My 84-year-old father-in-law is about to have knee replacement surgery. What kind of post surgery challenges can we expect?

My mother has had her knee replaced, but NOT at 84 years old. My friend had both of her knees replaced too. I know with my friend she was supposed to be up and walking like the day after surgery. They told her the therapy was the most important thing she could do. I remember she told me that they said if she didn't do physical therapy her knee would lock up and they'd have to bend it backwards to break it free. OUCH!! She is pain free now though.

My Dad had his done last year at 85. After the operation he stayed for rehab. While it was difficult to have him in the hospital for weeks, it was the best thing for him. They put you on this machine that flexes the knee pretty much right after surgery. At first he said it was painful but he quickly got used to it. The rehab is pretty intense but he met some people and it was much better than driving him to PT repeatedly. If they offer the option of keeping him there you should consider it.

The one problem he had was he developed a urinary tract infection. We'd visited him one night & he just seemed loopy. I spoke to the nurse who assured me that it was the pain meds. This was right after he was moved, so I thought he had less pain meds, but I figured she knew what she was talking about. The next day my SIL went to visit & said he was really loopy & falling asleep. Within an hour we received a phone call from the hospital saying he was in the ER with 104!!! fever! Just about killed the poor man. Come to find out it was the urinary infection, he actually was off the pain meds. You really need to make sure someone is paying attention to his care.

Dad is fine, he is glad he had the operation and he gets around so much better. Good luck with your Father in law.

Anytime an elderly person has an anesthetic, there is a strong possibility that they will have some dementia type confusion following. My father in law had a valve replaced at the Cleveland Clinic and when he came out of surgery we were concerned because he was quite confused and not himself. The staff told us this is not unusual for someone his age, in his early 80's at the time. Eventually, about a month, his mind did clear and he was, almost, his old self once again. A cousin is experiencing the same thing with his 90 year old mother who just had shoulder surgery. So, don't be alarmed if your father seems a little out of it for a while following his operation. That isn't to say not to check for other causes. And if he does have a problem, he may never be completely like he was before. Sometimes they don't come all the way back and lose a little of the sharpness they had prior to the anesthetic. Best of luck and I hope all goes extremely well with a rapid and full recovery.

This is very true. That was also a part of why we figured it was nothing to worry about with Dad. My dad's older sisters both experienced this type of confusion after hospitalization.

My mom at 85 had hip replacement surgery. Then at 86 had her other hip replaced. She also needs to have both knees done. She did well with the surgeries. The therapy brought up different issues. For instance, using the walker she would have to use her wrists more and it caused arthritis flare-ups. This also occurred in her knees. Once the therapist realized they lowered the expectations and it allowed her to go at a slower pace so her other joints didn't suffer.

Immobility at first, and absolute rehab, follow-their-instructions techniques, later.

Just an afterthought: Why would anyone in their mid-eighties want knee replacement? Can't one live with a stiff knee? Am I being naive? I, myself, would say no to this very elective surgery at that age.

Why? So they can get around without the risk of falling because they are off balance. Because their health is perfect, except for the lack of cartilage in their knee. Because their other knee is starting to having problems from the extra weight put on that knee while favoring the other knee.

Since the surgery my Dad has returned to playing golf, is able to work in his garden, care for his chickens and walk without pain. Well work the surgery. He would not be happy sitting in a chair watching the world go by. His family and friends wouldn't be happy watching him be sad and angry at watching the world go by.

Everyone is different. Their interest, levels of activity and health vary. This is a personal decision made by the patient, doctor and family.

To answer N1K2R3's comment about "why?"...my father-in-law is a VERY active and healthy 84-year old man. He has been in extreme pain for over a year now. He did try other options for relieving his pain (shots, different shoes, physical therapy), but nothing gave relief. After his pain started to alter the way he walks and cause back trouble he was advised by his doctor to have the knee replaced. Yes, it was an elective surgery he chose because of need. I suspect he'll be with us for at least another 10-15 years so he was looking for the best way to live those coming years pain-free.

Knee replacement is not for everyone and should be viewed in light of physical ability and overall health. I believe it was the right choice for him.

Thanks to each of you who responded to my question. My father-in-law is on the road to recovery now and your shared words of advice helped us prepare for his recovery phase.

