Total Knee Replacement Surgery- How Long Until One Can Start Back Playing?

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ChrisinNC

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I’m having right knee replacement surgery in 1 week, and I’m a right handed pool player. Anyone in relatively good physical shape in their 60s have experience having been through this or know a pool player that has?

How long until one can start hitting balls, and how long until one is able to start playing in weekly tournaments? I’m sure it’s different for everyone and depends on how well the rehab goes, but I’m just looking for some insight as to what I can expect - thanks.
 
Don't know about pool, but know several folks with knee replacements and several with hip replacements.

My dentist can't walk on his cemented areas (sidewalks, etc.)- only on the grass around the house. Has no cartridge left around one knee. Was on the University of Texas golf team back in the day and still a scratch golfer in his 60s. He told me that he would never do the knee replacement unless there was just no other option. Said he'd rather deal with the pain at this point.

The folks I know who went thorough it found hip replacement much easier than knee replacement. You may be looking at 3 months for a complete recovery and full range of motion and support. Rehab is not pleasant.

Good luck! This is not for the weak-willed. Stay strong and do what you have to do. Power through it and you'll enjoy life more!
 
Korsakoff said:
Don't know about pool, but know several folks with knee replacements and several with hip replacements.

My dentist can't walk on his cemented areas (sidewalks, etc.)- only on the grass around the house. Has no cartridge left around one knee. Was on the University of Texas golf team back in the day and still a scratch golfer in his 60s. He told me that he would never do the knee replacement unless there was just no other option. Said he'd rather deal with the pain at this point.

The folks I know who went thorough it found hip replacement much easier than knee replacement. You may be looking at 3 months for a complete recovery and full range of motion and support. Rehab is not pleasant.

Good luck! This is not for the weak-willed. Stay strong and do what you have to do. Power through it and you'll enjoy life more!
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I’ve been through total shoulder replacements on both shoulders, the first one (right) 38 years ago with numerous revisions over the next 10 years before I finally quit playing golf.

I had the left shoulder replaced 8 years ago, so I know the importance of the rehab. With my shoulders, I’m extremely fortunate that I can still play pain free pool. I’m just hoping the knee replacements work out as well.
 
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do your post-op rehab/physical therapy...this is key to ANY of this recovery. How much do you weigh?? If you are a big boy like me, 270 on a good day, it is gonna take you longer than if you weigh 180. Just basic physics. Good luck.
 
If you are planning on playing hard breaking games - it will be a while longer. Pushing real
Hard off one knee and landing hard on the other knee will not be recommended for several months - at least 4 at a bare minimum.
A soft game like 14.1 with softer breaks and perhaps playing solo with more frequent sit downs between racks for 5 minutes or so may work better for you after taking a break from most pool activity during an initial 3 month rehab.
 
maybe months to get around pretty good. lot longer than a hip job. good luck, be patient.
 
Living in place I nick-name Jurassic Park because we are all old & falling apart. I can tell you most people who have total Knees and do the POST OP Physical Therapy, if they are active about 1 year are feeling normal.

Remember not in Total Knees go well, you can get post operative infecting, and be on IV’s 3-4 Month like friend who got MERSA. That to Dirty Hospital.

If your Big, Fat, Obese the operation will be harder to recover from, then if you are slim and fit.

Good News is for the Doctor is, whether you do well, or not they get paid. Don’t let some hack work on you talk to Nurses at Local toHospital and ask, “if you need total knee, who would you got to.”

Don’t say is Dr. Jones, and good. They will give you BS an answer to prevent them from being in bad situation.

Have you done Leg Braces? Synthetic Padding Injection tins? Got second Opinion?

BTW I have two knee that could be replaced, decided to use Braces, and not gamble on bad outcome surgery, cheating doctor out of a boat load of fees.

Good Luck.
 
I have had both knees replaced. Best thing I ever did. I was young (58) for the first one, and rode my Harley Road King to the doctors office for checkup less than a month later. At 66 I got my Other knee done. Recovery took a full month. The key was that since I was home recovering anyway, I did rehab all day off and on, instead of the twice a day required. Push yourself hard when you are still on the pain meds, you can’t hurt the replacement, because it is stronger than what you were born with. The biggest problem I see with the process is people who just sit in a chair until the meds are gone, because they are afraid they will hurt it. That’s actually when you can get the most done!
 
All depends on your body and health. My dad just had a total knee replacement at 76 and was back playing pool after 4 weeks or so. Initially he could only play for 45 minutes to an hour or so but is working on his endurance and can now play for an hour and a half or so 6 weeks after surgery. But he has always been active and physically strong, he also follows rehab instructions and does his therapy faithfully which surely helps.
 
I had one of my knees replaced nine weeks ago and the second one six weeks ago. I started shooting three weeks after the second one was done but I could only shoot a couple of racks before the pain became too much. Currently I can shoot about an hour before I need a break. Both the doctor and the trainers at the rehab center have been surprised at how well my recovery has gone. The key is to do your exercises religiously. In my case the exercises change every two weeks and I have four weeks left. As a reference I’m 61 years old, 6 feet tall and weigh 207 pounds. Good luck with your surgery.
 
