I had my right knee replaced in may of 08,and while the recovery was painful for a few weeks,you can get through it as long as you follow the dr's orders and do all the therapy. HOWEVER,my dr suggested i NOT kneel on that knee,like in the garden etc,so i have this little Ames cart i roll around on to garden,and if i get near a slope or something where it might roll,i just stick one of my small garden tools under the wheel.2 mos after that surgery i was diagnosed with breast cancer,went thru all that surgery,chemo and all and i'm back out iin the yard again. My motto is"you won't know if you can do it,til you try" & where there's a will,there's a way!!! Kathi

I personally don't feel that your question is out of line. Your doctor/surgeon, of course, should cover everything with you, including all the post-surgery stuff. Pepper him/her with all your questions! My own experience amounted to two partial replacements done several months apart about five years ago. Yes, my surgeon asked me if I wanted them done at the same time, but I had a hard time imagining being off both legs at the same time. Each episode amounted to a couple of days in the hospital before going home. Yes, you probably will need some hefty pain-killers for awhile. I was sent home with a contraption that automatically bent and straightened the leg. After a week or two, it was physical therapy sessions, twice a week, for a couple of months. Those sessions were super-painful as the primary purpose is to attain full range of motion, both bending and straightening. I'd say that if tears do not come to your eyes, then you aren't putting as much into it as you should. Anyway, for me, the physical therapy was the hardest, but most important, phase of the whole experience. Since you are alone, your doctor should be able to inform you of services available to you that will enable you to recover properly. For the first month or so, you won't be able to drive, so you'll need assistance from a friend, neighbor, or some kind of paratransit service. There is another possibility that might come into play in your particular situation, but I'm not an authority in this area so check with your doctor. Upon your discharge from the hospital, the doctor may feel that your situation (living alone) warrants a brief stay in a rehab facility. The rehab facility would have physical therapists to help with that part of your recovery, and they would also teach you how to continue your progress at home alone. The length of your stay would be dependent on a determination by the rehab facility that you are capable enough to take care of yourself at home. Again, this part should be covered by your doctor and your medical insurance coverage also is pertinent. One more thing. My surgeon cautioned me not to engage in vigorous activities with the new knee. While I realize that medical advances and perhaps newer knee materials mean that your new knee will be much more durable than mine, most doctors five years ago were saying that you don't want to wear out or damage that replacement. Apparently, a second replacement was highly problematic. They don't last forever, and that weighs against doing knee replacements on younger patients. Again, things may have changed since then. Anyway, I was told: no running, brisk walking was okay, swimming would be great. While those cautions came as a big disappointment to me, the pain-free existence since then has been all worth it. Let me stop here and pass the ball back to you. Of course, everyone's experience and situation is different, so please consider what others say as well.

I was my Dad's primary caregiver through two recent TKRs. The first was May 2012; the second was 5-months later - SAME KNEE. The first TKR resulted in worsening pain; no amount of PT would have helped. The prosthesis was the wrong size, and not aligned properly. (It was done by an experienced, board-certified surgeon who is the director of Joint Replacement at the hospital.) My Dad is still recovering from his October 2012 surgery (different surgeon) - VERY SLOWLY, but we have to keep in mind that he is recovering from the trauma of TWO surgeries. My point is (similar to sephia) is to be fully informed ahead of time. The Bonesmart website has been an invaluable source of information, and is a great support group. The above cases are "exceptions". I have heard and read about many successful outcomes, and I wish you the best. Please keep us posted. Here is a link that might be useful: Bonesmart

Are you otherwise strong, fit? Male of female...I think men have legs somewhat stronger than women, at least most women I know including me ;) I've had a joint replaced but not knee. Our tech had his knee replaced about 4 years ago and you would never know its been done (he has rheumatoid arthritis, it wasn't wear/tear/osteo). His doctor said since he already downhill skied, he could continue that. He hikes, swims, walks but does not jog or run for exercise, golfs extensively. It seems like he told me singles tennis isn't recommended. He can, but rarely does, squat, at least not on purpose. He hikes off trail every day for work with DH, and sometimes in very rough terrain, slippery, over logs, through creeks. They both fall. He's never hurt himself or complained of pain or swelling - the one time one of them slid and fell down a wet clay bank and hurt himself, it was DH and his knee, not A with his replacement. Ask your orthopedist to show you how to get up and down from the ground safely, and practice before your surgery. And for reference, our tech is over 6' tall, in his 60's, not so much as one additional ounce anywhere on that body. Best of luck to you, I hope you are feeling much better so you can be more active soon....