Re: Re: joint replacement.

[Guest guest]

Hi Fil,

To ancer your questions. There are some simpel things I find diffecult,

especailt sence I'm right handed.

For enstance lifting a pot of water, pooring frome a tea pot and lifting.

I have days where the pain is really bad. I have maybe two or tree weeks

wher the pain isn't as bad.

That's why I'm not sure if I need to do it.

Thanks for that information. I'll mention it to my doctor, when I seehim in

November.

Take care,

Diane

----- Original Message -----

From: " philmcp " <philmcp@...>

<Rheumatoid Arthritis >

Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 11:14 PM

Subject: Re: oint replacement.

> Hi Diane,

>

> Let me ask you a few questions about your elbow.

> Is it just painful to move?

> Has it decreased your range of motion to the point where it's

> difficult to do common tasks?

> Or is it a combination of the two?

>

> Because my doctor at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN has discussed

> a procedure with me that involves placing a donor Achilles tendon

> into the joint to act as artificial cartilage. They also do some

> joint resurfacing at the same time to get rid of any bone spurs that

> you may have.

>

> He said that this procedure is mostly for pain, but people do get an

> increase in their range of motion as well. The advantage of going

> for this surgery instead of joint replacement is you don't have the

> limitations placed on you that comes with a total elbow. When you

> go see the surgeon, be sure to ask him/her what you will not be able

> to do anymore with the total elbow and see if it's worth it or not.

>

> The procedure that my doctor at Mayo told me about is called:

> " Arthroplasty with tendon interposition "

>

> You won't find much information on this as it's not a very common

> procedure. At least that's what they told me at Mayo.

>

> Good Luck,

>

> Phil

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