Re: Degenerative arthritis at 28 yrs old

[Guest guest]

Hi-

I too have degenerative arthritis and am 27. I've had 13 knee surgeries since age 12. I have deg arthritis in both my hips and knees. I have acetabular dysplasia in my hips and both of my kneecaps have been realigned. I've researched it extensively and am current in physical therapy and pain management. I'd be happy to answer any questions! Margaret NC

[Guest guest]

I live in Winston-Salem, NC and have chondromalacia patella (softening of the cartilage underneath my kneecaps). I've had both of my kneecaps realigned to try to save what's left of the cartilage under my kneecaps. The realignment on my right knee in 1998 worked well but on my left knee in 2000 it didn't work too well. Now, I have grade IV chondromalacia patella meaning that I have exposed bone and subchondral bone cysts both under my kneecap and in my medial condyle. I desperately have begged for bilateral knee replacements but because my menisci look so good they won't do them yet. Evidently kneecap replacements need a few more years before they will last a long time. I've been to 13 orthopedic surgeons at Duke, UNC, and around the US. I know the good ones, the bad ones, the nice and not so nice ones. It's been a real tough battle as I know you all can relate. I'm 27 but I feel like I'm 97. I'm getting ready to begin a graduate medical program here in Winston-Salem and am concerned about being on my feet but I don't want my knees to stop me.

Margaret (North Carolina)-13 knee surgeries for chondromalacia patella; this website has my knee story on it under Margaret's surgeryhttp://www.kneeguru.co.uk/cgi bin/KNEEtalk/YaBB.pl?board=softtissue;action=logout

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My

situation was somewhat similar. I

had osteoarthritis in my left hip that was diagnosed when I was about 34. I had always walked with a limp due to polio

that left my left leg slightly shorter than the right. The limp caused me to put more weight

on my left side and that lead to the arthritis. Like you I was in extreme pain. I had difficulty walking and climbing stairs. Getting out of a chair would sometimes

take 20 minutes due to the pain and stiffness.

For six

years I took Indocid (Indomethacin) to help with the pain and inflammation. This led to an inflamed stomach and

ulcers. At age 40 I had a total

hip replacement. I have been pain

free for 18 years. I have been

very active in kick boxing, cycling and hiking. Due to the plastic insert having worn through and due to a bone

cyst next to the implant that has weakened the femur I will be having my second

total hip replacement this summer.

The pain

of the surgery and subsequent recovery was nothing compared to the pain I had

previously. I would recommend this

operation to anyone who is in need of it.

If your situation was similar to mine you won’t regret it.

Cheers,

Dennis

-----Original

Message-----

From: lcwdds

[mailto:lcw@...]

Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 2:12

PM

To:

Joint Replacement

Subject:

Degenerative arthritis at 28 yrs old

I was diagnosed with bilateral degenerative osteoarthritis in my

hips at the age of 28. Now I am 35 with a radiographically evident

bone on bone diagnosis with increasing pain as the years have gone

by. I can barely walk .5 mile without pain, I swim but I generally

have back problems as a result. I am not overweight and exercise is

limited because of work and family. Is there anyone out there that

has experienced what I am going through?

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dennis,

Are you going to have a ceramic insert this time. What did they say

caused the cyst?

Leland

> Hi,

> My situation was somewhat similar. I had osteoarthritis in my

left hip that

> was diagnosed when I was about 34. I had always walked with a

limp due to

> polio that left my left leg slightly shorter than the right. The

limp

> caused me to put more weight on my left side and that lead to the

arthritis.

> Like you I was in extreme pain. I had difficulty walking and

climbing

> stairs. Getting out of a chair would sometimes take 20 minutes

due to the

> pain and stiffness.

>

> For six years I took Indocid (Indomethacin) to help with the pain

and

> inflammation. This led to an inflamed stomach and ulcers. At age

40 I had

> a total hip replacement. I have been pain free for 18 years. I

have been

> very active in kick boxing, cycling and hiking. Due to the

plastic insert

> having worn through and due to a bone cyst next to the implant

that has

> weakened the femur I will be having my second total hip

replacement this

> summer.

>

> The pain of the surgery and subsequent recovery was nothing

compared to the

> pain I had previously. I would recommend this operation to anyone

who is in

> need of it. If your situation was similar to mine you won't

regret it.

>

> Cheers,

> Dennis

>

> Degenerative arthritis at 28

yrs old

>

> I was diagnosed with bilateral degenerative osteoarthritis in my

> hips at the age of 28. Now I am 35 with a radiographically evident

> bone on bone diagnosis with increasing pain as the years have gone

> by. I can barely walk .5 mile without pain, I swim but I generally

> have back problems as a result. I am not overweight and exercise

is

> limited because of work and family. Is there anyone out there that

> has experienced what I am going through?

>

>

>

>

> _____

>

>