Kudos to you for seeking input and doing research PRIOR to surgery. Despite a couple of no-nothing Troll comments, Pinside members fit the demographics for TKR candidates so asking for input is smart.

My approach has common threads from many of the earlier comments:

*Defer surgery as long as practical. My approach is to tough it out to the point that the pain/functionality significantly affects quality of life. At that point even if surgery results are not ideal you won't regret it because you persevered as long as practical. This is usually a difficult decision for most people.

*TKR materials have improved over time but general consensus is that knee replacement is good 15-20 years. Many dependent variables - individual activity level, weight management, genetics ,etc.

*Get recommendations for the best doctors in your area. Talk with friends and you will be able to get lots of feedback from prior patients. All doctors are NOT equal - just with any other profession there is a wide spectrum of capability and experience. There are no guarantees but you will improve your odds of a good outcome with prudent Dr research

*TKR is a very common procedure with high positive outcomes but ALL surgeries have risk and there will always be outliers that experience more difficulty than typical. Good Dr selection will improve your chances

*Before surgery lose weight, start stretching and start exercising - outdoor biking, recumbent exercise bike and ellipticals have been good for my knees with smooth motion and low impact. Remember - a strong arthritic joint is better than a weak arthritic joint

*The internet is a tool - use it to your advantage for research and good recovery techniques and pain management ideas - you have a LOT a company with knee problems.

Good Luck