knee replacement - any veterans out there

Yes, a veteran here, left knee on shorter leg got worn out. I’ve had some serious abdominal surgeries, and personally I found the TKR more painful & difficult to recover from simply because one’s whole mobility is affected during the process. That said, many people get through with few problems. I got a bit of a complication with internal scar tissue trapping nerves, causing pain and stiffness and making for a particularly difficult recovery. I was just unlucky, most don’t have this. I didn’t get on with my original surgeon who was not helpful in assisting me to understand what was going on, all he went on about was more physio. Got onto a different surgeon who identified the issue and emphasised that much less vigorous Physiotherapy was in order, and not to worry, that it would come right. It took the best part of a year for me to get there, and I continue to improve, and still do as my current consultant says, improvement can be continuous and to ignore the idea that you will be at your best by a year.

The knee is a tricky area because so many nerves travel through it, and the swelling that occurs during surgery puts pressure on those nerves. The long incision didn’t really hurt at all, more internal/nerve pain. In fact I removed my own staples to save the price of a GP visit!

Best of luck with your ongoing recovery, OP, I’m sure you will progress well, given time.

Don’t worry at all about stalled progress. As a consultant said to me it’s about scar tissue buildup g up and “re-stiffening” it, with consistent very gentle flexing and weight/resistance training this will again soften down and your leg strengthen. There’s no real limit to improvement potential. I had been in absolute despair until I got working with someone who assured me this and I proved his point.

Got my two knees done together four years ago. Was told if I did the excercises there was no need for Physio .Never went for Physio , no problems 100%

Don't know about brave, didn't know much about procedure at the time . Went by surgeons recomendation . He said recovery time would be much the same. I think he said it wouldn't be suitable in all cases

Didn't do any cycling myself, but a neighbour had it done a few years ago and cycles nearly every day. I would have thought that cycling would be hard on the knee but it would appear that the opposite is the case.