My mom had both knees replaced 6 years ago at the same time as she had bone against bone and her legs were bowing.

It was either that or be in a wheelchair, she had surgery and did great with the surgery. She is in no pain now.

She walks great and she will be 77 in October!

they said my legs were bowing also. but that would be corrected with the knee replacement. So happy for your mom!

Had one Dec. 2008....recovery was frustrating; but now I can say it was the best thing I could have done. Great to be able to walk again and be pain free!!!! Doc even corrected the bowing in that bad leg.

My mom had it done and said that she wished she hadn't waited so long. Is it painful? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

But, our opinions are just that and worth about as much. She needs to sit down with her doctor and tell him what she wants to do afterward, what her expectations and hopes for the future are. Then she needs to listen to what he has to say and realize the reality of her situation. There may be some activities that she has to adjust, modify or quit all together but she'll have to do that whether she has the surgery or not if her knees are that bad.

My son had a partial knee replacement, and says there is no pain whatever now. But how limited he is, I couldn't say. He is not the athletic type, doing all sorts of sports.

I myself am looking at knee replacement as my next option. Right now I wear an "Unloader" brace. I hate it but I can walk with it. My surgeon keeps telling me I'm too young, too. I go to see him again in the fall.

I haven't read other answers, but here is my take. She is too young to be in pain, an if she doesn't do it she will be in intense pain for the rest of her life that will only get worse, and when she gains weight while pregnant it will be even worse.

I have never met someone for whom it didn't work. Twenty year ago, maybe, but with modern technology it works well. Of course, there are risks like with any other surgery, but being alive is a risk. I am not sure about snowboarding after surgery, but I am pretty sure she can not snowboard now with the pain, so she has nothing to loose but the pain. She can slowly get back into her normal activities. She just needs to give herself time to heal completely.

I will be 65 next month and I did a double knee replacement about 4 years ago. I wish I had done it earlier but the doctors said I was too young (?????) It was the best thing I have ever done. There were days before the surgery that I could barely walk. I had gone through several sets of the injections in the knee but they gave minimal relief.

I was given the option of having them done one at a time or both at the same time. I decided I didn't want to go through it twice.

I bought a book from Amazon written by a doctor and a physical therapist who had been though the surgery so they had great perspective and told exactly what to expect. One of the best things I did was to exercise the leg muscles a lot before surgery so the muscles were in good shape before the surgery so that when they were cut it did not take as long to heal. I got this from the book.

It was painful but the results were wonderful!!! I seldom have any knee or leg pain and if I would take off a few pounds I probably would not have that.

I would not think that she would be able to do the sports that she has enjoyed in the past but she would be able to enjoy her life.

I have had both knees done.The left one -8 years ago, and the right one was done in April. The techniques have come a long way. The doctors said I was too young ,43 for the first one. But when you are in so much pain--- just how young do you feel. The PT sucks , but keep at it , it helps. When I slack off on it , because I would rather sit and sew, I get so stiff and have to start working on it again. Why put up with years of pain, it won't get any cheaper or any better for you.

Oh - I hope this thread goes on for a long time! Constant pain is for the birds! The Chicago hospital sounds interesting - BOTH legs at once?? - and then exercise beforehand sounds possible - losing weight?? I am working on it! Keep those comments coming PLEASE!

I had MASSIVE knee surgery three years ago. There are a few weeks (not many) of down time.. you use the leg but its not a picnic. The upside is I no longer worry if my knee is going to leave me when I least expect it and have a face plant. It is solid. I have to do my other knee also but with one good knee I am hesitant. Maybe she cant snow board again. The upside however is not living in pain all the time. And that is a HUGE upside. My brother had full knee replacement 10 yrs ago and has no trouble at all with his knee now. No pain, no issues nothing. Its not a pretty thing. You go black and blue from hip to toes but its a short time thing. You get your life back. So I say suck it up, take the small list of you cants and look hard at all the you cans. I can walk now. I can go upstairs and down stairs, I dont worry if my leg will pop out at any moment.. its a gift. So my vote: YES DO IT. YOU WONT REGRET IT