New Knee: What can't I do afterward?

I'm scheduled to have knee replacement on one knee in a couple of weeks. I know there's a lot of therapy involved, and I'll do that. What I'd like to know from you guys who have had knee replacement is how this might restrict my activities after the therapy/healing is done. Have you been able to do the same kind of work-related things you did before? What can't you do? One of the main reasons for me to get the surgery is to be able to get back out in my woods, on and off my tractors, piling limbs and brush, cutting/handling firewood, climbing ladders, etc.

I had my bypass surgery, and the day I was let out the discharge nurse said Sit Down! She got right up in my face and read me the riot act; what I could do, what I COULD NOT DO!!! And How Long I could NOT DO IT! I think she ever shook a finger at me. Let me know the pounds I could lift, and how long, and on and on. Wife just smiled. But I did it, and it all healed up just fine. Do what they say.

No Irish step dancing for awhile.😊

Two friends. One did all his directed rehab and more. Walked a full mile every day for the next couple of years. Able to do all the things you wish to do. The other didn't follow through. Said too difficult. Sat around gained weight, got around with a cane for awhile before going with a walker. Sad.

I know a man who was a state prison guard that climbed steps to get to guard tower.

After surgery he was told he couldn't climb steps. Prison gave him a job he could do at half the pay.

He decided to retire early only to find out he had to live on a lot less money. Hindsight, he was second guessing having surgery.

Before surgery, better ask your Dr what limitations he will place on you and how soon you'll be able to return to work.

Another man had multiple knee replacements. So ask Dr how long is knee replacement expected to last.

Had mine replaced 3 years ago, can do anything you could before and more, only thing I have found is you CAN NOT work off your knees, ( kneeling ). With out the thickest, best knee pad you can find Other than that, you will find you should have had it done sooner lol. At least I did

My mother had a knee replaced when she was 89. She lived another 5 years.

The one thing that griped her the most, was after the replacement she couldn't kneel and work in a garden or flower bed like she'll always done.

BTW, she worked hard at her therapy. If the therapist said to do something 10 time a day, she did 20. She didn't just sit around and let nature take its course like a lot of women her age might have. And I think working at the therapy is the key to the whole outcome.

My father-in-law has had the same experience about not being able to kneel down. He's had both of his replaced in the last five years and this is the only thing he can't do now that he could before. He has much less pain and improved mobility so this restriction is a small price to pay for the benefits.

Well, anyone who says it's like it was 30 years ago or like brand new is fooling himself, or at least exaggerating (remember though, that's just my opinion after having a replacement knee almost two years ago). I don't think any of us that has had a knee issue even remembers what it was like before things went south. But it is a great procedure and if you are careful and dedicated to recovery, you'll be happy with the results. The important thing is to follow the exercise program they put you on and do no more or no less than what they say. If they say 50 reps three times per day, do exactly that. Don't think doing 100 reps five times per day will be better because it won't be better. And once recovery is complete and your range of motion is back to what it was (or even in a lot of cases better), don't quit the exercises. Do them every day, go for a walk, ride the bike outside or an exercise bike inside, and keep active. That's my two cents, been there and done that. Meanwhile, my other knee is giving me grief and as much as I don't want to think of it, it'll probably have to be done as well.

I had one knee replaced 18 years ago. I was 47 at the time. Best thing I ever did. Be sure to do all of the Physical Therapy. Hope you have a good ice maker, the ice sure does help. My job required me to do a lot of crawling on my hands and knees. I invested in a good pair of strap on knee pads. I am an still able to kneel in church. My advice to anyone is to just get it done!

if your DR. is any good you should be doing what you want in 6 weeks wife had both done last year 6 weeks apart after 4 weeks with the second one was back teaching water aerobics. like i said HOPE you did your home work on the doctor they are not all the same

Use a surgeon that uses custom designed knees for your body... not off the shelf knees.
Save your knee caps if they can...
Work like the devil during rehab... immediately, not weeks later..or you'll restrict/limit your flexibility.. you need to break through the scar tissue that's building up.
Be prepared for some excruciating pain during the early rehab period.
Knee stiffness may last as long as a year..so don't be discouraged.. they don't tell you this until after your surgery

Had both of my knees replaced on December 12th, 2016.
Knelt in church at 6 weeks, climbed up into my cab tractor at 3 weeks.
Getting into kneeling position is tricky at times, but I do crawl ... on my knees... around my garden and under my farm equipment.

I've been told that orthopedic surgeons feel their surgery is a success if you have 100 - 115 degrees of flexibility. I know a couple of guys with 90 - 95 degrees
I have 125 degrees of flexibility..which I attribute to my being able to put up with the early pain of rehab..
People ask me all the time regarding what to do and what to expect.. I tell them...make sure you are in good health and your immune system is in excellent shape..and revved up.. ..so you can fight off infection..and be prepared for pain during rehab.. if you have a low pain threshold and can't stand pain... then don't have your knees replaced.
My after market knees are not as good as the original equipment... but they allow me to get to where I want to be and do what I want to do.

