Partial knee replacement

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In a message dated 12/3/2005 6:03:14 P.M. Central Standard Time, fontgirl2002@... writes:

I'm considering having a partial knee replacement of the lateral side of my left knee. This was suggested to me by the last surgeon that I saw. Previously, I had seen two other surgeons who thought I was too young to have anything done to the knee. (I'm only "young" in the world of joint replacements since I'm 52!) Anyway, the first two docs wanted me to suffer and live with the pain, but I can't stand up on the leg anymore or walk more than a city block. I'm on and off a cane and Percocet, so as far as I'm concerned, I'm ready to have the unicompartment. Two years ago, I had a hip replaced and I should be exercising regularly for that, however for the last six months, I've been unable to do any exercise due to knee pain, which is terrible for my hip, not to mention the rest of me.Anyway, I wondered what the recovery was like with a partial knee. The doctor said that it would take about half the time of a total knee and that I could weight-bear right away. But I forgot to ask him how long it would be before I could bend the leg well enough to get into the tub. Will I need a bathtub transfer bench again?

Hi, I had a total knee replacement Nov 2 and the next day could put weight on it. The rehab is not fun, that's for sure, but it's fun seeing how much just a few days makes. As for the tub, I could get in and out 2 weeks later, that's just a shower. I'm not planning to take a bath for a while.

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Hi, Sigrid: This is just my personal opinion, but I think if you're in the kind of pain that you mention, it would be better to get a total knee replacement and just be done with it. If you get the partial, won't you still have to have a total in the future? I am four months post-op for a TKR, and I have a fully functioning knee. I can't yet kneel down on it, but I think I will be able to eventually. I was able to put my weight on it immediately and was up walking the day after the surgery. It is a painful surgery and a fairly difficult rehab, according to me and to most other folks I've talked with, but the thing is you end up with a really good result and after about two months many people are in pretty good shape, assuming you're very diligent about your PT and home exercises, and assuming the surgery went well Sara.fontgirl2002

<fontgirl2002@...> wrote: Hello everyone,I'm considering having a partial knee replacement of the lateral side of my left knee. This was suggested to me by the last surgeon that I saw. Previously, I had seen two other surgeons who thought I was too young to have anything done to the knee. (I'm only "young" in the world of joint replacements since I'm 52!) Anyway, the first two docs wanted me to suffer and live with the pain, but I can't stand up on the leg anymore or walk more than a city block. I'm on and off a cane and Percocet, so as far as I'm concerned, I'm ready to have the unicompartment. Two years ago, I had a hip replaced and I should be exercising regularly for that, however for the last six months, I've been unable to do any exercise due to knee pain, which is

terrible for my hip, not to mention the rest of me.Anyway, I wondered what the recovery was like with a partial knee. The doctor said that it would take about half the time of a total knee and that I could weight-bear right away. But I forgot to ask him how long it would be before I could bend the leg well enough to get into the tub. Will I need a bathtub transfer bench again?What about kneeling? I haven't been able to kneel on that leg for 24 years. Do people kneel after partial or total knees? I'll still have arthritis in the kneecap, so maybe I won't be able to get down on my knees.When I had my hip done, a number of things went wrong that I hadn't anticipated. I have a problem with low blood sugar and the hospital gave me an IV full of sugar. That knocked me out for about 10 days. I was also left very anemic, which made me so weak that I was reluctant to

adequately medicate myself in the event that the extra pills made me want to sleep all day long. I also had a general anesthesia. This time around, I'm having a spinal and the doctor and I have agreed on a saline IV -- no sugar! I fully intend to take all of the pain killers that I need and firmly believe that the recovery will be a much smoother process.Would appreciate any feedback.Many thanks. Sigrid

Sara

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. Galbraith

[Guest guest]

Sara,

Thanks so much for your feedback. I'm really glad that your own

surgery went well, despite the pain, and that you're feeling much

better.

