Wellness

[nagrom]

My husband is recovering from total knee replacement surgery performed on October 20th. He was released from the hospital two days later. While he is recuperating at home using crutches, he is doing well. The opportunity for a life without restrictions on physical activity and pain free is worth the discomfort during healing. He is a cancer patient finally in remission after 17 surgeries in the last five years. Fear of infection due to cancer treatments made his journey toward pain free knee movement slower. He had to have four teeth pulled as they were capped but looking like infection may occur and could jeopardize his total knee replacement surgery. He chose to have the surgery and is doing well. Never once would he choose sedentary life over freedom and painless future. While I never had total knee replacement surgery I did have total shoulder replacement surgery in September 2013. Now I show off my arm movement and enjoy all the things the future has to offer. I cannot be negative compared to a chance of a fuller life. I would rather die during surgery than to live with without a chance for the best life has to offer. My doctors advised to pick a surgeon that does over a hundred total knee replacement procedures each year. They are the ones who have the expertise and the best outcomes. Practice does make perfect. Good luck and good health!

[Windycity]

On 11/1/2014 violann said: I had a great deal of trouble with one of my knees before weight loss. Now both of my knees work fine for someone my age. Weight loss is definitely not easy, but if the alternative is knee surgery, the choice may present a simpler perspective than choosing knee surgery or immobility. In addition, I lost weight because I could not tolerate blood pressure medicine. The improvement in my knee was just a happy side effect. To each, his or her own (for any grammar purists that may read this).

I too have knees that I was told needed to be replaced at least 15 years ago. I just lost about 40 lbs, and plan to continue to lose at least another 40. (I had gastric bypass surgery in early September.)

In any event, my knees, back and hips are so much better. I am still on my meds, and I still require at least Tylenol in the late afternoon for aches, but I feel so much better than I have for years. I can get up in the morning and actually stand up straight, stand in front of my bathroom sink for more than 5 minutes, and am able to take a shower without holding on for dear life. I can only attribute this to the weight loss and I am the most grateful person on earth right now!

I am not saying that knee surgery is not coming, but for now I feel that I have been given somewhat of a reprieve. And that's a good feeling. FWIW.

[HUENEME GIRL]

I had Makoplasty a year ago September 13th It was a piece of cake! Took about 3 weeks after on tylenol and taking it easy, no PT needed. Today you can hardly see a scar and I never think about my knee! It is like nothing ever happened! I say go for it.

I will add the first Doctor I saw said I needed a total replacement. He became ill and I went to another Doctor. He instantly said Makoplasty when he saw my x-rays. Sooo happy he did! Sonnie

[CalminHeart]

On 11/1/2014 DARING GREATLY said:

My friend needs knee surgery so badly, but she has been suffering from a bladder infection that won't seem to clear up. They won't do surgery on her knee as long as she still has the infection. The poor woman has been on every antibiotic known to man with "supposedly" no results. I say supposedly because I worry that the urine tests are not accurate or she's not being tested properly.

It's a darn shame that people have to live with such pain with all the technology that is out there.

As long as doctors can keep getting richer and make patients jump through all kinds of hoops to get relief, things will never change.

I'll also look into the laser procedures you are describing.

Your friend should be on her sore knees thanking that surgeon for not operating while she has an infection. She could lose her whole leg....or her life. There is a HUGE risk of infection with any joint replacement.

My sister lost her leg from a bone infection after surgery even though she went into surgery without any infection whatsoever. It can and does happen.

That's also why reputable surgeons blast a patient full of I.V. antibiotics in the operating room and for the 2 days they are in the hospital recovering.

[fortune]

On 11/1/2014 hckynut said:

On 11/1/2014 Fortune said:

Thank you all for your frank and thoughtful replys!!! There sure is a lot to consider. I'm going to my orthopedic doctor Tuesday and will have her take more X-rays. Then, I'll get another opinion as well--from a sports medicine physician if possible.

Fortune,

I suggest if this doctor has not ordered an MRI yet that you ask her to do so. X-rays are very limited when it comes to diagnosis of knee pain. Most reputable Orthopaedic surgeons order an MRI for a majority of their patients that have severe knee pain.

