Thread: Knee Replacement spin off

Talk to me.....this is like the creepiest thing (outside of a hip replacement...and thats next!). I am really needing this, but did you ever see a movie called the Bone Collector? I am terrified of a owning a leg that is jointless and wobbles like an elephants trunk.

My future BiL has had both his knees done. Overall it was fast and fairly painless. Well, it was less painful than the pain he was in before he had the surgery. He has full range of motion and now, three years later, no pain. He goes to the gym regularly and deep sea fishing.

The only thing i ever tell anyone is to make sure your surgeon has done this procedure many times. That way there is less of a chance that there s/he will come up against anything which s/he hasn't dealt with before.

{{{HUGS}}}

I can second the story on someone who had been very active, sports-wise: A friend's Mom who certainly had been more impaired BEFORE the surgery than after.

I think knee surgery should be the ultima ratio, not an early decision. Something can always go wrong, and since both my Mom and me have had knee injuries from sports, and both healed after 5 years for my Mom and about 3 years for me without surgery (mine was not dramatic though, just persistent - my Mom s was a miniscus problem and an oedema on the other knee) - I'd definitely say the surgery is a risk I'd only take if I really could not be active any more.
For that friend's Mom she really could not move anymore before the surgery - I will have to ask what she can do with the artificial joints by now, but I know for sure she is riding a bike again, which she could not before.

Definitely go for aVERY experienced surgeon!!

All the best to you!

I don't know about the newest options for knee replacement but I would ask some very pointed questions on what movement limitations would be after the replacement. My dad is not able to kneel on his replaced knee - not because anything went wrong - it's just a limitation he will have forever more because of the way his new joint works.

Hey Anala, if you can, check out synvisc injections (could be called synthvisc, haven't had coffee this morning yet). My left knee is so bad that the joint has collapsed and there is no cartilage left. I had the injections a few months ago and though they suck to get, they are so worth it. My pain is greatly reduced and ibuprofen is no longer a food group!

My pain is greatly reduced and ibuprofen is no longer a food group!

Not too bad with milk and sugar and a bit of nutmeg!!! LOL!!!!

Hi Anala!

uhm - your pain is reduced with or without surgery??

Anyways - SOO glad for you as someone who has gone through the pain (physical and psychological) of a bad knee impairing physical activity and spoiling the little activity one can do with worries :)

Without surgury...there will always be pain. How much I can stand...dunno? I was a bit alarmed when the rhuemitiz doc turned to look at the xray and actually said "Oh my God" before he could catch himself.

GREAT!!!

you know from my experience - I was told by a doc and physical therapist (who I used to see for YEARS) I would always keep a slight damage.
It was on/off, sometimes great, sometimes strong pain, most of the time slightly feelable and particulary with activity I loved most.
I had given up the most intense ones anyway (thai box, bollywood or hip hop dance - everything involving too many jumps), so I felt punished all the time.
And STILL despite the sacrifices the pain would come back. Often after months, with some weather I felt it more (cold humid weather).

For 4 years I think. I kept seeing the physical therapist who really was a genius. AMAZING woman knowing her stuff.
I am so glad I did because after those 4 years she somehow tried some exercises we had not tried before - and: knocking on wood! The pain is GONE for almost one year.

When I had NO hope left it would COMPLETELY heal (it was already much better and *almost* like healed) - it did.

I can only tell you to really listen to your body, to not panic when the pain comes, to start accepting it, to not panic IF the other knee or a hip joint gives you trouble - that can happen, but if you listen to your body those little pains will heal much quicker than the knee.
And if you have the opportunity keep seeing someone like a physiotherapist. Sometimes these things take a LONG time and from one day to the other, when no one can still hope, they do heal.

And what helped me accept it: I had listened to my body too little before when doing sports. Too much, too little stretching etc. When I realized maybe this slight knee damage had prevented me from bigger more serious damage had I continued to not take enough care of my joints and muscles I had a much better time accepting this slight damage.

Hope this helps :)