RE: Arthroscopic knee surgery

[Guest guest]

Dear Harald,

I am very glad that arthroscopic surgery has worked well for you. As you said,

just " three small needle holes " were all needed to make your knees well. I went

in to an orthopedic surgeon to have fluid drained off a swollen and very

painful knee. Just one small hole...the dr. knicked a blood vessel...the

(diseased) fluid was sent throughout my body. In a matter of 10 minutes I knew

that something was very wrong. In two weeks I was determined to be " almost

completely disabled " . Just one small needle hole.

I just advise caution to anyone who suspects a rheumatoid disease. It is well

documented that often times RA can be traced back to a " trigger " event such as

surgery.

Re: rheumatic hi

>

>Cecil,

>

>Do you really mean " knee " in the singular, and not both knees in the

>plural? If only one knee is affected, chances are that you have a

>meniscal tear. Get an X-ray, then and MRI, then arthroscopic surgery.

>You will then be as good as new.

>

>Sincerely, Harald

>

>At 07:56 AM 4/26/2008, you wrote:

>

> >have you tried cutting out nightshades, they make it worse, if its

> >really bad antibiotics are the only game in town.

> >

> >On 26 Apr 2008, at 16:41, cecil_8299 wrote:

> >

> > > im 35yrs old and i been suffering this rheumatic arthritis pain

> > > everytime the rainy season comes specially in my lower knee is there

> > > something you can advice me what to

> > > do? yours cecil

> > >

[Guest guest]

Hi, Harald!

Oh, I agree! If you do have a meniscal tear, the antibiotics won't help.

I'm glad the surgeries worked so well for you and your wife!

My mistake was in agreeing to the surgery even though the MRI was negative

for a tear. The docs just assumed it had to be a tear and made a " clinical "

diagnosis based on my symptoms. Looking back on it now, I wish I had not

postponed seeing a rheumatologist before the surgery. (I had psoriatic

arthritis for years.) I have a feeling this very thorough rheumatologist I

ended up seeing would have seen my knee in a different light. Oh, well.

So tell me, do you have RA, and are you taking the antibiotics? I'd like to

find out if anyone else has had surgery while taking the antibiotics. (I've

only been taking them about two months.) Did you have any relapse of

symptoms or flaring? Just wondering what to expect when I have my

gallbladder surgery.

Thanks!

Terri

_____

From: rheumatic [mailto:rheumatic ] On Behalf

Of Harald Weiss, Technical Marketing Group

Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 3:31 PM

rheumatic

Subject: rheumatic Arthroscopic knee surgery

Terri,

Between my wife and me, we have had three arthroscopic knee surgeries

since 2005 (via three small holes through the skin). Surgery was only

performed after an MRI had found evidence of a meniscal tear. The

surgeries did wonders. Our operated knees no longer hurt. The hardest

part for me was to get the first MRI approved when I still had an

HMO. This is because insurance companies will try to minimize their

costs. They don't like MRIs because 1) they cost money, and 2) they

may justify a medical procedure.

If the cause of knee (or shoulder pain) is a tear, no amount of

antibiotics will fix the problem.

I don't see how arthroscopic meniscal surgery could aggravate a

rheumatic condition. It can only help. Part of the arthroscopic

process is to explore a joint from the inside and diagnose what is

wrong in the first place.

Sincerely, Harald

At 03:00 PM 4/26/2008, you wrote:

[Guest guest]

Terri,

When my left knee swelled up and my rheumatologist drained more than

100 cc of fluid for the third time in 2005, he stated, " this is not

normal, " and he sent me for an X-ray. Based on the X-ray, he

misdiagnosed my condition as not being RA, but as pseudo-gout. He

started to treat that condition -- but I kept getting worse and

required more knee draining. He finally sent me for an MRI. This

showed a " major meniscal tear, " something which had not shown up on

the X-ray. This was then fixed with arthroscopic surgery, and my left

knee has been almost as good as new ever since.

Two years later, my right knee started to hurt more and more. By that

time I had PPO health insurance and went straight to the arthroscopic

surgeon. An X-ray was taken, which did not show anything conclusive

but justified an MRI. The latter then showed a meniscal tear and

related problems, all of which were then fixed with arthroscopic surgery.

My wife followed in my footsteps with increasing pain in her right

knee. Earlier this year, we went straight to the arthroscopic

surgeon. Again, an X-ray was taken, which did not shown anything

conclusive but justified an MRI. The latter then showed a meniscal

tear and related problems, all of which were then fixed with

arthroscopic surgery.

During most of 2005, I was still on the Minocin, but then decided to

get off. The reason is that one of the possible side effect of

Minocin is thyroid tumors, which can be cancerous -- and were in my

case. I don't know if the Minocin was the cause, but I am no taking

any more chances.

In December 2005, a new rheumatologist (my third) correctly diagnosed

my rheumatic condition as polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), which

produces pain in major joints plus muscle pain. I supposedly also

have " degenerative joint disease, " which explains problems like

meniscal tears. I just turned 66. I have now have had arthroscopic

surgery in both knees and in my left shoulder. By the way, PMR can be

sent into remission with low doses of Prednisone. This worked for me.

I am mostly doing fine now, but my pain joint resumes one day before

any rain or if I ever eat beef.

I am currently taking food supplements including six fish oil

capsules per day. My only medicine is half of an Alieve twice a day,

always with food, plus a thyroid hormone replacement pill each morning.

Sincerely, Harald

At 06:10 PM 4/27/2008, you wrote:

>Hi, Harald!

>

>Oh, I agree! If you do have a meniscal tear, the antibiotics won't help.

>I'm glad the surgeries worked so well for you and your wife!

