Took the First Step Toward Knee Surgery
Went to a presentation today about the "Robot" type of knee replacement. The Doctor was very thorough and explained all the pros and cons concerning the procedure. I've been putting it off for a long time, so when I got home, I called for my first appointment with him. He said he will consider any and all options before cutting a leg open. The first app't will be Xrays and consultation, followed by MRIs and CAT scans. If surgery is called for, I am planning to wait until after the first of the year so we can get through the holidays. He said when he does the right knee I won't be able to drive legally for 6 weeks. (But he forgot about the old John Deere! 
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Wife said that at my age (73), I needed to either poop or get off the pot!
)Wife said that at my age (73), I needed to either poop or get off the pot!
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Try the Cordezone injections and the other if you will. But understand that the rehab from replacement is long and will be a strain on your family as well as yourself.
If you need it. Do not delay. Having done both knees glad its done but its not easy. Nothing like original equipment.0 -
I had the right knee replaced and it did not turn out well. Took 2 years out of my life. Still lots of pain.
Dragging the left one with me to ... wherever I end up (upstairs or downstairs).
Now, they will not give me pain pills. I sleep little and walk even less.
Consider all the factors. The GQB's will lie to you.
If I sound bitter, its only because I am!0 -
You need to be double darned sure you're ready for that surgery. W/o knowing your entire life story, I can't say yay or nay BUT here's what I discovered AFTER hip replacement surgery:
I did my homework talking with a previous patient who had both hips replaced by the chosen Doctor and discussing in detail what I do and what I expect with the Doctor and his staff. This effort was worthless. The double hip replacement patient apparently couldn't fathom my lifestyle even he's known me for 15 years and the Doctor was even more clueless even though he made some great claims of success. What I was expecting or had been led to believe would be my activity level @ 6 weeks post surgery was later "adjusted" to 6 MONTHS post surgery.
I probably didn't help the situation during a gripe session in which the Dr. snipped "You're walking with a cane today but would still be using a walker with the posterior entry surgery". I replied " I wouldn't have needed a walker or cane or even be here wasting my time and gas money if I'd just changed my mind a day sooner". I also commented that I'd give $10,000 to go back to July 15 and just say NO.
In plain words, I'm mad as hell over the outcome of my hip surgery. I didn't have 6 months to waste. I haven't seen any real improvement and in fact have more pain now than before the surgery. I was misled and quite possibly didn't really "need" the surgery at this stage of my life. It's too late to go back but I'm not much good at the "water under the bridge" mentality.0 -
Ive been looking into it, both knees bone on bone. Doc told me one of fifty suffer with infection . 0 -
Had mine resurfaced 6 months ago yesterday, kept the original equipment. I?m out cutting wood on and off the tractor, hopping up onto logs etc to get to others. Feels pretty good, was walking and traveling right away.
Rehab helped regain the strength. So don?t dodge that.
But if your bone on bone, resurfacing (cleaning up the wear surfaces) won?t help. Find a doc with a good reputation. You don?t want to be sitting and watching TV when you could have a real good chance at staying active or getting active again.0 -
Had the right knee done 5 years ago. The PT is one key to getting back to normal. I was strong enough I had finished 6 months of PT in 3 months and they let me go. Still, it took a full three years before I was back to full strength and confidence in that knee. Work hard at the PT. A world of difference. I thought I would have to have the left done too, but within weeks of having the right done, the left stopped hurting because I was no longer favoring the right. I now walk 3+ miles at a 15% grade, 3.5mph. 0 -
I had TKR 11 years ago. It was not optional for me. I had broken the thigh bone in a logging accident and had knee surgery for that.
That surgery went bad, so, 18 months later, 18 months on crutches, it was a choice of TKR, or else, amputate at the knee.
I was 57.
So I had the TKR November 2008 and it has worked out great for me.
Very painful ordeal, really a rough time for 3 months, took lots of Vicodin and morphine.0 -
I've had both of mine done, 6 months apart. The left knee has been in for a year come Oct. 1st and the send will be 6 months soon. I am glad I had them done. While they continue to improve I was more mobile after having the first one done and way more mobile after the 2nd one. Pain is way better, though I do have some soft tissue pain now and again, nothing that's a real issue. Heal times vary, but my 2nd one (right) got along faster than the first, maybe because already having a good leg to stand on helped.
I do wish I had then done earlier. Do to deceased mobility I gained quite a bit of weight and allowed myself to get fairly out of shape. At my age getting back into decent shape is going to be a while. But now that I can walk and am more active I feel better and am getting a lot more done.
