Re: saw ortho doctor re: TKR-he's a keeper!

[Guest guest]

So when will the surgery be, Cindy?? Be sure to let us know, OK?? Sounds

like a GREAT doctor! So glad for you in that respect! Take care now, and

know I'm thinking of you!

Love Lana 0:-)

saw ortho doctor re: TKR-he's a keeper!

Today I saw an orthopedic surgeon about my knee. I've known since last Sept

one would be needed somewhere between 3-5 yrs, if not before.....(well it's

the " if not before " option. )

An EDSer who's had two TKR's listed several items to be sure he'd keep in

mind when doing the surgery.....AND get this ++++He talked about each and

every one; from dealing with where to place the incision, to suturing, to

what alternatives he would use if certain things showed up during the

operation....such as ligaments that are shot. Plus the areas where

reconstructive work has been done are also showing significant changes. So

he may need to do some things differently, but he won't know until he gets

in what all he may need to do. -but he would be ready for things like that.

I also learned the ACL is " gone " now, but the IT Band done with a donor

tendon, is still fine! YEA! It's over 20 years now since it was done.

I left thinking .... " Is he for real? "

But all these surgeries this past year are taking a toll on me. I'm

exhausted.

CindyH

Wisc.

[Guest guest]

So when will the surgery be, Cindy?? Be sure to let us know, OK?? Sounds

like a GREAT doctor! So glad for you in that respect! Take care now, and

know I'm thinking of you!

Love Lana 0:-)

saw ortho doctor re: TKR-he's a keeper!

Today I saw an orthopedic surgeon about my knee. I've known since last Sept

one would be needed somewhere between 3-5 yrs, if not before.....(well it's

the " if not before " option. )

An EDSer who's had two TKR's listed several items to be sure he'd keep in

mind when doing the surgery.....AND get this ++++He talked about each and

every one; from dealing with where to place the incision, to suturing, to

what alternatives he would use if certain things showed up during the

operation....such as ligaments that are shot. Plus the areas where

reconstructive work has been done are also showing significant changes. So

he may need to do some things differently, but he won't know until he gets

in what all he may need to do. -but he would be ready for things like that.

I also learned the ACL is " gone " now, but the IT Band done with a donor

tendon, is still fine! YEA! It's over 20 years now since it was done.

I left thinking .... " Is he for real? "

But all these surgeries this past year are taking a toll on me. I'm

exhausted.

CindyH

Wisc.

[Guest guest]

Jill,

It's a relief to know the doctor seems up on EDS and also where the knee stands

as far as surgery goes, rather than at some future day within the next 5 years.

He mentioned synvisc, then added that when the knee is at the point mine is,

it's not very successful. Then went on to add its appropriate for where the

OTHER knee is at this time! No one had even mentioned that *little* fact!

No wonder I haven't been able to walk very far for the past two years--and am

soooo tired .

Now to see the hand surgeon Friday and find out what are his thoughts re: thumb

fusion...

He knew the knee could come up at any time, and has tried to fit the 4 thumb

surgeries in before that point...but if he wants to wait a few more months-the

knee surgery goes first, and the thumb will wait 'til '05.

What a life we live when we have EDS.

Cindy

From: Jill

Such major work! The one redeeming thing though is that you are in the hands of

someone who seems to know EDS and has worked with this before, this is good news

indeed.

You say you are exhausted, I am sure you are!!! Please hang in there!

[Guest guest]

Lana,

I'll know more after I see the hand surgeon on Friday. Like I said to Jill, if

he wants to wait a few months to do the fusion, the knee comes first.

Also we need to talk to my daughter who moved to Pennsylvania, and find out how

she'll feel if we waited until after the knee to come visit. When it would be

far easier to travel--at least I hope it would....

How long did it take Mike to recover enough to travel like that? The trip is

either to ride for 11 hours or fly....

(2 hour drive to the Milwaukee airport, one hour flight to PA, then a 2 hour

layover for a 45 min. flight to DuBois....)--not very convenient traveling is

it?

I'm relieved I know where it stands now.

At the latest, surgery will be scheduled by the end of summer...that's what the

surgeon and I agreed on. If I go ahead now--it won't be very long until it's

done...probably a couple weeks or there abouts.

It's to the point I won't make it a lot longer-I don't want to walk

anymore....the only time I get sort of comfortable is to elevate it and pack it

in ice. Of course pain meds help too. But the constant pain is wearing me

out. (besides having the other 3 surgeries this past year.