>

>My mistake was in agreeing to the surgery even though the MRI was negative

>for a tear. The docs just assumed it had to be a tear and made a " clinical "

>diagnosis based on my symptoms. Looking back on it now, I wish I had not

>postponed seeing a rheumatologist before the surgery. (I had psoriatic

>arthritis for years.) I have a feeling this very thorough rheumatologist I

>ended up seeing would have seen my knee in a different light. Oh, well.

>

>So tell me, do you have RA, and are you taking the antibiotics? I'd like to

>find out if anyone else has had surgery while taking the antibiotics. (I've

>only been taking them about two months.) Did you have any relapse of

>symptoms or flaring? Just wondering what to expect when I have my

>gallbladder surgery.

>

>Thanks!

>

>Terri

>

>_____

>

>From: <mailto:rheumatic%40>rheumatic

>[mailto:rheumatic ] On Behalf

>Of Harald Weiss, Technical Marketing Group

>Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 3:31 PM

><mailto:rheumatic%40>rheumatic

>Subject: rheumatic Arthroscopic knee surgery

>

>Terri,

>

>Between my wife and me, we have had three arthroscopic knee surgeries

>since 2005 (via three small holes through the skin). Surgery was only

>performed after an MRI had found evidence of a meniscal tear. The

>surgeries did wonders. Our operated knees no longer hurt. The hardest

>part for me was to get the first MRI approved when I still had an

>HMO. This is because insurance companies will try to minimize their

>costs. They don't like MRIs because 1) they cost money, and 2) they

>may justify a medical procedure.

>

>If the cause of knee (or shoulder pain) is a tear, no amount of

>antibiotics will fix the problem.

>

>I don't see how arthroscopic meniscal surgery could aggravate a

>rheumatic condition. It can only help. Part of the arthroscopic

>process is to explore a joint from the inside and diagnose what is

>wrong in the first place.

>

>Sincerely, Harald

>

[Guest guest]

Ellen,

Well I am not going to tell you my story to discourage you but to inform you

that you need to research all you can. I had arthroscopic knee surgery on both

knees 6 years ago, 4 months apart. I continued to get worse and 6 years later I

am not back to work and I had to have 5 more operations. Now I know I am not the

norm because I know many people who were fine within a few months. I had my last

operation in Dec 08 and now I am having aggressive pt in order to regain some of

my strength. The problem is the MRI's only show so much and it's not until they

get in there will the get a clear picture of what's wrong. I hope you will be

pain free and back to work within 2-3 weeks that is problem the norm. Just ask a

lot of questions. Do your research. And don't get discourage even though it

might seem hard not to.

If you need to ask me more about what I went through you can email me direct.

Tara

arthroscopic knee surgery

Hello,

I am new to the group and have been reading the posts. I have a question that I

was hoping to get some of your valuable insight. I began having trouble going

upstairs, had an MRI and x-rays which showed chondromalacia and a cyst. A days

after I had the MRI I was walking while on vacation and suddenly found it very

difficult to walk without pain. I went to a orthopedic surgeon who sent me for

PT. The only benefit of going to PT was that they repositioned my patella with

tape. I went for a second oppinion and started the series of 3 orthovisc

injections. The first injection included cortizone and I felt better for 3

days. Now I feel just as bad as I did before the injections. I am now

scheduled for orthoscopic knee surgery. My doctor says that I can return to

work as soon as I am up to it. I teach first grade. The surgery scheduler said

most people are off for 2-3 weeks. Can you let me know how long any of you

were off work and what I can expect?

Thanks!

Ellen

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome Ellen! I've had problems walking without pain for a long time

now. I've had the arthroscopic surgeries (multiple on both knees) and have

had the right knee re-aligned. PT used to help but doesn't anymore. I've

also had my knees taped, braced, had orthotics, and supartz injections

(similar to what you are getting). The reason the first injection helped was

due to the cortisone. To know if the other stuff is working, you'll need at

least three series of shots, but there is no guarantee that they work. They

do work for some people, but not for all. Are you on your feet a lot as a

teacher? If so, it'll likely be at least a couple weeks before you consider

going back to work. I'd wait until summer vacation! I had the arthroscopic

surgery on both knees two years ago and will likely never have it done

again. I have noticed as I get older it's much harder to get past it (you

didn't mention your age) and recover to have better knees...at least this is

true for me. I work at a desk and was home for one full week and most of the

second week then part of the third week. I was able to do quite a bit of

work from home, so that was good because I'm the only person that does what

I do at work!

You can expect swelling and pain. You'll likely get meds for both. I had to

use the crutches for longer than my neighbor did...she just had her knee

reconstructed...she tore her acl, mcl, and had a tear in her meniscus. She

was on crutches for almost two weeks: one full week and the second week when

she left the house. She also had CPM so her range of motion is much better

than mine is even now. Ask a LOT of questions and get a second opinion.

Joi

arthroscopic knee surgery

Hello,

I am new to the group and have been reading the posts. I have a question

that I was hoping to get some of your valuable insight. I began having

trouble going upstairs, had an MRI and x-rays which showed chondromalacia

and a cyst. A days after I had the MRI I was walking while on vacation and

suddenly found it very difficult to walk without pain. I went to a

orthopedic surgeon who sent me for PT. The only benefit of going to PT was

that they repositioned my patella with tape. I went for a second oppinion

and started the series of 3 orthovisc injections. The first injection

included cortizone and I felt better for 3 days. Now I feel just as bad as

I did before the injections. I am now scheduled for orthoscopic knee

surgery. My doctor says that I can return to work as soon as I am up to it.

I teach first grade. The surgery scheduler said most people are off for 2-3

weeks. Can you let me know how long any of you were off work and what I

can expect?

Thanks!

Ellen

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