Total knee replacement and not over 50 with Rheumatoid arthritis

I have exhausted all options it seems and now face total knee replacement in a couple of weeks. Both need to be done but the right one is bent and hitting up against the left one causing me to walk with a limp and very much pain. I have to use my cane a lot and if I am down I am down or up I am up. What I am asking is there anyone not over 50 who has medicare who has to or have had total knee replacement and did well with it? I am almost 3 yrs post-op wls and wondered if the knee surgery took away all most or some of the debilitating pain and was it worth having the knee surgery? I guess I am wishing that no pain be there after the surgery except the surgery pain of course, but will I be able to walk ok and without a lot of pain as before or will my leg be shorter? I am scared a bit also. Please any input will help to ease things. I am 46 soon to be 47 in march and will I have to have it done again in 10 yrs as I have seen and heard from some. My great aunt whom is 88 just had it done and her knee shifted and pushed back so they had to redo it 1 month after. She says she can't tell if it is the surgery pain or the initial pain since she is so new out.

Hi Ms. Pisces, It sounds like we are in a similar boat.  I am 42 1/2 and am being sent from one orthopedic surgeon to another for evaluation for a right total knee replacement.  I have severe arthritis (not rheumatoid that they can tell) of both knees.  I have had 7 surgeries between the two knees.  My regular orthopedic did new xrays on Monday and said if any surgeon looked at my xrays without looking at my age would all agree a total knee replacement was needed.  I have no cartilage left in my right knee at all and he says I have some very large bone spurs besides the bone on bone contact.  So I am trying to make the appointment with the recontructive specialist.  I am ready to be out of some of this pain and be able to move better.  However it comes at a rough time as I just had my gastric bypass not quite 6 months ago, and then was in the hospital in October for kidney stones.  So I already am paying on several medical bills and now I will have more.  I would like to put it off until end of March so that I can see my bypass surgeon one more time and make sure I am nutritionally stable before doing this.   I wish you all the best and wish I could tell you it would take all your pain away but we all know there are no guarantees.  My Orthopedic Dr. did say that my quality of life would improve drastically though if that helps. Take Care, Patty

Patty yes thank you for the reply. I have medicare only and since having wls have had 2 additional surgeries. Paying on bills and 20% can add up. I have Rheumatoid and it affects every part of my body and some organs. I have bone spurs and nodules that can be a pain at times cause they are between my knee joints. I am sorry that you have arthritis and have had so many surgeries. I put off so many medical things cause of financial difficulties. I put this off for so long that it has gotten to where I hate being mobile sometimes. I guess being told that I am not 50 also made it a harder decision and thinking medicare would not pay for it cause I was not 50 or older. I wish you much prayer and hope you get some relief as I wish the same for me. I have surgery february 6th. LOL.

Hi Patty, Are you still able to take your pain meds?  I notice you had an RNY ... and I've been told you are severely restricted for taking pain meds with the RNY little pouch.

Thanks,

Marie

Hi Marie, I still take my darvocet for my back pain and for some left knee pain.  Since I had my knee replaced in April I haven't had to take much for my knees, just my back.  I can't take any anti inflammatories because of the risk of ulcer to my pouch.  Both surgeries have done wonders for me. Wishing you all the best.

I can idenitfy with you somewhat.  I have osteoarthritis and have had both knees partially replaced.  Just came home yesterday from the left knee replacement surgery.  It is not total knee, just the inside of each knee.  Had the right done last year.  I can tell you that besides my WLS, it is the best thing I could have done.  I too was told no because I was under 50.  They say that because the knees wear out after 10-15 years depending on your activity level.  I am not a jogger or very physical.  The pain in my right knee has gone away and that made the decision for me to go ahead and get the left one done.  I tried the shots and fluid replacement, they didn't help.  I had no alternative.  You deserve to live without pain and you can insist it get done.  If it has to be replaced in 15 years, so be it.  You will not regret it. Best wishes. Patty

I had bilateral total knee replacement surgery about 3 yrs ago.  You'll be glad you did it.  Granted, the surgery and immediate post-op is not much fun, but it gets better and even goes away.    Y ou're welcome to email me if you have any questions.

I'm almost 57 and haven't had knee surgery.  But, I suffer from arthritic knee pain and had asked my doc for pain pills.  I didn't get them.  Rather, I was sent for aquatherapy.  I couldn't use the facilities that are covered by my HMO.  However, I joined a gym that has a therapy pool.  I now use it 6 days a week.  They have many therapy patients there and I can see that aquatherapy does help them following various surgeries.  Their surgeries include disc problems, knee problems, and congenical problems.  I may need surgery in the future, but I plan to continue with the aquasize.

Hello there. I am currently 62 and have had both full replacement knees... I insiste that my Ortho do it..the right... I was 51..and the left at 55.. I have not regreted it and am now due for the right again..its been almost 12 years.. I am hopeing with my bypass..(hopefully).. I will make it a while longer..it is not unbearable yet.. and I can tell you that you will know when it is ready.. I have a friend that has had her original total for over 25 years.. so who knows.. Of course she is not Obese. So perhaps that makes a difference. I dont thinkl you will ever regret it. Insist and insist.
Good luck to you. I am sorry but I am just new to the sight and didnt know this was here.

Thanks for the reply. I had total knee replacement february 6th. This is the hardest surgery that I have ever had in my life. The RA does not make it better either. I was told I would not be able to bend it but 85 degrees. I can bend it on my own at 101 degrees. I have constant pain and it stays hot all the time. I cannot stand to have anything over it or it throbs and stays swollen. I have therapy 3 times a week and is very grilling, but worth it I know. I have been on a flare up since surgery and moving around is unbearable always. In the last week I have had to have fluid drawn off the left knee and injected with cortisone. I have tiorn the ligaments and messed the muscle up putting so much pressure on it taking off pressure on the right one before and after surgery. I am having a rough time of it. They say it will get better after about 8 months and I am just out of surgery 6 weeks. The pain meds stopped working after about the second week of surgery and nothing works except sleep when I can get it and get comfortable. Which is hard to do with my knee being numb 12 inches down the side and 4 inches across. I may be glad that I did this later, but right now I just want some pain relief and sleep and comfort. Thanks for the reply and I hope your surgery goes well when you have it. LOL.