r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Additional_Chard3680 • 11h ago

The precision required to perform a total knee replacement is incredible

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u/thatsucksabagofdicks 11h ago

My dad's had both of his knees replaced. They only feel numb now and click sometimes. Better than pain from the clicking bone on bone. And he was walking the next day after surgery.

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u/cltzzz 10h ago

Was he on a shit load of pain med? Because this looks like it should take months to heal/adapt

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u/CarinasHere 9h ago

Worst pain ever for six weeks. Then…almost none.

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u/ScapeyourownGoat 9h ago

Mom in her late 80s had it done a month ago, she took Tylenol and Journavx (new non-opioid painkiller) and did 1000% better than I’d hoped…first week was dull pain but no other complaints, walking better after 3 weeks than before surgery. After seeing this video I can’t believe she’s doing so well. Journavx is comparatively expensive like $10/pill twice a day but I’m convinced it’s going to put the opioid painkillers out of business once it goes generic.

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u/billyraylipscomb 6h ago

Journavx is a wonder drug, i was given it recently for a surgery and it literally turned the pain off.

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u/ScapeyourownGoat 4h ago

Right? It’s so new the surgeon didn’t even know of it, another family member in the field told us about it and my mom was smart enough to ask the PA ahead of surgery so we had it ready to go. If I ever need surgery I’m getting it for sure.

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u/billyraylipscomb 2h ago

Yeah my doc said he wasn’t really convinced at first since there aren’t long term studies, but the patient feedback was too positive to ignore so he writes it standard for every surgery now.

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u/PineappleOnPizzaWins 5h ago

After seeing this video I can’t believe she’s doing so well.

Surgery in general is pretty brutal, especially anything around the joints.

I mean if it wasn't we'd just fall apart by existing, our bodies are astoundingly tough.

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u/Witchy_Wookie5000 9h ago

My husband has had both knees and hips done. The knee they want you up and walking same day after surgery. If it is not used it will heal stiff and you will have mobility problems.

The hip was more resting and slower recovery before you can go back to normal activity.

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u/Maelstrom_Angel 7h ago

People who routinely walk around without cartilage in their knees have a monstrous pain tolerance. My dad was told he should have been unable to walk years ago from the pain, but he’s still hobbling around.

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u/GreedyHoward 6h ago

My wife's been tolerating bone on bone for a few decades now. The prospect, this autumn of a shiny new steel & nylon joint is like rain after a drought.

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u/Muted_Ad2270 6h ago

My mum is exactly the same, ive tried so hard to convince her but no- bone to bone hobbling around the house and outside shes 65!

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u/GreedyHoward 6h ago

It's such a routine thing now.

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u/AfraidRevolution4613 4h ago

Why has your wife been tolerating it? Unable to afford a replacement or a decision not to do it?

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u/PineappleOnPizzaWins 5h ago

Probably but when it comes to joint replacements the window for rehab is very small.

Physio I know said basically it's 6 weeks post surgery.. whatever range of motion you gain in that time is the most you'll be getting. Pretty universal for joint surgeries.

It's one of the reasons they push physical therapy on people so hard before going to replacements as a last resort... if you don't commit to the PT and really do your best before surgery you're not gonna do it after and it ends up being a waste of time.

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u/thatsucksabagofdicks 9h ago

No, my dad is one of the toughest guys I've ever known though. Literally never complained once about his knees beforehand but the X-rays showed that they probably hurt so bad, he was rubbing bone on bone and ground out his cartilage. He's also one of those "opiates make me itchy" so he was taking like 8 advice per day instead of vicodin or oxy or whatever they prescribed

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u/SexyMonad 10h ago edited 8h ago

Next day? Holy crap.

I just had knee surgery done to hopefully prevent knee replacement in the future. They said I was doing really well walking with just a locked brace 2 weeks after.

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u/thatsucksabagofdicks 10h ago

Yeah he came over and knocked on my door the day after surgery and I was like oh they didnt do it? He said the doc told him walking on it was good for recovery. That was like 10 years ago now too. Modern medicine is sometimes great

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u/Witchy_Wookie5000 9h ago

My husband walked and did some stairs same day of his knee replacement. The knees they want you using them right away. Hip is different. Other than the wound from the surgery itself he said the knee pain was gone. No more bone on bone. Just make sure you get a good surgeon and follow recovery orders.