Knee replacement anyone?

1. 59

   Julie-Ann Amosposted 16 years ago

   I just wondered if anyone had had one and could let me know what i may be in for?
   
   When for an MRI on my left knee today and they wanted to both XRay and MRI BOTH of them and yes, they want to operate on both.  Apparently it's not a cartilage tear at all because the cartilage is all worn away.
   
   They're gonna do keyhole on them and fix what they can be he says I'm DEFINITELY looking at a knee replacement on both legs, the only questions is when.  Now, it could be ages, and I could wake up from an anesthetic in the next week or so and find they need to do it Now.
   
   I'd love to know what I'm in for if they do need to do a joint replacement.  I had a keyhold knee op 15 years ago on my right, but it wasn't successful - I didn't really get any better so eleted not to visit the docs in the years since till now when it's gotten pretty intolerable.
   
   It's my own fault - many years of extreme athletics and road running, then in the military pounding the floor...

   replyreport
   1. 81

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      I wrote a Hub about it. I've had friends with good and bad experiences in the process. I hiope your doctor and treatment team work with you proactively.

      replyreport
2. 56

   Dame Scribeposted 16 years ago

   Which part first? ... chronic pain --> surgery, knee arthroplasty --> post op emphasis on exercise --> well medicated --> early ambulation is encouraged. Depending what country...treatment is different for everybody. sorry hear you have such a ouchy.

   replyreport
3. 59

   Julie-Ann Amosposted 16 years ago

   Hey thanks Patti - for some reason I never even thought about searching for a hub on it!  Doh!  Thanks

   replyreport
4. 81

   LondonGirlposted 16 years ago

   My Granny had a knee replaced, although she was quite a lot older than you (late 70s).
   
   She did have more restricted use of it afterwards, and found kneeling a bit tricky, but was otherwise fine.
   
   She passionately blamed the Nazis and Luftwaffe for it - 50 years earlier, she and her then infant son had got bombed out, and a chunk of masonry landed on her knee. We did try to say that over 50 years, other causes could have intervened, but she was having none of it (-:
   
   Hope all goes well for you, best of luck.

   replyreport
5. 59

   sassychicposted 16 years ago

   I want to say something. Good luck. I have a bad history with my left knee. I hope all goes well. I have had two surgeries now on my left knee. Arthorscopic and then just recently had screws put in. Im barely an adult and its hard to grasp the concept that my knee is "older" than me. I hurt my knee polevaulting and it's never been the same, I have had to quit polevaulting and running in general all together. Im still in Marching Band and refuse to give up all physical activities. It's extremely hard to deal with it. I have been going to physical therapy three days a week three hours a week. Walking up the stairs is hard enough the way it is. Everyday I fight with myself whether to give up or push harder. Anyway I know what is feels like and teh pain and suffering of many things good luck!

   replyreport
6. 86

   Marisa Wrightposted 16 years ago

   Sassychic, I'm so sorry to hear about your injury at such a young age.  I'm in my 50's and recently tore the cartilage in one knee.  I've danced all my life - I'd go so far as to say, dancing IS my life - and it was a shock to discover how one little damaged joint could be so incredibly disabling. 
   
   Every now and then, I remind myself that I'm lucky - realistically, I wouldn't have had many more years of serious dancing in me anyway.  To have suffered something like this when I was still young and just starting out - that would have been devastating. 
   
   Julie-Ann, there are always horror stories for every op, I hope you won't let yourself be worried by them.  My friend (who's in her 50's) recently had a double knee replacement and is still going through rehab, so she can't really judge the outcome yet.  Her one tip is - make sure you have someone living with you to start with. Not long after her op, she went to get out of bed, slipped, and landed on the floor.  And found there was no way she could get up!  She had to wait for her husband to rescue her (and he got duly lambasted for not responding quicker to her piteous cries for help).  She can laugh about it now, but if she had been living on her own, it could have been nasty.

   replyreport
   1. 59

      sassychicposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      I was a dancer for many years as well. I was really in to Point Ballet and Tap/jazz. As time went by it was harder to afford it so I had to quit. I danced for like 13yrs? something like that roughly.

      replyreport
7. 59

   Julie-Ann Amosposted 16 years ago

   Thanks everyone.  I'm hoping the knee replacements won't be necessary but it's either wait a year for both knees to be arthroscopied on the NHS here for free or pay £4000 now and check - and if the knee replacements are needed, then I go straight on the list for those and wait 6 months each!
   
   I've been used to the pain in both for years-  I was a long distance runner and the like for many years.  But recently it's gotten unbearable and i'm walking with a stick which makes me feel like a granny!

   replyreport
8. 76

   sschilkeposted 16 years ago

   julie ann amos
   
   I wrote a hub on cartilage issues in the knee a while ago.  You may want to check it out.  I gives some details about new procedures and future procedures that could help.
   
   Advancements in Cartilage Regeneration: Microfracture Surgery, Biomaterials and Hydrogels
   
   I hope it helps.
   
   sschilke

   replyreport