Knee Replacement......What was your recovery time?

[jmtbkr]

Had the right knee done Tuesday. Feeling good and getting around with the walker in the house.

 

So how long can I expect until I get the go ahead?

 

I am very motivated to rehab and am in relatively good shape for my age (69). Biker, softball swimmer before.

 

Thanks !

 

[Kaysquare]

I've had two total knee replacements, right knee 10 yrs ago, lots of pain, serious rehab & played golf in 7 weeks.  Took about 8 or 9 months for the knee to feel completely normal.  Left knee, 2 yrs ago, sooooo much easier than the first one.  Rehab was intense, but I'm super dedicated & have great willpower, played golf in the 6th week, no problems.  The surgical methods between the first replacement and the second replacement were vastly different, & replacements now are much less painful.  I've always worked out & walked a lot, so rehab was not a problem for me, in fact, I liked it, and I was very motivated.  With my first surgery the hospital stay was 4 days, hardly any walking, severe pain.

The second surgery, I walked a thousand feet 2 hrs after surgery, had a small PT session that evening, next morning some more PT, a couple long walks, then went home.  As you probably already know, ice is your friend.  My most pain was during the night, waking up hurting badly.  My PT told me to get up, get the walker & roam around the house for a few minutes......the pain disappeared & I could go back to bed & sleep.  Walking is the answer!!!!  Good Luck...you should do fine.

[jmtbkr]

Thanks for the midnite walking tip! Definitely will try that. I was up and walking - with walker- next day and hosp staff was amazed how good I was going.

Got to be motivated, which I am, especially since I just got my 921 Hot Metals in a month ago and was just getting used to them.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

I had both knees replaced on Oct 14 several year ago.  Recovery was pretty good.   Following PT is imperative.

• In hospital and rehab 4 days.
• Moved to In Patient Rehab for 8 days
• Continued Out Patient Rehab 3 times a week, "graduated" on Dec 31 by taking partial then full speed golf swings on a simulator at PT.

I was doing the following activities, timelines.

• Walking in the Rehab facility with crutches after 2 days
• Walking with a walker 1 day later
• Walking with a cane only by the time  I left
• Was driving after 4 weeks
• Walked into my orthopedic surgeons office without any aids at 4 weeks
• Returned to work full time from home after two weeks, and in office after 4 weeks.
• Played my first round of golf March 1st.

Seven year later, no issues at all.  It was a game changer for my life and golf.  I couldn't even finish 18 holes, usually 12 or 13 prior to the surgery as the pain was so bad, I could barely walk out of a bunker or up and down an elevated tee box.

 

Just follow PT the letter and don't cheat it, and you should be fine.

 

 

Edited February 6, 2021 by Carolina Golfer 2

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Oh a tip I wish I had been told earlier in my rehab, if you have access to a swimming pool.  Lots of walking in waist deep water will do wonders, and as you advance you can even do light jogging in the deep end.  No impact on the knees as well.

 

[Ferguson]

WRX - a player's first choice for medical advice.

[jmtbkr]

5 hours ago, Ferguson said:

WRX - a player's first choice for medical advice.

Don’t be stupid!

just want some golfers experiences.

I'm listening to my surgeon and PT people foremost!

 

[LeftDaddy]

I was going to give you my recovery times for my 3 acl tears, but this thread depressed me lol. Let’s just say recovery from acl takes a lot longer apparently. But anyway, I’ve had 3 acl repairs and my knees are now generally fine for golf. Sounds like your knee replacements will be ok if you do the PT also. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[phizzy30]

20 hours ago, Kaysquare said:

I've had two total knee replacements, right knee 10 yrs ago, lots of pain, serious rehab & played golf in 7 weeks.  Took about 8 or 9 months for the knee to feel completely normal.  Left knee, 2 yrs ago, sooooo much easier than the first one.  Rehab was intense, but I'm super dedicated & have great willpower, played golf in the 6th week, no problems.  The surgical methods between the first replacement and the second replacement were vastly different, & replacements now are much less painful.  I've always worked out & walked a lot, so rehab was not a problem for me, in fact, I liked it, and I was very motivated.  With my first surgery the hospital stay was 4 days, hardly any walking, severe pain.

