It's something I'm probably going to have to address .....already went for xrays and a consultation as to choices . Basically , I'm told , any of the various injections don't work long term . Some are more effective than others .
I didn't play much football or hockey back in the day to cause damage .....actually I pitched fastball until I was 42 and never sustained injury . It's just wear and tear I guess . My fear now is that favouring the sore knee puts more pressure on the good knee ....that and being about 40 pounds overweight for my height . I used to do a lot of walking up until last year and really miss the feeling I got from a 4 or 5 km walk every day . No can do these days ,........good for about 2 blocks !
So , c'mon , what is the good and the bad ?
Thanks , T
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To Err is human ....to blame someone else is Management Material !
I am facing the same future.. Hope I croak before I need that scooter.. I need two knees and have serious degeneration of my ankle bones .. I have had my ankles opened and some bone smoothed and Cortisone in jected into my ankles for the second time a month ago.. First time only lasted a couple weeks , this last one seems to be working pretty good.. I am a little like you except I am about ........ this much to fat also.. I used to run five miles every day weighed in around 185 until I blew out my knees and could not run, walk, or have sex and more.. I had several injections in my knees.. I have postponed knee replacement on two occasions for issues with my wife .. Although I was a big chicken so any excuse to postpone was OK by me.. but now that they are getting much worse and I have a wobble walk.. I have heard good and bad and I am a chicken chit .. What will it solve??? 2 bad knees, 2 bad ankles, no hair, pot belly, high blood pressure , almost out of money, getting uglier every day, and to-day an abscessed front tooth going tomorrow at 8:30 am to have that removed. That will leave about 10 teeth in my mouth and I am watching the CTC flyer for a sale on a blender to make my meals in the future..Hell by the time I have all these parts replaced there won't be much left on me..I think I may have to have the knees done pretty soon as I have to hold my wallet in my hand so it won't fall out of my pocket when I am wobbling along.. I am gratefull they shopping carts in the big stores I can always find a walker..
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There is no elevator to success — you have to take the stairs.
TJ,
I have two new hips…lots of hockey, football, MC racing and dirt biking etc., It is, singularly, THE best thing Ive ever done. I have mobility back. BUT, you HAVE to do the rehab religiously!!!!! If not you will not reap the rewards. I have one that's not so good but that's another day.
My better half had both knees done due to arthritis. She can out walk most of her friends and is glad she had it done. Drawbacks.......it was very painful for the first three months, one of her problems was that the knees were so deteriorated, when they replaced them she was almost an inch taller, and her ankles and feet had issues since they straightened her legs, from a bit bowed out. This caused more pain as she had to retrain and stretch the muscles and tendons to the new angle of her legs to feet. The other issue was that after they move all the nerves around to put the knee knuckle in, she could not and still can't tell where her feet are when going up and down stairs. But they said that was an unusual circumstance. Once she got past the first three months she has not looked back and can walk the Nationals with the best of them.........Last year we walked London UK for 14 hours straight..........so you know that is something, and no cane or help either.
The last issue, a key one for Canada is that the stainless pieces have to be protected from the cold, when the metal gets cold it is hard to get comfortable. but a small price to pay for being able to walk..............
I don't think you would want them both done at once. I also don't think they would do them both. I know I started on a quest to get my knee done almost three years ago. What a joke that has been. I waited for almost nine months for an appointment for a MRI on my knee that's just the appointment. Another 4 months for the MRI. Then the same roller coaster ride to see the surgeon. I finally get in to see him,I asked him what them MRI showed him he said I didn't look at the MRI. He said I can see the problem on the X ray. So I spent 12 months for nothing. He said I don't think you are ready yet. He then asked what about the other knee because it's worse then the one I'm complaining about. I can only walk short a distance, I couldn't walk the nationals. I have heard that the first month or so is real painful
Hi Terry, I work for a healthcare company that maunufactures knee, hip & spine joints, parts and surgery equipment and I can tell you they will not do both at the same time. They will pick the worst of the two first. Also, be sure to ask the doctor what his brand of choice is. Like cars, quality varies by manufacturer...and regardless of what he tells you, the implants and parts are not all created equal. Like Wayne said, the key to success and a quicker recovery is daily rehab. Cheers, Terry
I wasn't planning to have both knees done , infact my right knee is in good shape now . But last year when I was preparing for another operation , a nurse told me she had both her knees done at the same time . Now she was in her late 30's , early 40's I would guess and must have had someone to carry her around the house for a couple of months . But she seemed happy with the ordeal and showed absolutely no signs of walking problems when she was dealing with me .
