When do you get a knee replacement?

March 19, 2006

Dear folks,

I have been lurking on this newsgroup for a couple of months, but now

I am ready to ask my questions.

I am a 66 year old woman in pretty good health, but for the last

couple of years I have had increasing pain in my knees. I have always

done lots of walking, and my husband and I travel in our RV van and

like to hike. My knee problems seem to have begun when we took quite

a long uphill/downhill hike in Zion National Park, so at first I

thought it was an injury which would get better. This hasn't proved

to be right - my knees are getting progressively worse (knee Xrays

show narrowed joints).

What do I mean by worse? They always hurt when I walk; I find it very

painful to go up or down stairs in the ordinary way; if I am going to

be on my feet for more than the minimum of doing some housework or a

little shopping, I find I need pain meds to make this bearable. My

husband and I just got back from a 3 week trip of sightseeing (like

zoos, museums), and some walking (not hiking) in the outdoors. I DID

enjoy it, but I was never free from more or less severe pain. And I

hate to take medications, so try to take the minimum.

Okay, I won't go on and on... I have started swimming and a water

arthritis class, got a recumbent exercise bike (had to give up

Curves), lost a little weight, and my ortho agreed to try an

arthroscopy on the most painful knee - but I feel he does not think it

will help very much.

So, what should I do? Is there a point to doing the arthroscopy?

Should I get the total knee replacement? I get the feeling from

reading the posts on this group that many people have actually been in

much worse shape than I am before having this done - so should I just

put up with it until it gets much worse?

All your thoughts and comments will be much appreciated.

Judy

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