The second surgery, I walked a thousand feet 2 hrs after surgery, had a small PT session that evening, next morning some more PT, a couple long walks, then went home.  As you probably already know, ice is your friend.  My most pain was during the night, waking up hurting badly.  My PT told me to get up, get the walker & roam around the house for a few minutes......the pain disappeared & I could go back to bed & sleep.  Walking is the answer!!!!  Good Luck...you should do fine.

Thank you for posting your experience.  What was your official diagnosis that led you to proceed with knee replacement?  Only reason I ask is because I have several issues with my left knee which include a partially torn meniscus and fluid build up.  I know that surgery and fluid drainage are the solutions but at what point does the knee need total replacement?  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Thanks. 

Edited February 6, 2021 by phizzy30

[phizzy30]

19 hours ago, Carolina Golfer 2 said:

I had both knees replaced on Oct 14 several year ago.  Recovery was pretty good.   Following PT is imperative.

• In hospital and rehab 4 days.
• Moved to In Patient Rehab for 8 days
• Continued Out Patient Rehab 3 times a week, "graduated" on Dec 31 by taking partial then full speed golf swings on a simulator at PT.

I was doing the following activities, timelines.

• Walking in the Rehab facility with crutches after 2 days
• Walking with a walker 1 day later
• Walking with a cane only by the time  I left
• Was driving after 4 weeks
• Walked into my orthopedic surgeons office without any aids at 4 weeks
• Returned to work full time from home after two weeks, and in office after 4 weeks.
• Played my first round of golf March 1st.

Seven year later, no issues at all.  It was a game changer for my life and golf.  I couldn't even finish 18 holes, usually 12 or 13 prior to the surgery as the pain was so bad, I could barely walk out of a bunker or up and down an elevated tee box.

 

Just follow PT the letter and don't cheat it, and you should be fine.

 

 

I'm happy to hear that your both your knee replacements were a total success.  I've heard horror stories about people who have gotten knee replacements and many of them do say that they wish they had taken rehab seriously.  I may need knee replacement in the future, and will def keep in mind about doing rehab religiously. 

[Kaysquare]

3 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

Thank you for posting your experience.  What was your official diagnosis that led you to proceed with knee replacement?  Only reason I ask is because I have several issues with my left knee which include a partially torn meniscus and fluid build up.  I know that surgery and fluid drainage are the solutions but at what point does the knee need total replacement?  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Thanks. 

Knee pain, cortisone shots for a few years helped, then stopped.  Then a few years of Synvisc shots & others, then when that stopped helping, it was down to literally bone-on

-bone, so knee replacement was the best fix.  I might add that you should do exactly what your PT's suggest, no more, no less.  I'm one of those people who over-do if it doesn't hurt....then suffered the consequences later.  If they say walk up & down 5 stairs two time...do two times, NOT ten!!!!  🙂

[phizzy30]

12 minutes ago, Kaysquare said:

Knee pain, cortisone shots for a few years helped, then stopped.  Then a few years of Synvisc shots & others, then when that stopped helping, it was down to literally bone-on

-bone, so knee replacement was the best fix.  I might add that you should do exactly what your PT's suggest, no more, no less.  I'm one of those people who over-do if it doesn't hurt....then suffered the consequences later.  If they say walk up & down 5 stairs two time...do two times, NOT ten!!!!  🙂

I'm with you on that.  I tend to overdo things as well.  Exercise, golf, etc.  My wife is always telling me to dial it back. 

[Carolina Golfer 2]

5 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

I'm happy to hear that your both your knee replacements were a total success.  I've heard horror stories about people who have gotten knee replacements and many of them do say that they wish they had taken rehab seriously.  I may need knee replacement in the future, and will def keep in mind about doing rehab religiously. 

