I have questions for anybody who has had a total knee replacement

[Guest guest]

Here's a little background, first:

My name is Kathy, I am 45 years old and I have been having pain with my knee for 9+ months and I have had a radiologist look at my x-rays and tell me I have "Degenerative Bone Disease" I later found out via the Internet, that this is also called "Osteo-Arthritis".

It wasn't until later when I couldn't stand the pain, I couldn't kneel, and I had a lot of stabbing pains, that I finally was sent to an Orthopedist and then I went to get a second opinion after that (just to make sure).

The first Orthopedist asked me after he saw my x-rays if they did a "weight bearing x-ray", (where I was standing), I told him no, so we got one right there in his office. It told the whole story. The inside of my left knee was bone on bone (and the right knee was not too far behind), he told me that there was not anything they could do for me except for me to have a total knee replacement.

So before going to my second opinion with another Orthopedist, I did a little research and found out they could replace the cartilage in some patients with cartilage from someone who has died. So I went to this Dr. and listened to him tell me what the other Dr. said. I told him I was only 45 years old and he said well, you have a 65 year old knee. I asked him about the transplant of the cartilage and he said no, it was too far gone.

So here we are to my questions for anyone:

-How was it to have a knee replacement?

-How long did it take for you to get back to yourself again?

-How long have you been told these knee replacements last before you have to get a new one?

(I am on Weight watchers and have been for the last 18 months. I was 295 lbs. I am now 255 lbs. I have lost 18 inches and 3 pants sizes. I have another 100 lbs to lose. I was walking up to almost 2 miles per day before my knee trouble. I want to be able to do that again, that's when I lost most of weight.)

-After surgery and you are back to "normal" will you be able to anything you want, with in reason?

-Will you damage your new knee by exercising, walking, or running?

-Can a person live a painfree life again?

-What if after my 4 weeks of physical therapy (pre-surgery preparation), my knee feels better because I have built up muscles that were not strong before, can a person opt to cancel surgery?

If there is any question I should be asking and have not asked it here, please let me know, because I am not looking forward to this surgery, but, I am not sure I can go without it, either.

Thank you for your help

Kathy

(45 year old Mom from Bakersfield, CA)

[Guest guest]

>Hope these answers help you a little. Good luck with whatever you

decide.

Here's a little background, first:

>

> My name is Kathy, I am 45 years old and I have been having pain

with my knee

> for 9+ months and I have had a radiologist look at my x-rays and

tell me I

> have " Degenerative Bone Disease " I later found out via the

Internet, that this is

> also called " Osteo-Arthritis " .

>

> It wasn't until later when I couldn't stand the pain, I couldn't

kneel, and I

> had a lot of stabbing pains, that I finally was sent to an

Orthopedist and

> then I went to get a second opinion after that (just to make sure).

>

> The first Orthopedist asked me after he saw my x-rays if they did

a " weight

> bearing x-ray " , (where I was standing), I told him no, so we got

one right

> there in his office. It told the whole story. The inside of my

left knee was bone

> on bone (and the right knee was not too far behind), he told me

that there was

> not anything they could do for me except for me to have a total

knee

> replacement.

>

> So before going to my second opinion with another Orthopedist, I

did a little

> research and found out they could replace the cartilage in some

patients with

> cartilage from someone who has died. So I went to this Dr. and

listened to

> him tell me what the other Dr. said. I told him I was only 45

years old and he

> said well, you have a 65 year old knee. I asked him about the

transplant of the

> cartilage and he said no, it was too far gone.

>

> So here we are to my questions for anyone:

>

> -How was it to have a knee replacement?

I am very pleased with mine I had it done last September age 44

>

> -How long did it take for you to get back to yourself again?

I think it was around 3 months, but every body heals at different

rates

>

> -How long have you been told these knee replacements last before

you have to

> get a new one?

Depends how much impact you put on it. should be at least 15 years.

>

> (I am on Weight watchers and have been for the last 18 months. I

was 295 lbs.

> I am now 255 lbs. I have lost 18 inches and 3 pants sizes. I have

another 100

> lbs to lose. I was walking up to almost 2 miles per day before my

knee

> trouble. I want to be able to do that again, that's when I lost

most of weight.)

>

> -After surgery and you are back to " normal " will you be able to

anything you

> want, with in reason?

yes i think so

>

> -Will you damage your new knee by exercising, walking, or running?

walking swimmming cycling are good. Running to much would not do it

any good. I am also able to kneel on my knee.

>

> -Can a person live a painfree life again?

yes

>

> -What if after my 4 weeks of physical therapy (pre-surgery

preparation), my

> knee feels better because I have built up muscles that were not

strong before,

> can a person opt to cancel surgery?

yes

>

> If there is any question I should be asking and have not asked it

here,

> please let me know, because I am not looking forward to this

surgery, but, I am not

> sure I can go without it, either.

