How Long Does It Take To Get Over A Knee Replacement?

Dr. Joel Hurt answers this important question for anyone who has just had or is about to undergo a knee replacement. 6 weeks? 3 months? 1 year? What should patients expect in terms of feeling better than before surgery? How long does a total knee replacement recovery take?

[@karenmclaughlan9128]

I had my total knee replacement 5 years ago and to say the surgery was excruciating is an understatement. I couldn't get comfortable to sleep for nearly 7 days after surgery. My knee felt on fire from the inside and the brusing I had from my thigh to the tips of my toes was unbelievable. The recovery is painful and long but it's worth it in the end

[@imanomad557]

The younger you get the replacement the quicker you heal, BUT you Must work at it , sitting there waiting for the tablets to work WONT.

[@nancyselzer628]

I was due for a knee surgery after suffering for 5 or 6 years. I had tried everything. So one night I prayed to the Holy Spirit to help me. Soon after something guided me on the computer and I ran into something at the vitamin shoppe... Boswellia (frankensense) and Hydroplenish (hyaleuronic acid). I took both of these three times a day and felt 50% better after a week! After another week my knee pain was totally gone! And what's more it's never come back 10 years later! I had been in a car accident and had over 10 things wrong with my knee, torn ligaments, torn meniscus, bone on bone, fractured tibia, dead bone marrow, cracked patella, etc. In my eyes this truly was a miracle. Thank you for your part in this Holy Spirit.

[@larrymeyer7064]

I have had both knees replaced , 1year apart, 2 nd one a year ago. I am 75 years old. Both times, I was off the pain meds on the fourth day and none after that. I was recovered and rehabbed in 6 weeks. I work as a truck mechanic and I do refrigeration on trucks, trailers and rail cars. I was back to work both times after six weeks off and fully able to function pain-free. I am aware that not everyone is able to do that, but I was able to. I am extremely pleased with both of the surgeries.

[@briansmith8950]

Had both done, a year apart. It gave me back my life. Do your exercises. Work the knee to achieve full flexibility. It is hard but you will not be sorry if you work through it. Good luck.

[@PURPLE.REIGN.1999]

I wish my surgeon would have told me this beforehand. He barely told me a thing about what to expect. I am 6 months out, and I teach Kindergarten. I had my TKR surgery on my right knee on June 20, 2019 and still have a lot of stiffness and not able to walk normally yet like I want to. I was very depressed recovering from this and don't want to teach Kindergarten ever again because of it. My left knee is going to need a replacement sooner or later since I just had an injection 2 months ago. I had NO idea what to really expect and was very stressed out coming back after work having to have a sub and everything else. Was mentally very stressful and horrible to have to deal with. Most doctors don't tell you that.

[@christopherandstephaniehil5782]

I don’t remember the surgeon ever telling me that my knee would be numb for the rest of my life

[@dathyr1]

I had a knee replacement 2 years ago, and I would say about a month I was doing normal things. First two weeks are the hardest to get through. I did not have any major pain issues. As long as you do the post exercises and therapy they tell you to do, my knee did the normal flexing and was playing golf around 2-3 months. I was told with a knee replacement, I should not do any running or allot of bending down or crawling on the replacement knee, that is just to protect it from any damage. Being 2 years now, my knee feels just like a normal knee, and no pains.

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

9 years now and I still cannot kneel on it……and now its starting to give me grief…..I had no problem after surgery and healed fast. All the narcs that were given to me I never took.

[@maricociram]

Precious and totally true info. I had a total surgery 3 monts ago at 79. I'm at 80% recovery and still works hard in physio. Be patient and take care of yourself.

[@chrisstewart8259]

I've had both knees TKR. First was the left and I thought the pain levels in that were pretty bad; and then 18 months later I had the right knee done. That was when I found out that the initial left knee was a breeze! The right knee was dreadful pain by comparisn. But two things I learned and it's my advice to anyone that has a TKR - excercise and bend the knee until you're nearly crying and trembling from the effort, then wait for the swelling and then the ice it, ice it, ice it. Repeat, repeat, repeat at least three times day. Bending & ice are your best friends, they help you to reduce the number of those shit opiate painkillers! Am I better after these TKRs? Totally and absolutely. I took about 1 year for the left knee to feel like new but the right one was not as successful as the left one and I still get the odd pain twinge down the outer side of my thigh to the new knee. But I can walk for miles whereas prior to TKR I couldnt even get down the drive to check my mailbox. I couldn't even walk my dog! Get it done, get a new life.

[@tsot9837]

I’m at 7 1/2 weeks after TKR on my left leg. The 1st three weeks were painful. I had to force myself to do the PT exercises at home. It was painful, but I was told by family that had gone through the same surgery how important it was. It was worth it. My mobility is excellent and the stiffness gets better every day. I still have a bit of swelling and my knee is still warm. Before the surgery riding in a car was painful. I couldn’t get comfortable no matter how I sat. Today after PT I got in the car and there was no pain or discomfort at all. My knee was bone on bone for a couple of years and it got to a point where I could barely walk. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones who came through the surgery successfully.

[@rickgreenquist9125]

I’d like to thank all of the TKR surgeons, design engineers, research experts, nurses and care personnel, physical therapists for making my life totally better with new knees!! I am grateful for your struggles in med school!

[@davidrussell8834]

I had a knee replaced,at 80 years old,followed the recommended excercises and physio therapy ., drove 1500 miles to Florida and played golf within 6 weeks.

[@thomasoconnor6619]

@ 3 months post op at the age of 50 in good shape. Just graduated PT and I feel like I’m 80% there. I can do everything I want although the knee feels a bit strange. I get some clicking noises and the feeling isn’t 100% back around the knee, but I’m happy and noticing continued gains. For me the beginning I made a ton of progress and then it stalled. Don’t worry things will get better

[@dalediethorn1481]

Had both knees done 6 months apart

[@josalmeri]

I had the left knee done 2 years later. Bone on bone condition. Very painful. Rehab was slower but back on court at 5 months. Still gives me some kneecap pain but I can live with it. Better than a kane and walker when the knee finally failed. 10 knee surgeries total. Still play golf every week too! Put in the work and continue living. But a full replacement is very tuff. So be prepared but never never ever give up. I am now almost 71 with a triple bypass behind me and going strong!!!

[@jimpowell2296]

At age 70 I had a total knee replacement done. I am a golfer and was a bit of an athlete in my younger days. My doc told me if I were to follow his instructions and rehab properly I would play golf in 6 weeks time. He was amazing, I played 18 houses of golf in 6 weeks to the day. You see the first 3 weeks to a month I truly wondered if I would meet hat goal. You must fight thru the pain and do your rehab. I was standing 4 hours after surgery. I had surgery in late afternoon. I stayed overnight, the next morning I went to my first rehab with quite a few people, learning basics. That lasted about one hour. I was released that morning. I plowed into my rehab. Fought through it for a month. Then it was a piece of cake. NO SCAR TISSUE for me. That was 7 years ago, best decision I ever made. You see you beat the rehab part before you have the surgery.

[@carolcrouch3503]

I am 81 years old had a total knee replacement in April of this year in two weeks I was completely pain free

[@mikepaschal4338]

24 Feb will be 6 months for tkr on my right knee. I've watched a lot of videos before, and after the surgery. I like this video, because it's answering questions with straightforward information, yet with a tone of kindness, even empathy. I feel like questions I didn't know how to ask were answered, and kind of have a feel for what to expect ove the next 6 months.