Edit: I wanted to add it's not for the weak, it hurts like hell post surgery and you have to make yourself do what needs done. Improvement comes and its worth it IMO. The two biggest risk are infection and blood clots. Follow directions, do not cut corners. I was on a blood thinner for 2 weeks after surgery, which means no anti-inflammatory meds. After the blood thinner ran out I was able to use other meds besides percocet and tylenol and that helped. They will give you instructions concerning pets in the house and other infection control issues, listen to them.0 -
If You don?t mind My saying now is a good time to try and lose a bit of weight if You can.Less weight on the body means less on Your knees and can make a difference . 0 -
He dog is right on. Rehab is the determinate factor to this procedure. 0 -
UPDATE----
Had xrays and Dr. injected steroids into both knees. He said both were definitely Bone on Bone. The shots will give me a couple of month's relief at best. I'm really tired of limping, first on one, then the other. He said we would take the slow road to surgery.0 -
grdad45 wrote:UPDATE----
Had xrays and Dr. injected steroids into both knees. He said both were definitely Bone on Bone. The shots will give me a couple of month's relief at best. I'm really tired of limping, first on one, then the other. He said we would take the slow road to surgery.
The doc injected both me knees. The next visit he asked me how that did, I told him I had a good week and the first 3 days were great. Then he asked me if I had decided about surgery. I told him if was waiting on me he was backing up.0 -
Well, good luck. I certainly hope your knee turns out better than Grouch Attack's has. She still gimps around and complains. A year after her surgery, she fell on the steps and broke her elbow which she blamed on lack of stability of her knee. She still can't/won't walk down steps normally but it's hard to tell if that's a sympathy ploy or genuine concern.
I met a guy I've known for decades at the Doctor's office last Wednesday. He had nearly died after his 10 year old knee replacement caused a bone infection last month. Now, he's trying to recover from systemic infection enough to have ANOTHER knee replacement to correct this current problem.
I can assure everyone that I'd have to be in unbearable pain to suggest having another hip surgery. Almost 3 months post surgery and I'm still having more pain than pre-surgery, still using a cane 75% of the time on solid surfaces and 100% on dirt/gravel/uneven surfaces, and I'm absolutely disappointed in this outcome. I'd go back to pre-surgery condition w/o hesitation. This has cost me more in additional pain, loss of work, and just generally mind numbing aggravation than it's worth.0 -
I?m bone on bone on my left knee, almost the same on my right, doc said he?d replace it now if I was ready ... asked ?how will I know when I?m ready?? He said ?Oh, you?ll know.? That was a couple years ago, and he?s now retired.
In that time I?ve got a new doc. He said that I?m too young for a new knee (62) but he took 80cc?s of fluid off and 2 cortisone shots ... the last 2 weeks he?s been giving me a WD40 injection (not really WD40) that?s supposed to lube up the joint so it?s not so painful. I?ve got one session left, but so far it doesn?t seem to be working as lately, if I move just wrong, the pain will wake me up.
I?ve heard both good and bad about the operation. Some it works for, others it doesn?t ... I think I?m about ready, I?m not sure if the expectation is what makes the difference, I?m guessing I?ll have some pain either way.
It would be nice to shoot from a prone or kneeling position and really miss driving my 72 Corvette. Getting in is easy, it?s the getting back up that?s a problem and what I think causes the fluid build up as the doc had to take another 50cc?s. It seems to build up when I?ve been driving it for a few days.0 -
kimberkid wrote:I?m bone on bone on my left knee, almost the same on my right, doc said he?d replace it now if I was ready ... asked ?how will I know when I?m ready?? He said ?Oh, you?ll know.? That was a couple years ago, and he?s now retired.
In that time I?ve got a new doc. He said that I?m too young for a new knee (62) but he took 80cc?s of fluid off and 2 cortisone shots ... the last 2 weeks he?s been giving me a WD40 injection (not really WD40) that?s supposed to lube up the joint so it?s not so painful. I?ve got one session left, but so far it doesn?t seem to be working as lately, if I move just wrong, the pain will wake me up.
I?ve heard both good and bad about the operation. Some it works for, others it doesn?t ... I think I?m about ready, I?m not sure if the expectation is what makes the difference, I?m guessing I?ll have some pain either way.
It would be nice to shoot from a prone or kneeling position and really miss driving my 72 Corvette. Getting in is easy, it?s the getting back up that?s a problem and what I think causes the fluid build up as the doc had to take another 50cc?s. It seems to build up when I?ve been driving it for a few days.
You won't be shooting from a kneeling position for quite awhile. that's one thing that my new knees won't take yet. It's been a year one the first one and it's better than the 2nd, which was 6 months ago. I'm glad I had mine done, i'm doing things I hadn't been able to for some time, but kneeling and resting weight on my knees isn't one of them.0
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