>

> Thank you for your help

> Kathy

> (45 year old Mom from Bakersfield, CA)

[Guest guest]

HI, Iam 51 and both knees were bone to bone.. Iam overweight and

first othropedic dr said to lose weight. The pain I was in couldnt

wait that long. I tried but I was miserable, went to 2nd dr and he

said no doubt you need both knees replaced. so I said " WHEN " ? I was

in so much pain and I stand on my feet all day. I had the knee done

about 6wks ago. It was not as easy as I thought it was going to be.

alot of pain, nights of no sleep and depression. BUT Iam seeing light

now.. going to therphy 3times a week. and able to walk the lenght of

grocery store now without going GET ME HOME!.. I have to get back to

work as I my insurance and pay doesnt pay much. I was desperate for

pain relief. I only worry now about working and haveing the pain in

the other knee makeing me miserable. I had asked for both knees to

be done together and dr wouldnt do it.. boy am I glad I didnt! I was

a basketcase for a while. I hope to at least work 6months or more

before i have the other one done. I have no choice I know I will have

to have it replaced. Iam so sick of being in pain! I think you need

to go for the replacement. Your pain wont get better if you dont

thats for sure. Your like me NO CHOICE! First Dr even told me I was

too young! I said Soooooooooo Iam in PAIN.. needless to say I found

another Dr. He stated that most knees replacemnt recipents are older

but hes seeing more and more younger people going thru it. He said

they last about 10-15yrs normally. I asked If I could use the tread

mill, excerise again. he said I could do anything but wouldnt suggust

cross sking.. I said No Problem! Good Luck to You! and let me know

what you decide.

-- In Joint Replacement , KLCulp928@a... wrote:

> Here's a little background, first:

>

> My name is Kathy, I am 45 years old and I have been having pain

with my knee

> for 9+ months and I have had a radiologist look at my x-rays and

tell me I

> have " Degenerative Bone Disease " I later found out via the

Internet, that this is

> also called " Osteo-Arthritis " .

>

> It wasn't until later when I couldn't stand the pain, I couldn't

kneel, and I

> had a lot of stabbing pains, that I finally was sent to an

Orthopedist and

> then I went to get a second opinion after that (just to make sure).

>

> The first Orthopedist asked me after he saw my x-rays if they did

a " weight

> bearing x-ray " , (where I was standing), I told him no, so we got

one right

> there in his office. It told the whole story. The inside of my left

knee was bone

> on bone (and the right knee was not too far behind), he told me

that there was

> not anything they could do for me except for me to have a total

knee

> replacement.

>

> So before going to my second opinion with another Orthopedist, I

did a little

> research and found out they could replace the cartilage in some

patients with

> cartilage from someone who has died. So I went to this Dr. and

listened to

> him tell me what the other Dr. said. I told him I was only 45 years

old and he

> said well, you have a 65 year old knee. I asked him about the

transplant of the

> cartilage and he said no, it was too far gone.

>

> So here we are to my questions for anyone:

>

> -How was it to have a knee replacement?

>

> -How long did it take for you to get back to yourself again?

>

> -How long have you been told these knee replacements last before

you have to

> get a new one?

>

> (I am on Weight watchers and have been for the last 18 months. I

was 295 lbs.

> I am now 255 lbs. I have lost 18 inches and 3 pants sizes. I have

another 100

> lbs to lose. I was walking up to almost 2 miles per day before my

knee

> trouble. I want to be able to do that again, that's when I lost

most of weight.)

>

> -After surgery and you are back to " normal " will you be able to

anything you

> want, with in reason?

>

> -Will you damage your new knee by exercising, walking, or running?

>

> -Can a person live a painfree life again?

>

> -What if after my 4 weeks of physical therapy (pre-surgery

preparation), my

> knee feels better because I have built up muscles that were not

strong before,

> can a person opt to cancel surgery?

>

> If there is any question I should be asking and have not asked it

here,

> please let me know, because I am not looking forward to this

surgery, but, I am not

> sure I can go without it, either.

>

> Thank you for your help

> Kathy

> (45 year old Mom from Bakersfield, CA)

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathy,

My mom had a TKR when she was around 48. She just had it replaced when she

was 78. I'm sure that things have improved since she had her first one.

After that operation, it didn't seem like it took her long to recover. I

can't remember the exact amount of time. She walks every day and has been

doing that for years since that first surgery. I would say that she leads

a fairly active life although she doesn't do daily mountain climbing or

anything like that. =-)

> -How was it to have a knee replacement?

>

> -How long did it take for you to get back to yourself again?

>

> -How long have you been told these knee replacements last before you have to

> get a new one?

In His Love,

Vera