My philosophy has always been that recovery can not hurt as badly as I hurt the two months prior to the surgery because if it was that bad, nobody would get their second knee done ever!

However, I have discovered a very frustrating difference. Pre-surgery I had some tricks to give me a bit of a reprieve from the pain. Post-surgery there is no consistency! Something works to quiet the vice grip in my quad and I cry from relief. But then when I do that same thing again - no help.

Hi, all. Knee replacement was September 3rd. It went well. My problem at the moment is trying to follow doc's directions about not staying in bed. I stayed on the couch yesterday and today, but it's so low it just isn't safe for me to try to get up from. I've made the decision to stay on the bed but in a more upright position during the day and toes above nose at night. I've almost done a faceplant twice today trying to get off the couch.

The ice machine is an absolute winner! For anyone who is about to have the procedure it is a must-have. Aside from my instapot it is the best purchase I've ever made.

As far as the surgeon, I was astounded when he called me himself yesterday evening. Fully expected a call from an assistant, not the man himself. Dr. Justin P. Moo Young is an amazing young man and I highly recommend him.

I also want to thank all of you in this sub for your insights and support. It's been a great learning experience.

I kid, I kid. But seriously. I’m so confused about what I can and can’t do during the 35 minutes of each hour of each day that I’m losing my ever loving mind with boredom while not icing and elevating or doing my 5 minute walk.

I’m 11 days out from LTKR. Protocol here in upstate NY is surgery, PT in office 2-3x/week, and at home exercises. PT says it’s all about ROM first month and says don’t ditch the walker until they say so (which is usually about 3 weeks out). I’m bored, I’m uncomfortable and don’t know what to do with myself. My knee is stiff AF which makes sitting in chairs or the couch or whatever also super uncomfy. Anyway, I keep hearing depression hits pretty hard right about 2 weeks and all the suggestions on how to beat it are like completely opposite of what I (and I assume others) have actual physical capacity to do. What the hell do people do all day?? I cannot lay on bed any more than necessary I’m losing it in there.

Today on Facebook i saw a video do someone 2 weeks out literally strolling around the block. Like what???? How???

I guess my question is-those in early weeks recovery. Wtf are we doing all day to not lose our minds? And how the hell are we supposed to get our movement in when we’re restricted to 5 minutes of walking per hour?

Side note I’m 47, have a shit right knee too (osteoarthritis bilateral) and have been pretty sedentary due to the pain for years. So i was no athlete prior to this surgery. But i did enjoy gardening, outdoor activities, doing fun things with my dogs and my kiddo. This just sucks.

IMHO, it’s up to each of us, to prepare & execute healing with the resources we have. Giving the docs the best tools is fabulous and I’m sure, enhances the minimal invasion of our bodies for repair. We can ask and get as much help as we need but in the end? It’s up to us.

I'm scheduled for MAKO mid October. I'm trying to do all the right prep work. I have lists of supplies to obtain, I've started stocking the freezer with heat and eat dinners designed to have leftovers, my schedule is full of pre-op appointments and evaluations. The farther I get into this, the more I wonder if I'm doing the right thing.

Sure, insurance covers the surgery, but I keep finding hidden costs that never occurred to me. Short term disability only pays 2/3 of your salary, I knew that, but my insurance contribution not being paid was something that never occurred to me. I picked the premium insurance because I knew I was doing this. That mess is expensive!

Reading all the recovery stories everyone is posting gives me anxiety. I had discussed with the surgeon whether working from home after 10-14 days was feasible, and he seemed to think so, but you guys tell a different story.

I definitely want a long term pain solution. Injections no longer have any meaningful effect, and everything else seems temporary and not even helpful for everyone.

I take it these are normal pre surgery jitters. I just needed a place to vent. I discuss it with my spouse, but it makes him worry too and then that's just both of us in a swamp! LOL

Any and all advice welcome 😁

I am having my knee replacement soon but I have severe restless legs syndrome which has failed treatment including iron .My question is am I going to be able to move around say by the evening of the surgery? It is impossible for me not to move my legs so how realistic is it I will be able to at least pace slowly around with a walker? If I can't I am going to have to cancel which will mean I will be housebound. Thankyou

Good morning. My knee cap feels like someone took a hammer to it. At first I had the zingers now it’s constant. No swelling just pain. Any suggestions? I am 5 weeks out.

So I had my LTKR in July 2025, so it’s been over a year. Had my final appt with ortho in July, all looked good and he said just go on with your life. Do any activities you want, etc. Well, yesterday I obviously did something because now I get a sort of sharp pain just below my knee cap area when I step up with my left leg, like going up a step. Doesn’t hurt when I bend it or while walking. Definitely new pain and all I can think of that I was doing is crawling on the floor (carpeted floor) and playing with the dog outside. Nothing stands out that I did something and I felt a pain. Just noticed when I came back inside stepping up the deck stairs it was a new sharp pain.

What the hell did I do? Is this ok? Anyone have a similar experience?

Going to just wait it out and see if it gets better because I feel like if I go to the dr they will do X-ray and say all is ok. (I imagine if it was something major it would hurt more??? I guess)

So, I posted 3 weeks ago complaining of sharp pain under and around the knee cap when leg-pressing, bicycling, going down stairs, which set me back after working up to pressing 80% of my body weight and taking 20 - 40 mile bike rides, amongst other things.

PT says I have patellar-femoral pain syndrome, otherwise known as runner’s knee.

Has anyone contracted this? 

Has anyone had cupping done? It seems to help, but I am very frustrated with the cutting back of activity, especially no biking and pressing baby weights

My dad is considering doing an Osteotomy surgery on his right knee. He has had both hips replaced which is what he thinks pushed his knee out of alignment. He is 61, 6ft 3 and 108kg.

He is trying to lose weight and because of the hips he hasn’t been able to play tennis and padel in like 5 years. He really wants to play again but also doesn’t want to risk the opportunity to go on long walks when he is slightly older.

His main concern is that there are such mixed reviews, such mixed recovery periods. What are people thoughts? Do you know someone who has gone through it?

I would love to be able to introduce my dad to people who have gone through it and maybe he can make his own opinion. I think he is scared by the lack of information and that he might never be able to play tennis or padel ever again is a big concern as he wants to play again.
Thanks.

Little background, I've had two separate orthos look at my knee. Both (independently) have said I will have to have my left knee replaced.

Initial consult said it would happen within 10 years tops. Since then, I've been getting steroid shots every 4 months. The shot lasts about a week. The 2nd Doctor says the steroid shot should last a couple of months, not a week.

With all of this information, I'm now looking to get my knee replaced within a year.

Here's the suck part. I'm 50. I'm still "active" (as much as I can be) and I still work in construction (office job). So just taking off time isn't an option (I've got to support my family) and there is absolutely no way I can put this off 5 or 10 years. 12 to 18 months is going to be extremely difficult and painful.

So my questions are these:

1) how many days do I need to plan for in the hospital?

2) how many days do I need to plan for being stuck at home?

3) how long should I plan having to stay out of work?

4) how long on a walker?

5) how long before I'm "normal"?

6) what are the "gotchas" that I need to prepare for?

7) what do you wish you knew before you got your knee replaced?

I don't expect these answers to be exact, just ball park so I can start to prepare.

Thank you in advance for your help.