Knee replacement?

[Macnucator]

Not strictly about deerstalking but I'm wondering if there's anyone on the forum that has had a knee replacement, I'm potentially looking at a replacement after years of working on the hill,
How has this affected individuals and how long before they can be back on the hills again, I know that the doctors can give me lots of answers, but none of them go Stalking so I thought I'd ask the forum,

 

[old keeper]

A local farmer had a knee replacement about 12 weeks ago; 8 weeks later, he was walking normally. He said the result was amazing!

 

[bottletopbill]

He is very lucky had one done a few years ago more pain than the one i was born with.
They want to do my right one now NO F way as only 50% work.
I can feel the replacement all the time always throbbing ,
Sit in the waiting area of the hospital and you will hear lots of the above.
Yes some work great my neighbors brother had two done and they are perfect.

 

[croslanda]

I've had both knees replaced, the first fortnight after replacement is hard work, you must do your exercises, it's no good if you can't bend it, you need 90°at a minimum. After that it gets steadily easier but it takes approx 9 months before you forget about it. Mine have been marvellous you can walk no bother with them but as usual there is a price list on to pay, they cannot do what your natural ones do, you can't twist them to put your boots on, they are single plane and it's difficult to kneel on them. Remember they don't last forever either but one of mine is 13 and still OK.
Only replace when you have to, ie when you can't stand the pain anymore.
I never went on the hill again but I had to have both ankles fused as well so only advice I can give when you feel up for it give it a try.
I learned to love high seats.
Good luck.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Wife is due for one in 3-months time. The consultant was at pains to point out there is no guarantee of 100% success.

K

 

[bigdev]

Had a full knee replacement done in July 2025 due to a failed meniscus repair op. Only good advise is get that knee moving and do the exercise to the extreme ! it will hurt big time but defo worth it now.. .

 

[bottletopbill]

My wife moans i walk faster now I told her it hurts less then.
But as with every thing they had a doggy batch once.
He told me i had a later one he said i can have it redone if i want but no guarantee it will be better.

 

[tomlinson]

I had two done with in 11months. They are hard work for a 2or3 weeks but after 8 or 9months I was stalking mainly off tracks and shooting off sticks but had to plan the route for the extraction. 12 months on no problem up and down hills, can kneel to a degree. Main thing is to do the exercises religiously, I still do some now. I have about 120* bend now. No pain. Good luck!

 

[outdoor585]

I had one replaced in march 2025 and I was stalking again in May doing my DSC2 in fact. Admittedly it was on open field flat ground. I can't underline enough about making sure you do your exercises afterwards this seems to make all the difference. Agree with the others the first two to three weeks are not great. I recommend trying to sleep normally but you'll probably end up on the sofa again at three in the morning. Apart from kneeling down which I can do just a little uncomfortable I have full movement. I was very concerned before but now after having one done I wouldn't hesitate to get the second one done. Good luck keep up with the exercises and good stalking afterwards.

 

[purdey24]

It all depends on your surgeon, like everything some are better than others.
If possible try to get some recommendations if you have any contacts in the medical profession.

 

[HonestJohn]

My mother had both knees done. Went from virtually unable to walk, to walking normally 3 months later. Her private consultant did say, be happy you went private, the implants used on the NHS are essentially technology from the 1980’s…but, private isn’t cheap, roughly £30k for two knees; and like suspension springs, get both done one after the other, because if you only get one done, chances are the other will go not long thereafter

 

[pendle]

I had my right one replaced last July 15th.
I was told by my physio it would be 12 months before I would be stalking
I told her contract signed on the 1st of August for fallow by November I will be out full time. I was out on the roe September with help on clearfells and planed a route
But I worked hard to get like that.
Aqua circuit training swimming and walking.

Kneeling is a problem. I bought one of Tom8 tow bar winches to help.
I am seeing the consultant about my left knee in Feb
I have been using the exercise bike in the house doing about 8km a day three days.a week

I had a plan a definite goal that was stalking.

The downside is have two mates that had theirs done the same time and they had problems one an infection own fault
The other hurt his leg being pushed through an open door that startd to close as the ambulance driver pushed him through it. He was being moved to another hospital

They are both now up and running

 

[B&W FOX]

Wife had one done on Monday.
She booked herself into a private nursing home on Tuesday, and is there for a couple of weeks.
She said it's expensive but worth it as she gets 2 physio exercise sessions a day and its iced every 4 hours day and night, nice food, room and location.
She done it this way as she didn't want me to be cooking and running around for her in the early stages of recovery, nice of her for a change.
She's so determined to make this work hence her decision for the nursing care to get a good start.
Does over course leave me free to go shooting

 

[Damoeire33]

Ive a cousin that has had both knees done & his first 1 replaced recently so 3 in total

He says a month of hell afterwards but definitely worth it
Key is good physio & getting flexibility back afterwards

 

[Martiniblack577]

Main aspect on outcome is what the surgeon finds they are working with by the time diseased bone etc has been removed. Like hip surgery - it’s pretty brutal stuff and doesn’t guarantee a happy ever after ending.

 

[Malxwal]

Main aspect on outcome is what the surgeon finds they are working with by the time diseased bone etc has been removed. Like hip surgery - it’s pretty brutal stuff and doesn’t guarantee a happy ever after ending.

I'm in for a hip next weekend. The surgeon was very upfront about the risks, but it does seem a lot more straightforward than a knee.

 

[Martiniblack577]

I'm in for a hip next weekend. The surgeon was very upfront about the risks, but it does seem a lot more straightforward than a knee.

Full or mini-hip?

Just make sure you are religious subcutting your deltaparin every night.

 

[6mmarc]

Had my hip done six years ago still hurts but it’s way better than it was being stuck on crutches
Need my right knee done but holding back until I absolutely have to have it done I know people had good ones and bad ones so more bothered about this than the hip
It’s been an interesting read so far

 

[Malxwal]

Full or mini-hip?

Just make sure you are religious subcutting your deltaparin every night.

Total hip, non cemented ceramic/polypropylene.
I'll have get up to speed on these terms "subcutting" and "deltaparin"

 

[Bavarianbrit]

My partner had a catastrophic fall off one small step 18th Nov, on 24th the German clinic (it turns out they are one of the best in Germany) installed this knee joint, a newly developed titanium one cemented in from a Hamburg company.
The health service provider tried to block the op as it was very expensive and she is 79 but the clinic, first they wanted to try it out and second they felt it was the best option to get her back to good mobility. It was first fully measured then the company made a just in time perfect CAD/CAM driven joint. She came back from rehab on 2nd Jan and I am now the full gopher for the foreseeable future but that's life.
Her clinic was the Rottal Inn Klinik in Bavaria should anyone want an address.