I am getting it done on April 8th (eclipse day). I have grade 4 osteoarthritis in my right knee (essentially bone-on-bone, grades are 0-5, 5 being the worst). I'm paying, in my early 60s, for too many long Saturdays playing hoops I guess. I have needed it for years so I finally set it up and insurance has approved it. My left knee is grade 2, so it doesn't qualify, yet.
These days the recovery seems to be accelerated: you are supposed to be walking within 24 hours, using a walker for ~2 weeks, a cane for ~2 weeks more, back to work walking unassisted in ~4 weeks, and then hopefully cleared for all activity including biking and hiking by 6 weeks. My doc does a lot of them (FL is great for old people medicine!) and uses robotics to assist. I think I get good pain meds for about 2 weeks, although opioids make me really nauseous.
I know that physical therapy, every single day, is essential.
I'm kind of nervous, though, about getting my leg chopped on. My knee hurts all of the time, but I can still ride a bike (1300 miles last year) and travel. I can't climb stairs well and standing for >5 minutes is a real problem (though a long walk is not as bad). I walk like Joe Biden or like Trump on a ramp, so maybe indeed it is time!
Any tips would be appreciated.
These days the recovery seems to be accelerated: you are supposed to be walking within 24 hours, using a walker for ~2 weeks, a cane for ~2 weeks more, back to work walking unassisted in ~4 weeks, and then hopefully cleared for all activity including biking and hiking by 6 weeks. My doc does a lot of them (FL is great for old people medicine!) and uses robotics to assist. I think I get good pain meds for about 2 weeks, although opioids make me really nauseous.
I know that physical therapy, every single day, is essential.
I'm kind of nervous, though, about getting my leg chopped on. My knee hurts all of the time, but I can still ride a bike (1300 miles last year) and travel. I can't climb stairs well and standing for >5 minutes is a real problem (though a long walk is not as bad). I walk like Joe Biden or like Trump on a ramp, so maybe indeed it is time!
Any tips would be appreciated.