Fwd: Time to replace the knee?

[Guest guest]

My experience is with hips and there also appear to be a few doctors

who tell people they are too young -- As just wrote, personally

I would seek out another doctor (and perhaps even another doctor).

People with bad hips and knees (at least the ones I know) don't leap

into surgery willy nilly -- generally we are experiencing pain which

severely circumscribes our ability to engage in normal life

activities. The pain continues to get worse and insidiously one starts

doing less and less -- not to mention how depressing and debilitating

it is to be in constant pain.

I don't know what " too young " means. I was " youngish " when my hip had

to be replaced 55 -- like most people (including and her knee)

I waited too long. Yes you might have to get a revision in the future

(just as I might have to get a hip revision) -- but who knows -- I

might be run over when I head across the street at lunch. In the

meantime I will have 10 or 15 or maybe more years of a " normal " life

and as just wrote -- who knows what kind of operations they

will have IF I need a revision.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: DeRouen <asd@...>

> Date: December 2, 2008 10:40:42 AM PST

> Joint Replacement

> Subject: RE: Time to replace the knee?

> Reply-Joint Replacement

>

> 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

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>