painful joints taken care of sooner (two knees and a shoulder). Every time, by the point I agreed to surgery, I was desperate and in big-time pain. An ortho-doc will sometimes say that it’s “ready” whenever you are. True, and you can get by for a little while with a knee brace. Physical therapy is the best thing to build up the muscles supporting your original joint. But it’s dangerous not to do *something* (injections, therapy, replacement) when you feel you’re in danger of falling.

I had three different docs for my three joints; apparently, ortho-docs often specialize in one joint. I had three different experiences. All of them got the job done, with these differences: (1) one of my knees won’t bend as far as the other, so I must walk downstairs one step at a time (going upstairs is unaffected). (2) My reverse shoulder replacement was like a miracle! After three weeks, I could move my arm pretty much however I wanted to without pain, and I never needed any PT. Some folks had told me that shoulders were worse than knees, and others said the opposite. I think a lot depends on the skill of the doctor. So, as we’re always advised, ask how many procedures like yours the doctor has done. Best of luck!
[Post edited by Mama Goose at 01/12/2021 11:26PM]