Kent State's College of Nursing found four themes of patient experience -- put up and put off, wait and worry, let go and let in, or hurt and hope -- and recommended finding new and better ways to give patients more education and support before and after the procedure.

"This study sought to better understand patients' pre- and post-operative experiences with total knee replacement surgery," study leader Ann Jacobson said in a statement. "These patients' perspectives have rarely been the topic of research yet numerous existing studies of total joint replacement of the hip or knee indicate that eligible patients delay or decline the procedure for reasons that haven't been well understood.

The "waiting and worrying" experience occurred in the time period between making the surgery decision and getting the surgery.

The experience of "letting go and letting in" was described as "I had to accept the loss of control" and independence. The "letting in" describes accepting help and encouragement.

The "hurting and hoping" described an experience where life was pervaded by the pain.