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Partial knee replacement

If you had one or know someone who did, how long before you or they were back in action?

I know every situation is different and depends on a lot of factors but I’m looking for basic timelines from experience.

Thanks

My mom had 2. One on each knee to buy time before the total replacements. What are you exactly having done?

Shaft2Long I've had 3 knee surgeries, left ACL/Patella tendon graph and now I have patella tracking knee problem ... both knees crackle/pop and hurt all the time I think. I still run/walk/play racquetball twice a week really hard. It just hurts, and I don't think anything less than replacement is my next option. I feel for ya - I'm 55 years old, this older thing isn't all that its cracked up to be physically :)

I've had partial knee replacement 2 years ago. Inside of left knee. I'm 69 now.

It's a bit sore 24/7, when I go up or down stairs.... it just plain hurts! Surgery was in February - I did go elk hunting in September- hurt but was manageable.

**make sure you get the mechanical leg exercising machine. My brother had full knee replacement just a few months before me. He used that machine every day for a month prior to surgery and every day after surgery. I did not get that machine - HUGE mistake!! His recovery was MUCH quicker and better range of motion.

Last year I shot my elk about 1 1/2 miles back in. In the past I've always been able to pack out about 120 pounds (we have a portable scale in camp to weigh).

I put a hind quarter and a bag of loins and trimmings, about 40 pounds in my pack. I couldn't step over logs due to my left knee. One of the other guys took the bag.

Good luck, and follow the Doctors advice and get on a stationary bike ASAP.

Get a 2nd opinion. Talk about what a tkr after a partial looks like and if needed. Replacing a replacement is nasty stuff due to having to remove the part that is up your femur. My knee surgeon suggested no partial for me. But I was destined to need a total eventually.

If he mentions "osteotomy" run for the hills. It reloads your knee to the healthy side. I had one, 12 weeks on crutches, LONG LONG LONG recovery

Drew I had a partial left knee replacement in 2017. I was 60 at the time and had knee problems for more than 10 years. When I decided to have surgery it took another two plus years of waiting before the surgical date was set. I love living in BC and our medical system has its advantages but surgical wait times are long. I discussed having a partial with my Surgeon beforehand and he thought it possible but not a sure thing until he opened up the knee. So, I have the same incision as a TKR patient. I walked out of the hospital the following day and felt pretty good. However, the pain was substantial for a couple weeks before it began to taper off. Not sure the pain would have been any different for a TKR. Take drugs. My recovery was as expected I did not do any monitored PT but am a disciplined person so did everything subscribed while at home. I did use a pool often. I hunted that fall, about 4 months later, and it was fine but it didn’t feel a hundred percent. Overall, I think it was the correct decision for me and I would certainly do it again. Last thing I will add is my Surgeon is a triathlete and worked on a lot of downhill racers so I felt very comfortable with his final decision and work. I’ll occasionally feel a few creaks and pops in the knee but outside of that never think about it. Do your homework and good luck with you decision.

One thing to keep in mind that the Dr’s don’t tell you is if you’ve had prior injury to a leg the chance of adhesions is much greater. I had a double knee replacement about 8 years ago and the right one didn’t work out well. I’d had a bad motorcycle accident 50 years prior and apparently contributed to this issue. My right knee after 2 manual manipulations, a second surgery to remove adhesions and twice the physical therapy that is normal ended up with a maximum bend of 70 degrees rather than approx 130 degrees. The effect is life changing, no motorcycling, difficult to walk in the woods, definitely no tree stands, can’t fit in airplane coach seat due to leg space and much more. Really think about it carefully before having this surgery done. They don’t all turn out well and the Dr isn’t the one that has to live with the result.

Drew I had a partial left knee replacement in 2017. I was 60 at the time and had knee problems for more than 10 years. When I decided to have surgery it took another two plus years of waiting before the surgical date was set. I love living in BC and our medical system has its advantages but surgical wait times are long. I discussed having a partial with my Surgeon beforehand and he thought it possible but not a sure thing until he opened up the knee. So, I have the same incision as a TKR patient. I walked out of the hospital the following day and felt pretty good. However, the pain was substantial for a couple weeks before it began to taper off. Not sure the pain would have been any different for a TKR. Take drugs. My recovery was as expected I did not do any monitored PT but am a disciplined person so did everything subscribed while at home. I did use a pool often. I hunted that fall, about 4 months later, and it was fine but it didn’t feel a hundred percent. Overall, I think it was the correct decision for me and I would certainly do it again. Last thing I will add is my Surgeon is a triathlete and worked on a lot of downhill racers so I felt very comfortable with his final decision and work. I’ll occasionally feel a few creaks and pops in the knee but outside of that never think about it. Do your homework and good luck with you decision.

MA-PADeerslayer, it’s a partial replacement. Torn a meniscus and sprained MCL in both knees about a year apart.

Had meniscectomy 3 weeks ago on the left knee. I was out walking around the next day, I’m back at work(electrician) but I still have the same pain I had that sent me to the Dr. In the first place.

Im told the right knee has too much arthritis to do the same procedure and is bone on bone where the left knee wasn’t.

Im told the usual time to be sort of back to normal is 3 months. I’ll go hard on the rehab but I’m doubtful about being able to hike and pack weight by September. More than that I just want to get back to work as soon as I can.

I had a partial knee replacement after my Doctor said I was the perfect candidate. I'd say trust your doctor if they have a great feed back from previous patients. Partial is a lot less invasive and quicker recovery. I was able to pass all my rehab requirements 4 days after surgery. In fact it went so well I over did it. I still went to PT for the entire time but even they said I was wasting my time there.

Several friends had full knee replacements with different doctors and recovery was twice longer. One thing that worried me is what my trusted Doctor told me.

Larry, you'll talk to 97% of patients that will say it's the best thing ever, wish they had it done earlier. However you will also talk to 3% of the patients who wish they had never done it. The problem is I can't tell which percentage a patient will fall into. I have one neighbor who had a full replacement done by a different doctor and is definitely in the 3% group. But she is in her 80's and not in good health.

Based on the xray above a partial doesn't go up your femur. If true moving to a tkr may not be an issue down the road

I had Rht hip replacement Jan 7 2022. Went great. Had partial right knee December 11, 2024. All went very well with lots of PT. I'm 71. Doc said I won't make it 5 years on the left knee. My knee surgeon was one of the best available, Chris Christiansen in Lexington, KY.

Had a partial in 2009. Needed it replaced in 2016 with a full knee due to arthritis. Partial was just as long as full as far as recovery for me so should have had full in the first place. I think it may have been a poor choice on my part to go with the Dr. who did partial. I had nothing but problems with it but my 2 full replacements are great.

Thanks for the info everyone.

Thanks for the info everyone.

Rt. knee done in August of 23, 2 months before my 71st birthday. Have always been an active type. It took me a year to get back to normal. I walk 3 plus miles per day, ride the exercise bike, and stretch my legs every day. At my 12 month checkup surgeon told me, See you in 5 years.

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