Here is my two cents. You're in good health now. The knee problem will not improve. The truth is, your knee problem is likely to slowly worsen. Sure surgery is hard and painful. But, with all that pain and work, there is hope and possibility of improved quality of life. If you do nothing, you're right to wonder what your quality of life will be in 5 or even 10 years. Have you spoken with a surgeon? Or your doctor about your options?

Thanks for your reply. I have been dealing with other life issues, so I haven't talked to a doctor about surgery. But I am sure I will soon. It is so hard to contemplate surgery when the pain is only bad on stairs. But I will check everything out.

I have the same problem with stairs. I go down the steps sideways. It makes it easier and less painful. I also wear the copper wear knee sleeves. They may not help everyone but for me they work. I get them at Wal Mart in their As Seen on TV for less than $10. each. I wear the knee and elbow sleeves. I am on my feet for 9-10 hours a night for work and they really make a difference.

It is something to discuss with a surgeon. They can advise you whether it's best to go as long as you can without the surgery or to have it sooner.
If stairs are your only challenge then perhaps you can go a couple more years longer. (That's just my opinion. Not necessarily right)

I am not sure if all surgeons will perform TKR unless it is necessary but I am sure that they do take age into consideration and the progression of the disease.
For younger people like in their 30's or 40's for example, they pretty much have to wait until there's bone on bone and quality of life is hindered greatly. A surgeon won't touch them until it's really necessary.
That was my case. l was 46.
I got to the stage where every walking step was agony, not just stairs, and used a cane. I had bone on bone and my knees pronated (went inwards as there's was no cartilage). surgery was very necessary.

I think really the only way to find your answer is by discussing it with surgeon. You'll get x Rays done and they can see how much cartilage you have left. And your age and health will all be taken into consideration.

Good luck.

10 years ago, I had that problem with the stairs. I was in my 40s going on 80s. My 80 year old friend taught me to walk down the stairs backwards. It works!!!!. I have a tri-level spilit home, lots of stairs. It is awful going down. Going up is ok. I also had a hard time getting out of my car, even as a passenger. Those bad knees and aching joints all over.
Glad I got over it and recovered. Its no secret or rocket science. Just simply stop eating the damn wheat and gluten. The pain subside in a mere 2 weeks. Vanished caput!!!! inflammation dissappears and I regained my strength. I can run up and down the stairs, no problems, go running and jumping, climb up the roof, no problems. Ten years on and I am still agile, regained my youth!!!! A tree fell on my roof, had to climb up to clean it out. No problems.
I take MSM regularly if I get any aches and pain. Also I make a nice gelatine drink for cartilage repairs, rich in collagen. I call it my Youth Potion Beverage.

I am glad to see the reference to wheat and gluten- In November, Due to many joint pains, colitis and copd, therefore, too many medicines, my nurse practitioner suggested trying no wheat for 3 weeks, just to see what would happen. The colitis is gone! I have probably gotten gluten inadvertently when eating out, but never intentionally eat it. My joints are better, but not perfect. I have lost about 20 pounds, as well. Just had lung function tests and my copd has also improved, from stage 3 to stage 2. Generally, I try to eat a low carb diet and take some supplements recommended by my doctor and nurse practitioner, but the wheat seems to have made a big difference! (INflam 95 and collagen are the supplements)

See a surgeon, you could have a torn meniscus or something else. I saw mine and put it off for two years. He told me I would know when I was ready. I put it off too long and I couldn't walk at all at only 56 yrs. However, it was the WORST pain I have ever felt. It took about 5 months before I felt like this is going to work. PT was painful, but if you follow your PT's orders, do exactly what she says, no more, no less. Sometimes people want to be super heroes and hurt their recovery. My PT was my encouragement and kept me going because I was in so much pain, I thought I wasn't doing well. It's just the way it is. I had a pain management doc handling that part of it because I was on pain meds for the two years I was psyching myself up for surgery. 7 months out and I can see that it's going to be ok. Off pain meds, etc. Good luck!

my hubby had a Zimmer knee replacement, and it was brutal. He was in surgery, recovery and rehab for almost a month. Then PT.