If I do this , I'm hoping for genuine Ford parts
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To Err is human ....to blame someone else is Management Material !
My dad had both of his done. He should have asked what brand they were putting in as his seemed loose in the joint, they clunked like an old tie-rod end. He wasn't happy with his. I guy I used to work with had one of his knees done and he had great success, very little pain and much improved mobility.
I know of several people that have had them done. Like others have said, torture for a few months and then life is great again. Do the physio. You may have some restricted movement but walking will be fine. I curl against some of them. Instead of getting down in the hack they use a stick but at being close to 80 and still curling well, I guess we can give that to you. Highly recommend it for sure.
That's the part that scares the crap our of me... I don't do pain .. I remember taking my wife in for a hip replacement.. I was with her in the waiting area before they took her into the operating theatre and I will never forget while I was waiting with her... I heard this guy screaming some place down the hall and I asked one of the nurses what was going on as, he was really screaming !!!! The nurse said it was a guy just coming around from the anesthetic from a having a knee replacement.. I will never forget that blood curdling scream..scared the be-jeepers out of me.. I am going to keep these knees for as long as I can.. I know another girl who had them done and she says her knees get really cold in the winter because of the stainless steel in her knees.. I don't know but I can tell you it scares me. Guess I am kind of a chicken..
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There is no elevator to success — you have to take the stairs.
I would agree with you here about the pain. However there are some really good drugs available to over come that part. I have a son that is/will be on pain pills for life. As well my wife just had some "minor" surgery and she is feeling no pain as well. These are not the over the counter variety though.
My understanding is that once you get over the oh no part of having this done and accept it the rest is easy. But easy for me to say, I am on the outside looking in. The choice has to be right for you.
Went and talked to my favourite aunt and uncle yesterday . They have outlived my other relatives , are in their 90's now ...!! ......and both have had knee replacements . My uncle had both done about 25 years ago ( 1 year apart ) and my aunt had just the one done about 15 years ago . Both stressed the need for doing the prescribed exercises faithfully so I'm hearing much the same from everyone . Think I'll make an appointment with my GP next week to get the ball rolling .
Thanks for the comments , all , they mean a lot to me .
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To Err is human ....to blame someone else is Management Material !
I will wait for you to have it done and maybe come visit you so, I can look you in the eye when you tell me there was not much pain. I can tell if your lying or not..
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There is no elevator to success — you have to take the stairs.
Pain is a given for this but the laparoscopic surgery I had last year for a kidney issue was no walk in the park either . It sure beat being sliced open though ! The morphine at the hospital was great stuff but they wean you quickly and then you go to percocets for while . I know I dropped a plethora of F-bombs for a few weeks , once back home ,but at no one in particular and certainly not my dear wife . What would be even worse would be continued deterioration of the knee and probable issues with the other knee as well as hips . Geez I love retirement !??
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To Err is human ....to blame someone else is Management Material !
They were done about a year apart..........it took that long to get her in.............
As I said earlier, she says she would go through it all again, as it means so much to her to be mobile.......... the daily exercise should start before the surgery, the stronger you are the easier the recovery. good luck and pm me if you wish to talk to her in person
nobody else is saying this but, i know 2 people who have had problems with new knees be it for whatever reason. both 70ish and not in too bad of shape for their age. i also know way more who have had no problems at all and are happy. most say they should of done it earlier. i believe that there is probably a big difference in the quality of some over another. a buddy went through getting a sh!tty hip put in and it was a big time pain in the ass for about 3 yrs with lawyers involved. he got a new one and some sort of a settlement but says it wasn't worth the hassle. it told him the cheque obviously wasn't big enough, lol. its a crap shoot with the odd's big time in your favor of good with no problems. i am on my 3rd hip on the left side. the first 2 were within 2 years as the bone re-grew. i had an accident and smashed it up real bad and was in the hospital for a total of six months throughout the first year. the last one has been in for 12-13 years and they figure another 2 or 3 before probably my last one. the physio after is important for sure. the pain you are in now is probably way worse than any you will feel after with the meds they use today. a side note, when i went in for the last one they gave me a happy pill a couple of hours prior and when it was my turn on the op table they actually thought i was going to walk in on crutch's and get on it. "lady if you think i am getting up and walking in there and climbing up on that table with nothing but a happy grin on my face, we have a problem. i will be on one of these beds and sound asleep before i go in." that didn't take long for the zzzzz's to start. lol
