Re: Knee Replacement in 2 weeks

[Guest guest]

Sounds like a difficult decision for you.

But realistically, arthritis is a degenerative disease so you would need to

consider the prognosis for continuing the dog agility training if you don¹t

have the surgery. Does the doc have any thoughts about that scenario?

I don¹t understand why you would lose more muscle mass with the surgery.

There is some time and work required to rebuild the muscles after surgery

but I don¹t know about permanent loss of muscle mass. Perhaps that would be

due to the specifics of your situation. Several on this list do agility

training post surgery and though their situations are different from yours

perhaps they can give you some information. What kind of dogs do you have?

Wishing you the best possible outcome as you make your decision.

Peace,

Jackie

--

Jackie on

Jackiett@...

R-TKR 3-19-09

L-TKR 9-1-09

Dr. Patch

On 10/28/10 12:54 PM, " gr8t_northwest " <gr8t_northwest@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement in 2 weeks. Still hedging on

> whether or not to go through with it. My knee was affected by polio when I

> was a year old so has never been as strong or straight as a normal knee.

>

> Expected Benefits: The doctor tells me I'll have less pain, and less chance of

> developing hip and back troubles as I age if I have the surgery done. The

> outcome of surgery is better now than if I wait any longer. Dr says I'll be

> able to return to hiking - which has gotten fewer and fewer miles each year

> due to knee pain.

>

> Expected Costs: On the other hand, I'll lose even more of my muscle mass and I

> don't have much to lose. I do dog agility as a sport now and have 2 very

> eager dogs who love to compete. Dr. says I will not be able to do any dog

> agility post surgery because I'll have joint instability forever. this makes

> me sad.

>

> How do you weigh the cost/benefit of knee replacement surgery?

>

>

[Guest guest]

I¹d consult another doctor. People run and play tennis after TKR ‹ so

unless the joint instability is tied very specifically to your specific

situation, I am surprised at the blanket statement that you will have joint

instability forever.

On 10/28/10 12:54 PM, " gr8t_northwest " <gr8t_northwest@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement in 2 weeks. Still hedging on

> whether or not to go through with it. My knee was affected by polio when I

> was a year old so has never been as strong or straight as a normal knee.

>

> Expected Benefits: The doctor tells me I'll have less pain, and less chance of

> developing hip and back troubles as I age if I have the surgery done. The

> outcome of surgery is better now than if I wait any longer. Dr says I'll be

> able to return to hiking - which has gotten fewer and fewer miles each year

> due to knee pain.

>

> Expected Costs: On the other hand, I'll lose even more of my muscle mass and I

> don't have much to lose. I do dog agility as a sport now and have 2 very

> eager dogs who love to compete. Dr. says I will not be able to do any dog

> agility post surgery because I'll have joint instability forever. this makes

> me sad.

>

> How do you weigh the cost/benefit of knee replacement surgery?

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Perhaps you should seek a second opinion because I've never read/heard that

having knee replacement results in loss of muscle mass.

After surgery for knee replacement there is extensive rehab necessary in order

to get back mobility and range of motion -- and a lot of it also would improve

muscles and flexibility for anyone. My experience is that joint pain generally

results in a decreased in muscle mass because pain forces people to stop moving.

As for dog agility - I'm not familiar with it specifically but I don't

understand what movements would make you unable to participate. Generally (but

not universally) people are not supposed to run or do other very specific sports

that put a lot of continued force on a replacement joint - lest it wear out

prematurely. And of course for most people it's moot since pain prevents them

from participating in stuff prior to surgery and surgery enables them to start

doing things they had stopped doing because of pain and lack of flexibility in

the joint.

On Oct 29, 2010, at 10:29 AM, on <jackiett@...> wrote:

Sounds like a difficult decision for you.

But realistically, arthritis is a degenerative disease so you would need to

consider the prognosis for continuing the dog agility training if you don¹t

have the surgery. Does the doc have any thoughts about that scenario?

I don¹t understand why you would lose more muscle mass with the surgery.

There is some time and work required to rebuild the muscles after surgery

but I don¹t know about permanent loss of muscle mass. Perhaps that would be

due to the specifics of your situation. Several on this list do agility

training post surgery and though their situations are different from yours

perhaps they can give you some information. What kind of dogs do you have?

Wishing you the best possible outcome as you make your decision.

Peace,

Jackie

--

Jackie on

Jackiett@...

R-TKR 3-19-09

L-TKR 9-1-09

Dr. Patch

On 10/28/10 12:54 PM, " gr8t_northwest " <gr8t_northwest@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement in 2 weeks. Still hedging on

> whether or not to go through with it. My knee was affected by polio when I

> was a year old so has never been as strong or straight as a normal knee.