Lfb1 said:
I had one of my knees replaced nine weeks ago and the second one six weeks ago. I started shooting three weeks after the second one was done but I could only shoot a couple of racks before the pain became too much. Currently I can shoot about an hour before I need a break. Both the doctor and the trainers at the rehab center have been surprised at how well my recovery has gone. The key is to do your exercises religiously. In my case the exercises change every two weeks and I have four weeks left. As a reference I’m 61 years old, 6 feet tall and weigh 207 pounds. Good luck with your surgery.
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Thanks for all the replies!
 
ChrisinNC said:
How long until one can start hitting balls
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I have no experience with replacement. I do have experience with recovery. I was hitting balls the next day after release from the hospital. Not playing but rehabilitate ing. With my neck in a collar and left arm in a sling, my one handed workout was my self prescribed program. Pushing on the discomfort but stopping before the pain was my theory. My rehab progressed well. Like the joke about the guy that was struck by a train and it took off his whole left side....I am all right now. 🤷‍♂️
What does your surgeon recommend? Has the doctor referred you a therapist?
 
ChrisinNC said:
I’m having right knee replacement surgery in 1 week, and I’m a right handed pool player. Anyone in relatively good physical shape in their 60s have experience having been through this or know a pool player that has?

How long until one can start hitting balls, and how long until one is able to start playing in weekly tournaments? I’m sure it’s different for everyone and depends on how well the rehab goes, but I’m just looking for some insight as to what I can expect - thanks.
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It depends. I had patellar tendon reattachment surgery and I was playing the second week with a big old leg brace that locked my leg out.

Jaden
 
I wasnt playing pool at the time i was on hiatus, But i did have my knee worked on I would expect 2 months. You have lots of standing followed by stretching playing pool.

I would try it in short bursts. If you start feeling things in your knee i would stop. Force things in thearphy not at the pool table.
 
gregcantrall said:
I have no experience with replacement. I do have experience with recovery. I was hitting balls the next day after release from the hospital. Not playing but rehabilitate ing. With my neck in a collar and left arm in a sling, my one handed workout was my self prescribed program. Pushing on the discomfort but stopping before the pain was my theory. My rehab progressed well. Like the joke about the guy that was struck by a train and it took off his whole left side....I am all right now. 🤷‍♂️
What does your surgeon recommend? Has the doctor referred you a therapist?
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@ChrisinNC seems like you were asking for other peoples experience
not for specific instructions what you should do
but i think the part i bolded above is great advice
good luck with your procedure
wish you a speedy recovery
🙏🙏🤞🤞
 
Bust your butt in physical therapy and you will be playing before you know it! Good luck!
 
The biggest issue you're likely to encounter is a loss of range of motion. That will be affected by the buildup of scar tissue which is very common for knee replacement. You can request a manipulation which is a second procedure done fairly soon after the replacement and can be quite helpful.

I would highly recommend riding a stationary bicycle at a health club to build muscle for support and to keep the knee moving in order to reduce the scar tissue and increase the range of motion. You can adjust the seat/saddle height on the bike which also increases the range of motion.

As you can tell the predominant issues are scar tissue buildup and how it affects your range of motion. I have had two replacements on my left knee and have lots of experience with the recovery process. Being a former bicycle racer and enthusiast helped me enormously as cycling is a low impact excellent form of exercise and great for the knees.

I still ride every other day here at home. My racing bike is on a Kurt Road Trainer and I am heading down for an hour session right now followed by another hour of weight exercises.

Good luck Chris, I hope this helps!
 
Lfb1 said:
I had one of my knees replaced nine weeks ago and the second one six weeks ago. I started shooting three weeks after the second one was done but I could only shoot a couple of racks before the pain became too much. Currently I can shoot about an hour before I need a break. Both the doctor and the trainers at the rehab center have been surprised at how well my recovery has gone. The key is to do your exercises religiously. In my case the exercises change every two weeks and I have four weeks left. As a reference I’m 61 years old, 6 feet tall and weigh 207 pounds. Good luck with your surgery.
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It’s been 3 weeks since my surgery. I’m over the hump - the first 2 weeks were rough pain wise, much worse than I anticipated and I never left the house. My hope was to start shooting a little pool after 1 month and I’m planning on trying that next week, but not pushing it.

My 6 week outpatient PT program starts next week, but I’ve been diligent on my exercises at home during my home PT visits and on my own, and making slow progress. I’m still on Tylenol regularly, but I discontinued the opioid pain meds after 1 week due to all the side effects.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the pool goes, but I won’t push it. First time I’ve gone more than a week without playing in 9 years since my total shoulder replacement, in which I went around 9-10 weeks without playing any.

Hopefully I haven’t forgotten too much after nearly 60 years of playing. I’m most concerned about the comfort of my normal stance over the ball and how that feels on my knee. I’m thinking maybe 2-3 weeks after starting to practice before I have the stamina to consider playing in our weekly 9-ball tournament, which can take up to 5-6 hours if you make it to the late rounds.
 
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