Knee Surgery Wednesday
Virginia:
My heart goes out to you. My mom has had both knees replaced and she did well once she was over the surgery. We call her the bionic woman as she had a shoulder replaced to and has an insert electrode to her back with the battery part near her stomach.
Wishing you little pain and a quick recovery.
Hi Virginia,
Sally said I should talk to you re: knee replacements.
I was only 46 when I had bilateral knee replacements. That's right! Both knees at the same time! (You should have seen the skid marks when the nurses came around the door of my hospital room! 
They were so used to having people in their 70's and 80's with knee replacements.)
The jerk that did mine put the right knee on crooked, took me back to surgery 7 weeks later and put it on incorrectly again! When I complained of having unusual pain if I bent my knee, he told me to learn to drive with my left leg! So, with a knee brace on to keep my knee cap from popping over to the side, I waited 6 months to move back to Colorado and a fantastic ortho surgeon. He redid the right knee...it has lasted for 7 years and is looking good. Both of my knees are titanium. My left knee was fine till I started climbing around the construction site of my new home...I shattered the disk between the metal parts and had to have that knee replaced 3 years ago. Both knees are fine now...I walk perfectly normally. The trick is to do the rehab exercises no matter how uncomfortable they are...and some days I was in tears, I won't lie to you. You don't want to end up walking with a cane forever...and people who do not do their physical therapy end up exactly that way! (i.e. my mother...she cried that it hurt and now cannot bend her knee more than 60 degrees and uses a cane.) My knees bend 120 degrees easily.. and without pain! It is marvelous!!!
True, the knees only last 10-15 years...but I stand a better chance now of not wearing them out than I did pre-op. Yes, lose what weight you can prior to the surgery...it'll go easier for you. I can tell you also...just like I am so glad I had WLS, I am thrilled to no longer have pain, to walk normally and that I could dance at both my sons' weddings...hooray for knee replacement surgery! I'm only 55...and counting on my ortho surgeon to have some tricks up his sleeve when it comes time for my knees to be replaced...they're working on improving those joints all the time.
You can write me anytime...I'll be glad to give you all the support and fellow feeling I can.
Good luck!
Blessings, Rusty
They were so used to having people in their 70's and 80's with knee replacements.)
The jerk that did mine put the right knee on crooked, took me back to surgery 7 weeks later and put it on incorrectly again! When I complained of having unusual pain if I bent my knee, he told me to learn to drive with my left leg! So, with a knee brace on to keep my knee cap from popping over to the side, I waited 6 months to move back to Colorado and a fantastic ortho surgeon. He redid the right knee...it has lasted for 7 years and is looking good. Both of my knees are titanium. My left knee was fine till I started climbing around the construction site of my new home...I shattered the disk between the metal parts and had to have that knee replaced 3 years ago. Both knees are fine now...I walk perfectly normally. The trick is to do the rehab exercises no matter how uncomfortable they are...and some days I was in tears, I won't lie to you. You don't want to end up walking with a cane forever...and people who do not do their physical therapy end up exactly that way! (i.e. my mother...she cried that it hurt and now cannot bend her knee more than 60 degrees and uses a cane.) My knees bend 120 degrees easily.. and without pain! It is marvelous!!!
True, the knees only last 10-15 years...but I stand a better chance now of not wearing them out than I did pre-op. Yes, lose what weight you can prior to the surgery...it'll go easier for you. I can tell you also...just like I am so glad I had WLS, I am thrilled to no longer have pain, to walk normally and that I could dance at both my sons' weddings...hooray for knee replacement surgery! I'm only 55...and counting on my ortho surgeon to have some tricks up his sleeve when it comes time for my knees to be replaced...they're working on improving those joints all the time.
You can write me anytime...I'll be glad to give you all the support and fellow feeling I can.
Good luck!
Blessings, Rusty 
Rusty,
Thanks for the reply. WOW!! Bilateral!! First off my surgeon just won't even consider it, secondly I don't think I'm brave enough. After watching what my Mom went through 5 years ago when she had one of hers done. But then again I couldn't back out of having the second one done if I did both at the same time.
Your insight and experience should come in handy for me in the coming weeks. Thanks for offering to help!!
Va
Kathy C.
on 4/16/04 1:41 pm - Someplace, MI
on 4/16/04 1:41 pm - Someplace, MI
Virginia it's just not fair that someone so wonderful has to go thru so much. I know you'll be fine..You have so many people praying for you that God will be at your surgery standing next to you the whole time!!!!
Your hubby is gonna need help keepin up with ya pretty soon!!!!!
RNY - 03/01/04
(285)258/219/130 
Va,
I had the scope done on both of my knees last year. One in July and one in Oct. I am 43 and need complete knee replacement surgery too but the weight and age make my dr. say 
I had a wonderful dr that believes his patients should not be in any pain. When I came out I was in no pain. In fact after I had my RNY I begged my husband to go find him.
It really wasn't too bad. In fact I had surgery on a Thursday and was at the asphalt races on Saturday on crutches. I will be praying that your surgery goes as well as mine did. Good luck
Renee' 
I had a wonderful dr that believes his patients should not be in any pain. When I came out I was in no pain. In fact after I had my RNY I begged my husband to go find him.
It really wasn't too bad. In fact I had surgery on a Thursday and was at the asphalt races on Saturday on crutches. I will be praying that your surgery goes as well as mine did. Good luck
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