As a regular reader of these threads, it seems many people have dealt with knee replacements and other surgeries and gone on to travel. I'm looking for advice on realistic recuperation times before flying across the Atlantic.

My husband is scheduled for a total knee replacement in late January. We have a 6 week trip to Spain planned, starting in mid-March. I'm wondering if that is a realistic amount of time to complete PT and also considerations re long plane rides after surgery. We're renting houses, so once we're there I think he'll be fine. But at this point he argues that of course he'll be able to do it, he doesn't want to just sit around home, etc. I'm looking for guidance from people who might have gone through similar situations.

Thanks.

For what it is worth PT after knee replacement can vary from individual to individual but usually takes between 6 and 12 weeks. TRhe first three weeks is to reduce pain and swelling and increasing range of motion. The next 3 weeks focus on regaining the ability to walk (gradually without the aid of assistance devices and than the final 3 to 6 weeks getting back to near normal. When I had my knee surgery (I was in my late 60's), I was walking unaided, albeit slowly, after about 4 weeks but I pushed myself very hard and "doubled up" on the recommended amount of PT. Even with that I still walked with a noticeable limp after 3 months and didn't get my full range of motion until the 6 month mark.

You don't say how old your husband is (the older you are the longer it could take for full recovery) but with knee surgery in late January, I doubt your husband will be anywhere close to having "free mobility" by mid-March. You might want to consider postponing the trip for a couple months.

Best to ask his surgeon. You could also check the subreddit r/kneereplacement. By six weeks, many people will be walking better than before, bending to the point where the surgeon declares “success,” and tapering off the meds. Some have taken flights if they absolutely had to. The ones who are determined to make a great, full recovery are still exercising a lot for months longer, with or without coaching from a physiotherapist.
Flying economy with a knee that won’t yet bend far enough for those seats is tough. Not being able to move around to keep it from seizing up is tough. Running the risk of deep vein thrombosis is…not something I am qualified to advise on. Be aware, too, that you might need to cancel, or not want to be far from his own medical team, if complications arise within the first couple of months after surgery.
My own postponement of a European trip to much longer after surgery was primarily because we planned to be very active, so there is no direct comparison. First flight of any length was at eight months post surgery.

Your question is very pertinent for those of us considering such surgeries yet still trying to pound in travel. I can't tell you what to do, but I can share my experience and my current outlook. I had a successful hip replacement at age 60, and now, at over 72, I'm in need of a knee replacement that I'm pushing off.

The Hip Replacement: Mine was done "old school" in April and I had a cycling (!) trip scheduled for June in Slovenia. After the operation, I was booted out of the hospital after 24 hrs, but my first two weeks were not pretty. My third-week had a setback, my next three weeks were slow-but-steady. I arrived at that quasi-recovered stage: Not quite out of pain, but not actually IN pain.

Note: I was lucky in that our apartment was not only across the street from my rehab center, but that the rehab center was part of a larger facility with an equipped gym and both a cold and a heated pool, plus the ladies' dressing room had a hot tub. My water rehab made the June trip possible.

By the time of the trip, I could easily walk a mile or two but I can't say I was much help with our luggage, which this time was heavier by the time I added all the doodads I needed for my continued recovery. Getting on and off the bike was tough but I managed. I was able to cycle on flats and rolling hills rather easily, but I found standing in the pedals to power up a hill pretty tough and I spent a lot of time in the support van on the days of mountain climbs. At least my husband and my daughter could enjoy themselves away from me. My biggest challenge? STAIRS. We stayed in Venice before and after the trip, and every canal bridge put me in agony. As everyone can tell you, it's not going UP that's the problem; instead, it's the going DOWN that's a killer.

Was I happy I went? YES. I mentally enjoyed getting out of "cripple mode." Was it the best idea? NO. Had the trip been in late July or August, I probably would have been just fine.

Knee Replacement: After much deliberation, I'm kicking the can down the road. I know knee replacement recovery is generally harder than hip replacement recovery, and I know my age makes me more susceptible to complications. Even before a non-cycle-trip type of travel, I'm figuring on 10-12 weeks to be realistically operational. My pain level right now is bearable, and I'm also aware that I won't have much travel time left with my husband, who is 80 and has 0 interest in "light" travel such as cruises. While I can hobble--I can really motor with a cane!--and while he is willing to hit the road for independent adventure, I'm not doing it.

