Knee replacement

At 81 I am doing fairly well. I went in for a physical, the doctors keep trying to find something wrong, only high blood pressure, so far not real high, but I'm controlling it with pills. What I need is a couple knees to be replaced. For those that have gone through this, how long was it before you were able to climb up on your tractor and work with it. I can still work in my wood,and carry wood. My problem is bending my leg, like getting in my truck or squatting down, or sometimes walking, or standing too long. Stan

I didn't get the first knee done until it was locking up and not allowing me to move. At all.
Healing time for decent minimal movement was about 6 weeks. Each week it gets better and eventually all pain goes away. Once the wound is fully closed, vitamin E will reduce the size of the battle wound.

Bruce you say eventually how long was eventually. I was going to consider one knee this winter and hope to be able to be back to working tractors and repair work by spring. Does that sound reasonable?

Just a few weeks. After one week I was able to get on my Farmall M and move it in the yard. Physical therapy, exercises and walking make a huge difference. 16 years on the right and 12 1/2 on the left. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Just get a good doc that specializes in knees and hips. Not the guy that does everything and never gets really good at anything.

I know someone in his mid-seventies just had a knee replaced. He had a conversation with his doctor ahead of time. Doctor told him how to exercise and get in shape before the surgery to decrease recovery time. He was out and about very quickly after the procedure and therapy.

Is the bad knee on your clutch leg?

I have only had experience with my wife. She has had one knee and one hip replaced. We have Orthopedic One here in Central Ohio. It is all they do. In and out same day unless there are complications. Before you can leave the surgery center you have to climb up and down 3 steps. She is much improved now, knee was 4 years ago hip was 3 years ago. She was 67 and 68 at the time of the procedures.

They had her start rehab 3 days after. They don't want you just sitting or laying around, have to keep moving. The roughest part is the 2-4 weeks right after. HAVE to sleep on your back. Have to wear compression socks. Had to use a device like a big blood pressure cuff that covers your while lower leg. It constantly inflates and deflates to keep blood from clotting in your legs.

To control swelling, you have to ice the joint 3-4 times a day. You can rent or buy a machine that pumps ice water through a pad you strap around the joint. Did not have that for the knee, got one for the hip. Much better than using ice packs from the freezer. If you only take one piece of information from all this, get an ice machine. Keeping swelling down is critical.

Not my wife, just a web pic



Then rehab for several weeks. You will be walking with cane for several weeks after.

Not sure what your living arrangement is, but you will need someone to help with things. It is not an easy job. It is not easy to get the compression socks on and off. Have to wear them on both legs.

Every situation is different but I would guess if things go well for you that 6 weeks you would be able to pretty much back to normal. For driving, they say 2-6 weeks. My wife drove herself to rehab after 4 weeks.

Lots of variables involved.
Orthopedic One

I've had both knees replaced.....one 5 years ago, the other 4. The first one I was in the tractor chisel plowing at 4 weeks. I kept a cane with me until week 6. What was said is correct...you need to be active BEFORE surgery so that the muscles are stretched and strong. After surgery, you need to be active to restretch the muscle....they contract in surgery. I needed to have them done so that I could stay active in farming. The first 3 weeks after surgery you have to deal with the pain. By week 7-9 it's pretty much gone. Find a surgeon who does a lot of knees and ask lots of questions. If the dr. won't answer them, find another doctor. Physical therepy after is a MUST! I wish you well!!! Tom
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I don't want to rain on any parade, but the old guy who owned the fertilizer plant had it done in his mid 80s and it was about the end for him. He was a tough old bird who pushed through most everything, but that knee surgery put him down. He got so he came in to the office for an hour or two a day for a while, but he just went right down hill and passed away.

Was to the same guy that my dad was to. About 10 or so years ago he told me that it was not a matter of if but when I would need to have a knee replacement. The left one was bone on bone then he said. And the other was not far behind. The last year the left one has really gotten worse. I hate to climb on to the combine and don't climb the bin ladders anymore. This is also not helping with the weight since it has affected wanting to walk. I believe the left one is time now to be done. I was talking to a friend of the family and he said he waited to long and now the knee is not working well and is not right somehow. Not just sure what his issue is. There is a guy that did dads hip that is highly rated in Lansing MI that I have considered to talk to. I liked his way of taking care of dad's issues with his hip. I believe most of dads problem were him and his attitude on things. Both knees have been scoped for torn meniscus already. I've been taking cherry juice at 2 table spoons a day for the last 10 years with good results for them.