His pain before was horrible from arthritis and a torn miniscus. He's said many times he wouldn't go thru it again. He knows there's an artificial knee there, it's uncomfortable. Another patient did well the very next day, so it's a matter of personal experience unfortunately.

As others said, it's good to ask a lot of questions and get 2nd and 3rd opinions about other things that you can do.

i live in the uk and have osteo arthritis in my knee. the advice i was given by the consultant was to go as long as i can before having a knee replacement as they only last 10 years and get less effective with each replacement. i'm nearly 54 but in alot of pain .i am seeing him again in a few weeks as its got alot worse but i have heard horror stories of people who have had replacements but also success stories.

I have high grade cartilage loss but only in one compartment the other are moderate cartilage loss so they would not do replacement so opted to get the geniculate nerve ablation. It helped some. one month later they did a steroid injection and in the past 2 weeks I only had one day when I had pain. This is a great improvement! I was in constant moderate to severe pain. You may want to look into that some more maybe it would help you. Good luck. And hope you have some pain free days.

I had my right knee replaced 4 years ago. Best thing I've ever done. By the time I had it replaced, I was always falling down and couldn't walk a straight line. It's still doing great and I'm thinking about having the left one replaced.

I did about 2 weeks of therapy in the hospital and about 4 weeks at home. I can bend my knee at a 99 degree angle. Love it!

Susie

I think the best person to answer your question is your doctor. I'm a candidate for knee surgery and recently asked my doctor. He said you'll know. when you can't do anything anymore because you're in so much pain, then it's time.

I myself found that when walking down the stairs go sideways, this helps the joint pain a great deal.

I am 51 and have bone on bone arthritis. I take an assortment of vitamin and supplements for my knee pain and they do seem to help me.

Have you considered going to physically therapy to help with your knee pains? they will teach you the best exercises to help, and keep the pain at ease.

my knees are messed up i had a real bad fall about 4 years ago I went to the DR. right away lousey DR. he told me iI had soft tissue damage and my feet were swollen and blood under the skin. He said all the blood pooled down to my feet it would clear up. Well my Mesicus the bone on side of knees hurt wso bad now.. he only exrayed (i) leg!!!! I thought I had 2 legs. Well after this i would still walk 2to3 miles and put ice on them. then on 11/1/2013 my breast inplants ruptured No one told me. so I had to have 4 1/2 hour operation and iI was laid up gained 20bs. now my lower back and knees kill me . I did my treadmill for the first time in 5 months . is walkinng good for this (what ever I have) or laying. . thanks alot for any help I haven,t went back

I don't see if you mentioned which type of arthritis you have, but I have had great success with my osteoarthritis by taking hyaluronic capsules twice a day. DO NOT take it for rheumatoid arthritis, as it can make matters worse. I have severe OA in my knees and hips. It got to the point where I could barely walk or sit without pain. I researched surgical alternatives because I was not a surgical candidate because I developed a blood clot in my leg from the inflammation. I read about the Hyaluronic Acid (HA) injections, but that too was not offered me because I was on anticoagulants and the doctor did not want me to have issues from the injection. So, I researched it and found the HA capsules online. It took about a month for it to really show results, but after about 2 weeks, I did notice that I had days when I did not have to brace my hip and it did not hurt to get up from a chair. After a month I could actually walk in the grocery store. I have been on it for 9 months now and am amazed when I actually feel no pain! There are times when I still have some, but I am so much better now than before. I also take 1 ibuprofen a day and 2 baby aspirins for my blood clot and that is it! I would urge you to speak with your doctor and ask if there is any reason that you should not try HA. Again, do not take it if you have RA!!

I suggest watching Dr Wallach on youtube and pick from the list on arthritis....any questions? I am living proof it works.