Re: Time to replace the knee?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/2/2008 12:53:34 P.M. Central Standard Time,

jujulabee@... writes:

Hi, I started having problems with my knees when I was 26 and they said I

would have to wait until I was 50 to get them done. I shopped around and

finally found a Dr. that did them when I was 46, I was sooo ready and haven't

regretted it one bit. I've had both of them done, 3 months a part. I had

cortisone shots and the synvisc injections but they just weren't touching it

anymore.

I have been lurking for a couple of years. This is my first post. I

> need to know when I have to repklace the knees. My Doctor tells me

> that 41 yrs old is to young. I take on the average 10 asperin and 8-

> 10 Aleve a day. I consider myself in fair to good shape. I work out

> 3-4 times a week(not alot of lower body of cours). I had a scope

> done and the seurgon said I had the knees of a 65 yr old.

>

> My wife tells me I walk around like I have a full diaper. By the

> way, if anyone has good info for a Doctor/seurgon in the Midland Mi.

> area, I'm listening. I already have Dr. , not seeing any

> improvement there. For the life of me I can not figure out what line

> of thinking my doctor uses.

>

> I have pain when I sit, when I stand, when I walk I have aconstant

> limp. I really am getting tired of people asking me why I am limping.

>

> I really need some advice from someone that has been thru it. All I

> know is my life is totally turned around from all the pain. I just

> do not do anything any more.

>

> Thanks

> Kirk

>

**************Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW

AOL.com.

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[Guest guest]

I had my right TKR at 43 and I feel like I waited longer than I should have

because my quality of life was so compromised up to the point of surgery. I

was limping, in constant, exhausting pain, taking NSAIDs until I had an

ulcer and had to go straight Tylenol and taking electric carts around

Walmart. Now I don't know what it would be like to have to do both knees but

I would say, go for it.

I had my knee scoped twice, the second time just 18 months before TKR just

for the doctor to be convinced. Yet, he still balked because of my age. So I

went to my OS in my hometown who used to see me (had bad knees at 13) and he

looked at my xrays and said to schedule it. I am so glad I did it. The only

issue I have now is that kneeling feels weird. I can't say it hurts, just I

don't feel like doing it but I can bend my knee fully and walk with no limp

or pain.

If this OS won't do it, go to another. Yes, having the TKR now probably

means we will need a replacement in 20 years but who knows, they make great

surgical strides each year. Why use that as an excuse. Find a doctor who

realizes that the pain you are in is not worth one more minute.

Time to replace the knee?

Guys:

I have been lurking for a couple of years. This is my first post. I

need to know when I have to repklace the knees. My Doctor tells me

that 41 yrs old is to young. I take on the average 10 asperin and 8-

10 Aleve a day. I consider myself in fair to good shape. I work out

3-4 times a week(not alot of lower body of cours). I had a scope

done and the seurgon said I had the knees of a 65 yr old.

My wife tells me I walk around like I have a full diaper. By the

way, if anyone has good info for a Doctor/seurgon in the Midland Mi.

area, I'm listening. I already have Dr. , not seeing any

improvement there. For the life of me I can not figure out what line

of thinking my doctor uses.

I have pain when I sit, when I stand, when I walk I have aconstant

limp. I really am getting tired of people asking me why I am limping.

I really need some advice from someone that has been thru it. All I

know is my life is totally turned around from all the pain. I just

do not do anything any more.

Thanks

Kirk

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

[Guest guest]

    You have to find another doctor. I am 26 and had a knee replacement in

February. It's not how old you are it's your quality of life. Find a new doctor.

You only have one life and you need to live it.

 Drew

________________________________

From: koditten <koditten@...>

Joint Replacement

Sent: Tuesday, December 2, 2008 7:17:30 AM

Subject: Time to replace the knee?

Guys:

I have been lurking for a couple of years. This is my first post. I

need to know when I have to repklace the knees. My Doctor tells me

that 41 yrs old is to young. I take on the average 10 asperin and 8-

10 Aleve a day. I consider myself in fair to good shape. I work out

3-4 times a week(not alot of lower body of cours). I had a scope

done and the seurgon said I had the knees of a 65 yr old.