I hope this information is somewhat helpful. Everyone's recovery is different, and you and your husband know your abilities best.
Wishing you the best,
AZ

I had a TKR 9 years ago and my wife had one late April. Our post-surgery experiences were completely different. In 7 weeks, in your husband's case, I would not count on any kind of return to normal.

I am 8 days post op from my TKR as I write this.
What does your husband's surgeon think of this timing? And certainly ask about flying.
My best advice; ask the surgeon.

There are so many factors in everyone's circumstances; Everone is different.
My own surgery was postponed three times!

Will it be robotic surgery? Will that make a difference?
Is your spouse in great health otherwise?
Has he EVER experienced a major surgery?
Would your flight be economy? Even business class seats would cause me discomfort btw.

Even if he is superman it is tough to go up & down apartment stairs AND sightsee. No doubt he will still need to ice his knee.

Trust me, no matter how positive & uncomplicated the ideal scenario might be one cannot anticipate all hiccups. I would say your trip is too soon.

I appreciate all these responses; they are very helpful. I will share with my (very stubborn) husband. He did have hip replacement about a decade ago and that went well. But we do understand that knees are much more complicated. He is in good shape physically (except for the knee), but not young.

joduhl--It's a fact: we and you can't predict. He could be faster than a speeding bullet (although I have my doubts) or slower than a snail.
Recovery isn't even person-dependent. I've had two friends who each had two knee replacements within one-year intervals with totally different recoveries per knee. Same body, same surgeon, same setting. Just different.

My husband had double TKR about six years back, the two surgeries 48hrs apart. He was 67 at the time and in good health, with no other issues except for being heavier than he should have been.

The surgeon made him walk two days after the second surgery and started PT immediately. DH was a good patient and determined to get back on his feet asap and cooperated assiduously. He was walking comfortably and confidently at a little over two months. Since we had to fly to Africa where we have business interests, the surgeon okayed him to fly internationally at the end of 3 months. We flew business class and had requested wheelchair assistance everywhere, so the travel went off without any issues. Of course, once at our destination my husband really have any strenuous activity, it was mostly meetings, etc, all seated behind a desk.

As many others have suggested I too recommend taking the advice of your surgeon. And remember, every case is different. Each knee, actually, my husband is extremely happy with his left knee, but not as much with the right one! It still bothers him every now and then, though medical opinion says everything is fine.

You've gotten a lot of good advice so far. I'll share the experience that my husband and I had in the Spring of 2022. We had been planning our first international trip since 2019, and my husband was newly semi-retired. At the end of December, he had an accident that resulted in a compound break of one leg. Healing did not go smoothly, and he had a followup procedure, I think at the beginning of March. We debated whether to travel or not, and of course consulted with his surgeon (hubby is also a doctor, though not a surgeon). He decided that it was important for him to go, for his mental health, and that we would simply have a slower, more leisurely trip. And that's how it worked for him and us.

If you choose to move forward with the trip, subject to any post-surgical changes or adjustments, make all of your plans refundable or changeable, just in case.

In our case, we had already booked most of our hotels, and I contacted each of them to find out exactly how many stairs, and in one case, we switched rooms to the ground floor. Each hotel was extremely helpful, and pointed out features like the number of steps up to the hotel entrance. Husband took a cane, but rarely used it, and as the month went on, he needed it less. Husband was reluctant to ever ask for help due to the recovering leg, but I will always remember the staffer outside the Musee d'Orsay who, without our asking, motioned us to the head of the security line.

Good luck in your decision-making

Had my total knee (robotic assist, outpatient procedure following "prehab" routine) last December. Intensive PT for about 8 weeks had me mobile but deffo nowhere near 100%. Surgeon said to expect basic mobility in a few months but full recovery takes about a year and I believe him. Seriously doubt your husband will enjoy travel in the proposed time frame. He will not be "just sitting around home" in mid March, he will likely be nearing the end of PT appointments but needing to follow prescribed PT exercise regimen on his own for at least several more weeks.

Thank you for all of these responses. It is extremely helpful to have these first person accounts and reflections.

Your surgeon is not going to know. Unless his name is Kreskin.

Actually your surgeon will be able to give you some idea as to what to expect post surgery. Patients however can respond to the same surgery in a wide variety of ways. Would play this one conservatively as ambulating is a major consideration in most travel.