topic Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement in Wellness

Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

fortune — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 20:38:15 GMT

Has anyone tried laser therapy for arthritic knees? Also, has anyone had makoplasty (partial robotic knee replacement)? I'm trying to avoid total knee replacement for both knees!

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

hckynut — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 20:50:58 GMT

Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

Why?

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

fortune — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 23:17:56 GMT

I live in a three-story house, don't have anyone to take care of me, and am too old for major surgery.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

Snowpuppy — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 23:19:19 GMT

On 10/31/2014 hckynut said:
Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

Why?

Because keeping one's own body parts in good working order is far better than anything science can invent?

Every surgery procedure has it's own risks.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

gidgetgh — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:07:21 GMT

I've never heard of laser therapy for arthritic knees. My knees are in pretty bad shape. I'll have to do some googling.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

151949 — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:35:45 GMT

makoplasty can only be done if only part of the joint - the inner side where the tibia is , is affected. I had a makoplasty to both knees 2 years ago and it went very well. However, if your entire joint is affected then you need the total replacement. It is not something you get to choose - it is a matter of the condition of the joint.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

151949 — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:39:07 GMT

On 10/31/2014 hckynut said:
Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

Why?

John, many times on this BB I try to figure out why anyone would prefer to be in constant pain when there is a surgical solution - but yet , many do seem to prefer to live like that. How often here you read about people who won't have back surgery, or a joint replaced. To each their own.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

little miss sunshine — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:45:40 GMT

If you're living in pain, either you like it or haven't figured out a way to get it fixed. The longer you put it off, the older you're getting and won't be able to bounce back as quickly or as completely. If your MD tells you that you need a replacement, then figure out a way to do it and round up a support group to help you. There are lots of good people who are willing to help if you just ask. I did it for a friend and was only too happy to be able to help. You don't always need family to help; friends and neighbors are willing to help too. Just ask.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

gazelle77 — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:45:47 GMT

On 10/31/2014 Fortune said:
I live in a three-story house, don't have anyone to take care of me, and am too old for major surgery.

You can stay in a care facility until you can go home. Many people do this. Did your doctor tell you you were too old for this surgery? People 80 years old have knee replacement. They do all kinds of tests to make sure you are healthy enough prior to surgery.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

Still Raining — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:56:58 GMT

Your situation sounds like mine, except it is my hips. For me part of the solution is going to have to be a move out of the 3 stories. Could it be that you would be more comfortable with a different living arrangement regardless of the option you choose?

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

TootyJane — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 01:54:53 GMT

On 10/31/2014 gazelle77 said:
On 10/31/2014 Fortune said:
I live in a three-story house, don't have anyone to take care of me, and am too old for major surgery.

You can stay in a care facility until you can go home. Many people do this. Did your doctor tell you you were too old for this surgery? People 80 years old have knee replacement. They do all kinds of tests to make sure you are healthy enough prior to surgery.

My Mom, who is 87 years young, had a total knee replacement done in October 2013. She lives in a one-story house and lives alone. She put off having the surgery for about 5 years. She did have cortisone shots and then had some sort of treatment but those things did not work. However, it just got yo the point where she had to have the surgery. She stayed in the hospital for 5 days then she was transferred to a rehab care facility for her recovery. The facility she stayed in was just awesome! The nurses and PTs were fabulous. The food they served was 5 star hotel quality. She stayed in rehab just a little over two weeks then she went home. She had to take it slow and easy when she got home but now it's as though she never had the surgery. Good luck - HTH

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

birkin baby — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 04:00:47 GMT

My mom had this done 8 days ago.She is 73. She was in hospital 2 nights.She is staying with my sister.She is walking up and down the street with walker and therapist,pain is managed, She is happy she finally did the surgery. This spring it will be knee #2.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

K a QVC fan — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 04:26:44 GMT

Be careful, especially with metal on metal. Tiny metal fragments wind up going into your blood stream and cause cobalt poisoning. The tiny metal fragments also affect the tissue around the knee. Same thing with polyethylene and metal as the plastic sheds too. You will still have pain even after having it done. Biggest issue is infection. If that happens all the metal has to come out, you will be without a knee or hip for at least 4 months. You will have a pic line put in, which runs inside your arm, up around the the shoulder into your chest cavity and lays right by your heart, and on IV antiobiitic for a minimum of 6 weeks. Then more surgery. If I had the chance to go back in time I would NEVER had it done. Constant in pain more so now than before. Low grade fevers all the time. Do you research and seriously try to deal with your own knee. Trust me the pain will be there regardless. During surgery they also cracked my femur bone so another metal plate, screws, pins had to be put in and that caused other limitations that I never had prior to surgery

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

MathisFan — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 04:35:11 GMT

I need to have both knees replaced but I refuse. I know 3 people who threw blood clots and died after having it done. Let's see...live with the pain...or die?

