I understand that your mother has deformity in the knees. If she has pain, it may be possible that she has arthritis of the knee. Treatment of knee arthritis depends on the extent of wear in the knees. For early arthritis, physiotherapy and nutrition management are the treatments of choice. For late stages where there is debilitating pain and deformity, surgery is suggested.

If the legs have got bent then the surgery is the best option! Still u should go for the second opinion before taking it up! Regarding postoperative fears, u need not worry, now with latest techniques ,everything is a cake walk n with post operative exercises, she will b more than walking in a months time