Have you had knee replacement surgery???

Alice, the difference in how surgeon's treat their patients is amazing. But as long as one recovers successfully is what matters. Did your doctor have you use the passive movement machine while you were restricted? I cannot imagine doing so little for such a stretch. I am concerned about going stir crazy from just being off work and stuck at home for so long. The other thing that bothers me is that my husband is a lousy care giver. And I can't get away from his care. You were very lucky to have a supportive daughter. I envy that. I have drafted my niece to help me out so I will have to be satisfied with that. I guess. I am feeling much better after asking for help. I sure appreciate every one experience!!!!! Love Sue

Hi, I am going to need knee replacements at some point for sure.  Three years ago I was told it was bone on bone, but since I have lost weight the dr. suggested Synvisc injections, and so far so good.  My daughter's FIL had double knee replacement a year ago, and this year he is skiing and doing wonderfully, so that gives me a lot of hope seeing how successful he is.  I've had a torn medial meniscus repaired just 2 weeks before my RNY, and at times that bothers me a little, but I'm milking these shots for all they are worth.  I hope you do wonderfully :)

My knee is considered bone on bone too. I haven't heard or been offered the Syvisc injections by my doctors. I will ask my PCP who I am seeing about the shots as an option. That is certainly worth checking out. Espically since I am so afraid of the surgery. Thank you for the sugestion. I have an appoitment mid week. I'll also check out what I can about the shots on line. Thank you!! Love Sue

I had both knees replaced in June of 06 at the age of 48. I was bone on bone and tried all the shots. It was a tough recovery, i would say about six months. It was before my RNY and I am sure it would have been easier if I had weighed less. I am glad I did it and also glad I did both at the same time. I might not have gone back for the second one. My doctor told me younger people seem to have a tougher time . Has something to do with the ligaments being tighter the younger you are. I am able to walk all day if need be but I will be sore. I could not do much of anything before surgery because I hurt all the time,even if I sat all day. I can tell you the quality of my life is much better now. The rehab is not easy but necessary. You have to do the exercises even when they hurt.. You will be glad you did it after you heal. That is one of the reasons for my RNY,to make my knees last longer. I will most likely have to have them done again before I die. They didn't know for sure how long these will last but the older styles made it 15 to 20 years. I hope I live longer than that.
There is a forum called - knee1.com that you can share experiences and ask questions just like this one. You might get a lot of your questions answered there. Hope I helped some.

I HAVE HAD BOTH DONE THE RIGHT HAD TO BE DONE TWICE.AND NOW I HAVE FOUND OUT THE LEFT KNEE HAS SLIP.I GO INTO THE HOSPITAL 27 THIS MONTH DO LET HIM FIX IT SO THAT WILL MAKE TWICE FOR THE LEFT.EVERYONE IS DIFFRENT AND HEAL DIFFERENT,ALL THIS HAS BEEN SINCE OCT 2008.BEST TO YOU


MARYLYN

Sue,

It's so good to see you! I can't add a whole lot. I had both knees done, one at a time, pre RNY when I weighed well over 340 lbs.  Recovery was not easy, physical therapy very essential, (take pain pill before going to therapy!) within 4 weeks I was driving a car.

New knees are not like originals but then what I had before replacement was not like the 20 yr old knees! NO regrets. I don't like to put a lot of pressure directly on the knees but can if necessary to get off the floor. Putting a pillow or pad under them before getting up helps. 

All in all I can walk all day which I could do none of before. Mine were bone on bone and I couldn't straighten out my legs before surgery.

Sue, the fear of the unknown can be so dibilitating.  I won't make light of your fears, but you are a tough lady to have come through what you have the past few years. You can handle this too. I'm amazed to find out that I'm usually tougher than I believe I am. Best wishes,

This is not a horror story, but yes, there are some times things don't go as planned. I had my right knee replaced Feb. 16, 2007. In Nov. 2007, my leg suddenly started to swell and hurt and no doctor could figure out the reason. I went back to the ortho doc (after the swelling went down ... when PCP finally gave me a diuretic which I take to this day) a few weeks later and he said I had patellar tendinitis and sent me back for more PT. After Christmas, I did that ... went back for my year checkup after PT, which the therapist said was tendonosis (chronic, not acute ... nothing they could do). Asked my doc what could be done about my pain, which was getting worse ... he said, "More PT?" The therapist had written on the note, "No more therapy needed, nothing more to do for this patient."

So after my vacation in April, during which it was very painful walking (I used a cane), I went back to ortho doc No. 1 (this is when I started numbering them) and demanded he do something for my pain. He sent me to No. 2, who I was told was the best guy in my area (Grand Rapids, MI). Went to see him, had a bone scan, bloodwork -- nothing came up. All he could recommend was that I take Celebrex because I had some inflammation, and this was the only thing I could take because of my WLS. I did that for a month ... no relief. I refused to take it any longer. In September, he did another bone scan, it showed nothing. At that point, he told me, "Well, you can do normal things, you can bike and swim." Meanwhile, I can't sit comfortably at my desk at work, I can't sleep comfortably. I'm in pain constantly. Anytime I had my knee bent, I was in pain. I couldn't walk comfortably, either. I started yelling at him (I don't normally yell at my doctors, but this guy wasn't listening to me.) So No. 2 sent me to see No. 3.

At this point, I started looking around outside the Grand Rapids area, even though gas at this point was $4 a gallon and it would cost me so much to travel. I really need some relief. I was in so much pain. Finally ... No. 3, another doctor in the same group examined my knee and said I needed a revision. I said, "But Doctor No. 2 said I don't." He said he thought I did ... that I tore a ligament when I fell or something (but my pain started before I fell ... anyway, what's the difference?)

So ... I had my revision Dec. 22. I now have a longer implant, no longer have my posterior cruciate ligament. I have had another six weeks off work and am in PT again trying to get this knee back in shape. I swear this knee is worse than it was before I had the surgery. (Maybe it isn't ... but it sure feels that way.)

I don't say this to scare you. I did everything right. I did my PT. I continued to exercise. I kept my weight down (I've lost 180 pounds). I went in there with the right attitude. I was positive this was going to work for me. I had been in so much pain with the knee (since I was 39 when I first hurt it) that I was ready to get a new knee. For some reason, mine didn't work as well as the others. I am not the norm, I understand, I am the exception to the rule.

Good luck in your upcoming surgery. I hope you have the best outcome possible.