Knees

June 18, 2003

Donna,

Our Arthritis Board just had a forum with several doctors regarding all types of

surgery and joints.

I am not sure of your age. The surgery in the past for knee replacement used to

entail large incisions and recoup time. They are now doing replacements with

much smaller incisions, less damage to muscle and faster recoup time. Check out

all your options before going under the knife!

I've had to go on bursts of prednisone and feel that they are the lesser of the

evils that my body has endured. Long term is nasty but if a burst can get you

from damanging those joints I feel it is worth it.

Nanc

June 18, 2003

Hi;

I just had a synovectomy done on my knee by an orthopedic surgeon. I

was going for physiotherapy at the hospital and met a lot of people

with knee replacements and they are the happiest people I have ever

met! Even though they just had their surgery done they are

enthusiastic about their exercises and recovery.

Good luck if you have a replacement!

Kerren

June 19, 2003

Thanks, Nanc!

I am 58 (hard to believe!! My mind is still 30-something) and my

rheumy said I would probably outlive my new knees. I will certianly

check into all the options -- and get a referral to the Mayo Clinic

for the cutting. It is nearby and I would feel better about the

procedure being done there.

Think I will take that Prednisone burst. You're right about the

benefits of such a short treatment.

Thanks again,

Donna

June 19, 2003

In a message dated 6/19/2003 9:07:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

kasann2000@... writes:

> Hi;

>

> I just had a synovectomy done on my knee by an orthopedic surgeon. I

> was going for physiotherapy at the hospital and met a lot of people

> with knee replacements and they are the happiest people I have ever

> met! Even though they just had their surgery done they are

> enthusiastic about their exercises and recovery.

>

> Good luck if you have a replacement!

>

I wish I was one of those people. I had a knee replacement in september and

have had pain in the knee ever since. I keep having it x-rayed and the doctor

tells me everything looks good. The last few weeks now I am having sharp

pain shooting in the knee and I have another appt next week with the ortho. He

is a well known doctor and people flock to him from all over. He has a

outstanding reputation. I hope I get answers next week. I don't know if I can

have

an MRI since there is metal in there.

Janet

June 19, 2003

Can't speak for after the replacement... but I was just told that my knees

will never improve until after both are replaced... I said, yea, does that mean

I will be able to walk again? Rhuemy got kinda quiet and said... well,,,

then we'll have to take look at what's really going on in your hips and spine...

Whee... so why am I signing up to have these two little joints replaced again?

June 20, 2003

That's what they told me too. I had been having a lot of trouble with my

knees, especially my right one and it took the orthopedist a year to talk me

into a replacement. My last statement to both the surgeon and the rheumy

before surgery was I hope it is mechanical and not my basic disease. When

the operation was done the surgeon said that that was the most inflamed knee

he had ever seen but the cartledge was in ok shape except for an area the

size of a pea. He had even looked inside the joint before. The operation

set of the PA even more and I don't think I am out of the flare from that

even though it was 5 years ago. My knee didn't improve until I went on

Enbrel 2 years later. Many people have had good results with joint

replacement but I really have not. Anne

June 20, 2003

In a message dated 6/20/2003 1:03:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

annemills@... writes:

> The operation

> set of the PA even more and I don't think I am out of the flare from that

> even though it was 5 years ago. My knee didn't improve until I went on

> Enbrel 2 years later. Many people have had good results with joint

> replacement but I really have not. Anne

Anne,

That is exactly the same with me. I have a feeling that us with PA will not

benefit from knee replacement like others. I thought that in September when I

had the replacement that my knee pain would end. In January when I still had

a great deal of pain the ortho was surprised and then I was finally diagnosed

with PA. The surgery has put me in the worst flare I have ever had and I

started Enbrel close to 3 months ago. Still in pain.

Janet

June 21, 2003

Hi Donna,

I had both double hip & double knee replacements between June 30, 1998, and

September 25, 1998, at the age of 55. Then, four months past before I could

climb a

flight of stairs. After the operations, the pain in my hips and knees

disappeared, but

the PA spread to my upper body. After using prednisone for many years, I

stopped

taking that drug in September 2002 because it gave me diabetes, and

osteoporosis;

plus it led me to have two surgeries on my parathyroid glands. Now I am

receiving

Remicade infusions every six weeks with good results; plus I am walking

outside with only a four prong cane.

Sincerely,

Reid in Washington DC

February 21, 2008

Sandy,

Do you have any idea what is going on with your knees? How long have

you had knee problems? I can relate. I used to jump horses

competively and had some serious crashes. I've had 8 knee surgeries.

My last 2 surgeries, my surgeon screwed my knees up so much worse that

I now need total replacements. But, I'm too young, so I have to

suffer for now. We just bought our 1st 2 story house. What a

mistake!! I hardly ever go upstairs. It's too hard. We are moving

back to Phoenix into our 1 story house....YEAH!!! I have been advised

to sue my knee surgeon, but I've been too sick to deal with it.

Knee pain sucks. I don't think most people realize how much it can

negatively effect your life. Can you get a cortisone shot? What about

accupuncture? Accupuncture has really helped me. I stopped doing it

though because when I do have the needles put into my knees, the pain

is almost unbearable.

I wish you the best! Please let us know what the Dr. says.....

February 21, 2008