Knee Replacement

Has anyone here had knee replacement as a driver? I need two knee replacements. The left is the worst of the two. How soon can a driver get back to work after knee replacement surgery?

Only know from what I seen years ago. We had an ex Marine,an older customer of ours. He dropped his truck off while he was going in for the 1st knee, rode a bike home.....Heard like within 2-3 weeks he got the 2nd knee done. About 2 weeks or so, he finally rode his bike to pick up his truck. He said he felt like a new man after all that. I believe he was in his very early 70s....He wasn't a real big guy, but guess it depends on your overall health too

As Steveo points out, it could be a wide range of time, all dependent on each individual patient. I've not required replacement surgery, but a large dietary change improved my RA in both knees dramatically over the past decade.

I would think longer for the physical rehabilitation and strength-building following the surgery. Even with dry van , there will be some "climbing", whether it is the three steps up into the cab of the truck, or the four feet up and down the rear doors of a trailer.

My Wife has had both done over the past three years. She’s not a truck driver. Each one was about 3-4 weeks before she could drive the car with no worries.

A lot has to do with the physical therapy. You MUST do it religiously. Although we did and she was able to do lots within a couple of weeks, full on back to 100% took some months.

We also had a friend (in his 70’s) who had his done and he was doing really well after six weeks.

Stay ahead of the pain right after surgery and do that PT.

I hope this helps.

As Steveo points out, it could be a wide range of time, all dependent on each individual patient. I've not required replacement surgery, but a large dietary change improved my RA in both knees dramatically over the past decade.

I would think longer for the physical rehabilitation and strength-building following the surgery. Even with dry van , there will be some "climbing", whether it is the three steps up into the cab of the truck, or the four feet up and down the rear doors of a trailer.

Knee replacement surgery would be a walk in the park for you after heart replacement surgery.

At least six weeks for rehab and recovery. Then have a discussion about clearance with your orthopod. They will help you get back to work. Spent quite a bit of time in the OR helping on knee replacements. Your prognosis is good. Just don't rush and be compliant with rehab stuff

Has anyone here had knee replacement as a driver? I need two knee replacements. The left is the worst of the two. How soon can a driver get back to work after knee replacement surgery?

As Steveo points out, it could be a wide range of time, all dependent on each individual patient. I've not required replacement surgery, but a large dietary change improved my RA in both knees dramatically over the past decade.

I would think longer for the physical rehabilitation and strength-building following the surgery. Even with dry van , there will be some "climbing", whether it is the three steps up into the cab of the truck, or the four feet up and down the rear doors of a trailer.

Knee replacement surgery would be a walk in the park for you after heart replacement surgery.

It had me out of work for five months. Cancer chemotherapy treatment is worse.

I had a replacement done at the end of October. I took 8 weeks off. I probably could have gone back in 6 if I really wanted to, but we were closing in on the Holidays so I decided to take a couple extra weeks. Getting in and out of the truck and into and under the trailer are all much easier now. You’ll have a follow up with your doctor at about 6 weeks and will discuss a return to work at that point. Make sure you do the PT rehab stuff at home. I also suggest starting “prehab” (doing the rehab exercises before surgery) as early as you can. It made my rehab much easier.

I had a replacement done at the end of October. I took 8 weeks off. I probably could have gone back in 6 if I really wanted to, but we were closing in on the Holidays so I decided to take a couple extra weeks. Getting in and out of the truck and into and under the trailer are all much easier now. You’ll have a follow up with your doctor at about 6 weeks and will discuss a return to work at that point. Make sure you do the PT rehab stuff at home. I also suggest starting “prehab” (doing the rehab exercises before surgery) as early as you can. It made my rehab much easier.

Good to see you back around. I almost thought you fell into lake Minnetonka with Appolonia, haha! Are you still with Roehl ?? I know, you checked in a month or so ago...I wondered if your injury/surgery went south!

Glad you're all better! I'm dealing with a rotator cuff injury from 6 months ago that's a 'bear' healing; circumventing surgery myself. P/T is the name of the game; for me, so far.

Stay well, stay safe!~

~ Anne ~

I don't have any personal experience with knee surgery but a friend (farm field mechanic) had one and was off for six months. He was a heavy guy and maybe didn't follow through with physical therapy real well, but don't know.

I don't know how relevant this is for this type of surgery but had two shoulder surgeries about a year apart (different shoulders). Two things that helped me a lot was paying for a ice chest and shoulder wrap that pumped cold water around my shoulder to reduce swelling. Insurance wouldn't pay for it but it was worth it. Secondly, I started physical therapy with my second shoulder at home a couple of days after surgery since I knew what to do since it was the same type of procedure as before. At my one week follow-up with doctor he seemed very impressed and said I didn't need to come back. I had already been doing physical work. On the other hand, after my first surgery at my one week follow-up I was still very stiff and sore. He asked how therapy had gone and I told him I hadn't received an appointment for that yet. He looked at his nurse and told her he wouldn't let her take time off to go skiing if she didn't take time to get all appointments taken care of first.

My point is that I would take the initiative before surgery to ask your doctor what you can do on your own to speed up recovery.