My wife tells me I walk around like I have a full diaper. By the

way, if anyone has good info for a Doctor/seurgon in the Midland Mi.

area, I'm listening. I already have Dr. , not seeing any

improvement there. For the life of me I can not figure out what line

of thinking my doctor uses.

I have pain when I sit, when I stand, when I walk I have aconstant

limp. I really am getting tired of people asking me why I am limping.

I really need some advice from someone that has been thru it. All I

know is my life is totally turned around from all the pain. I just

do not do anything any more.

Thanks

Kirk

[Guest guest]

Take advice from those who have been there before you. If you are asking, I

think it is time to do it. I am 41 and had one hip replaced at 40 and the other

replaced 3 months ago. Best thing I have ever done.  If your doctor says you are

too young, find another doctor. I also had a few doctors tell me I was too

young.  Sometimes you need to travel outside of your local area to find a more

progressive doctor.

Good Luck!   Life is too short to be in so much pain!

From: koditten <koditten@...>

Subject: Time to replace the knee?

Joint Replacement

Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 7:17 AM

Guys:

I have been lurking for a couple of years. This is my first post. I

need to know when I have to repklace the knees. My Doctor tells me

that 41 yrs old is to young. I take on the average 10 asperin and 8-

10 Aleve a day. I consider myself in fair to good shape. I work out

3-4 times a week(not alot of lower body of cours). I had a scope

done and the seurgon said I had the knees of a 65 yr old.

My wife tells me I walk around like I have a full diaper. By the

way, if anyone has good info for a Doctor/seurgon in the Midland Mi.

area, I'm listening. I already have Dr. , not seeing any

improvement there. For the life of me I can not figure out what line

of thinking my doctor uses.

I have pain when I sit, when I stand, when I walk I have aconstant

limp. I really am getting tired of people asking me why I am limping.

I really need some advice from someone that has been thru it. All I

know is my life is totally turned around from all the pain. I just

do not do anything any more.

Thanks

Kirk

[Guest guest]

>

> Guys:

>

> I have been lurking for a couple of years. This is my first post. I

> need to know when I have to repklace the knees. My Doctor tells me

> that 41 yrs old is to young. I take on the average 10 asperin and 8-

> 10 Aleve a day. I consider myself in fair to good shape. I work out

> 3-4 times a week(not alot of lower body of cours). I had a scope

> done and the seurgon said I had the knees of a 65 yr old.

>

> My wife tells me I walk around like I have a full diaper. By the

> way, if anyone has good info for a Doctor/seurgon in the Midland Mi.

> area, I'm listening. I already have Dr. , not seeing any

> improvement there. For the life of me I can not figure out what line

> of thinking my doctor uses.

>

> I have pain when I sit, when I stand, when I walk I have aconstant

> limp. I really am getting tired of people asking me why I am limping.

>

> I really need some advice from someone that has been thru it. All I

> know is my life is totally turned around from all the pain. I just

> do not do anything any more.

>

> Thanks

> Kirk

>

Hi, Kirk.

I lived with bad knees since I was in college (lyme disease, but they

didn't know what that was then). Ten years ago, they told me I was

too young at 46, because then, the joints were only good for about ten

years, and they could only replace them one more time. My thoughts at

the time were, " great! I'll spend the best years of my life in a #@%#

wheel chair, and when I'm 70 I'll get them replaced and what, try out

for the Vikings??. "

I had them scoped, but that just shortened their life and made it so I

couldn't walk far. In hindsight, recovery time from the last scope was

longer than a year - longer than the TKR recovery.

A few years ago, I almost couldn't take it any more, so I went to a

doctor that did a friend's knee. I asked him, " how would I know when

it is time? " He said, " you're *asking* me, so it is not time yet, You

will know when it is time, and you will *tell* me. " In the mean time,

I went through the cursory cortisone and synvisc. The cortisone helped

for a couple weeks, and the synvisc didn't do anything. One day, I

just woke up and said, " it's time " . The doc was absolutely right. I

knew. You will know. It sounds to me like you already know.