I have battled keen issues for 35 years. They all say you need a knee replacement put it off as long as you can. I went to a sports doc about 5 years ago he recommended gel shots so far its worked for me. He also said I don't need a full knee replacement a partial is all I need.

No orthopedic surgeon has ever offed anything but steroid shots and to replace the knee.

Stan
When I was 45 both knees were grinding bone on bone. I read an article from the arthritis foundation about Osto Bi-flex.
I have been taking Osto Bi-flex for 30 years now.
My knees are in better shape at age 74 than when I was 45.

Read up on Osto Bi-flex.
Is anyone here a Osto Bi-flex fan?

I have a friend that is 80. His knees are killing him. Dr won't replace them. Dr tell him his problem is arthritis or something else.
He could drop a few pounds.

Had my right one done last may at a clinic that specializes in that work. It gave me my life back. I could make my own breakfast the next morning. I was back on a tractor at 2 weeks. I worked my a__ off at PT and after. When they wheel you out of surgery your knee joint is all fixed. The rehab is to keep the scar tissue flexible to preserve range of motion and to rebuild leg muscles that have weakened from favoring you bum knee. They replace your knee but making it work well is your job. I can now walk all over the farm, ride a bike, row on a machine and I'm looking forward to ski season. I couldn't be happier with it. The sooner you get it done the sooner you enjoy the benefits.
MB. Soon to be 74.

Get it done as soon as you can!!! Putting
it off as long as you can is kicking the
can down the road. Life is so much better
on the other side.

At 64 i had right knee done oct 19 and left knee 11 weeks later on jan 11. Dr told me what to do to be ready. Main thing was to ride a stationary recumbent bike as much as i could. I rode the wheels off it. Both times stayed 2 nights in hospital. Did therapy there. Came home with a machine that would strap around leg and would flex it automatically. Did that as much as 6 hrs a day. Dr. Sent a home therapist for 2 weeks. She was great. Started regular rehab after that. Drove myself to every session. By spring i was doing what i wanted to. Including driving and working on tractors. Just be careful and do what dr says. .

Yes and the sooner you can get it done the better you'll be by spring. Make rehab your job.

My wife had both of hers done, about a year apart. As mentioned, be faithful and do ALL the exercises they give you--both before and after the surgery, and go to whatever therapy sessions they prescribe. Also, ask around as to the best doctor. Some are excellent, and others, not so much-even if that's all they do.
My wife had an excellent doctor, and did all the stuff they told her to, and she's doing great!

I can't tell you about time to do tractor work but I had my first partial done in early Dec. 2013 at age 65, and by early Feb. I was out on a three day snowmobile tour with my friends who are in their twenties to fifties.

When I was working, I drove a sedan and would enter by opening the door, bending my left knee as my right foot entered, ducking my head and swiveling on my left foot. I wound up on crutches and decided to see an Orthopedic Surgeon as my left knee quit supporting my body weight.

I hobbled into his office on crutches and walked out waving both crutches (as I no longer needed them) to the surprise of the patients waiting to be seen.

He had perfected an injection for a joint, such as the knee that provided the cushion necessary for moving joints to continue to move freely.......I retired in 2005 and probably had the injection around 2000. I have yet to have a recurring problem with that knee and I mount my tractors at least 2-3 days a week. The visit included an MRI and the injection just took a few minutes.

I'd find a surgeon that does the injection before you put yourself through the surgery.

I climbed into the cab of my little Kubota 2 days after surgery and pushed 5 inches of snow off the drive. My wife brought it up to the garage for me to do so. Also the tractor was a hydro and it was my left knee that got replaced. It was a couple weeks before I could push the clutch in on my bigger tractors and I think I had a small board to help me push it with my hands. The replacement was the best thing I've ever done for myself and that was 11 years ago. Do the therapy and exercises and remember no pane no gain on bending it.

Your mileage may vary but I have several retired friends I drink coffee with often and none who had a major surgery after about 75 have done very well. At 82 I would thank the Lord for the mobility I have left and feel blessd for just that. I am 72 and had a failed ankle surgery 10 years ago. At my age I immediately dismiss the doctor who says he can fix it now. I am thankful to drive, walk through Sams, Walmart, and Tractor Supply.