Thanks and getting them done on the same day was the right call for me.  The Dr. said I was young enough—54–and in good enough shape that he felt i would do well with it.   The first 2 days were rough.   But also a huge part of the success was the in patient rehab.  Doing PT 3 times a day for the those 8 days, definitely got me on the right track. 
 

Yes, i’ve heard some horror stories including my sister, who had to have hers redone after 3 years due to some loose material from the device. 

Good Luck, if you have yours done. 

 

[caniac6]

21 hours ago, Ferguson said:

WRX - a player's first choice for medical advice.

I'm not a doctor, but I pretend I am on the internet.

[caniac6]

49 minutes ago, Carolina Golfer 2 said:

Thanks and getting them done on the same day was the right call for me.  The Dr. said I was young enough—54–and in good enough shape that he felt i would do well with it.   The first 2 days were rough.   But also a huge part of the success was the in patient rehab.  Doing PT 3 times a day for the those 8 days, definitely got me on the right track. 
 

Yes, i’ve heard some horror stories including my sister, who had to have hers redone after 3 years due to some loose material from the device. 

Good Luck, if you have yours done. 

 

A friend of mine that was a pole vaulter at Va Tech back in the 70s recently had both his done, but about a month apart. I wonder how rare it is to have to do both?

[shudaddy13]

I had both knees replaced within a three month span. Both procedures were outpatient  I played golf 6 weeks after each procedure. The key is to do everything your therapist tells you to do and to ice religiously.  

[Carolina Golfer 2]

10 hours ago, caniac6 said:

A friend of mine that was a pole vaulter at Va Tech back in the 70s recently had both his done, but about a month apart. I wonder how rare it is to have to do both?

It’s pretty common from what I understand. But more than not, they are seperated by anywhere from 6 months to a couple years, of course depending on how bad each one is. 
 

i wanted one surgery, one hospitalization and one rehab.   And i wanted to play completely pain free golf the following season, not still having one bad one hold me back. 

[jmtbkr]

5 week followup....

 

Being allowed to, finally, putt and chip!

Hitting up the club tomorrow.

 

Feeling fine, healing great.

PT (pain & torture) is hard!

[lightgrip]

Anyone here have partial knee replacement? If so, what was your experience? Thanks.

[lightgrip]

Had right knee replacement August 6. Now six weeks post op. Used a walker for a week, then a cane for a week, no aids since then. Back at work full time after five weeks(I am a pharmacist and stand and walk a lot during my shift). First 3 weeks were rough-pain meds were too constipating so only used Tylenol for pain, which turned out to work better than the others. Icing was a big help. Still doing that as still have a bit of swelling.Not a great sleeper but really had a lot of trouble sleeping the first 4 weeks. A lot of that was due to having BPH and prostate was inflamed by surgery/anesthesia, which I am told is not uncommon.   My opinion is that every story is different. Some recover faster than others. I was hoping for a faster recovery but now realize patience is key. Did a lot of walking both inside and outside. No pain now when walking but still have some during some weight bearing exercises. But improving every day. I am 64 just as a point of reference and was bone on bone. Probably will start putting and chipping in a couple of weeks.

[phil75070]

I belonged to a forum that was all about knee and hip replacements and recovery times from surgery to playing golf varied widely. A lot depends on how dedicated you are to your therapy and how conservative your doctor is. I had my right knee replaced on March 15 2014 and my left knee replaced that following October. If I recall, I was back to hitting balls on the range, carefully, after about 6 weeks (putting and chipping sooner than that) but did not get full clearance to play until about 10 weeks post-surgery for both. That was more a case of my surgeon concerned about me falling on the course due to wet conditions or while getting in and out of sand traps. It had nothing to do with either knee holding up under the strain of hitting a golf ball.

[jmtbkr]

I am 3 weeks out from my 2nd knee replacement.  Had the left knee done this time. All is good! It's totally different than the first one. Less pain but more swelling, which leads to more stiffness and less mobility. I am working.  Coming along nicely. I am able to putt easily, but no chipping yet. If anyone gets this surgery, stick with the PT and have a positive attitude.