Don't kid yourself, it is not a picnic. Not that the surgery hurt all

that bad. From the day of surgery, the joints hurt less than they did

the day before surgery. The PT will hurt, but it is skin and tissue

pain, which is much easier to take than bone grinding. It will take a

year to get back right afterwards. Would I do it again? In a

heartbeat. A year out, and there is no pain in the joints. I can walk

perfectly normally, I can even run a little. They are still just a

little stiff and hurt a little along the scar when I go down steps,

but I can go down steps frontwards - not sideways!! No handrails

necessary!!

It will get worse before it gets better. They will take you off the

Aleve and aspirin a few weeks or a month before surgery. You probably

think that it is not working all that well now. That is how I felt,

taking 1500 mg of naproxen (Aleve) a day. After you are off of it, you

will learn, more and more each day, just how much good it did, and in

the end, you will think it was pretty amazing stuff.

It won't be easy, and you will have to decide for yourself. For me,

looking back, I could have toughed it out longer, and after a year, it

would have hurt even more. Or, bite the bullet and get it done and

deal with it for a little while.

Probably the biggest choice between you and the doc is whether to do

one or two at a time. I did two, and would do that again.

One question... do you know why they went so soon? Have you been

tested for lyme?

By the way, my doc says they have now improved the joints enough to

expect 25 years on them.

FWIW

Bill in Minneapolis

[Guest guest]

Kirk, I agree with the others here, it's a quality of life issue.

When the pain in my knees started to gradually creep into my

lifestyle until I was not going out due to knees, I got a

replacement.

I highly recommend you have the procedure I had, " quad sparing " MIS

from Dr. Coon in California. With " quad sparing " no quad ligaments,

tendons or muscle is cut so you don't have to go through the hard PT

to build back your muscle. I'm on lots of web groups and have found

no other doctor that does this.

His patients stay in the hospital less than 24 hours and walk out

unaided. At two weeks I had full extension and 125 degrees

flexion. I walked all over town immediately after getting home

(although the first 10 days were quite painful).

I know many people, for some reason, are driven to stay in their own

area, I'm not one of them. I find the best surgeons and go to them,

my Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance covers no matter where I go. I

had both hips resurfaced in South Carolina and I live in California.

It is so worth it for such an easier recovery. You don't have to

ever go back for check ups, people fly in from all over the US and

overseas.

Dr. Coon at http://www.osiresearch.com/default.htm , see his

interviews.

He's done over 4,000 of these procedures.

That is my doctor recommendation.

Hollie

> Guys:

>

> I have been lurking for a couple of years. This is my first

post. I

> need to know when I have to repklace the knees. My Doctor tells

me

> that 41 yrs old is to young. I take on the average 10 asperin and

8-

> 10 Aleve a day. I consider myself in fair to good shape. I work

out

> 3-4 times a week(not alot of lower body of cours). I had a scope

> done and the seurgon said I had the knees of a 65 yr old.

>

> My wife tells me I walk around like I have a full diaper. By the

> way, if anyone has good info for a Doctor/seurgon in the Midland

Mi.

> area, I'm listening. I already have Dr. , not seeing any

> improvement there. For the life of me I can not figure out what

line

> of thinking my doctor uses.

>

> I have pain when I sit, when I stand, when I walk I have aconstant

> limp. I really am getting tired of people asking me why I am

limping.

>

> I really need some advice from someone that has been thru it. All

I

> know is my life is totally turned around from all the pain. I

just

> do not do anything any more.

>

> Thanks

> Kirk

>

[Guest guest]

> I highly recommend you have the procedure I had, " quad sparing " MIS

> from Dr. Coon in California. With " quad sparing " no quad ligaments,

> tendons or muscle is cut so you don't have to go through the hard PT

> to build back your muscle. I'm on lots of web groups and have found

> no other doctor that does this.

