Advice, please, for a pending knee replacement. Is it worth it?

I have been put on a waiting list for knee replacements. It is a major operation and is it going to benefit me? Will I be able to do all the things I find difficult now, like walking long distances? I would appreciate other people's experiences.

The cost of knee replacement surgery is very low in India as compared to USA, UK and Canada. You can get the surgery done there in a fraction of cost of what would you pay in USA or private UK

There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges orthopaedic surgery for foreigners in India. They are called the Forerunners Healthcare. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.

I have also read that they arrange financing for American and Canadian patients as all surgery is not covered by insurance or by NHS in the UK.They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. The cost savings are incredible. As a doctor I personally believe that your joint surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

My cousin also got her hip replacement surgery for in India through the forerunners healthcare .She is more than very happy with the results. She is totally pain free now. She just paid 25% of the amount she was quoted in USA and is all praise for this forerunners healthcare company. Hope this helps.


http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com

It should benefit you tremendously. just follow the post op exercises and you will be ok

Is it worth it?

You need to talk to my partner .............. she's been pleading with the ortho surgeons for replacements for years, yet all they do is scrape out the crap from her knees every few years.

The pain and suffering after the replacements would be much better than as she is now, on crutches for last 4 months.

The reason they won't operate.................. SHE'S TOO YOUNG

A friend of mine had a knee rep. done about 2 years ago...and while he's not running marathons, all the day to day stuff that was hard to do (stairs, walking any where outdoors, squatting etc - you know what I mean!!) is now pain free...it changed his life and his attitude...he returned to playing golf too!!

In order to have been put on the waiting list you must have reached the criteria by which they decide if it is worth doing the operation.

In other words, they wouldn't do the operation unless they thought that it was worth while, so they must think that you are a good candidate.

You should chat to your consultant about how good he expects the results to be, but you will at least find that once the discomfort has settled after the operation you are more pain free and far more mobile than you have been.

That in itself can bring big benefits as it will allow you much more freedom and independance.

Depending on your age and current state of health you will get varying levels of improvement, but overall you should be a lot better off for a long time (10 years plus) so it's a case of a little pain for a lot of gain.

Best of luck to you... I can understand how you must feel.. But you will benefit in the long term.. My Mum - got her both kness done ..She had to have these .like blow up stookies on her legs..she had a lot of bother ..simply because the Surgeon was useless & the Hospital - Glasgow Royal & Sighthill .. are disgusting manky places to be performing operations in.... My family had to chip in and get her to a private hospital. She still has bother but ..at 67 she is ok..considering... Good Luck to you..

Yes, it is worth it. My relative had it done and, at first, he wished he hadn't because of the excruciating pain during therapy, but after 6 months, is able to walk without pain. My neighbor too, he had both knees done and said the therapy pain was tremendous, but has no regrets. A friends uncle, though, died while under for a knee. Previous heart condition. Good Luck, feel good. M

I tore my ACL years ago, and the operation was a breeze. Its the rehab that sucks. I was stuck in a bed for a month. Just do everything the doc and physical trainer tell you, and will be fine. I bet you could even run a marathon with today's technology. I just did my 4th triathlon, and my times are only getting better.

I have had both a knee and a hip replacement and yes the operation is worthwhile. You will need to do all the exercises you are given , but the relief from pain makes everything worthwhile

It is a major operation but the benefits will outweigh your fears if you have it done. The main thing not to do is kneel. Your distances will gradually increase, just take your time. I know someone who has had both done and she swears by it. Think about what is limiting you now and what you would do if that wasn't true. For example no more creaking pr stiffness.

you will be off your feet for weeks in pain only do
it at a last resort

my lovely late mum had this op and she was scared, she heard it was v.painful etc but was glad she did it..within 2 days she looked 10 yrs younger because the pain was gone ,go for it, to be free of pain longterm is worth the short-term inconvenience...good luck!

It depends on why it's being done, and how your are otherwise - ie weight, general health etc. Results are usually better for pain than for movement.
A knee replacement means you will usually have to commit 3-6 months following the operation to recover... minimum. People are often amazed by this, and think they will be running around in a month or two. In very rare cases, that can happen, but for most people, it takes a lot longer.
Depending on the surgeon and the technique, your post-op time will be spent primarily getting the knee to bend and straighten, and then building up the muscles in your thigh. This takes time and effort. Pain is a feature of the first few weeks after the operation, but is usually very controllable with meds. Most surgeons have their own preferred recovery protocols and you will be expected to follow them faithfully.
You will start to walk very quickly after the operation, but must use crutches or whatever they give you for a while, to allow the new knee to "cement" itself in place. This usually takes about 3 months. As the new knee settles in, it is common for it to be swollen and hot, this slowly eases over time.
Overall, it's a much bigger job than a hip replacement, and has a longer recovery time, but is well worth it if done for pain.
You can start your post-op exercises now - the more movement and strength you can get into the leg now, the more it will help you afterwards.
Hope this is of some help.