So glad your Father-in-law is doing well. His attempts to avoid surgery sound much like my Dad's. I am sure that he will be glad he had the surgery. I know he'll be glad to have it all behind him!

J and K: Thank you for that explanation of your 84-year-old father-in-law. Each case is different, and I certainly hope he made the right decision.

As for me, I'd rather limp a little and use mind control to overcome knee adversities than submit to general anesthesia and surgery at age 84. Too much can go wrong on the table.

When my Dad had to "limp a little", he tried other treatments. When it got past that, he sought other options. Clearly, this was not a decision taken lightly. It's not as though he decided to have a face lift.

Yes, each case is different, which is why it is made by the patient and doctor. For my Dad, it was the best decision. Don't forget, things go wrong off the table also.

Thanks for the thoughts. My mom is 84 and about to have a second knee replacement on her right knee. The doctor saw her xray and wondered how is can manage the pain. She is about 4'10 , 106 pounds and her knew is bigger than a soft ball. There is no padding left and there are so many metal and plastic fragments in the tissue -causing swelling and pain, the doctor can't believe she is handling it so well. So it is surgery or shrivel up in a chair or bed and die.

My very healthy 80 year old father recently died from having a total knee replacement. Although death within 24 hours is rare, it does happen. An important factor associated with a significantly increased mortality after total knee replacement is an age of more than 70. My family wishes we had known this before supporting my father with his decision to have the surgery.

be SURE she does all her exercises, dad had both knees replaced and he said that if he hadn't done the excorcises, he would not have healed as fast. yeah, it hurts, but better to hurt a short time than long time

My MIL is scheduled to have total knee replacement Nov 20. She is in a lot of pain, slowing down even more and things are getting harder for her to do.
She has bone on bone rubbing, spurs all around the knee and a huge cyst in the back of her knee due to the front knee problems.
She is 78 now, has diabetes, heart issues and recovering from a stroke.
She did well 7 years ago with the first one done.
We are seriously thinking about sending her to a facility after surgery, because she will get skilled nursing care, physical therapy 5 days a week....... and have to
get stronger before she comes home.
MIL needs to be able to walk for her heart health, diabetes and muscle strength...
Best of luck to those who will have parents having surgery too.
frustrated2012

To N1K2R3: Arthritis is more than limping a little or a stiff knee. Arthritis is extremely painful and controls your life. At age 44 I prefer to have my knee replaced and live again than sitting alone in pain for the rest of my life. There is no "mind control" and this is not a "knee adversity." Unless you have experienced the pain, you don't have a voice in this conversation.

To N1K2R3 - If you have to ask why a person would want this surgery, clearly you have never experienced the extreme, debilitating pain associated with bone-on-bone arthritis in a joint. It literally takes a person's breath away -- I've heard my father gasp involuntarily at the slightest movement. "Elective"? It's about as elective as an appendectomy.

OK, so I stand corrected. Osteoarthritis is painful, debilitating and inconvenient, but the pain that you both described from bone-on-bone arthritis in the joint is excruciating. Surgery in these cases is recommended. Forgive my insensitivity.

My father underwent total knee replacement surgery in Mexico, but he was 67 at that moment. Healing time and mood swings were our problem. Since your dad is 84, he may have difficulty doing exercises for his knee.

Good luck to you and your father!

Is there a ban on 84 yr olds getting diagnostic tests such as ct, mri, because of their age? Have family member in long term care but has constant pain in hand which is treated with pain meds, and or brushed off as psychological in origin because of his dementia. I can't get answers.

Niki, take your father to an orthopedic doctor to find out the cause of his hand pain. He could have carpal tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis, or perhaps arthritis; only a doctor can tell, and that should be determined before just administering pain meds as the facility staff if apparently doing.

Even if he can't answer, a doctor can tell by touching, moving, etc., and noting the facial response; x-rays can also be done, which would probably be the first diagnostic step.

Not doing an MRI would I think be more dependent on whether or not there are any artificial metal parts in the body rather than age, but I think it also might depend on a particular doctor.

We've discovered that some doctors, especially the physiatrists we've seen, don't want to go to much effort to diagnose senior orthopedic conditions.

