Joint replacements

July 26, 2002

Hi e,

I can tell you about our hospitals' policy on this.

1) We try not to do a joint replacement to a growing child. I've

never seen only one done before 16 yo of age in the whole eleven

years of my career. The policy is to treat joint quickly and

aggressively with injections and drugs to avoid permanent damage. We

do a lot of other surgery to prevent damage, mainly synovectomies and

knee hookings.

2) If the replacement is done it's usually a hip or a knee. Youngest

patients are about 18 yo and we have 1 or 2 per year (of our over 700

jra kid patients).

3) It's done when the pain is unbearable or the ability to move is in

serious danger.

4) About hand joints (not usually a problem with kids); the

replacement to mcp-joints must be done in time, if the joints are too

damaged, it won't work anymore. But with hip and knee it's mainly the

discomfort that counts.

I hope you got something out of this. Also it's good to remember that

every hospital (and every orthopedist as well!!) has a policy of

their own, so this is not " said in church " as we say.

Soili

July 27, 2002

e I would imagine the decieion for joint replacement varies from

doctor to doctor.

I would assume it would only be, at the point where the joint has become

so destroyed by the decease, To where the indivigual can no longer use it

or use it with out suffering un bearable pain, as well as joints that

have been reduced to less than 50% range of motion.

But again, it depends on the criteria set by the doctors.

hugs and many prayers

Uncle Rusty Limbs

On Fri, 26 Jul 2002 20:43:37 -0700 (PDT) bound for london

<boundforlondon@...> writes:

Hi everyone,

I know there are a few of you who have either had a replacement or your

child has. I'm just curios when do they decide to do that? Is it because

of too much pain? swelling? fused joint? or does the joint disintegrate?

Or what? Not that we need to consider that but I'm just curious I guess

of what leads to this. As 'joes' knees have consistently been her worse

joints affected I am just wondering what her future brings I guess. My

grandfather (with jra) had hips and kness replaced. Obviously this was a

different time and place but I like to know what the future holds.

Thanks,

e, with 15yo with poly

---------------------------------

July 27, 2002

e..I don't know if you remember but Tabitha has had both knees and

hips replaced. With replacements they try to wait till they are older and

done growing if possible..because like knees are only suppose to last for at

least 20yrs. And with knees they only replace twice and that is it. I don't

know about hips and how many times they can be replaced. But Tabs first knee

replacement was done in 98'when she was 14, her left one was done in 99' and

her hips were replaced in sept. of 2001 within two weeks.

When it came to Tabs knees..her left one was done for..it had no

cartilage(sp) left and she was completely walking with her leg straight and

her right one the same thing..i guess you can say the right one went bad

fast because of compensating the left one. The knees did lock up on her.

With her hips..she had been having pain in them..they took xrays and seen

that her hips were dropping and that was where the pain came from.

She had gotten to the point where she was wheelchair bound and unable to

walk because the pain was so severe.

I guess it would vary with doctors and when to have this done but with

Tabitha it had to be done now and not later. It was hard knowing my daughter

was losing parts that she was born with but it was well worth it!!! Now if

we can only get her right knee replacement working right..

I am hoping Tabitha can get her shoulders replaced and her elbows

eventually..she has lost so much range in her arms. As far as her hands,

well she has major deformity in those between her fingers, hands, and

wrists. Don't know if they can replace her joint in her fingers...okay I

hope this helps some..if you have any other questions let me know..

Sorry can't talk about it any more..this stupid disease makes me sick and

angry at what it has done to my daughter..it hurts.

karen(tab17..poly)

From: bound for london <boundforlondon@...>

Reply-

jra < >

Subject: joint replacements

Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 20:43:37 -0700 (PDT)

Hi everyone,

I know there are a few of you who have either had a replacement or your

child has. I'm just curios when do they decide to do that? Is it because of

too much pain? swelling? fused joint? or does the joint disintegrate? Or

what? Not that we need to consider that but I'm just curious I guess of what

leads to this. As 'joes' knees have consistently been her worse joints

affected I am just wondering what her future brings I guess. My grandfather

(with jra) had hips and kness replaced. Obviously this was a different time

and place but I like to know what the future holds.

Thanks,

e, with 15yo with poly

---------------------------------

August 1, 2002

Thanks all for the responses. I was talking to a friend who had mentioned with all the pain and inflammation my daughter has had with her knees she wondered when the ywill replace them. Doesn't sound like that will be a definite eventual happening which is good. And I had no idea you could replace elbows, shouldres, fingers etc. modern technology is certainly amazing!

e, 15yo daughter joe with poly

February 6, 2005

Hello everyone. I joined this group recently & have been lurking &

listening. Since I can only type with one finger, I don't

participate in online discussions too often but my curiosity has

gotten the best of me.Since joint replacements have become so

commonplace, I can't believe I've seen no posts suggesting

them...particularly with the knees. Shots, aspirations & rest go

only so far. Replacements are the answer unless you have no

insurance. I had both done about 10 years ago and haven't had any

problems. My 86 yr old mom had one done 4 1/2 weeks ago and is now

walking without pain or a cane.

To introduce myself, my name is Lori and I was diagnosed with RA

about 25 yrs ago (3 years after my marriage). Somewhere along the

way I developed fibromyalgia too. Unlike many on this board, I've

been fortunate, except for one exception, to have caring, proactive

rheumys, who always included me when designing my treatment plans. I

have always considered them my primary physician.

The RA required some footsurgery early on but then was relatively

calm til I had my daughter 5 yrs later. It flared when she was 3

months old and I was on NSAIDS, plaquinal, gold pills, gold shots,

mtx, voltaren, arava, cyclosporin and finally enbrel. Prednisone was

only on an asneeded basis. Currently I'm on enbrel & voltaren, just

stopped mtx 1 1/2 months ago due to memory problems. I've had both

knees, hips,shoulders, and one elbow replaced. My MCPs n my right

hand have been replaced twice and my left ones once. my wrists,

ankles and cervial spine are fused and I won't even talk about my

feet which were an 11B and now measure a 5XXXX. My jaw is receding.

I'm 62 now, still married and my daughter is in college. I retired

in 1999. Reading about what so many of you are going through really

saddens me. I thought that by now, most younger people would be

relatively pain free due to the recent advances in treatment butI see

that is not the case. Many of you are where I was 15 years ago If

there is anything I can say or sny info I can pass on, please feel

free to email me at sunlori224@.... In the meantime I will be

praying for all of you. This is a kind and caring group and I'm

happy I found you.

God bless,

lori

February 7, 2005

oh lori... is that what they are going to say, replacement of my knee, if it

does not get better??? YIKES, that sounds terrible painful! i have not

cartlidge in the inside part of my knee, but i do have cartlidge in the outside

part of the joint.... where did the inside part go?????

rae

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