{Disarmed} RE: New to group

[Guest guest]

Hi JoAnn,

I can certainly empathize with your knee problems!!! Mine have been bad for

over 20 years, so I’ve been waiting for advances in knee problems for quite

awhile. Lately my knees have been getting worse and I’ve started having a

right hip problem and the left thigh goes numb when I stand too long. It’s

very frustrating and I’m younger than you. Thanks for bringing up the

question of the braces. I have not heard of them. Another question to ask

the Dr. I’ve never had the injections of Synvisc…not heard of those either.

Apparently, I don’t get enough info from my Dr. I need to do a lot of

research and learning! I’ve had arthroscopic surgery on both knees (removal

of cartilage on both and lateral release on the right) as well as a bone

graft for the right knee. I’ve been told I have little cartilage left in my

knees, so I doubt a partial knee replacement would be possible. Yet another

question to ask about. I also don’t know what grade my knees are at

either…another question. I was told, in my 20’s, that I needed a knee

replacement, but was way too young for that, that’s why they did the bone

graft. That did help for a long time, but I’m back to the knee pain of 20

years ago so I’m not sure what is next for me. I can’t even walk 15 minutes

at this point, due to the knees and my hip pain, although I do anyway. I

don’t have much in the way of info to help you, but I will be more than

happy to offer support.

Joi

_____

From: chondromalacia treatment

[mailto:chondromalacia treatment ] On Behalf Of JoAnn

Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 6:02 AM

chondromalacia treatment

Subject: New to group

Hello everyone, I just happened to find this group by accident, and I was

wondering if someone could give me some info on uploading braces?

I guess I should give you all some back ground:

I am 47 and have been having trouble with my knees for 4 years now. Both of

them kept getting worse over time. Popping, locking in place when I stood in

one place too long. I could only get about 15 minutes walking before I was

in too much pain. The trips to the mall or things like the home shows,

carnivals with the grand kids all had to stop. I just couldn't do it any

more. We are usually active so it was life changing for us.

Well I had arthroscopic surgery in April for the right and July for the

left. They diagnosed with Grade IV chondromalacia, they took out part of the

meniscus on both he said they were shredded, and took out the oseophytes (

he said it meant bone spurs) no cartilage on half on each knee.

It helped a little but not totally. Then on the right knee he gave me a

series of weekly injections of Synvisc. But he said that it needed cartilage

to adhere to and didn't hold out much hope for a good result. The left was

no cartilage at all so he refused to give it for that one.

Any way he says since I am so young he wants to wait till I'm 60 to replace

them! Well I am beside myself now and I was grasping at anything the other

day when I saw him. The last hope for me is these things that are called

uploading braces. Has anyone ever had these? They are a bit pricey and with

a tight budget I hate to buy them if they don't work.

He said the right I might be able to have a resurfacing ( I guess it's like

half a knee replacement) but the left I needed a total knee replacement. I

guess they only last 10-15 years and that's why they don't like to give them

to people under 60. But I don't want to be like this for 13 years!

Thanks for any help you can give me. JoAnn