Anybody had a partial knee replacement?

[Philip Peterson]

I tore my meniscus playing tennis in August. Had surgery to fix it. Which lead to some of the bone dying due to atheronecrosis.

Now 6 months later (six months without touching a tennis racket) the doctor is saying a partial knee replacement might be the way to go.

Anybody had a partial knee replacement? And how did tennis go after that? How is movement after a partial knee replacement?

 

[ollinger]

My wife, who plays tennis, had a partial about 6 years ago. Compared with a total, rehab and recovery are generally quicker; the downside is it's more likely to need to be replaced about 5 years sooner on average that a total. Most docs suggest you confine yourself to doubles, unless you're very eager to have surgery sooner, and try to play on clay.

 

[Mongolmike]

Had a full replacement October 7th. Little over 3 months later, I am playing doubles with no discomfort.

Surgery pain was very managable. I do well handling pain, but this was surprising. There was certainly some uncomfortableness... but on a scale of 1 -10... I don't think I ever reached a 6... and that was never a constant pain. I quit taking the oxy's after about 2-3 weeks... Advil was fine.

I iced A LOT! 24 hrs a day for the first week... then 16 hours a day, etc., etc. Still have some swelling.

Rehab was painful but very, very helpful. 22 sessions of PT plus I went to the gym on my own. Prior to surgery I tried to strengthen my leg as much as possible, but also to get an idea of my muscle loss. At the gym, doing leg presses one legged... good leg I could do 220 at I'd say 85-90% effort. Bad leg... I struggled to do 100 pounds.

Couple weeks after surgery I started leg presses again... started with 40 pounds. Last Sunday I did 200 with my repaired knee at about 90% effort. Did 400 with both legs two reps of 24 - seemed about 70% effort. Very pleased with the strength progress.

I can stand on the repaired leg (one leg) and do a 3/4's squat and straighten back up with a little effort, but no discomfort. Walking up and down stairs, getting out of bed in the morning... I feel nothing. Playing doubles tennis (not playing a lot...once a week for now) everything is stable. Movement, serves, overheads all feel fine, and I'm not wearing any brace of any kind... not even a neophrene sleeve.

One odd thing is running/sprinting. I stll have some numbness on the outside of my knee (common) and there feels like a disconnect in my knee internally (which makes sense because my knee is now metal and polycarbonate!). So two things... at first my body still wanted to limp when I tried to run. It was so much muscle memory that even tho I felt nothing... my brain still said "Limp! Limp! This is going to hurt!" And the second thing is getting used to the disconnect... its like there is a strange pad/small pillow in my knee and my body isn't adjusted to a running foot impact yet. Kinda weird to explain, but I can run, tho not as fluidly as I could before.... yet.

So my understanding of the difference between a partial and a total is... the partial is: shave the femur and install the appliance, shave the tibia and install the appliance. The total includes the "button" behind the knee cap which slides in the channel of the upper appliance.

So really, I don't think there is a really big difference... is there? I'm no ortho, but they can't just install one appliance, can they? How could just the femur appliance mate to your tibia bone??

In any case, good luck. Get a good ortho (word of mouth), work hard on rehab, and all can turn out very well!

 

[Philip Peterson]

I think it would be something like this...

https://www.hss.edu/conditions_partial-knee-replacement.asp

The Doctor already told me doubles only. I am used to tennis and lots of hiking/camping. Though, sadly, not since last August.

 

[Mongolmike]

Right... so reading your link, it still looks like they can install just one prosthesis... or in my terms, an appliance. With a partial, only one appliance is installed... some get two appliances, or in a total replacement... 3 appliances.

So if you need a partial... a single appliance, I'd think there would still be a good deal of trauma to the area, and rehab, and a few months to recover. Get a good ortho doctor, follow their instructions, push yourself a little bit and you should very well be fine and playing tennis within 3-5 months. Good luck!

 

[dgold44]

Right... so reading your link, it still looks like they can install just one prosthesis... or in my terms, an appliance. With a partial, only one appliance is installed... some get two appliances, or in a total replacement... 3 appliances.

So if you need a partial... a single appliance, I'd think there would still be a good deal of trauma to the area, and rehab, and a few months to recover. Get a good ortho doctor, follow their instructions, push yourself a little bit and you should very well be fine and playing tennis within 3-5 months. Good luck!

Sorry Mike!! Did tennis cause this or other sports??
I assume you visit Mason every August since you live in Ohio.
I used to go there a few years when I was in Michigan (early 2000's) and thought the Cinncy Masters was the most outstanding event !!!!!
And between you and I, its even better than IW.

