Lora thinking of you
This is good news Lora! Good Luck Lora! I will be at the ortho doc the same time you are in surgery DEMANDING they do some kind of exploratory surgery on my knee to figure out what the heck is wrong! You and your struggle with this has been an inspiration to me.
Let us know how you do.
Let us know how you do.
The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me. ~ Ayn Rand
sorry for the hijack - what is wrong with your knee? Have you had an MRI? Any injections for pain - steroid or synvisc? Many people with severe arthritis get these injections with atleast some relief.
back in early 00's, I had 3 arthroscopic knee surgeries for torn cartilaige and severe arthritis. The first one was on the left side after being in a car accident and banging my knee on the dash board. I was diagnosed with something called condromacia after that - had some injections - was okay for awhile but then it kept buckling on me and then the pain got unbearable and I was afraid to walk due to the buckling. I was walking with a walker at the age of 38 I went for an MRI and that is when they found the torn meniscus (cartilaige), tons of arthritis and a cyst behind my knee cap. I had surgery the next week. (February) Then about 4 months later, the right side started hurting and began to buckle. Again, I went in for another MRI and sure enough that one also had a torn meniscus and lots of arthritis. So, there I went in for surgery number 2 - this time on the right knee. (June) I was doing well, no more walker and then it happened again - the pain in my left knee was back - it started buckling again and I was back in surgery again - January this time. So, in 1 year - Feb. to Jan. I had 3 knee surgeries. Each time, they repaired the torn cartiage, cleaned out all the scar tissue and bone spurs but it just kept happening. When it happened again a few years later, I just learned to live with the pain. After awhile they talked about a partial replacement since it was just the inside of the joint that is bad - my ligaments are all fine but I said no. I was around 42 by then but way too early for a surgery like that. A partial replacement makes you more succeptable to needing a total replacement and at that point, if I would need a total replacement - it would have been a good chance that at my age I would have had to have it done more than once. So, I just said no. I am glad I did since after my gastric bypass and losing the weight, my knees are so much better. Yes, I do still have torn meniscus in both knees but I would never know it. I have very little pain in them. If I sit in one possition for too long, it does hurt to straighten them out but that is it. No pain on walking.
I have heard and I don't know if this would apply to you since I dont know what is wrong with your knee - they are now doing in some major hospitals and teaching hospitals - cartilaige transplants. It is mainly for younger patients and atheletes instead of replacements. It is if you have trouble with your cartilaige only - wont work if you have trouble with your ligaments. I don't remember all the details but they somehow take some cells from your knee and grow cartilaige in a lab and then transplant it back into your knee. It is supposed to be very successful and doesn't reject like other transplants since it is coming from your own cells. It is fairly new and not available everywhere but something to look into if it pertains to you I know if I was still having trouble, this is exactly what I would have done.
back in early 00's, I had 3 arthroscopic knee surgeries for torn cartilaige and severe arthritis. The first one was on the left side after being in a car accident and banging my knee on the dash board. I was diagnosed with something called condromacia after that - had some injections - was okay for awhile but then it kept buckling on me and then the pain got unbearable and I was afraid to walk due to the buckling. I was walking with a walker at the age of 38 I went for an MRI and that is when they found the torn meniscus (cartilaige), tons of arthritis and a cyst behind my knee cap. I had surgery the next week. (February) Then about 4 months later, the right side started hurting and began to buckle. Again, I went in for another MRI and sure enough that one also had a torn meniscus and lots of arthritis. So, there I went in for surgery number 2 - this time on the right knee. (June) I was doing well, no more walker and then it happened again - the pain in my left knee was back - it started buckling again and I was back in surgery again - January this time. So, in 1 year - Feb. to Jan. I had 3 knee surgeries. Each time, they repaired the torn cartiage, cleaned out all the scar tissue and bone spurs but it just kept happening. When it happened again a few years later, I just learned to live with the pain. After awhile they talked about a partial replacement since it was just the inside of the joint that is bad - my ligaments are all fine but I said no. I was around 42 by then but way too early for a surgery like that. A partial replacement makes you more succeptable to needing a total replacement and at that point, if I would need a total replacement - it would have been a good chance that at my age I would have had to have it done more than once. So, I just said no. I am glad I did since after my gastric bypass and losing the weight, my knees are so much better. Yes, I do still have torn meniscus in both knees but I would never know it. I have very little pain in them. If I sit in one possition for too long, it does hurt to straighten them out but that is it. No pain on walking.
I have heard and I don't know if this would apply to you since I dont know what is wrong with your knee - they are now doing in some major hospitals and teaching hospitals - cartilaige transplants. It is mainly for younger patients and atheletes instead of replacements. It is if you have trouble with your cartilaige only - wont work if you have trouble with your ligaments. I don't remember all the details but they somehow take some cells from your knee and grow cartilaige in a lab and then transplant it back into your knee. It is supposed to be very successful and doesn't reject like other transplants since it is coming from your own cells. It is fairly new and not available everywhere but something to look into if it pertains to you I know if I was still having trouble, this is exactly what I would have done.
and sending virtual hugs to you! 
5'10"
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