VSG Maintenance Group
Sins of the Past
I have a badly arthritic right knee. It was my compelling reason to have this surgery in the first place. Loosing all the weight certainly helped my poor knee. Actually, my knee had been feeling 100% for over a year now. Soooooo, I decided to be a jock and start running again. Both my husband and I actually. I'm 56 he's 57. Now he has a fractured medial tibia, and my arthritis is in complete rebellion. I went to the orthopedic doc yesterday to see if I could get it scoped or injected or something. It has lots of broken bits of cartilage that keep "catching" causing me to not be able to put weight on it until the loose body slips out of the offended joint. The doctor said the only thing that can be done is a total knee replacement. Now I am in full rebellion! I am determined not to go that route!!!!!! To make matters worse, my supervisor, who would love to see me canned since I am at the top of my pay grade, went to human resources and discussed my "situation" with them. Mind you, my knee has not interfered with my ability to do my job, nor has it "caught" at work. Now she is demanding a letter from the doctor saying I can work 100%. I don't think she should have discussed my personnel problems with HR without my consent in the first place!!!! I'm quite pissed.
Anyway, I am now on a renewed mission to save my knee. This will include exercise and strength training. If any of you have any other suggestions, I would love the input. Thanks!
Anyway, I am now on a renewed mission to save my knee. This will include exercise and strength training. If any of you have any other suggestions, I would love the input. Thanks!
Highest weight ever recorded: 224lbs. Surgery weight: 194 lbs.
Goal range: 130-135 lbs. Lowest:119.7 Current weight 142lbs Height: 5' 2" almost
Goal range: 130-135 lbs. Lowest:119.7 Current weight 142lbs Height: 5' 2" almost
bunnymom
on 5/1/12 11:37 pm
on 5/1/12 11:37 pm
Ask your ortho doc for a physical therapy consult-they will teach you the healing exercises and may do other healing things, like heat/massage/infrared/braces/etc. Also, have you tried that liquid "teflon" they inject into knees? Synvisc, or something like that. Some people swear it helps. Google it. Good luck. Do you have swimming pool access?--that is the best exercise, as no stress on your joints.
Bunnymom 
We're twins. It's even my right knee.
Before surgery, I was having problems walking. I went to the Ortho to see what could be done and they suggested Orthovisc injections. It's basically a foam/gel thing they inject in your knee (a series of 3 injections one week apart) that settles in where the cartilege isn't and cushions your knee.
Full disclosure: the injections HURT.
This was like a miracle for me. Within 2 weeks after the last injection I was kneeling to take photos and just getting up like normal people even still weighing almost 300 lbs.
The cushioning wears out eventually and it has to be redone. Mine lasted almost exactly a year and I'm in the process of a new round right now.
Before surgery, I was having problems walking. I went to the Ortho to see what could be done and they suggested Orthovisc injections. It's basically a foam/gel thing they inject in your knee (a series of 3 injections one week apart) that settles in where the cartilege isn't and cushions your knee.
Full disclosure: the injections HURT.
This was like a miracle for me. Within 2 weeks after the last injection I was kneeling to take photos and just getting up like normal people even still weighing almost 300 lbs.
The cushioning wears out eventually and it has to be redone. Mine lasted almost exactly a year and I'm in the process of a new round right now.
Highest weight: 335 lbs, BMI 50.9
Pre-op weight: 319 lbs, BMI 48.5
Current range: 140-144, BMI 21.3 - 22
175+ lbs lost, maintaining since February 2012
I have been getting the series of 5 hyloronic (chicken
Shots) made from rooster comb, for 6 years now. Both my knees are bone on bone and knee replacements are coming soon. Before surgery I could barely walk since loosing 125 lbs I can walk every where. My doc numbs
my knees and then, while skin is numb, injects the needle with numbing medicine, into my knee & then
the hyloronic acid. No Pain!!!!
Shots) made from rooster comb, for 6 years now. Both my knees are bone on bone and knee replacements are coming soon. Before surgery I could barely walk since loosing 125 lbs I can walk every where. My doc numbs
my knees and then, while skin is numb, injects the needle with numbing medicine, into my knee & then
the hyloronic acid. No Pain!!!!
VSG 3/21/11 HW 322 SW 298 CW 200 GW 175 5'7" 
age 65 
I'm in the middle of all this too...my right knee is way worse than my left and I just got cortisone injections 6 weeks ago and feeling quite a bit better. The shots didn't hurt much at all. My Doc sent my for PT which I am doing now and it is really helping, but I was told to never run again. Only walking and elliptical and bike now. The PT will teach you all the exercises to strengthen the quad and VMO muscles. The exercises along with the shots and a muscle stimulator machine have made a world of difference. I am probably going to proceed with the Gel injections soon as well. As far as the pain of the shots...well I've had plastic surgery on my whole body so these'll be nothing in comparison, LOL. So, my advice is to go get some PT and learn the right way to do these exercises so you don't cause further damage.
Laura
Laura