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

151949 — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 04:43:24 GMT

On 10/31/2014 MathisFan said:
I need to have both knees replaced but I refuse. I know 3 people who threw blood clots and died after having it done. Let's see...live with the pain...or die?

You are many times more likely to throw a blood clot and die from lack of activity than from the surgery. Inactivity causes many more blood clots. And a person whose knees are always hurting them is going to be pretty inactive.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

birkin baby — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 04:48:41 GMT

It's like everything...some success,some failures.Everyone is different. I know when I was considering Gastric bypass I heard many on both sides.I weighed(bad pun,sorry) the risks... I'm normal weight and happy and healthy today. But if I had died,or had complications it was s my risk to take.I might have died from being extremely fat....or been severely debilitated at some point...maybe not. Good luck with your knees ,whatever you decide.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

haddon9 — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 05:04:47 GMT

On 10/31/2014 happy housewife said:
On 10/31/2014 hckynut said:
Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

Why?

John, many times on this BB I try to figure out why anyone would prefer to be in constant pain when there is a surgical solution - but yet , many do seem to prefer to live like that. How often here you read about people who won't have back surgery, or a joint replaced. To each their own.

I don't think people choose to be in pain rather than having surgery. I think people weigh the pros and cons along with all possible outcomes. Since we are all different no one will know for sure just how things will turn out. Even doctors will not always know how one will react and do but can only make an educated guess. Sometimes things can go very wrong and a person ends up in worse shape than before the procedure. Sounds like K a QVC fan in post # 12 has had such a regrettable experience.

So I think that rather than rush into a major procedure many would prefer to see if there just might be something else out there that's not so invasive that could help them. Major surgery can be very scary!......I for one can understand that.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

hckynut — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 06:11:34 GMT

On 10/31/2014 MathisFan said:
I need to have both knees replaced but I refuse. I know 3 people who threw blood clots and died after having it done. Let's see...live with the pain...or die?

What you choose to do about your knee issues is certainly your decision. I personally prefer being fully mobile and pain free at some point if there is a surgical solution. Joints as they age do not get better. Quite the opposite without some type of intervention. I have had many major surgeries, and the ones I've had are usually much more serious than any type of knee surgery.

What year did they have this surgery? I've, as you say "thrown PE's twice" and I am still living. I prefer using the term "had blood clots, plural, in my lungs", as most understand those words as opposed to the medical terminology "PE".

Were they serious? You bet, life threatening as 85% of them are found during an "autopsy". I spent 8 days in the hospital with the first episode and 9 days the 2nd episode. Was hooked to heparin IV the whole visit. Once my INR/ProTime readings went up, I was able to go home, on Coumadin/Warfarin and shooting myself with Lovenox shots twice a day.

Using your perspective? That pretty much rules out "flying on planes/deep bruises/not bleeding or unknown internal bleeding and I would say pretty much any type of surgery or invasive procedure." Make sure you remember this next time you have any dental work done. People have died of blood clots and/or DVT after dental work, and some because of long airplane flights or long motor vehicle drives/rides. A well known national journalist died of DVT while sitting in a tank in Iraq a few years ago.

Better make a note of the things I mentioned above as they just scratch the surface of things that can cause one to, as you say "thrown blood clots(in takes only 1, singular to kill a human being)".

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

Luvtoshopathome — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 06:52:28 GMT

Knee replacement seems to be the 'it' surgery right now. Almost everyone I know has been told by surgeons they need knee replacements. Well, what else would a surgeon tell You? Isn't that the way they make their money? I know 2 people who had knee replacements and they are worse now than they were before. One of my friends had knee replacement 4 years ago, and about 6 months ago she was in horrific pain, she had a bad infection and he did a 'temporary' knee replacement. (I never heard of a temporary knee replacement). She then had to go back for another regular knee replacement and her knee is still not right, she's been in the hospital twice since her last surgery. Has your surgeon ever talked to you about getting those large injections(I'm sorry I dont remember what it's called) It lasts for about 6 months. My sister had torn miniscuses in both her knees and had the surgery, it didn't work so the surgeon told her she should have knee replacements, which she told him she didn't want. She's had these injections and she really feels much better, no pain medication either.

Re: Trying to Avoid Total Knee Replacement

Mindy D — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 07:07:12 GMT

My husband gets injections with artificial synovial fluid replacement. They are also given for arthritic knees and they provide lubrication of the joints. They are not a cure, but they facilitate movement and reduce pain. I do have two friend that have had total knee replacements with excellent outcomes, but they would have had much more problems in a three story house. One is in her mid fifties and one is in his early sixties. They both had spouses to help them when they got home.