Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Thanks Mama-Sher! I need all the advice I can get on this one. And hearing about other folks surgeries, or choices not to have surgery, are a big help to me in my consideration of what to do. A friend sent me graphic pics of her friends surgery and recovery. Ewwwwww! It looked very painful and the scars afterward seem to be rather horrid. I'm not a vain person anymore. All my diseases have wiped that issue from my concerns, but the scars do seem very harsh. Now that Rich has made it through the whole shebang, how does he feel about it? Is he glad he did it? Would he do it again if he knew then what he knows now? Do his new knees work well? I'm in a quandry. My knees are pathetic, but still functional in my ability to move around. I can't do stairs at all, or just a few at a time. We have graduated stairs to the house, 4 steps total, and 3 to our office, which Chaz built as big as he could to accommodate me. The cracking and popping is constant. I doubt there's much synovial fluid left at all. I can't bend over, and to squat would be a joke. I would just fall over. Weebles wobble and then they fall down! Yup, I'm in a quandry. I'm not usually so indecisive but those pics really did a number on my head! LOL!! I'm 47, and still in ok health. Maybe this is the time to do it and not 10 years from now (if my lungs hang in there that long) when I may be in worse health? aaarrrrgghhhhh, such confusion....brain melt.....LOL! My sister works for a physical therapist so I know I would receive a good rehabilitation. I appreciate your candid response. And give my best wishes to your husband. Bless his heart for hanging in there and toughing it out. Big hugs! Babs in Texas > > > > > > > > > > Zena, > > > > > I know you won't see this for a bit because of the time > > > difference but > > > > I was wondering if you could share with me what kinds of > symptoms > > > you > > > > have/had from the dermatomyositis? How was it diagnosed? My > doctor > > > is > > > > planning a biopsy of the rash and blistering on my hands but I'm > > > having > > > > alot more fatigue recently and some muscle and joint pain. I was > > > > wondering if you had those kinds of symptoms? > > > > > Anything you'd care to share I would greatly appreciate. I > feel > > > like > > > > my body is revolting against me. LOL > > > > > > > > > > Beth in NC age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 My ex father in law had two knee replacements. One was years ago (1991 or so) and all techniques so not too well. But the latest was in 1997 and it went incredibly well. He was walking so much better so quickly. However, there is a lot of rehab. So, I'd say the bigger issues are how can your body take surgery and are you able to do all the rehab required. But, they now start artifically exercising the knee immediately and the science has really advanced. > > > > > > > > > > > > Zena, > > > > > > I know you won't see this for a bit because of the time > > > > difference but > > > > > I was wondering if you could share with me what kinds of > > symptoms > > > > you > > > > > have/had from the dermatomyositis? How was it diagnosed? My > > doctor > > > > is > > > > > planning a biopsy of the rash and blistering on my hands but I'm > > > > having > > > > > alot more fatigue recently and some muscle and joint pain. I was > > > > > wondering if you had those kinds of symptoms? > > > > > > Anything you'd care to share I would greatly appreciate. I > > feel > > > > like > > > > > my body is revolting against me. LOL > > > > > > > > > > > > Beth in NC age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Barbara...The surgery itself is not painful at all according to Rich. Scars: Use Vitamin E, up and down and all around. It is a great healer. His scars barely show. Truly. We started right away. He says he is glad he did it. "I can walk with no PAIN!" He says. He is an avid golfer and can hardly wait to hit the greens. He would do it again, tomorrow! His knees are working very well. A little stiff, it's only been a few months yet but again...you have to stick to the rehab faithfully! Most people can't or won't do it. Only you can make that decision. Ahhhh, forget about the pictures. You are going to see anything anyway. lol Good luck on decision making. Mama-Sher, 69; IPF, 3-06, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Re: Mama-Sher/knees Thanks Mama-Sher! I need all the advice I can get on this one. Andhearing about other folks surgeries, or choices not to have surgery,are a big help to me in my consideration of what to do.A friend sent me graphic pics of her friends surgery and recovery.Ewwwwww! It looked very painful and the scars afterward seem to berather horrid. I'm not a vain person anymore. All my diseases havewiped that issue from my concerns, but the scars do seem very harsh.Now that Rich has made it through the whole shebang, how does he feelabout it? Is he glad he did it? Would he do it again if he knew thenwhat he knows now? Do his new knees work well?I'm in a quandry. My knees are pathetic, but still functional in myability to move around. I can't do stairs at all, or just a few at atime. We have graduated stairs to the house, 4 steps total, and 3 toour office, which Chaz built as big as he could to accommodate me.The cracking and popping is constant. I doubt there's much synovialfluid left at all. I can't bend over, and to squat would be a joke. Iwould just fall over. Weebles wobble and then they fall down! Yup, I'min a quandry. I'm not usually so indecisive but those pics really dida number on my head! LOL!!I'm 47, and still in ok health. Maybe this is the time to do it andnot 10 years from now (if my lungs hang in there that long) when I maybe in worse health? aaarrrrgghhhhh, such confusion....brainmelt.....LOL! My sister works for a physical therapist so I know Iwould receive a good rehabilitation.I appreciate your candid response. And give my best wishes to yourhusband. Bless his heart for hanging in there and toughing it out.Big hugs!Babs in Texas> > > > >> > > > > Zena,> > > > > I know you won't see this for a bit because of the time> > > difference but> > > > I was wondering if you could share with me what kinds of > symptoms> > > you> > > > have/had from the dermatomyositis? How was it diagnosed? My > doctor> > > is> > > > planning a biopsy of the rash and blistering on my hands but I'm> > > having> > > > alot more fatigue recently and some muscle and joint pain. I was> > > > wondering if you had those kinds of symptoms?> > > > > Anything you'd care to share I would greatly appreciate. I > feel> > > like> > > > my body is revolting against me. LOL> > > > >> > > > > Beth in NC age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06> > > > >> > > >> > >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Meant to say old techniques in 1991. But went great in 1997 and even better now I'm sure. This is one thing we have to thank sports for is all the arthroscopic surgeries and then things like knee replacements. Athletes were the ones willing to pay doctors like Dr. s in Birmingham and Jobe in LA to develop the techniques. Of course the emphasis was getting back on the field. And, while knee replacement didn't directly come there, it did indirectly as did the rehab techniques. I think in orthopedic surgery we would be far behind where we are if it were not for sports medicine. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Zena, > > > > > > > I know you won't see this for a bit because of the time > > > > > difference but > > > > > > I was wondering if you could share with me what kinds of > > > symptoms > > > > > you > > > > > > have/had from the dermatomyositis? How was it diagnosed? > My > > > doctor > > > > > is > > > > > > planning a biopsy of the rash and blistering on my hands > but I'm > > > > > having > > > > > > alot more fatigue recently and some muscle and joint > pain. I was > > > > > > wondering if you had those kinds of symptoms? > > > > > > > Anything you'd care to share I would greatly > appreciate. I > > > feel > > > > > like > > > > > > my body is revolting against me. LOL > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Beth in NC age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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