact sports such as running. Walking, swimming, skiing (not downhill hardcore stuff), doubles tennis comes to mind.

Oh well #### that then

I should say you 'can' but it's not advised if you want your implant to last the # of years it's supposed to. If you are fine with your quality of life right now, then do hold off. Majority do wish they would have done it sooner but there are some that weren't ready to possibly become limited athletically so it's a careful decision that each person needs to make for themselves.

Before you jump off that bridge, you should have read this, which I posted above:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100312071800.htm

 

[BustedKnuckles]

Hey BK, grandma has both bionic hips on my wife's side of the family. She suffered for years in pain, the surgery was not easy but after a little rehab she has been mostly pain free for 10 years now, she is 80 years old. She said she probably needed the surgery in her late 50s early 60s but she waited and waited.

Good luck with this, hope it works out well for you, fantastic doctors and sports medicine these days, just make sure you get a top notch doctor, no pinching pennies on this. I would encourage you to make sure beyond the rehab and walking it, strengthening it, you might take a while before you are mobile, get some books to read and catch up on.

Again good luck Buddy.

Thank you MOP,my doc already did my other knee so im familiar with his work. He`s top notch.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

scheduled the surgery for feb 26th....cant wait.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Hey BK, grandma has both bionic hips on my wife's side of the family. She suffered for years in pain, the surgery was not easy but after a little rehab she has been mostly pain free for 10 years now, she is 80 years old. She said she probably needed the surgery in her late 50s early 60s but she waited and waited.

Good luck with this, hope it works out well for you, fantastic doctors and sports medicine these days, just make sure you get a top notch doctor, no pinching pennies on this. I would encourage you to make sure beyond the rehab and walking it, strengthening it, you might take a while before you are mobile, get some books to read and catch up on.

Again good luck Buddy.

Thank you MOP,my doc already did my other knee so im familiar with his work. He`s top notch.

Oh this is your 2nd knee replacement? Or what happened with the other one? I'm lucky that my knees are pretty well in tact despite trying to mimic Ric Flair's figure-4 leg lock as a kid with my brother.

 

[DiStefano]

Hey BK, grandma has both bionic hips on my wife's side of the family. She suffered for years in pain, the surgery was not easy but after a little rehab she has been mostly pain free for 10 years now, she is 80 years old. She said she probably needed the surgery in her late 50s early 60s but she waited and waited.

Good luck with this, hope it works out well for you, fantastic doctors and sports medicine these days, just make sure you get a top notch doctor, no pinching pennies on this. I would encourage you to make sure beyond the rehab and walking it, strengthening it, you might take a while before you are mobile, get some books to read and catch up on.

Again good luck Buddy.

Thank you MOP,my doc already did my other knee so im familiar with his work. He`s top notch.

So if he did your other knee, why did you post that OP?

 

[BustedKnuckles]

I`ve decided after 30 years of pain to have total knee replacement . Wondering if anyone here has done this or know anyone who has and how long the recovery was ? Ive always recovered faster than what the doctors said i would after other numerous surgeries including Torn bicep ...9 knee surgeries...AC joint removed from both shoulders... 3 hernia`s . But this is the most involved and biggest surgery yet so im a bit concerned ill be laid up longer than ever before.

Did you play professional sports? Or are you just more susceptible to these type of injuries? Reason I ask is that I am older than you and have had none of those health issues (knock on wood). I hope the knee replacement improves the quality of your life.

First hurt my knee 30 some odd years ago playing a pick up football game with friends.Tore the ACL ,i never fixed it and let it go. The knee just kept getting worse with multiple surgeries to clean out cartilage.Its been bone on bone for so long ive lost track how long.Tore my other knee ACL when someone fell into my knee at a party...freak accident. That one i fixed immediately witha cadaver ligament....no issues what so ever since. The shoulders were just wear and tear of 30 years of lifting and boxing. The torn bicep was me catching a HUGE heavy tv as it fell to the floor,another freak accident.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

Hey BK, grandma has both bionic hips on my wife's side of the family. She suffered for years in pain, the surgery was not easy but after a little rehab she has been mostly pain free for 10 years now, she is 80 years old. She said she probably needed the surgery in her late 50s early 60s but she waited and waited.