I'm 77 years old and run my 250 acre 50-60 head grass-fed beef operation .. by myself
Marty Smith

I used to love to clog dance...no more....but could not for 5 years before the surgery..so at age 74 C'est la vie.
Don't plan on kneeling much or stepping over tall fences...but life is good even without those positions.
Frankly, I have had new knees 10 years and bet I go a 100 days without even thinking about it.
Compare that to dreading to get out of bed every day to face the pain of my real knees.
Do do the therapy..I'd go one knee at a time in case there are problems, but that is a personal decision.

I have one replaced a few years ago. I can according to my doc do anything I did before except kneel. I was also told not more contact sports ever.....and i was so looking forward to the walker football league! Should be getting the other one done this fall. I put it off cause I bought a new boat this spring and didn't want to mess up fishing!

Good luck! Do as the doc tells you and don't blow off the therapy. Mother in law had one done. Took her almost 9 months to heal. Every time she acted like she was in pain my father in law made her stop what she was doing. When she had the 2nd one done my wife took her into therapy at the local nursing home everyday. She back on her feet and doing stuff in about 8 weeks. I know 2 guys who violated the docs orders, both had to have followup surgery to fix what they messed up! DO WHAT THE DOC TELLS YOU!

Rick

had my right knee done a few years ago and there is nothing I can't do that I did before--including getting on and off my dozers, crawling under to change oils,logging,hunting and putting a new roof on one of my buildings

It's having the right doctor.
I'd check on how his patient's feel about his work.
There's some hacks out there.

(quoted from post at 22:20:38 08/08/18) It's having the right doctor.
I'd check on how his patient's feel about his work.
There's some hacks out there.

Click to expand...

How does anyone do that, pounce on post op patients as they leave his/her office?
I doubt any doctor is going to give you a list of patients to interview that has not been stacked in his/her favor.

I have had partials on both knees in consecutive years. The second was five years ago. I can do more than I could before, including kneeling. I told the Doc that I wanted to be on the rapid recovery program because it was Dec. 3 and I wanted to go snowmobiling in Feb. He said fine and told the nurses to let me have the electric exerciser eight hours after. I was up walking after 12 hours and out of the hospital after 26. You have to be able to climb and descend stairs before they let you out. Here is a tip. We had an eight inch stool in the bathroom for the grand kids. Every time I got up from the couch I stepped up and over and down from it. The doc told me great. After a few months I started doing squats every morning in order to build my thigh muscles back up. I kept doing them deeper and deeper. Yes I went snowmobiling in Feb and still do pretty much everything I ever did including kneeling. The one thing that I can't do is sit on one heel.

Had both mine done. 2010 and 2014. Was on the tractor 8 days after surgery both times. Therapist yelled at me, but afterwards said that they have to do that but secretly both them and the docs like to see you do as much as you can. Abit hard to kneel on a hard surface. I keep a bunch of old throw pillows in the shop. Kick them around to where I have to kneel. One thing the doc said was that he didn.t want me doing a lot of scrubbing floors on my knees. Oh darn. I was so looking forward to that. Had a hip done this winter. was told it was a lot easier than a knee. I disagree. Was in for 6 week checkup and was in a fussy and whiny mood cause it wasn't coming as fast as I would have liked. As the doc was leaving he said most guys are happy to be walking around the house at 6 weeks, not in complaining that it hurts when using the chain saw. same doc has done all of them . Helping to put his kids through college.

First and formost in the end you will be happy, the second you wake up from the surgury it will feel better. I had my first one done Jan 2017 and the second 2 and a half months later. The first two weeks you will have a come to Jesus moment as to why you did this to yourself. Once that is over things will only get better. Do your therapy and don't over do it. I did my exercises once in the morning and again at bedtime. Took 4 weeks off work on the first one and 6 on the second. During that time I had projects in the shop to work on that I didn't have to bend over or kneel. I run heavy equipment and took my time getting in and out of the excavator I run. Fast forward to today, I feel great have full movment of both knees and if you didn't know I had both knees replaced you would never guess it by watching me walk.I'm just starting to kneel a little bit and will only do it for the grandkids. My word to you is get it done, get back to work and don't feel sorry for yourself.

I can pretty much climb any ladder ,hike in rough terrain etc. What I cannot do is kneel on my knees .it is like metal on skin --not doable.

From personal experience I will tell you to demand a post op xray.

No matter how well respected the doctor is, they and the support personnel can and will screw up eventually.

My wife would not be on disability today if only a cheap post op xray had been taken to prove nothing was left behind during knee surgury.