O/T Total Knee Replacement

I worked on airplanes on concrete floors for many years. My knees got so bad I'd crawl up the concrete steps to my house at night. My knee replacement specialists took xrays, told me my knees were definitely shot and that I must have them replaced.

I looked up the replacement proceedure on Web MD and it scared the living he'' out of me. That procedure is brutal.

I started taking glousamine/chondroitin with MSN based on the recomendation of a world war two B-29 pilot (walmart/sams brand).

I also decided to start swiming and bike riding to see if that form of excercise would help.

Long story short after following that program for about a year I now have no knee problems at all.

I put fireproof siding on my two-story house going up and down a ladder 40 times a day with no pain.

Again, the only reason I didn't get the replacement was because the replacement procedure was gruesome.

My results were incredible. There may be other reasons why my knees repaired themselves. I was very reluctant to tell you this story because if the situation were reversed I don't think I would beleive it.

I just had to tell you. good luck.

My wife's doctor will not do both knees at the same time, like some have done. Apparently he lost a patient that way and just will not do both at once. My wife had her other knee replaced a year ago, and it was the operation from He!!! After 5 weeks, her new knee would only bend 55 degrees, and only with much pain. She had to go under anesthesia again and have the knee manipulated while she was under, to break through the massive scar tissue. Once that was done, she progressed more normally and now has very little pain in that knee. She has had knee trouble all her life and these surgeries make her total knee surgeries about 20. It was really hard to talk her into doing the left knee after the bad experience with the right one, but with the replaced knee, her legs were different lengths, leading to back problems. Luckily this replacement has gone much better than the first--the first knee was in much worse shape.

I agree with the other posters: DO THE PHYSICAL THERAPY LIKE THEY TELL YOU TO! And don't be afraid to push yourself. You will progress faster.

My wife did not go to the rehabilitation center for a week like most patients do, since she had me to wait on her and take care of her every minute. This was not a good time for either of us, but that is how we do things... I am still catching up on lost sleep. We were often up and down 4 or 5 times a night that first couple of weeks we were at home. Thank God that time is over and now we are almost back to normal! If you do not have help that will do whatever you need to have done for that first couple of weeks, I would advise going to the nursing home/rehab center that is experienced in dealing with knee replacements.

Most people I have talked to that have had knee replacement are really glad they did it a year later. Most also agree that the first month after the surgery is a trial, though. Good luck, and take care!

Gerald J.

My wife is an RN who was a surgical nurse in orhtopedics for many years and she says DO what the doctor tells you but MAKE SURE you DO your PT regimen. As someone said below, the PT regimen and your zealousness in following it greatly contribute to the success.

Good luck!