What has been your quality of life after getting surgery to repair and/or replace parts of your body?

SGT Jeff Herdebu 2019 June 17, my birthday as I was working a burn pile at the house, soaked in TX summer sweat and water from the hose I was manning... I touched our fence hotwire. 14Kv went in my elbow and out my knee, the shock caused my quad to contract violently and I was on the ground. Trip to the ER, and I had an appt in the morning with Ortortopedics. Orthopedics Dr, named,,,and I kid you not..Dr Pain....had me sit on the edge of the table and told me to extend my lower leg...., I said ok......he said not extend your lower leg as high as you can...I said,,,ahh I did...

I was scheduled for surgery the next morning. I had a complete separation of the quad muscle in my left leg from the knee.
It was repaired, and I went home... 14 days later I was in rehab, told it would be 6 months till I could walk, 1-2 years before I could run and be back at 75-80% range of motion and weight-bearing.

I showed up at PT and was clear, their job was to keep me from doing too much, and hurting the knee...I want to be back at 90% range of motion and weight-bearing in 3 months...I'll be here every day to do PT.
I was given nods and ok, sure we can work towards your goals.... 3 weeks later, having done 21 days of PT.....they understood.
in 3 months I had 80% range of motion back, and 60-70% weight-bearing. At 11 months I was back to 95% range of motion and 90% weight-bearing. I joined the Texas Department of Corrections 12 months after completing repair surgery, completed academy and no one knew I had been hurt just a year ago. Every injury is different Every repair is different Every recovery is different, but I can say without a doubt, a person can come back from a complete quad separation and do so faster than the docs and PT folks think you can....If you want it enough.

I know several people who had hip replacements and several who had knee replacements. Listening to them, hip recovery is far easier.

I have had a full Right replacement hip. It was done just after my 51st birthday. I healed very quickly because I listened to my surgical team (led by a retired navy O6 orthopedic surgeon). I walked over 2 miles on the new hip in the first 48 hours.

In contrast, my mom had a full Right knee about the same time. She walked with a walker for 6 weeks

I got rotator cuff/labrum surgery in August…I wish I didn’t get it. My mobility isn’t what it was, at all and I’m in pain a lot. I’ve done physical thearpy, stretch it daily, and it’s not really better. I started lifting with it again, but I’m still very limited.

Did nothing for my health until 18.5 years in service, then tried to fix 20 broken things. Was surprised to find there is a fix or near fix for a lot of things. Physical therapy for torn labrum’s and rotators did great. Knee and hip Injections also good. Get any and all medical done as soon as possible is my opinion.

Had a 75 year old friend who had a hip replacement and went hiking/climbing (non technical) in Alaska 5 weeks later. He said the trick for him was to follow instructions but go hard at the physical therapy/rehab. Good luck with yours.

Sometimes, it is overuse. Then, with increased age the issue/s get worse. Perhaps, you have family history as well SGT? Arthritis?
My knee issue is due to over use. We are not meant to run forever. But thank goodness for walkers. I can still chase folks off my lawn! I prefer the 4 wheel kind. Not the 2 wheels with tennis balls. Keep a small can of WD40 to spray on occasion for decreased friction. I'm fast as hell with mine.

SGT Jeff Herdebu When you say ‘quad’ tendon - - do you mean ACL? Both a son and grandson have had ACL surgeries, (plural). Those are delicate tendons, be careful! The son does wear a brace (s), for strenuous activities. He is procrastinating about having another “knee” surgery, probably a total R & R.