Best wishes to you with this issue.

Great tip, John! Thanks! How's Cindy doing?

[reiki604]

My BFF just had both knees done on Friday. She has already been up and walking a little bit. She'll be going to inpatient intensive rehab on Monday or Tuesday. I spoke to her and she sounds great!

[sfnative]

On 11/1/2014 hckynut said:

On 11/1/2014 Fortune said:

Thank you all for your frank and thoughtful replys!!! There sure is a lot to consider. I'm going to my orthopedic doctor Tuesday and will have her take more X-rays. Then, I'll get another opinion as well--from a sports medicine physician if possible.

Fortune,

I suggest if this doctor has not ordered an MRI yet that you ask her to do so. X-rays are very limited when it comes to diagnosis of knee pain. Most reputable Orthopaedic surgeons order an MRI for a majority of their patients that have severe knee pain.

Best wishes to you with this issue.

Hi Fortune and John,

I found it very curious, but as I was going through the discovery phase attempting to find out what was wrong with my knee (I had just a teeny bit of pain), no MRI was ever ordered. However, I went to three Orthos and between them 26 x-rays were taken, many duplicate; however, the last ortho surgeon ordered films at very special angles and wah-lah, there was my issue. It's very easy to determine bone-on-bone via film. And, yes, MRI can confirm them, but sometimes is not necessary, as was in my case. If an A/P film (anterior/posterior) blatantly shows the distal femur sitting on the proximal tibia, one definitely has bone-on-bone, with little or no cartilage remaining, hence the pain.

Note: When I went to my pre-op knee class, there were 12 attendees. 4 of the 12 had arranged through their insurance to transfer directly from a 3 day hospital stay to a rehabilitation hospital. I spoke with one of the ladies doing this and she said she had 5 friends who had done this and they all came home in excellent shape. If you have not done so, it might be worth your while to get in touch with your insurance and also your surgeon's office regarding a rehab facility.

I also agree with another comment. Though you may be up there in years (this was implied), if you can possibly work through your church or a senior center, try to get yourself moved to a ground level apartment. 15 years ago I told my husband that with my foot and both knee histories (multiple surgeries), I would assume that something would go really bad one day, so I needed to live on the ground floor or in a condo unit with an elevator. We have been fortunate thus far. I cannot recommend this enough.

Good luck and God Bless.

[hckynut]

Fortune,

I suggest if this doctor has not ordered an MRI yet that you ask her to do so. X-rays are very limited when it comes to diagnosis of knee pain. Most reputable Orthopaedic surgeons order an MRI for a majority of their patients that have severe knee pain.

Best wishes to you with this issue.

Great tip, John! Thanks! How's Cindy doing?

Fortune,

Thank you for asking about her. She is recovering without any complications. Still cannot drive our little gas miser stick shift car, but she can get around much better now. She has to keep a pillow over her stomach area as our feline family like to jump onto laps.

Really hope all works out well for you.

[151949]

On 11/2/2014 HUENEME GIRL said:

I had Makoplasty a year ago September 13th It was a piece of cake! Took about 3 weeks after on tylenol and taking it easy, no PT needed. Today you can hardly see a scar and I never think about my knee! It is like nothing ever happened! I say go for it.

I will add the first Doctor I saw said I needed a total replacement. He became ill and I went to another Doctor. He instantly said Makoplasty when he saw my x-rays. Sooo happy he did! Sonnie

How did you get full range of motion without PT? I would not want any orthopedic surgery without PT afterward. I was not able to have PT after my first knee - long story - but after the second one 3 months later I had PT to both and it really increased my range of motion on the first knee.

[gazelle77]

An MRI is not necessary unless the X-ray does not show arthritis. If you have pain and rule out arthritis, than you would go further with diagnosis and perhaps go the MRI route. MRI's are expensive and only show soft tissue. My hip replacement and both knee replacements were done just with X-rays, no MRI's. My doctor is known nationwide for joint replacement.