Whether you are thinking of having a knee operation done privately, through medical insurance or self-pay, we know many people have questions about what it involves and who needs the surgery.

We spoke to a patient who recently underwent knee replacement surgery and asked him to share his experiences. Although every patient’s experience is different, we hope you will find John’s story helpful when considering your options.

John’s story

John is a sprightly and very fit octogenarian gentleman who enjoys walking his dogs on a daily basis.

He didn’t have a specific incident or accident to injure his knee. He first noticed a problem when he was on holiday in Italy. He began to feel twinges whilst on a walking tour of Rome and later had to resort to taking a bus when trekking on the Amalfi coast.

On his return to the UK, John continued his daily walks but noticed more discomfort until one day, whilst walking with a friend, who happened to be his GP, he felt considerable discomfort. His GP indicated that a Baker’s cyst – a fluid-filled swelling that develops at the back of the knee – had ruptured.

John’s GP arranged an immediate referral to a local orthopaedic surgeon. John has private medical health insurance so he contacted his insurer to check that any treatment would be funded. 

The surgery

Before surgery, John was advised to rest and keep his leg elevated. The appointment for surgery was arranged very quickly, so he was not waiting for too long.

The surgery involved a knee replacement, with the insertion of the prosthesis to substitute for the joint. The knee surgery took place under general anaesthetic and lasted a couple of hours. John was then encouraged to get out of bed as soon as it was safe to do so. 

After the operation

John felt an immediate improvement in the pain once the knee operation was completed. He was walking within 24 hours with the aid of crutches and home within four days of admission.

He used his crutches for a further two weeks and continued with the physiotherapy exercises for three weeks until he went back for his review.

John started walking on level ground at first but was quickly able to progress to all surfaces once he had completed his assessment with his physiotherapist. 

Recovery

John describes his knee replacement as a ‘magical operation’. He went from having his mobility limited to being fully mobile again. He walks with his dogs every day, on average between 3 – 4 miles.

He would encourage anyone who has knee pain to get it checked out early and if surgery is suggested, to arrange it for as soon as possible.