Good luck with this, hope it works out well for you, fantastic doctors and sports medicine these days, just make sure you get a top notch doctor, no pinching pennies on this. I would encourage you to make sure beyond the rehab and walking it, strengthening it, you might take a while before you are mobile, get some books to read and catch up on.

Again good luck Buddy.

Thank you MOP,my doc already did my other knee so im familiar with his work. He`s top notch.

So if he did your other knee, why did you post that OP?

sorry,i meant he fixed a torn ACL ,replaced it with a cadaver ligament and havent had any issues .

 

[Short Corner]

My dad (65) just had his second knee done in May. Infection set in in Sept (probably earlier because it was giving off some serious heat when they visited in Aug but he said the doc said it was normal) and had a pretty big scare. Was in the hospital for 4 weeks. Gave him a #### load of antibiotics that almost shut down his kidneys which required dialysis for a few more months. Bill came close to 7 figures (even with the original doc replacing for no charge) covered with a $10 copay. He is back on the course playing 9 holes a day with a cart.

 

[CurlyNight]

My dad (65) just had his second knee done in May. Infection set in in Sept (probably earlier because it was giving off some serious heat when they visited in Aug but he said the doc said it was normal) and had a pretty big scare. Was in the hospital for 4 weeks. Gave him a #### load of antibiotics that almost shut down his kidneys which required dialysis for a few more months. Bill came close to 7 figures (even with the original doc replacing for no charge) covered with a $10 copay. He is back on the course playing 9 holes a day with a cart.

We tell pts to call if they see redness, is painful (beyond the reasonable after surgery feel), feels hot and/or have a fever. Better to be a false alarm but you never know. We have a nurse that is dedicated to triaging such calls as one of her major functions. Most of the time we have people come in for a wound check just to be sure. Your dad should go in for the annual visit in May even if he feels fine, assuming he has no more issues until then. A year is about what it is for the implant to be set. After that regulations are every other year unless there is a problem. Glad he's ok now.

What a dumb doc. How can he say feeling a lot of heat from it especially a couple months out is normal??? Wow.

 

[[icon]]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

I'm sure they all have had recalls but in my 10 years as the surgery coordinator with this doc, I don't recall hearing Zimmer or I would have been massively flooded with a zillion calls as that's the only implant he uses. He and his partner do over 2K cases a year since that's all they do. I'll go with the docs who that's all they do, hip and knees, and are researchers in this field.

Thats all any ortho surgeon does anymore. They almost always do either joints or trauma and most strictly do just knees or just hips. And they are all researchers in their field.

http://www.drugwatch.com/nexgen-knee-replacement/recall.php

Just because you're his secretary doesn't make you an expert in the field of implants. But no point beating a dead horse. If you think Zimmer is far superior so be it. We use them exclusively simply because they offered us the best deal. Before that we used a lot of Styker.

lol. No that's not all any orthopod does anymore. Many are still doing sports med stuff in addition to replacement surgeries. But since you assist in the OR you are more of an authority than me the "secretary." I also do NP consults and have had education in this field over the 10 years here. Our doc believes his employees including his "secretaries" need to know everything about this stuff minus the technical surgical stuff.

You know how I can tell Curly Night is a woman? Seems like this chick would argue with a tree stump.

Anybody speaking in these sorts of absolutes with regards to this type of stuff is pretty obviously parroting info and has little idea what they're talking about. That said, it's pretty common for front of house staff thinking their couple hours of "education" with implant reps makes them one step away from doing the surgery themselves.

