@MGilchrest
Thank you for your advice / concern, and sharing your experience.
MY STORY (aka skip unless you're really bored)
I had knee surgery at 20, career ending college football injury, and was told I would need knee replacement in my 40's. That was 1974, so I've had some time to think about this.
I had tried a number of things to avoid this fate. But about 7 years ago I began seeking a surgeon. His advice was rather good. (I know we have a tendency to "doctor bash" on this forum, myself included).
About that time the "lifespan" of knee surgeries was about 10 years, and they had recently come out with a "20 year knee". My strategy was to try to hold off surgery until I could "get it only once". But, at about 56, I was in pain, gaining weight, losing mobility and thought I had run out of options.
My doctor then advised me that I'd be lucky to get 8 years out of a knee at my weight an activity level. You think you want to be out of pain, but you really want your life back. Why don't you try this corrective knee brace. If it works fine, if not we'll do surgery.
The brace looked like an offensive lineman's knee brace (required in college ball). But the difference was that it adjusted your alignment (in my case right toe in) so that I "rode" on a better part of the knee.
It worked. I started walking again, relatively pain free. But progress on other fronts was nil or I was still going backwards. (weight gain, walking speed etc)
I started researching, (and managed to NOT FIND STARTING STRENGTH), I was working on "walking form" and discovered that I was "fighting the brace". It occurred to me that I could "be the brace" so I relearned to walk like the brace wanted me to.
The result was I could now walk just as well without the brace. But I was still VERY WEAK, (Starting Strength where are you???).
My "FINE research efforts" came up with trekking poles which were quite popular in Europe and with hikers. I proceeded to Cabellas and broke the best set they had. I then studied the concept and designed my own weight bearing trekking poles. This improved my walking quite a bit. But I was still slow and weak, but was no longer "losing my mobility". All I was effectively doing was not losing any more.
Then my brother came across Starting Strength. I got to page 4 of the blue book and started lifting immediately. I have not looked back. I no longer "need" my treking poles. My doctor would not recommend replacement now. No more poles, no more "remembering how the brace wants me to walk", no more brace, oh and no more canes. I used canes before the trekking poles... but they made my back hurt.
I went from being unable to squat, even with assistance, to a 5RM of 232.5. Which at a body weight of 270 is hardly a "heroic lift". But it is a big deal to me.
So I encourage people to do the program whenever I can. I'm very grateful to Rip and Sully, who's guidance has affected me directly.
Did I make the right call 6 years ago? Well I'd be 2 years from needing replacement surgery again. I sort of doubt I'd be as well off as I am now. But had I not found Starting Strength... I probably should have gotten the surgery.
Finding Starting Strength changed everything for me. Gratitude does not even begin to describe my feelings. Now I doubt I'll even need knee replacement. And I haven't been this mobile in many years.
This song still brings a tear to my eye, but the reason has changed.
Grand Funk Railroad - Walk Like a Man - YouTube
No regrets.