--I'll write more tomorrow off list....

Love,

CindyH

Wisc.

[Guest guest]

Lana,

I'll know more after I see the hand surgeon on Friday. Like I said to Jill, if

he wants to wait a few months to do the fusion, the knee comes first.

Also we need to talk to my daughter who moved to Pennsylvania, and find out how

she'll feel if we waited until after the knee to come visit. When it would be

far easier to travel--at least I hope it would....

How long did it take Mike to recover enough to travel like that? The trip is

either to ride for 11 hours or fly....

(2 hour drive to the Milwaukee airport, one hour flight to PA, then a 2 hour

layover for a 45 min. flight to DuBois....)--not very convenient traveling is

it?

I'm relieved I know where it stands now.

At the latest, surgery will be scheduled by the end of summer...that's what the

surgeon and I agreed on. If I go ahead now--it won't be very long until it's

done...probably a couple weeks or there abouts.

It's to the point I won't make it a lot longer-I don't want to walk

anymore....the only time I get sort of comfortable is to elevate it and pack it

in ice. Of course pain meds help too. But the constant pain is wearing me

out. (besides having the other 3 surgeries this past year.

--I'll write more tomorrow off list....

Love,

CindyH

Wisc.

[Guest guest]

Cindy, his statement about the synvisc was certainly true for Mike!! It

didn't help his first knee either, but he had waited to long. Get your bad

knee done and then when it's better, get the other one injected. Or

vise-versa.

Love Lana 0:-)

Re: saw ortho doctor re: TKR-he's a keeper!

Jill,

It's a relief to know the doctor seems up on EDS and also where the knee

stands as far as surgery goes, rather than at some future day within the

next 5 years.

He mentioned synvisc, then added that when the knee is at the point mine is,

it's not very successful. Then went on to add its appropriate for where the

OTHER knee is at this time! No one had even mentioned that *little* fact!

No wonder I haven't been able to walk very far for the past two years--and

am soooo tired .

Now to see the hand surgeon Friday and find out what are his thoughts re:

thumb fusion...

He knew the knee could come up at any time, and has tried to fit the 4 thumb

surgeries in before that point...but if he wants to wait a few more

months-the knee surgery goes first, and the thumb will wait 'til '05.

What a life we live when we have EDS.

Cindy

From: Jill

Such major work! The one redeeming thing though is that you are in the

hands of someone who seems to know EDS and has worked with this before, this

is good news indeed.

You say you are exhausted, I am sure you are!!! Please hang in there!

[Guest guest]

Cindy, his statement about the synvisc was certainly true for Mike!! It

didn't help his first knee either, but he had waited to long. Get your bad

knee done and then when it's better, get the other one injected. Or

vise-versa.

Love Lana 0:-)

Re: saw ortho doctor re: TKR-he's a keeper!

Jill,

It's a relief to know the doctor seems up on EDS and also where the knee

stands as far as surgery goes, rather than at some future day within the

next 5 years.

He mentioned synvisc, then added that when the knee is at the point mine is,

it's not very successful. Then went on to add its appropriate for where the

OTHER knee is at this time! No one had even mentioned that *little* fact!

No wonder I haven't been able to walk very far for the past two years--and

am soooo tired .

Now to see the hand surgeon Friday and find out what are his thoughts re:

thumb fusion...

He knew the knee could come up at any time, and has tried to fit the 4 thumb

surgeries in before that point...but if he wants to wait a few more

months-the knee surgery goes first, and the thumb will wait 'til '05.

What a life we live when we have EDS.

Cindy

From: Jill

Such major work! The one redeeming thing though is that you are in the

hands of someone who seems to know EDS and has worked with this before, this

is good news indeed.

You say you are exhausted, I am sure you are!!! Please hang in there!

[Guest guest]

Oh Cindy, this is awful news! Such major work! The one redeeming thing

though is that you are in the hands of someone who seems to know EDS and has

worked with this before, this is good news indeed.

You say you are exhausted, I am sure you are!!! Please hang in there!

Jill

[Guest guest]

Oh Cindy, this is awful news! Such major work! The one redeeming thing

though is that you are in the hands of someone who seems to know EDS and has

worked with this before, this is good news indeed.

You say you are exhausted, I am sure you are!!! Please hang in there!

Jill