SHOULD I OR SHOULDN'T I ??????

Hi Everyone, First I would like to say Congratulations to all my fellow February Friends!!! I am almost at my year anniversary and I have lost 210 pounds, my skin is saging mostly my arms and legs. I try my best to exercize but it's difficult due to my knee pain. Please see my profile for the history. I am 41 years old and will be 42 in April. I am a past semi-pro athlete for fast pitch softball and have been suffering from extreme knee pain for 8 years. My mom who passed away a year and half ago suddenly also had bad knees. I had laporscopic surgery on them one at a time first one 2001 and the other 2 years ago. Even with all that weight gone they are still agony and I can't do anything, I use the eletric scooter in the stores and at home to cook for my family I use a chair in the kitchen. My kids are wonderful they help some but there is still so much I want to do but just physically can't. My question to you all is my Orthapedist refered me to a Joint Replacement Surgeon and he says I need to get them replaced!!!!! I have had several orthopedics tell me that over the years... I am young and it's normally done to people over 55 or so. They wear out in 20-25 years so what do I do?? I feel so much better with the weight loss but still can't do anything because of my knees. I don't want to miss anymore of my kids baseball or softball games or anything they are growing up so fast anyway I can't beleive they will both be in High School in August one will be a Junior and one a Freshman. I have missed alot over the past few years and I haven't worked for 2 years and I am very scared to have it done and only one at a time so it will be some time before I do the other one. My mom had alot of problems when she did hers and she thought she got Lupus from them and other surgeries?? I have had 6 surgeries in the last 6 years is it to much?? It's a long recovery road ahead and I am just getting over this surgery Gastric Bypass almost a year ago If anyone has any advise please let me know.. I am nervous Thanks so much, Jill

Jill, I have a dear friend in her early 50s with similar cir****tances. She finally told her doctor that she didn't have a life with so much knee pain and wanted the replacement done NOW!!! She had it done a year ago and has no complaints. Very glad she did it. Her theory was it was worth going thru the surgery now and then again in 20 to 25 years again because it gave her ability to do things now instead of being on the sidelines for many more years and still in pain. You and your surgeon are the only ones that can decide if the surgery is doable for you and if it is safe for you to have it done now too. Weigh the pros and cons of having the surgery ... kind of like we all did before having WLS. I did my surgery to improve my health and the WLS sure has done that for me. Would having the knee surgery done improve your health and quality of life? (no need to answer, just throwing it out there). Mary

Thanks Mary your coment's are always helpful being only 41 is young but the benifits definetly outweigh it. Wi**** was only one knee needed to be done Thanks!!

Jill, My mom's friend insisted on having both knees done at one time. They normally won't do it that way. The hardship with it was that it forced her to be in a nursing home for xx number weeks as she was totally immobile. It also had greater risks because of this. Has your doctor had you do any injections (not cortisone)? Lin had injections into the knee done twice a year for a while. If I remember correctly it is a substance they inject into the knee to give it more cu**** did improve the situation but was not a long term solution. Also the shots can only be done so often and then stopped. I hope you find the answer that works best for you. Mary

Mary, Yes I have done the injections of the cushion they have 2 different kinds and they both only worked for a couple of weeks. No I won't do both at the same time it would be way to hard. Thanks for thinking of me

Jill, All I can tell you is what I would do in your situation. I do have a couple of questions for you, though. Are they saying you need total knee replacements because you no longer have any cartilage? Is it possible that the bulk of your knee pain is due to improper alignment? Much of MY knee pain is due to improper alignment. My husband is that way as well. I'm not immobilized, while my husband is much more limited. He is having surgery to correct the alignment issues in June. If I were that limited and the only option I had for feeling better was surgery, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'm not one for tolerating a bad situation that could be corrected, and I'm very proactive. I realize it would be difficult to have both done at once, but many people who opt to have them done separately don't end up getting the second one done and end up just as miserable. I've known a few people who had both done at once and were very glad they did. Their quality of life improved dramatically over a shorter time frame. I'm not saying I completely understand where you're coming from, but I do still have knee pain every day, granted not nearly as bad as it was pre-op, but it's tough to move around much when you're in so much pain. I also had arthroscopic knee surgery the year before WLS and would have needed it again. I don't think I need it now, but won't hesitate to seek a solution if I should become more limited again. Take care, and I realize only you know what's best for you. This is just what I would do if I were faced with that situation. Linn

Linn, Thank you for your opinon! I will ask about the alignment that's something nobody mentioned. All the damage is so noticable though I will think about it more. Again Thanks for your input and I hope your knees feel better too. Jill

Hi Jill, I can relate to your pain. I shattered my left hip and femur two years ago when I was 51. They did try to repair it with plates & pins but it didn't take. My only choice then was to have a hip replacement knowing I'll have to have another in my early 80s. I spent a year bed bound and out only in the wheelchair as I tried to rebuild some of that osteoporotic bone. It was a very depressing year being totally immobile. Plus, I really didn't know how much my depression impacted on my family until now. I was soo happy when I got my hip replacement. I can't walk much as I have some bone problems d/t the first surgery and my knees are bad. But, even if I can't do anything else, it is great being self-sufficient for all my own daily care needs and not in constant extreme pain. My quality of life is 100 times improved. I personally would't want to spend years in pain waiting for the "right" time for a replacement. I agree with you in that I wouldln't do both knees at the same time. With a family to care for it would be too much of a hardship. Best wishes to you in your decision......Paula

Thanks Paula your words made me think and putting it off wouldn't benifit me at all. I am glad your hip is better and your doing good, hope your knee pain gets better to. Thanks!!