My situation is complicated. I live in Ontario, which has

prohibitive waiting times for joint replacement. Moreover, the two

orthopods that I've seen in town have refused to do a total knee on

me. The first guy, who replaced my hip, has been " monitoring " my

knee for the last three years. He just wants to watch it, although

I can hardly walk now and am in dreadful pain. In fact, I ended up

in ER 2 months ago because I couldn't put my foot down on the

ground. Called my first surgeon and his office booked an

appointment that was TWO MONTHS away. Asked to be put on a

cancellation list but instead the very day of my appointment, his

office called to cancel, saying that he needed to leave early that

day. Thus, I haven't been able to see him. (Good Riddance!)

The second surgeon was easier to see but he maintained that it would

be malpractice for someone to operate on me because he said my knee

was not that bad, and that there is a good chance that I will end up

in a wheelchair at the age of 65 --70 if we do a TKR now . I told

him that I was afraid of ending up in a wheelchair in six months!

The last guy is a private surgeon in Québec with a good reputation

but he's not covered by the health care system. That means that I'd

have to pay out of my pocket somewhere around $12,000 -- $15,000

altogether including physio, hotels, trips back-and-forth to Québec,

etc. He is the first person who has said that I do require surgery

because the lateral compartment of my knee is destroyed; he also

said that there was arthritis in the knee cap, but reiterated what

the other guys said about not wanting to do a TKR in case I ended up

in a wheelchair down the road.

I don't know what to do. These seem to be my three choices at the

moment, although I have a doctor in New York City who is trying to

hook me up with some people in Boston, but I don't have insurance in

the US and I don't really know this guy well. He is doing it as a

favor and he may not be able to help me. But to summarize, not one

of these guys, including the one in Québec will perform a total knee

on me now. Dilemma! What would you do? Thanks :-) Sigrid

> Hello everyone,

>

> I'm considering having a partial knee replacement of the lateral

> side of my left knee. This was suggested to me by the last

surgeon

> that I saw.

[Guest guest]

I was able to take a shower five days after the surgery. I think this depends on what kind of stitches you get.Critrkrazy@... wrote: In a message dated 12/3/2005 6:03:14 P.M. Central Standard Time, fontgirl2002@... writes: I'm considering having a partial knee replacement of the lateral side of my left knee. This was suggested to me by the last surgeon that I saw. Previously, I had seen two other surgeons who thought I was too young to have anything done to the knee. (I'm only "young" in the world of joint

replacements since I'm 52!) Anyway, the first two docs wanted me to suffer and live with the pain, but I can't stand up on the leg anymore or walk more than a city block. I'm on and off a cane and Percocet, so as far as I'm concerned, I'm ready to have the unicompartment. Two years ago, I had a hip replaced and I should be exercising regularly for that, however for the last six months, I've been unable to do any exercise due to knee pain, which is terrible for my hip, not to mention the rest of me.Anyway, I wondered what the recovery was like with a partial knee. The doctor said that it would take about half the time of a total knee and that I could weight-bear right away. But I forgot to ask him how long it would be before I could bend the leg well enough to get into the tub. Will I need a bathtub transfer bench again? Hi, I had a total knee replacement Nov 2 and the next day could put weight on it. The rehab is not fun, that's for sure, but it's fun seeing how much just a few days makes. As for the tub, I could get in and out 2 weeks later, that's just a shower. I'm not planning to take a bath for a while.

Sara

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. Galbraith

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/5/2005 4:56:43 P.M. Central Standard Time, fontgirl2002@... writes:

Hi ,November 2nd? That's not that long ago. How are you feeling now? Yep, the shower is probably wise til you're bending well.I still don't understand the difference in rehab or restrictions after a partial versus the total knee. If I have a partial knee, can I start bending it right away? How long will it take til I can bend well enough to get into the bathtub? Will I need a raised toilet seat? When do you expect that you'll be able to take a tub bath?Thanks. Sigrid

Hi Sigrid, right now I'm feeling kinda lousy. The therapist is making me work harder and I'm sore. He says I'm right on track though and doing great. I say he's trying to kill me .

I don't think but I don't know for sure but I don't think the rehab and such would be that much different. They're still going to go in there and mess around with ligaments and such. You can bend it right away when you have a TKR so I would think it would be about the same. I didn't need a raised toilet seat, I'm kinda short, not sure what that means though. I just used the walker to help me. I've heard that in 6 months the knee will feel just like a normal one. I'm more worried about the bath because of standing back up. Plus my other knee is still bad. Definitely need something to pull up on. I really don't understand why they would just do a partial instead of a total knee replacement. I don't understand the benefits. Later,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

November 2nd? That's not that long ago. How are you feeling now?