Is this the minimally invasive procedure where they go in just to the

inside of the knee cap rather than down the center? About a 6 "

incision instead of 12 " ? Mine were the minimally invasive type like this.

Bill in Minneapolis

[Guest guest]

Yes Bill, my scar is just inside the knee cap and is about 5 " long.

It is very narrow, done with dissolving stitches, and probably won't

be able to be seen in a year.

But the biggest deal is sparing the quad muscle, ligaments and

tendons, which MIS surgery usually doesn't do. This is what makes it

possible to walk out after the 24 hour hospital stay and prevents the

quad from losing strength.

Do you know of any surgeon who does " quad sparing " ? I ask because so

many people email me about going to Dr. Coon. He developed the

procedure (quad sparing) and other docs go to him to train. He also

teaches in Europe. I'd like to know if anybody else does this and

how many they've done.

Thanks,

Hollie

>

>

> > I highly recommend you have the procedure I had, " quad sparing "

MIS

> > from Dr. Coon in California. With " quad sparing " no quad

ligaments,

> > tendons or muscle is cut so you don't have to go through the hard

PT

> > to build back your muscle. I'm on lots of web groups and have

found

> > no other doctor that does this.

>

> Is this the minimally invasive procedure where they go in just to

the

> inside of the knee cap rather than down the center? About a 6 "

> incision instead of 12 " ? Mine were the minimally invasive type like

this.

>

> Bill in Minneapolis

>

[Guest guest]

Kirk, My husband had a BTKR in July at the age of 42. We had been to

countless doctors that told us he was to young. When he finally gave

up and said I cant do this anymore I did some research online and

found a doctor about an hour away from us. At the first appointment

they took x-rays and when the doctor looked at them and asked some

questions he said the only option he had was to replace the knees.

When we told him about the other doctors he said sometimes you just

cant wait and that when the quality of life is as bad as my husbands

had become it is the only thing to do. My husband has multiple

arthritis types and one of his other doctors said he only had mild

knee issues. After the surgery the doctor told me my husbands knees

were the worst he had seen in over 20 years of doing this surgery.

It has now been 6 months and my husband is now able to do so many of

the things he was unable to do before the surgery. He thinks it was

the best thing he ever did!

-- In Joint Replacement , " koditten "

<koditten@...> wrote:

>

> Guys:

>

> I have been lurking for a couple of years. This is my first post.

I

> need to know when I have to repklace the knees. My Doctor tells me

> that 41 yrs old is to young. I take on the average 10 asperin and

8-

> 10 Aleve a day. I consider myself in fair to good shape. I work

out

> 3-4 times a week(not alot of lower body of cours). I had a scope

> done and the seurgon said I had the knees of a 65 yr old.

>

> My wife tells me I walk around like I have a full diaper. By the

> way, if anyone has good info for a Doctor/seurgon in the Midland

Mi.

> area, I'm listening. I already have Dr. , not seeing any

> improvement there. For the life of me I can not figure out what

line

> of thinking my doctor uses.

>

> I have pain when I sit, when I stand, when I walk I have aconstant

> limp. I really am getting tired of people asking me why I am

limping.

>

> I really need some advice from someone that has been thru it. All

I

> know is my life is totally turned around from all the pain. I

just

> do not do anything any more.

>

> Thanks

> Kirk

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Yes Bill, my scar is just inside the knee cap and is about 5 " long.

> It is very narrow, done with dissolving stitches, and probably won't

> be able to be seen in a year.

>

> But the biggest deal is sparing the quad muscle, ligaments and

> tendons, which MIS surgery usually doesn't do. This is what makes it

> possible to walk out after the 24 hour hospital stay and prevents the

> quad from losing strength.

>

> Do you know of any surgeon who does " quad sparing " ? I ask because so

> many people email me about going to Dr. Coon. He developed the

> procedure (quad sparing) and other docs go to him to train. He also

> teaches in Europe. I'd like to know if anybody else does this and

> how many they've done.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Hollie

Hi, Hollie.