Fun fact... a lot of the reps running around doing this "education" really have very limited knowledge bases and are simply just parroting the company talking points that they're representing. That's true in damn near any implant division.

 

[boofatty]

I`ve decided after 30 years of pain to have total knee replacement . Wondering if anyone here has done this or know anyone who has and how long the recovery was ? Ive always recovered faster than what the doctors said i would after other numerous surgeries including Torn bicep ...9 knee surgeries...AC joint removed from both shoulders... 3 hernia`s . But this is the most involved and biggest surgery yet so im a bit concerned ill be laid up longer than ever before.

Go for it BK. I just had my hip done last month and Im loving it. I ran into one of my coworkers at the pre-op, he had both knees done last month at the same doc. Ill try to touch base with him and see how hes doing this week.

 

[shuke]

If you can hold out until closer to 60 that would be optimal, but in many cases the pain is just not bearable as is. Earlier you do it the more likely you will have to have a second operation.

Even at 60 you may need a revision, based on your activity levels. There is a thought now that younger may be better, because the bone stock available for fixation is better and may lead to a better experience over lifetime.

Revision at 60 is uncommon unless you are with a ####ty doc who didn't do it right to begin with. That's most of our revision cases along with post op infection when the whole joint needs to come out, infection cleared, then reimplantation can take place.

You would have to do some serious high impact activities to need a rev at 60 or become infected.The type of implant and the surgeon are very important as is the post op activities you choose.

We give prophylactic antibiotics before ant type of dental appt after surgery for life to prevent infection. It used to be for the first 2 years.

What I was saying is that even if you get an implant at 60, you may need a revision some day.

 

[shuke]

I'm interested as well. I was told about 6 years ago that I would be needing knee replacement at some point since arthritis was doing a number on it. I've since been on a med regime that I think has slowed the process but it is a when, not if proposition. In the last two years I've taken up running in fairly big way probably speeding up the process some but #### it, I'm not going to sit back and nurse it.

My biggest question is, can you go back to running afterward or is that a no-no after replacement?

The standard answer a few years ago was no impact exercising. However, with the operation being done now for younger and younger people, that is no longer as true.

According to who?

According to these people:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100312071800.htm

Obviously there is more risk. But that does not necessarily mean it is an absolute no-no.

Interesting, hadn't seen that, thanks.

 

[shuke]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

I'm sure they all have had recalls but in my 10 years as the surgery coordinator with this doc, I don't recall hearing Zimmer or I would have been massively flooded with a zillion calls as that's the only implant he uses. He and his partner do over 2K cases a year since that's all they do. I'll go with the docs who that's all they do, hip and knees, and are researchers in this field.

I'm pretty sure Zimmer's NexGen has been recalled multiple times and the results have not been that great.

There are plenty of doctors out there that have success with different brands. Sorry, but the surgeon you work for is not unique in his experience.

 

[shuke]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

Is that really the case?

Curly is right that mobile bearings have not really been shown to improve overall performance. But so much work has been done on knees and hips that most of the implants are pretty similar. I'd say hips could be considered a commodity, knees are close but not quite there yet.

 

[shuke]

Zimmer has had a ton of recalls as well hate to tell you. They all have. Like i said, we do a half dozen a day. And another half dozen hips. Stryker and Depuy are both gaining market share on Zimmer. Stryker's rotating knee is a marketing ploy, no different than Zimmer's female specific knee implant. I understand you work for an orthopod who uses Zimmer so they must be the best but there's really very little difference. Implants are pretty much a commodity business.

Is that really the case?

Between manufacturers yeah. They all have pretty much the same technology. The choice by hospitals typically comes down to cost.

Okay- so they all utilize these 4 types of knees?

Yes, most companies will offer those different types, but there will be differences in them. The type of implant you need will be based on your specific diagnosis. The key here is finding a good surgeon. I'm a believer that in the hands of a good surgeon, any of the currently offered implants would do fine.