 

[Mongolmike]

Years... literally decades of basketball and volleyball and ultimate frisbee and jogging and maybe some genetics all apply. I've only been playing tennis since I hung up the basketball shoes, and I only picked up tennis because it was easier on the knees, so I don't think tennis had much effect on things deteriorating.

Cincy is fun... I think any pro event where you can get so close during practices is outstanding, but I'd rather play than watch... so I don't go to too many events.

 

[Philip Peterson]

Years... literally decades of basketball and volleyball and ultimate frisbee and jogging and maybe some genetics all apply. I've only been playing tennis since I hung up the basketball shoes, and I only picked up tennis because it was easier on the knees, so I don't think tennis had much effect on things deteriorating.

I see a lot of tennis players with knee braces and scars on their knees, so it must have some effect. And my problem started with a torn mensicus when going back to recover a lob.

My big worry is that because my biggest strengths at tennis are great speed and court coverage, and being aggressive (i.e. poaching the heck out of every opportunity at the net in doubles) I will really suck if I can no longer move around the court like a gazelle on crack.

 

[Mongolmike]

Oh trust me... last year TOTALLY sucked. I've got (had?) great court coverage too... and to not be able to run down an easy lob, or not be able to fully cover for my partner... I was angry. One group of guys I regularily play with, I apologized for not being able to hold up my part of the dubs.

Tho... also... lol... every time I was drop shotted (which I was perfectly ok with... I couldn't move, pick on the slow guy is fine with me) I told the drop shotter that I am keeping a list... and next year (this year) all you beo tches are gonna pay for it.
But yeah, being mobile, and then not being able to run took A LOT of pleasure out of tennis for me last year.

 

[Bagel]

I was playing competitive doubles 4 times a week and came up with some serious Osteoarthritis on a knee that I tore a meniscus on 2 years ago. None of the conventional treatments have worked after 2 months so I'm looking at knee replacement surgery right now.

What I can add to the conversation is that I play mostly with guys in their 50s and 60s and I know at least 8 that have had at least one knee replaced and still play. What I have noticed however is that there is a big difference in mobility. One guy I know doesn't appear to have lost a step, he can come up to return a drop shot or cross step back to hit a lob as well as ever, but other guys I have noticed have a real problem especially with forward mobility, and some lateral mobility. So what makes the difference? The difference IMO is the health of the leg overall and the skill of the surgeon.

I had a frank conversation with my physical theropist that I trust 100%. He has seen the results of all the doctors in our mid sized city, and gave me the name of one particular doctor as being not only the best but "the only one in town he would trust."

So my advise to anyone in this spot is do your due diligence on your surgeon, and if you have a physical therapist you trust, talk to them, becasue they see everything good and bad.

 

[Mongolmike]

Agree with Bagel. Important points in my opinion:

-Listen to word of mouth, and pick the "best" ortho.

-Do what you can BEFORE surgery to strengthen the leg, because it is going to be weak after.

-When evaluating knee replacement patients, there seems to be a correlation between poor surgery results and people who are generally out of shape or who weren't very athletic beforehand. People who didn't work out before hand (playing tennis and golf do NOT count as working out) are probably not going to work out enough on their own due to pain and uncomfortablness. It hurts and it is not fun to rehab. It is more easier to lie with your knee up and iced... which is not helping you rehab.

-For the first 3 months after surgery, do as much as you can AND more in regards to the stretching and strength training, both with the physical therapist and especially on your own. When it hurts, try to hold on just a few seconds longer.

-Do not rush to get back on the court to somehow prove how tough you are. Give yourself 3 months to get things working right and strong first. You only get ONE chance to rehab correctly. If you screw it up, you are going to be one of the many who complain that the surgery didn't work.

-If you do things right, you will be back on the courts without a brace, confident in the knee strength and stability, and able to run down any shot you could normally prior to the knee problem.

 

[Elevenis]

Agree with Bagel. Important points in my opinion:

-Listen to word of mouth, and pick the "best" ortho.

-Do what you can BEFORE surgery to strengthen the leg, because it is going to be weak after.

-When evaluating knee replacement patients, there seems to be a correlation between poor surgery results and people who are generally out of shape or who weren't very athletic beforehand. People who didn't work out before hand (playing tennis and golf do NOT count as working out) are probably not going to work out enough on their own due to pain and uncomfortablness. It hurts and it is not fun to rehab. It is more easier to lie with your knee up and iced... which is not helping you rehab.

-For the first 3 months after surgery, do as much as you can AND more in regards to the stretching and strength training, both with the physical therapist and especially on your own. When it hurts, try to hold on just a few seconds longer.