>

> Expected Benefits: The doctor tells me I'll have less pain, and less chance of

> developing hip and back troubles as I age if I have the surgery done. The

> outcome of surgery is better now than if I wait any longer. Dr says I'll be

> able to return to hiking - which has gotten fewer and fewer miles each year

> due to knee pain.

>

> Expected Costs: On the other hand, I'll lose even more of my muscle mass and I

> don't have much to lose. I do dog agility as a sport now and have 2 very

> eager dogs who love to compete. Dr. says I will not be able to do any dog

> agility post surgery because I'll have joint instability forever. this makes

> me sad.

>

> How do you weigh the cost/benefit of knee replacement surgery?

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am confused by the info you are getting about the expected costs of total knee

replacement. The big BENEFIT I was told about knee replacement was that I would

HAVE increased stablity. Which has certainly proven true. My knee is now SOLID.

I can stand on it forever and it is now the knee that I lead with on ladders

when I get out of the pool and so on.

The other thing you mention is muscle loss. My ortho explained to me that no

muscles are cut, they are just pushed aside during the surgery. This is the

reason we can walk on our new knees immediately. None of the muscles have been

cut - traumatized, oh yeah. But not cut.

So when we go into PT right away the next morning (which is how my hospital does

it) we are immediately lifting and lowering and bending and doing all these

exercises to increase muscle strength and flexibililty. After 5.5 months of

intense daily work on my leg muscles I can tell you I am in MUCH better shape

than I've been probably in 20 years.

So I am confused by the message that you are getting. Perhaps you need to ask

him how your surgery is differing from the usual total knee replacements and why

you are going to be disabled like that. Perhaps you need a second or third

opinion. Because what you have been told is not the normal message or result.

Carolyn

>

> I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement in 2 weeks. Still hedging on

whether or not to go through with it. My knee was affected by polio when I was

a year old so has never been as strong or straight as a normal knee.

>

> Expected Benefits: The doctor tells me I'll have less pain, and less chance of

developing hip and back troubles as I age if I have the surgery done. The

outcome of surgery is better now than if I wait any longer. Dr says I'll be

able to return to hiking - which has gotten fewer and fewer miles each year due

to knee pain.

>

> Expected Costs: On the other hand, I'll lose even more of my muscle mass and I

don't have much to lose. I do dog agility as a sport now and have 2 very eager

dogs who love to compete. Dr. says I will not be able to do any dog agility

post surgery because I'll have joint instability forever. this makes me sad.

>

> How do you weigh the cost/benefit of knee replacement surgery?

>

[Guest guest]

Good point about tennis, I was told I could play tennis too! (Of course I

don¹t know how....)

F

on 10/29/10 10:40 AM, H. Levy at phl2207@... wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I¹d consult another doctor. People run and play tennis after TKR ‹ so

> unless the joint instability is tied very specifically to your specific

> situation, I am surprised at the blanket statement that you will have joint

> instability forever.

>

> On 10/28/10 12:54 PM, " gr8t_northwest " <gr8t_northwest@...

> <mailto:gr8t_northwest%40> > wrote:

>

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> > I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement in 2 weeks. Still hedging on

>> > whether or not to go through with it. My knee was affected by polio when I

>> > was a year old so has never been as strong or straight as a normal knee.

>> >

>> > Expected Benefits: The doctor tells me I'll have less pain, and less chance

>> of

>> > developing hip and back troubles as I age if I have the surgery done. The

>> > outcome of surgery is better now than if I wait any longer. Dr says I'll

>> be

>> > able to return to hiking - which has gotten fewer and fewer miles each year

>> > due to knee pain.

>> >

>> > Expected Costs: On the other hand, I'll lose even more of my muscle mass

>> and I

>> > don't have much to lose. I do dog agility as a sport now and have 2 very

>> > eager dogs who love to compete. Dr. says I will not be able to do any dog

>> > agility post surgery because I'll have joint instability forever. this

>> makes

>> > me sad.

>> >

>> > How do you weigh the cost/benefit of knee replacement surgery?

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am 6 weeks post op from TKR.  Both my quad muscle and my medial collateral

ligiment were cut.  Sure wish I had had your doctor who doesn't cut muscles. 

in TX

From: cusher53 <cusher@...>

Subject: Re: Knee Replacement in 2 weeks

Joint Replacement

Date: Friday, October 29, 2010, 1:48 PM

 

I am confused by the info you are getting about the expected costs of

total knee replacement. The big BENEFIT I was told about knee replacement was

that I would HAVE increased stablity. Which has certainly proven true. My knee

is now SOLID. I can stand on it forever and it is now the knee that I lead with

on ladders when I get out of the pool and so on.