Jandkplus5 - thank you so much for your input. Finding a doctor to see him is difficult - they don't seem to want to because he is a resident in a nursing home and his age, and his dementia.... its very hard to see him in pain - so its a challenge for sure.

Yesterday my Dad, who is 94, had a MRI and x-rays while in the hospital, so age shouldn't be a factor.

What type of hand pain is this elder experiencing? The whole hand? The fingers? I had something called "trigger thumb" where the thumb would lock up painfully but the doctor shows me how to massage the hand to get rid of the pain, and it worked.

Or maybe this is psychological, as some elders with dementia will get fixated on something medical and won't shake it loose, even when the doctor can't find any known reason for the pain, etc. Example, my Dad has the beginnings of dementia and has an arthritic knee... I bet with Dad's next dental appointment he will tell the dentist about his knee.

My aunt had her knee replaced after age 90 and did fine. Therapy was tough but she was glad she had it done. It was the second time for her to have the same knee replaced. Had it done over 20 years earlier. She felt she had no choice. SIL just had hers done at 71. Said it was a breeze. Couldn't imagine not doing it.

This is not an elective surgery!! These older people are in SEVERE pain! Some have difficulty even standing up or sitting down, their overall quality of life as drindled down to near nothing! Those who the motivation to have such a surgery, are frankly ignorant

I'm not really seeing our particular situation in this thread. My mom is scheduled for 3D knee replacement next week. She is almost 80. My brothers and I have tried unsuccessfully to talk her out of this surgery. Why? She has no pain. She only has a slight "catch" when she rises from a chair and she admits that after taking a few steps she is fine. She is in excellent health and we feel this surgery is completely unnecessary. She seems to be listening more to her peers who have all had multiple surgeries and frankly admit that they will continue to have more until "everything is replaced". I just can't fathom a doctor performing this surgery when she has had no other conservative treatment. I don't even believe she has had any diagnostic testing (MRI, etc.) done.

My 83yr young Dad (toughest old boy you will meet :) has been walking on bone to bone for years (watching him really struggle to walk without pain medications for the last year and saying he is ok was wearing thin. He refused to get an Accrod sticker and swore he would never go under the knife.
The pain had got to the point of "has to be done"! he is now in hospital, 4 days post OP......
He is walking the hallway! Physio is painful... he is on heavy painkillers and a bit out of it.... (beaut conversations you have never wanted to hear from your dad and will never repeat!) lol
but when he can walk without the pain that we have seen him in....... nothing would stop you from doing it!
I will let you know how well he is doing... and thank you for everyone that has posted on their family x

I want to keep updating my post as I know when I was researching before my Dad had his operation, there was a lot of negative and frightening posts I had read... and not many encouraging posts for the person going in for the operation or their families and what to expect.
He is looking at coming out Monday, pain medication has been changed and he is now totally lucid and with it. He still has pain that is manageable (he swears it is no where near as bad as he thought it would be)
He is walking further than he could before the operation and it is only day 10. Yes his bottom is a bit sore laying down all day, its awkward getting in a comfortable position at times but he is already seeing the improvement and the pain is getting less every day.
Hope this helps others x

That is such wonderful news! Thanks for the update...keep'em coming.

I am a healthy 78 yr old man leading a comfortable retired life in SW Florida. Except for one thing, my left knee is worn out and gradually getting worse, the pain also. My orthopedic surgeon ( who replaced my right knee 11 yrs ago when I was 67 ) says he's done all he can, my only recourse now is a total knee replacement.
My thoughts though immediately go back to my uncle, who was 82, very healthy but had a noticeable bad limp due to a worn out knee. His 46 yr old daughter finally decides toy get married. My uncle is old-school-tough-Irish,.." I'm walking her down the isle, WITHOUT a limp ! "
Goes to a specialist who tells him he'll do a knee replacement on him, - should not be a big deal. My 82 y.o. uncle went under the anesthetic and never woke up !
So my knee pain, although getting worse, is still not bad enough. Can't help thinking of my uncle,..no way will I undergo that surgery at my age,.. will take pain pills instead. My uncle's doctors assured him like crazy,.." Jack, there'll be no problem, believe me ! " Yeah right ! A knee replacement at age 67 OK ( did have heart problems even so, atrial fib that I am still living with ), but at 78 ?? NO WAY !!!.