-Do not rush to get back on the court to somehow prove how tough you are. Give yourself 3 months to get things working right and strong first. You only get ONE chance to rehab correctly. If you screw it up, you are going to be one of the many who complain that the surgery didn't work.

-If you do things right, you will be back on the courts without a brace, confident in the knee strength and stability, and able to run down any shot you could normally prior to the knee problem.

Hey Mike, it's been two years since your last post in this thread... curious as to how your knee is holding up?

 

[Mongolmike]

All good. No pain. Played 3 sets of doubles in 90 degree heat and humidity yesterday with no problem, and I am VERY active on the court. Ran 2 miles today. No problem. Did a Warrior Dash last year, had a blast, doing another one this Saturday, don't expect any issues. 100% happy I had mine done and worked hard on the physical therapy. Has made all the difference for me to enjoy being active. Oh, and I'm 60, so there is that...lol.

 

[Fred132]

All good. No pain. Played 3 sets of doubles in 90 degree heat and humidity yesterday with no problem, and I am VERY active on the court. Ran 2 miles today. No problem. Did a Warrior Dash last year, had a blast, doing another one this Saturday, don't expect any issues. 100% happy I had mine done and worked hard on the physical therapy. Has made all the difference for me to enjoy being active. Oh, and I'm 60, so there is that...lol.

Thanks for taking all the time to post your knee replacement experience in the various threads on the subject.

It’s been helpful information for me, and for others I’m sure.

 

[Mongolmike]

Thanks for taking all the time to post your knee replacement experience in the various threads on the subject.

It’s been helpful information for me, and for others I’m sure.

Have you talked to an ortho doc yet, or is this something you think you might need in the future?

 

[Raul_SJ]

Thanks for taking all the time to post your knee replacement experience in the various threads on the subject.

It’s been helpful information for me, and for others I’m sure.

IIRC, practically all orthos will advise against jogging and tennis (or low intensity doubles at the most).

 

[Fred132]

Have you talked to an ortho doc yet, or is this something you think you might need in the future?

I have one scheduled.

Tried everything else I could think of, including stem cells. Knee improved a bit but not enough to play tennis.

 

[Fred132]

IIRC, practically all orthos will advise against jogging and tennis (or low intensity doubles at the most).

Actually mine has several patients that play tennis. He hasn’t been judgemental about it.
I guess, though, it’s common sense that the knee will wear out quicker the more stress you put on it.

 

[Mongolmike]

IIRC, practically all orthos will advise against jogging and tennis (or low intensity doubles at the most).

Yes, as did mine, but I talked honestly with him before the operation and he knew my intentions. He half jokingly said after the operation, "Well. Ok. See you in 5 years." (for another replacement)

 

[Mongolmike]

I have one scheduled.

Tried everything else I could think of, including stem cells. Knee improved a bit but not enough to play tennis.

I know a lady who also tried the stem cells. Pretty much a wasted year for her as she eventually got a full replacement.

Good luck, work hard on the rehab. Keep us posted.

Also, I probably already posted this, but do not worry if you have massive "bruising". It's not really bruising, just blood pooling mostly on the back side of your leg. This is good. My ortho said "bruising" is good, it's the people who don't have any bruising that I worry about blood clots. Also, don't rush back onto the courts. Take your time, do the rehab right, and you should see a huge improvement. Trying to get back onto the court too early is a recipe for trouble.

Everyone knows that if you break your leg that you are in a cast for at least 6 weeks just to let the bones knit back together. Then, when the cast is off, your leg is weak and has to be built back up. Only a fool would have the cast taken off after 6 weeks then immediately start to jog on it or play tennis.

Well a knee replacement is even more traumatic then a broken bone. You've got 2 bones trying to knit onto an artificial appliance, so compare that to 6 weeks in a cast for a simple break... let it heal, work on regaining flexibility, THEN worry about regaining the strength, THEN worry about running or tennis. Work hard but take your time!

 

[atatu]

Bumping this thread as I am experiencing the exact thing the OP did, had a meniscus surgery three months ago and now the ortho says I need a partial knee replacement. It's pretty discouraging, I tried to play doubles on Sunday and it was bad. Any other experiences out there who can speak to recovery time for a partial knee replacement, I'm about to turn 60.

 

[Mongolmike]

Sucks, sorry to hear that atatu. 6 years from original post and my full replacement, and I am still good to go. Played this morning, then biked on trail for 10 miles.
I did quit jogging, and covid ended my Warrior Dashes, but I picked up biking and inline skating for aerobic lower impact exercise. Tennis, and tennis ball machine also in the summer. I do one of those 4 everyday, along with walking the dog.
If the weather is bad, I go to the gym or I use the stepper I have. Zero knee pain or discomfort. Zero.