Get another opinion.    I just had my left knee done and I'm 55.  There is evidence in the medical literature that younger people get more benefits from having the knees replaced, and are usually more compliant with use of the knees, therapy and rehab.  15 years ago the materials they used back then were different and had a ten year life span.  Newer materials mean longer lasting knees. 
    I had the knee done, and will have the other one done this next summer after I undergo WLS.    I returned to a desk job at 2 months, and full time work at 4 months.  I won't tell you what I do for a living, but I will admit that I work in a hospital setting.  Heavy lifting... patients...  as just a part of my work.  I had a CPM for two months, my choice.  I underwent a manipulation under anesthesia at three months because I didn't get the end range of motion (preexisting shortening of the muscles for ten years caused that.)  After the manipulation I am climbing and descending stairs better than ever.  I can get in and out of the car now.  I can stand for long periods now, and actually prefer to stand single legged on the surgical knee because there simply is no pain involved... though I know that I should stand in an equal stance on both legs.  
     Only problem I have is causing the metal detector to go off at the airport, and still not able to tolerate getting down into the bathtub kneeling on the surgical leg.  Might have to give that up! It remains the only painful part of the whole deal... not able to kneel on the knee cap still... but I am told that in time I will be able.  I think it takes a year for the bone to actually finish healing and I'm only nine months post.
     I had to learn not to twist the leg.  The reason is that there are no ligaments holding the joint together now.  That is all removed with the TKR.  The only thing that holds the knee together after surgery is the strength of the tendons wrapping around the knee, and the patella tendon over the front of the knee.
     I have one area of total numbness, a surgical by product, on the lateral side of the knee.  No problem cause I can't feel it, it's just strange feeling.
     The scar actually hypertrophied on me.  The dumb medical assistant who took out my staples managed to put that benzine on the surgical scar while she was trying to put on the steri-strips, and I had a reaction, my skin literally blistered.  Within two hours I was removing the benzine (glue that holds on the steristrips) and washing the whole area.  In two days I had a mild surface infection, and that caused my body to react with a hypertrophic scar.  Lucky for me it did not keloid.  I've noticed that the scar is beginning to fade in time, much like a stretch mark.
     The main keys about after the TKR is to control the swelling, exercise when ready and follow your surgeons precautions (avoid twisting your knee, turn at the ankle or hip, avoid jumping, avoid forced movements.  Be aware of your home safety, and especially bathroom safety, and go ahead and take those pain killers at home.  We know that pain, when left untreated, causes blood pressure to go up... and that can shorten your life.)  When you are ready see the physical therapist, maintain your exercise program and learn to walk in stride to keep a normal, comfortable walking stride.  Walking also helps prevent blood clots.
     See if your surgeon can enroll you in a pre-op course, or go to a total joint education class.  That's a big help! 
     Don't take no for an answer from any surgeon, you know your body, you know when it's time.  If you can have a few extra years without pain... why would a surgeon refuse you?  That's inhumane!
    
    
    

Does anyone in here have osteoarthistis of the knee and if so how has it been since surgery?

 Wal-mart is about out of the question...I have to go directly to what I need and get out or get one of those silly carts.  I hope that I am very close to RNY with Dr. Mailapur in Huntsville.  You know, I started having a lot of pain in my hands in 2000-2001 and fiddled around a couple of years chugging ibuprofen before I ever broke down and saw a doc about it.  They sent me a to a rheumatoligist and they x-rayed nearly every joint in my body.  They kept talking about my knees...I kept telling them that my knees were fine.  Funny.  My hips hurt like crap and only seemed to have a small amount of damage and my knees felt fine and apparently looked horrible to them.  Now I understand.  The rheumy told me that the pain occurs while the damage is being done and after the damage is done sometimes the pain lessens.  So apparently I missed the pain in my knees while they were being eaten up with inflammation, but was totally feeling it in my hips and hands.  He was right.  My hands did eventually quit hurting so badly and only hurt when I overdo it or if another joint in them is being affected.  Doesn't change the fact that I did lose quite a bit of use in them but I have adapted to that nicely.  I worked somewhere that had a weight limit and when I started gaining weight, that is when my knees started screaming.  Now I can barely walk 20 feet without having to prop or sit down.  I think maybe keeping my weight down helped my knees and I only began to feel it when I finally gained enough to stress them out.  I had arthoscopy a couple of years ago on one of them because it finally gave out and the ortho just shook his head at what he saw in there.  Basically nothing left to do after this other than replacement.  I guess that is probably what has happened to you.  It was probably lurking and then the added weight may have just been too much.  I tell my docs that I either have to do something or they can just get me a wheelchair.  I prefer to become bionic.  Enough of my life has been taken by this crazy stuff.  Even if I do end up in a wheelchair, at least I will be a skinny person in one, easier for my boys to wag around lol.  People already assume that I can't get around because of the weight...never mind that it is a symptom of the other stuff and not the other way around...I do live in a dream world that if I can get this weight off that it will help tremendously and the docs seem to think so too.  So, for you, I would keep on with your plan because getting that revision and getting the weight off could be beneficial for you.  My rheumy said that even 10 pounds relieves a lot of stress on the joints.  Sorry to rattle on....Have a good one and hope all goes well for you.

I feel for ya hun! I have OA from my toes to my neck. Every joint is affected. I also have fibromyalgia which adds to the pain. I had my RNY WLS May 13, 2008. I have lost 140 pounds since 1/1/2008. The weight loss has helped a lot (pressure on joints) but OA is chronic and we will always have it. See your DR/PCP about pain meds. I am permitted to take tramadol for pain. I cleared it with my bariatric surgeon. So if your PCP does give you an RX be sure to clear it with your Bariatric surgeon. I had to get the weight off to be prepared for joint replacements. Best wishes!

Spondelorethrapathy.  It effects your joints; and can also cause other things like rashes, dry skin, fevers, headaches. It is a rare type of arthritis. I get it in my ankles and thye swell a lot. Does anyone else have this?

~Sarah