Yep, the shower is probably wise til you're bending well.

I still don't understand the difference in rehab or restrictions

after a partial versus the total knee. If I have a partial knee,

can I start bending it right away? How long will it take til I can

bend well enough to get into the bathtub? Will I need a raised

toilet seat? When do you expect that you'll be able to take a tub

bath?

Thanks. Sigrid

>

>

> In a message dated 12/3/2005 6:03:14 P.M. Central Standard Time,

> fontgirl2002@y... writes:

>

>

> I'm considering having a partial knee replacement of the lateral

> side of my left knee. This was suggested to me by the last

surgeon

> that I saw. Previously, I had seen two other surgeons who thought

I

> was too young to have anything done to the knee. (I'm

only " young "

> in the world of joint replacements since I'm 52!) Anyway, the

first

> two docs wanted me to suffer and live with the pain, but I can't

> stand up on the leg anymore or walk more than a city block. I'm

on

> and off a cane and Percocet, so as far as I'm concerned, I'm

ready

> to have the unicompartment. Two years ago, I had a hip replaced

and

> I should be exercising regularly for that, however for the last

six

> months, I've been unable to do any exercise due to knee pain,

which

> is terrible for my hip, not to mention the rest of me.

>

> Anyway, I wondered what the recovery was like with a partial

knee.

> The doctor said that it would take about half the time of a total

> knee and that I could weight-bear right away. But I forgot to

ask

> him how long it would be before I could bend the leg well enough

to

> get into the tub. Will I need a bathtub transfer bench again?

>

>

>

>

> Hi, I had a total knee replacement Nov 2 and the next day could

put weight

> on it. The rehab is not fun, that's for sure, but it's fun

seeing how much

> just a few days makes. As for the tub, I could get in and out 2

weeks later,

> that's just a shower. I'm not planning to take a bath for a

while.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, I am new to this group and am wondering how many people have had a

partial knee replacement and how successful it was.

I had one last April and I am still having some difficulty walking,

bending and putting pressure on it going up stairs ( If I take them at

all).

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi, I am new to this group and am wondering how many people have had

a

> partial knee replacement and how successful it was.

> I had one last April and I am still having some difficulty walking,

> bending and putting pressure on it going up stairs ( If I take them

at

> all).

>

I will have a minimally invasive partial knee replacement in July.

Most of my doctor's patients walk out the same day as the surgery.

What technique did your doctor use? Is your problem associated with

the implanted parts or with the incision?

[Guest guest]

I asked about that before I had my knee done. My doctor told me that

there are three areas that go bad and need this kind of procedure

whether total or partial. The first is the left side of the joint the

other is the right side and the third is the knee cap.

In my case I had problems with the right side knee and knee cap. That

is two of the three and a total is want is needed. He also said he

did not think much of partials because more surgery could or would be

needed later if one of the other two was needed.

When you have major engine work on say the head of your car. You

replace the valve springs even if they are OK. Same with this kind of

an operation. If you are going to have it done go all the way not

half or partial. Kind of made sense but everyone should make that

decision him or herself.

Don

>

> I am pretty sure I am heading for a partial knee replacement

> Has anyone gone through this? Would appreciate any insight, history

> advice.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Don

Torrey

don_torrey@...

Re: Partial knee replacement

I asked about that before I had my knee done. My doctor told me that

there are three areas that go bad and need this kind of procedure

whether total or partial. The first is the left side of the joint the

other is the right side and the third is the knee cap.

In my case I had problems with the right side knee and knee cap. That

is two of the three and a total is want is needed. He also said he

did not think much of partials because more surgery could or would be

needed later if one of the other two was needed.

When you have major engine work on say the head of your car. You

replace the valve springs even if they are OK. Same with this kind of

an operation. If you are going to have it done go all the way not

half or partial. Kind of made sense but everyone should make that

decision him or herself.

Don

>

> I am pretty sure I am heading for a partial knee replacement

> Has anyone gone through this? Would appreciate any insight, history

> advice.

>