anyway terry you will be ok. you just have the pre-op jitters and that's natural. you should do some really stupid stuff on that knee for a day or two and when the pain gets to a certain point you won't be long getting in there. its pain at this age X or pain for some years to come at year Z. do the math and it won't be long till your doing your 5k's again. rick
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"if you are not the lead dog, the view is all the same"
First doctor I consulted with told me not to come back till I was in a wheel chair due to my "young age" and activity level and vocation nothing could be done , at this point I had lost 2 '' in height ,was bowlegged as hell was having difficulty with my other knee and lower back and hips , I was actually becoming a liability at work putting my subordinates at risk safety wise . I was fortunate enough to get a consult @ London university Hospital , Arthritis Clinic , between consult and surgery was 4-5 months , 4 months convalescence and physio then back to work . That was almost 3 years ago , since then I am painfree , I have regained my height less normal bone compression (nearly 60 yrs abuse ), My hips and lower back are no longer hurting my other knee has straightened and is relatively painfree . I'm now able to do everything I could before except run , I can cycle , get up and down off the ground/floor , climb ladders , kneel etc . The only negative at this point is it does get SOME cold . Most definately has improved my life to the end of my time on this earth wish the hell I could have done it 5 years sooner, Kudos to the surgeons and support staff , job well done
First doctor I consulted with told me not to come back till I was in a wheel chair due to my "young age" and activity level and vocation nothing could be done , at this point I had lost 2 '' in height ,was bowlegged as hell was having difficulty with my other knee and lower back and hips , I was actually becoming a liability at work putting my subordinates at risk safety wise . I was fortunate enough to get a consult @ London university Hospital , Arthritis Clinic , between consult and surgery was 4-5 months , 4 months convalescence and physio then back to work . That was almost 3 years ago , since then I am painfree , I have regained my height less normal bone compression (nearly 60 yrs abuse ), My hips and lower back are no longer hurting my other knee has straightened and is relatively painfree . I'm now able to do everything I could before except run , I can cycle , get up and down off the ground/floor , climb ladders , kneel etc . The only negative at this point is it does get SOME cold . Most definately has improved my life to the end of my time on this earth wish the hell I could have done it 5 years sooner, Kudos to the surgeons and support staff , job well done
Larry ( Grumpy 50 )
The surgeon in Strathroy told me that I wasn't ready yet. That was about two years ago. It's time to go see him again. I'm tired of the pain i my knee and hips
I was waiting for 1 1/2 years for that consult- the day after I got home from my surgery his office called with a app't another 6 mos out . Needless to say I was more than happy to tell him to bugger off.
I was waiting for 1 1/2 years for that consult- the day after I got home from my surgery his office called with a app't another 6 mos out . Needless to say I was more than happy to tell him to bugger off.
Larry (Grumpy 50 )
Was this the guy in Strathroy?
I was about that long to get in to see him for him to say you're not ready
Oh and I ment to say those chickens were too short not tall sorry my mistake
Yeah that was the guy( Strathroy ) - he was to be the 2nd opinion but was way too slow for the initial consult , I had an opportunity to be seen by the folks at UH and the rest is history
In Strathroy, this summer, more than half of patients had been waiting more than 445 days for a new hip and 382 days for a new knee.
But while residents in the London region wait, often with pain and limits in mobility, many who seek care in Toronto are taking the express lane to surgery, with average waits there typically fewer than 80 days.
I think there is a lot more things happening in Toronto with special stuff. My daughter-in-law just had some invasive surgery in Toronto She had been waiting here in London/ Stratford for 3 years now and still had no confirmed date.. They found some Dr on the internet in To and got an appointment on their own and she just had the operation last week.. They had to make several trips over about 5 months and she will need to return every 6 weeks for, maybe up to one year for them to monitor her.. She still has never heard from any hospital of Dr yet from this area.. Could be they just have better access to more Drs better equipment and operating rooms.. Maybe just more Dr's, surgeons attracted to the big smoke because of international airport, more elitist liberal lifestyle and culture..I must be getting old . I dread driving through Toronto. I feel a huge weight lifted after I am trough Toronto.. Thats another subject.
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There is no elevator to success — you have to take the stairs.
One of my cousin's in Indiana had his knee done a couple years back. Highschool/College football, Military, Cop......he pretty much destroyed it by the time he was 40.
He went to a clinic down there that just does knees. Said when he woke up after the operation they already had a contraption attached to his upper and lower leg. This device was slowly moving his new knee through a gentle range of motion.
The purpose was to keep the muscles, tendons and so on from shrinking.
As the recovery progressed the range of motion was increased. He said it was the cat's azz. Never looked back and is contemplating the other one now.
. I used to do a lot of walking up until last year and really miss the feeling I got from a 4 or 5 km walk every day . No can do these days ,........good for about 2 blocks ! 
