Most total knee replacements are performed on patients who are between the age of 60 and 80. However, the decision to have a knee replacement is based on individual factors such as the severity of knee pain and disability.
Doctors do sometimes recommend that people under age 60 wait to undergo a knee replacement procedure, because these artificial joints typically last only about 15 to 20 years. If someone younger gets the procedure, it's likely that the joint will need to be replaced again down the line.
The knee replacement surgery itself can be more complicated in patients who have waited longer than recommended. More damage and inflammation can translate to a longer surgical time, with a higher risk of complications after surgery, such as blood clots or infection.
Knee replacements are usually done in people age 60 and older. If you need one, you probably have severe arthritis that limits your daily life. During knee joint replacement, your surgeon will remove damaged cartilage and bone from the knee joint.
As knee arthritis progresses, the knee becomes much looser and more unstable. In some cases, this is mild. In other cases, it is substantial enough that cause the patient to fall. Patients who have bone-on-bone arthritis and are starting to fall because of it should strongly consider surgery.
There are several cartilage-regeneration techniques that you may consider and discuss with an orthopaedic surgeon. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), for example, involves taking a sample of your cartilage cells, growing them in a lab and then surgically replanting them in your knee.
4 – 6 weeks after surgery
You would be able to walk for 10 minutes without any assisted devices within 4 – 6 weeks of the procedure.
You can expect some pain and swell for a few months after surgery. Improved surgical techniques and new technology, such as robotic arm-assisted technology, makes the knee replacement recovery process quicker and less painful.
TKA patients begin rehabilitation during the seven-day bedrest period, with the goals of decreasing swelling, increasing ROM, promoting normal leg control and promoting normal gait with an assistive device.
You shouldn't downhill ski or play contact sports such as football and soccer. In general, avoid sports that require jerking, twisting, pulling, or running. You should be able to do lower-impact activities, such as hiking, gardening, swimming, playing tennis, and golfing.
The majority of patients expect to be able to kneel after TKR,2,4,5 however, these expectations are frequently not met,1,6 with between 50% and 80% of patients reporting that they have difficulty kneeling or do not kneel in the months and years after TKR.
Recovery is slow
While it's different for everyone and depends on the type of knee surgery you've had, many people are surprised by how long it takes to recover. The time it takes to start doing simple tasks around the home, get back to work and importantly bending your new and improved knee may catch you by surprise.
Common symptoms include pain localized to the joint, stiffness, loss of flexibility, a grinding sensation, swelling, feel weaker, and tenderness to touch. In order to make a clinical diagnosis, a physical examination and imaging studies (usually x-rays) are utilized.
Long-lasting pain isn't getting better.
If you've tried exercise, physical therapy, and pain medication but your pain isn't getting better, it may be time to consider knee replacement surgery. After knee replacement surgery, pain goes away for as many as 90-95 percent of younger patients.
Pain becomes more common during simple activities like walking or rising from a chair. Eventually, the bone on bone pressure causes the growth of bone spurs. These lumps of bony excess cause further discomfort and stiffness within your joint.
The surgery itself depends on the type of knee operation. A total knee replacement, for example, will likely take between 2-3 hours. Whereas a partial knee replacement normally takes around an hour. Most knee surgeries take between 1-3 hours.
The average recovery time from knee replacement surgery is approximately six months, but it can take roughly 12 months to fully return to physically demanding activities.
Effectiveness of total knee replacement
Many studies show that 90-95 percent of total knee replacements are still functioning well 10 years after surgery.
However, total knee replacement does not restore the ease associated with normal knee function. Research shows that people climb stairs slower after knee replacement; they also have a reduction in muscle strength around the knee and complete less total knee work.
Recliners and sofas are not recommended after your knee or hip replacement because they are not supportive, difficult to get out of and can limit range of motion. Straight back chairs with arm rests are suggested for safety.
Start with small, manageable steps over short distances and use an assistive device whenever needed. Gradually work your way up until you can walk longer distances without discomfort. Doing too much exercise can lead to pain and swelling, hindering your recovery.
These minimally invasive injections can help ease pain, enhance knee function, and postpone or forgo surgery by adding lubricant and cushioning to the joint. Knee gel injections have been found to be successful for many people, albeit their duration of pain alleviation varies widely.
The answer: a resounding yes! In fact, people with knee osteoarthritis who walk for exercise are significantly less likely to go on to develop worse pain, according to a 2022 study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.