After 10 Years of Living with Knee Pain, Richard Chooses Knee Replacement

Richard, 72, is a retired teacher from Fullerton, Calif., southeast of Los Angeles. Like many men, Richard is the “grin and bear it” type of guy. When he encounters pain, he’s more likely to tough it out rather than complain about it. So, when the knee pain of osteoarthritis began many years ago, he just “worked through it,” ignoring it at first, and then compensating for it.

For as long as he could, he kept up many of his activities, which included racquetball, tennis, skiing, and gardening. Richard also works maintaining some apartments and other real estate investments – work that includes physical labor. Richard also loves to travel with the love of his life, Mary, and spend time at their beach house.

Needless to say, Richard leads an active life. He wasn’t about to let his osteoarthritis take control. His knee pain was bearable when it first started, about 10 years ago.

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However, as the pain progressed, Richard had to start giving up the things he enjoyed. “Gardening, for instance, was just too painful. It was terrible.” The pain was difficult for him when teaching because of the constant standing. Things kept getting worse. Richard was a candidate for knee replacement surgery, but he kept putting it off, waiting for something new to come out.

Meanwhile, Richard didn't complain and tried not to allow the pain to change his outlook on life. He has always played sports, and “in sports, you deal with pain and do what you have to do.” But everyone around him sensed that he was in pain. “People’s faces would cringe when they would see me walk by.” Friends would say, “Rich, when are you going to get the surgery done?” Richard could hear his knees grinding when he walked. It was difficult for him to bend over and pick up his grandchildren. His grandchildren would say to him, “Grandpa, are you OK?” Richard could only walk a short distance and would have to stop for awhile before he could get going again.

Richard began getting injections in his knees to help alleviate the pain. They worked for a time, and he wanted to continue with them, but the doctor told him that his knees were too badly worn; he needed knee-replacement surgery. Richard and his doctor weighed the benefits and risks of knee replacement surgery, and decided that for Richard, the time had come. The doctor made it clear that the procedure is a major one. In Richard’s case, both knees were going to be replaced at the same time.

Richard’s case was different from many, because he had been bowlegged since childhood. A bowleg condition is when the knee alignment is not normal. The lower leg curves outward from the thigh, moving the knees farther apart. Bowleg can contribute to arthritis by placing added stress on the knee joints. Richard and his surgeon expected the surgery to help address his bowleg condition in addition to his arthritis.

Richard’s surgery went very well. His doctor chose a special implant called a rotating platform knee designed to both bend and rotate which accomodates for more normal movement and helps reduce implant wear.

During his recovery, Richard relied on help from Mary. They’d been through this before – Richard had quadruple bypass surgery five years ago – so they knew that recovery from surgery takes time and hard work, as well as some help from loved ones. “My support from my family and friends was phenomenal during my recovery.”

It wasn’t easy, by any means. But thanks to his commitment to his extensive rehab and exercise program in the weeks after surgery, recovery progressed steadily. During the first six weeks, Richard’s doctor urged him to take precautions to reduce the likelihood of infection. Richard was faithful to his exercises and still does them three times a week at home. “The recovery is a lot of work – it’s tough,” Richard said. And because he had both knees done at the same time, recovery took even more work.

But it has paid off. Not only is Richard free from much of the knee pain, but his bowleg condition is virtually gone. The gap (caused from being bowleg) between his knees was reduced from 8 inches to 1.25 inches. Reconstructing his knee joints and correcting the bowleg condition actually added to his height as well! Richard had shrunk by 3.5 inches from the height he had attained as a young adult. He also regained a good part of this lost body height as a result of the corrective surgery.

“Life has been great since surgery. It has done a world of good for me.” He’s able to keep up with the labor needed to maintain his home and some apartment buildings that he owns. “And when Mary gets home from work, we typically walk three to four times a week for about 30 to 45 minutes.” He and Mary also are able to take trips together.

Richard enjoys the way he’s able to move about and enjoy life again, thanks to his new knees. “I’m so glad that I had the surgery!”

Important Safety Information

The performance of knee replacements depends on weight, age, activity level, and other factors. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. People with current infections, or conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have this surgery. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can tell if knee replacement is right for you.

Last Updated: 02/18/2008