New Knees

Not my Knee

On June 9, 2025, I had my left knee replaced.  I had my right knee replaced on January 8^th.

I had been walking around on with knees with no cartilage for years.  Actually, as the cartilage thinned out and disappeared, walking became more labored and slower.  For the four or five years it became more of a hobble and stairs were always a challenge to ascend. 

It finally got to the point, aided by some gentle family persuasion, to get the right knee replaced.  It was knee that was the most painful.  I asked everyone I knew that had the surgery who their doctor was and if they would recommend going to them.  I asked other, non-orthopedic, physicians who they might recommend.   I took the two that got the most endorsements and scheduled appointments with them in the late Spring of 2024. 

One of the doctors could see me right away.  The other’s first opening was five weeks out.  I thought, “this second Doc seems more in demand.”  I went to see the first doctor.  I got there early and signed in and sat in the waiting room.  It had the feel of a Civil War hospital.  Of course, I am overexaggerating, but the waiting room was crowded and no one looked happy.  They looked grim.  My appointment was on-time.  He told me I needed both knees done and outlined his process and gave me time estimates, in weeks, for walking with a walker, then a cane, and when I would need neither.  He told me how many weeks it would be before I could drive.  He was confident… and a bit arrogant.  It was the kind of arrogance, or confidence one needs to do these kinds of surgeries.  He could, however, schedule me for the surgery within ten days.  I could have it done before I even saw the second doctor.  I didn’t schedule the surgery that day.

I wanted to see the second doctor.  So, I waited.

The second doctor was night and day different from my perspective.  His waiting room was not at all crowded.  The few people in it were waiting seemed quite normal… not grim.  The doctor was prompt.  He was soft spoken with a warm confidence.  He had already seen my x-rays and agreed with the first that I needed to have both knees replaced.  He also asked me to walk for him and noted, “I am surprised you can walk as well as you are given the condition of your knees.”  Then he proceeded to outline his process which, not surprisingly was similar to the first doc’s.  When he started to quote the times from walker and cane to fully ambulatory with no support as well as the time until I could drive (which is the resumption of my normal schedule), his were all less by days or weeks than the first doc’s.  Really?

So, based on all of the above, I chose Dr. Michael O’Rourke and never looked back.

By the time I chose the surgeon, I had to push the surgery to the end of the fall term.  With other circumstances, I finally settled for January 8, 2025 surgery date.  Throughout the Fall, I talked with anyone I knew or just met that had had knee replacements.  It was very helpful in one regard.  Everyone said it is critical to religiously do the physical therapy and ice the knee often.  In retrospect, they were absolutely correct.  I learned that if you did not do it, the recovery would talk longer, one might not gain the full range of bend in the knee (at least 120 degrees is the goal), or one might have a permanent bend in their knee. 

Secondly, and totally not all that helpful, is everyone had different answers for the amount of pain they were in, how long they took the narcotic pain meds, and the various times to walk with a cane, walk unassisted, drive, and resume normal activities.  One guy was convinced he had fully recovered faster than anyone else ever has.  A bit of exaggeration may be involved in this case.  Another was complaining that after 8 months he was not entirely glad that he had the surgery.  I do believe this fellow didn’t fully realize that he only replaced a knee and the rest of his body was still 75 years old.  The standard deviations on these were all pretty wide, so I had no idea what to expect.  This was the cause of increased apprehension as the surgery date approached. 

The surgery took place at the NorthShore Orthopaedic & Spine Institute which per their website:

… offers world-class options close by to help you feel like yourself again. Our experts treat a range of conditions in a variety of settings — from orthopaedic and spine immediate care centers to a dedicated hospital in Skokie designed for inpatient and outpatient procedures. We use innovative, minimally invasive techniques for joint replacement, complex spine surgeries, sports medicine and more, so you can get back to the activities you enjoy sooner.

From the moment we entered until we left the hospital, I was impressed by their business and medical processes and their attention to detail.  Everyone seemed very well trained.  There was a small army of people in the operating room.  They did a whopping 60 surgeries that day.

My experience?  The doctor was spot on.  I used the middle option of pain meds and weaned off of them after a week or so.  Progress came quicker than I expected and tracked with the doc’s estimates.  I only carried a cane around because it was winter and I didn’t want to have any issues if the surfaces became icy. 

As I recovered, I began to contemplate when to do my left knee.  The best time was after the spring term ended and I had a lull in music engagements which was early June.  There was much less apprehension approaching the surgery the second time around.  The doctor and his staff were clear that one should count on the second knee pain and recovery times being the same as the first.  I understood that.  In the end, this second knee replacement recovery was even faster and I have to give some of the credit has to go to the home physical therapist that pushed me to progress faster.

I remember the doctor telling me that there are several YouTubes of knee replacement surgeries.  He advised I only watch them after my surgery.  I took his advice and when I watched it, I was even more impressed by the intricacies of the surgery.  I was clear why that small army was needed in the OR.  They saw and shape bones.  The literally hammer in the replacement knee and manipulate the leg more vigorously than would have imagined.  This all serves as a reminder of how modern medicine has made serious complex surgeries so commonplace and low risk due to technology, excellent training, and a world class level of quality and process controls.  I am most appreciative of Dr. O’Rourke and his team and the NorthShore Orthopaedic & Spine Institute for excellent service, skills, and care.

I am glad to be done with knee replacements.  I am OK with, hopefully, never needing any other joints replaced.