Knee replacement surgery anyone?

[Carolina]

Dearest Angels:

No knee replacement yet!

I saw my orthopedist today, after they x-rayed my knee and my hip, just to be thorough.

There is some 'bone on bone' in my knee, but unless I'm demanding the surgery, he doesn't think I'm ready yet.

I'm not demanding it.  When I made the appointment I had a lot of pain, but it was probably caused by inflammation related to my Immune Mediated condition(s).  The past two weeks or so have been much better.

So I will go along and see what happens.

My hip is very good, really.  So I'm holding up pretty well for 72, I guess.

Thanks for all your sharing and advice.

Hugs,  Elaine

[slccom]

I'm glad to hear the good news!
Sharon

[anita]

Thanks for the update.  Good to hear it's not necessary yet.

[Chris]

Elaine
Wishing you good luck with this decision!


Hugs
Chris

[grammad97]

Hello Elaine-
So sorry I am late at responding to this post. Life and family got in my way....

I had a total knee replacement in 2007- four years after initial diagnosis of autoimmune.
My orthopedic doc was aware of my health issues and he worked with me to minimize any flare ups as well as aggressively treat pain.
I felt good coming out of recovery and into my room.
They kept the knee moving with the use of a machine on a timer in my bed. I was up to walk that evening with use of a walker.
Therapist worked with me to learn navigation of steps (stairs) and getting into shower/tub combine. I was able to shower using a chair in tub and hand held showerhead.
I did have to have a transfusion on day three.( it was my blood donated prior to surgery)
I did have to give myself objection of a daily RX for clot prevention.
My therapist was brutal with the pt to get full range of motion but it is worth it. Take pain med asap when pt is over.
I need to get my other knee done and want it done soon. I just have to find a new ortho doc where I live now.
I rested when I needed to and made myself not overdo even though I felt good and wanted too.

Everyone is different when it comes to surgery but my first knee was done at age 54. My knees have been horrible since I was a teen and no one would fix my knees with replacement until I found the doc who was not afraid of my young age for replacement and was pro quality of life with better knees.

I wish you well and know you will feel better in the long run.
Keep us posted.
Deb

[Carolina]

Hi Grammad07

I did feel a bit ambivalent when the Orthopedist at Duke said "wait".  But I trust him, and if it's not really time, then it's not really time.

I had thought maybe fixing my knee would make my therapy for Peripheral Neuropathy more successful.

My knee was ok until I blew out the meniscus in 2010 and part of it stuck in my knee joint.  That meant I had to have arthroscopic surgery and while he was in there the surgeon in Texas "cleaned out some of the arthritis', which IMHO was a mistake.  So the knee bothers me more now than it ever did before the surgery.

But it comes and goes and I made the appointment to discuss knee replacement when I was in a flare and everything was bothering me.

So I will wait, and start my PT for my Peripheral Neuropathy ASAP.

I did order the wheel chairs for the airports on our trip to and from France.  I am doing my feet and leg therapy for my Plantar's Fascitis and to gain more flexibility in my feet.

From all the feedback i've gotten from people re knee replacement, I'm optimistic that when the time comes I will be very positive about the experience. 

I do worry, at 72, that waiting 'too long' may find me in poor health just when I need to be ready for this surgery.  But I have no clue what lies ahead, so why worry about it?

Not my style.

Thanks for your feed back..

Life and family can't get it the way, they ARE the way!

Hugs,  Elaine

[angeldancer]

Hi Elaine.  I am just reading this thread.  Definitely do it now while you have your cognition in check.  My mom should have had her second knee replacement sooner.  Now she has dementia and can't follow orders so she limps around in pain.  She constantly moves so her knee and leg stays swollen.  She is almost 74.  She had the first one in her late sixties.

I don't know if this was shared but make sure someone is at the hospital with you at least the first 48 hours.  Nurses are so overworked that making sure your pain meds are given consistently and that blood clots doesn't occur will be important.  My colon surgery went well but my aftercare at the hospital would have been problematic if a friend had not stayed with me the first 48 hours and then 8 hours a day for two extra days.  The nurses did make a couple of mistakes but  I had someone there with me during those times.

My sjogrens decided it was the perfect time to send me into an awful flare and that needed to be explained and taught to the nurses on how to help me.  I think that tick me off the most.  They said get up and walk and my neuropathy said NO!

you will do great with the surgery and if it can take you out of that pain then go for it.  We are rooting for you.

[litliwlowa]

Elaine

Did you consider asking him about the offload donjoy brace for the effected knee(s)?

I've been bone on bone in both of mine a long time (plus have had two surgeries each knee - next booboo is definitely replacement).

Those donjoy offload braces have been my saving grace. They are designed to open up the space a little so the bone on bone isn't so much. Takes getting used to, and I've had mine geesh first one ten years now. I have very LITTLE pain in my knees, even with advanced arthritis secondary to trauma, patellar dysfunction in both of them.

But it is an alternative if you are experiencing pain with your knee condition that you may want to ask your orthopedist about. Or keep that in the back of your mind.

I love my donjoys - even helps me to remember to slooow down. I can even wear them in the pool. :-)

Downside, they get hot in summer, and cold in winter. But I'd rather deal with that than the alternative. Plus, for me anyway, they seem to help my balance issues specific to my legs. I haven't tripped over my own feet anyway since I got them, which I was doing a lot before I got them.

Hugs

Amanda

[Carolina]

Thanks, Amanda,

I haven't even heard of them, tho' I've probably seen them on people.

The thing is that I don't really walk because of the PN.  I'm working on that and will do PT when I get back from our trip.

I'm working on making my feet more flexible for walking, and my balance better.  It had four years of almost complete inactivity, I mean I DID exercise, but walking was impossible.

Now I'm going to try more walking, and perhaps the PT people will know about the Donjoy brace and whether or not it is an idea for me.

Thanks again,

Hugs, Elaine

[litliwlowa]

Elaine

Should that be an option for you down the road, heads up. Mine had to be custom fit, as I am a short shrimp. The standard donjoy braces were if not still are for heights ranging from 5'6' (or maybe it was 5'8") to about 6'2". that doesn't work for 5'3"...lol

Also, I don't wear them 24/7 and not 100% during waking hours, only when I am out and about and know I am going to be on my feet a while . Mainly as if wear them ALL the time, the supporting knee ligaments and muscles begin to atrophy. (and that is NOT fun for ROM - been there done that). But do have to always wear right knee brace when out now, as been having a lot of slippage within the joint when weight bearing recent months.

Hugs

Amanda