The other thing you mention is muscle loss. My ortho explained to me that no

muscles are cut, they are just pushed aside during the surgery. This is the

reason we can walk on our new knees immediately. None of the muscles have been

cut - traumatized, oh yeah. But not cut.

So when we go into PT right away the next morning (which is how my hospital does

it) we are immediately lifting and lowering and bending and doing all these

exercises to increase muscle strength and flexibililty. After 5.5 months of

intense daily work on my leg muscles I can tell you I am in MUCH better shape

than I've been probably in 20 years.

So I am confused by the message that you are getting. Perhaps you need to ask

him how your surgery is differing from the usual total knee replacements and why

you are going to be disabled like that. Perhaps you need a second or third

opinion. Because what you have been told is not the normal message or result.

Carolyn

>

> I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement in 2 weeks. Still hedging on

whether or not to go through with it. My knee was affected by polio when I was

a year old so has never been as strong or straight as a normal knee.

>

> Expected Benefits: The doctor tells me I'll have less pain, and less chance of

developing hip and back troubles as I age if I have the surgery done. The

outcome of surgery is better now than if I wait any longer. Dr says I'll be

able to return to hiking - which has gotten fewer and fewer miles each year due

to knee pain.

>

> Expected Costs: On the other hand, I'll lose even more of my muscle mass and I

don't have much to lose. I do dog agility as a sport now and have 2 very eager

dogs who love to compete. Dr. says I will not be able to do any dog agility

post surgery because I'll have joint instability forever. this makes me sad.

>

> How do you weigh the cost/benefit of knee replacement surgery?

>

[Guest guest]

There is a lot of people who run agility who have had knee replacements.

They seem to be doing very well. Once you have had your TKR you will soon be

able to start strengthening your muscles; treadmill, bike, all sorts of leg

lifts...I was doing back to doing them on the 3rd and 4th months after my

surgery. Believe me, you will love your new knee.

Dorie Madsen

On 10/28/10 12:54 PM, " gr8t_northwest " <gr8t_northwest@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement in 2 weeks. Still hedging on

> whether or not to go through with it. My knee was affected by polio when I

> was a year old so has never been as strong or straight as a normal knee.

>

> Expected Benefits: The doctor tells me I'll have less pain, and less chance of

> developing hip and back troubles as I age if I have the surgery done. The

> outcome of surgery is better now than if I wait any longer. Dr says I'll be

> able to return to hiking - which has gotten fewer and fewer miles each year

> due to knee pain.

>

> Expected Costs: On the other hand, I'll lose even more of my muscle mass and I

> don't have much to lose. I do dog agility as a sport now and have 2 very

> eager dogs who love to compete. Dr. says I will not be able to do any dog

> agility post surgery because I'll have joint instability forever. this makes

> me sad.

>

> How do you weigh the cost/benefit of knee replacement surgery?

>

>

[Guest guest]

I play tennis! I was told not to play singles, as there is too much running,

but my OS said doubles, and a little running, was fine. Of course, as 65, I am

not as fast as I once was, new knee notwithstanding!

________________________________

From: Foley <sefoley@...>

Joint Replacement

Sent: Fri, October 29, 2010 4:38:17 PM

Subject: Re: Knee Replacement in 2 weeks

Good point about tennis, I was told I could play tennis too! (Of course I

don¹t know how....)

F

on 10/29/10 10:40 AM, H. Levy at phl2207@... wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I¹d consult another doctor. People run and play tennis after TKR ‹ so

> unless the joint instability is tied very specifically to your specific

> situation, I am surprised at the blanket statement that you will have joint

> instability forever.

>

> On 10/28/10 12:54 PM, " gr8t_northwest " <gr8t_northwest@...

> <mailto:gr8t_northwest%40> > wrote:

>

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> > I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement in 2 weeks. Still hedging on

>> > whether or not to go through with it. My knee was affected by polio when I

>> > was a year old so has never been as strong or straight as a normal knee.

>> >

>> > Expected Benefits: The doctor tells me I'll have less pain, and less chance

>> of

>> > developing hip and back troubles as I age if I have the surgery done. The

>> > outcome of surgery is better now than if I wait any longer. Dr says I'll

>> be

>> > able to return to hiking - which has gotten fewer and fewer miles each year

>> > due to knee pain.

>> >

>> > Expected Costs: On the other hand, I'll lose even more of my muscle mass

>> and I

>> > don't have much to lose. I do dog agility as a sport now and have 2 very

>> > eager dogs who love to compete. Dr. says I will not be able to do any dog

>> > agility post surgery because I'll have joint instability forever. this

>> makes

>> > me sad.

>> >

>> > How do you weigh the cost/benefit of knee replacement surgery?

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>

>