I don't know the details and never heard the phrase " quad sparing " ,

but I remember him telling me that he expected faster recovery because

he didn't have to split the quadricep tendon like the more

conventional TKR does. It sounds to me like they are doing the same

thing. I know he does a lot of these procedures, because at my

outpatient PT, all the way across town from the hospital my surgery

was done, a good half of the TKR recipients I met were his patients.

He told me that he has done only this procedure for quite a few years

for standard TKR.

Bill in Minneapolis

[Guest guest]

Bill, how long do patients stay in hospital and can they walk

immediately after surgery?

With Dr. Coon, hospital stay is less than 24 hours and walk unaided

after surgery. Walking unaided that soon should tell you if quad

strength has been compromised.

Also, you don't have to go to Physical Therapy. You can if you want

but there is no great need to, like typical TKRs.

I had my 7 week check up today, flexion is 145, full extension, I'm

walking with good gait, he said everything was just fine and I'm

released from all restrictions.

I can now kneel, pull my foot up to my butt, anything.

Hollie

> Hi, Hollie.

>

> I don't know the details and never heard the phrase " quad sparing " ,

> but I remember him telling me that he expected faster recovery

because

> he didn't have to split the quadricep tendon like the more

> conventional TKR does. It sounds to me like they are doing the same

> thing. I know he does a lot of these procedures, because at my

> outpatient PT, all the way across town from the hospital my surgery

> was done, a good half of the TKR recipients I met were his

patients.

> He told me that he has done only this procedure for quite a few

years

> for standard TKR.

>

> Bill in Minneapolis

>

> > Yes Bill, my scar is just inside the knee cap and is about 5 "

long.

> > It is very narrow, done with dissolving stitches, and probably

won't

> > be able to be seen in a year.

> >

> > But the biggest deal is sparing the quad muscle, ligaments and

> > tendons, which MIS surgery usually doesn't do. This is what

makes it

> > possible to walk out after the 24 hour hospital stay and

prevents the

> > quad from losing strength.

> >

> > Do you know of any surgeon who does " quad sparing " ? I ask

because so

> > many people email me about going to Dr. Coon. He developed the

> > procedure (quad sparing) and other docs go to him to train. He

also

> > teaches in Europe. I'd like to know if anybody else does this

and

> > how many they've done.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Hollie

>

[Guest guest]

Well, Hollie, you did better than me. I walked the first day (I'd

guess most TKR patients do), but not unaided. It took a week before I

could, and then a few weeks of carrying crutches, (not to carry my

weight, but for balance and stability in case I started to fall).

It sounds like you had a very good doc. What kind of prosthesis do you

have that gives you 145 deg flexion? Did you do both knees at once too?

Bill

>

> Bill, how long do patients stay in hospital and can they walk

> immediately after surgery?

>

> With Dr. Coon, hospital stay is less than 24 hours and walk unaided

> after surgery. Walking unaided that soon should tell you if quad

> strength has been compromised.

>

> Also, you don't have to go to Physical Therapy. You can if you want

> but there is no great need to, like typical TKRs.

>

> I had my 7 week check up today, flexion is 145, full extension, I'm

> walking with good gait, he said everything was just fine and I'm

> released from all restrictions.

>

> I can now kneel, pull my foot up to my butt, anything.

>

> Hollie

>

> > Hi, Hollie.

> >

> > I don't know the details and never heard the phrase " quad sparing " ,

> > but I remember him telling me that he expected faster recovery

> because

> > he didn't have to split the quadricep tendon like the more

> > conventional TKR does. It sounds to me like they are doing the same

> > thing. I know he does a lot of these procedures, because at my

> > outpatient PT, all the way across town from the hospital my surgery

> > was done, a good half of the TKR recipients I met were his

> patients.

> > He told me that he has done only this procedure for quite a few

> years

> > for standard TKR.

> >

> > Bill in Minneapolis

> >

>

>

>

> > > Yes Bill, my scar is just inside the knee cap and is about 5 "

> long.

> > > It is very narrow, done with dissolving stitches, and probably

> won't

> > > be able to be seen in a year.

