Question 1

how useful is a total knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Life changing: In the right expert hands and in the right patient knee replacement surgery can be life changing.  When patients have exhausted conservative treatments and are medically health there are fewer patients that are more pleased after surgery than total knee patients.

Question 2

when is a total knee replacement needed?

Accepted Answer

When all else fails: Total knee is done when the pain in the knee is present all the time including at night and when all compartments of the knee are involved.

Question 3

why do people get total knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Knee replacement: Unrelenting pain due to arthritis of the knee that is greatly effecting your quality of life and your ability to function. Has not improved with conservative nonsurgical care.

Question 4

how difficult is a total knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Depend : Difficulty of doing a knee replacement depends on the surgeon; anyone who does about a hundred replacements every year should have no problems doing a virgin replacement.

Question 5

what to expect after total knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Post TKA: Surgical pain. Lots of physical therapy. Improved alignment. Use of motion machine. Start with walker and progress to cane and stairs. Lessening of pain.

Question 6

can knees lock up after total knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but not often: Knee replacements can feel like "seizing" or "locking up" on rare occasions and they are usually not due to the device.  The most likely phenomena you are experiencing is either "crepitus" or "clunk" which is when scar tissue surrounding the front of the knee gets trapped within the device creating a sensation of locking up.  When severe enough, it can be alleviated by removing that scar tissue.

Question 7

am i to young for a total knee replacement at 42?

Accepted Answer

Knee Replacement: 42 is young but not unheard of. If all other measures have been tried and your knee pain is effecting your quality of life and function to a degree that is not tolerable then knee replacement may be you last best option.

Question 8

when should someone get a total knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

See details: When there is advanced arthritis, major pain and conservative therapies have failed.

Question 9

when am i too young for a total knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Never too young: When all conservative options have been exhausted, and symptoms have become disabling, then it is time for knee replacement, regardless of age.  Current knee replacement techniques result in 20-30 years of pain free function 95% of the time.  If you are young, then you might anticipate that revision knee replacement might be necessary in your future.

Question 10

how can i exercise with a total knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Low impact: The type of exercise depends on the timing following knee replacement.  Initially, one focuses on range of motion exercises and learning how to walk properly.  Following the immediate recovery period, one focuses on low impact quadriceps strengthening exercises.  Good exercises are riding a stationary bike, elliptical machines and swimming.

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Total knee replacement

A member asked:

How useful is a total knee replacement?

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When is a total knee replacement needed?

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Why do people get total knee replacement?

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How difficult is a total knee replacement?

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What to expect after total knee replacement?

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Can knees lock up after total knee replacement?

A member asked:

Am i to young for a total knee replacement at 42?

A member asked:

When should someone get a total knee replacement?

A member asked:

When am i too young for a total knee replacement?

A member asked:

How can i exercise with a total knee replacement?

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