> > >

> > > But the biggest deal is sparing the quad muscle, ligaments and

> > > tendons, which MIS surgery usually doesn't do. This is what

> makes it

> > > possible to walk out after the 24 hour hospital stay and

> prevents the

> > > quad from losing strength.

> > >

> > > Do you know of any surgeon who does " quad sparing " ? I ask

> because so

> > > many people email me about going to Dr. Coon. He developed the

> > > procedure (quad sparing) and other docs go to him to train. He

> also

> > > teaches in Europe. I'd like to know if anybody else does this

> and

> > > how many they've done.

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > > Hollie

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I'd say he's the best knee doc I've ever heard of, and I was willing

to fly anywhere for the best procedure and surgeon.

My prosthesis has 155 degrees flexion, but I don't see how anyone

can use that much flexion...my calf pushing against my thigh

prevents pulling back further.

It's a Zimmer High Flex Gender Knee, I read these high flex designs

were initially made for people in India who need to kneel and pray

and sit on the floor a lot.

Dr. Coon won't do two knees at once, they have to be at least 6

weeks apart, no good leg to stand on otherwise. My other knee is

lacking cartilage and maybe I'll do that one around March. My

husband just had heart surgery so I'm too busy with him to get it

done now.

Husband went into hospital when I was about 3 weeks out, it's a good

thing I could walk because I had to walk a lot.

If you had both knees done at the same time no wonder you couldn't

walk unaided!

Hollie

> Well, Hollie, you did better than me. I walked the first day (I'd

> guess most TKR patients do), but not unaided. It took a week

before I

> could, and then a few weeks of carrying crutches, (not to carry my

> weight, but for balance and stability in case I started to fall).

>

> It sounds like you had a very good doc. What kind of prosthesis do

you

> have that gives you 145 deg flexion? Did you do both knees at

once too?

>

> Bill

>

>

> >

> > Bill, how long do patients stay in hospital and can they walk

> > immediately after surgery?

> >

> > With Dr. Coon, hospital stay is less than 24 hours and walk

unaided

> > after surgery. Walking unaided that soon should tell you if

quad

> > strength has been compromised.

> >

> > Also, you don't have to go to Physical Therapy. You can if you

want

> > but there is no great need to, like typical TKRs.

> >

> > I had my 7 week check up today, flexion is 145, full extension,

I'm

> > walking with good gait, he said everything was just fine and I'm

> > released from all restrictions.

> >

> > I can now kneel, pull my foot up to my butt, anything.

> >

> > Hollie

> >

> > > Hi, Hollie.

> > >

> > > I don't know the details and never heard the phrase " quad

sparing " ,

> > > but I remember him telling me that he expected faster recovery

> > because

> > > he didn't have to split the quadricep tendon like the more

> > > conventional TKR does. It sounds to me like they are doing the

same

> > > thing. I know he does a lot of these procedures, because at my

> > > outpatient PT, all the way across town from the hospital my

surgery

> > > was done, a good half of the TKR recipients I met were his

> > patients.

> > > He told me that he has done only this procedure for quite a

few

> > years

> > > for standard TKR.

> > >

> > > Bill in Minneapolis

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> > > > Yes Bill, my scar is just inside the knee cap and is about

5 "

> > long.

> > > > It is very narrow, done with dissolving stitches, and

probably

> > won't

> > > > be able to be seen in a year.

> > > >

> > > > But the biggest deal is sparing the quad muscle, ligaments

and

> > > > tendons, which MIS surgery usually doesn't do. This is what

> > makes it

> > > > possible to walk out after the 24 hour hospital stay and

> > prevents the

> > > > quad from losing strength.

> > > >

> > > > Do you know of any surgeon who does " quad sparing " ? I ask

> > because so

> > > > many people email me about going to Dr. Coon. He developed

the

> > > > procedure (quad sparing) and other docs go to him to train.

He

> > also

> > > > teaches in Europe. I'd like to know if anybody else does

this

> > and

> > > > how many they've done.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks,

> > > >

> > > > Hollie

> > >

> >

>