Do doctors know ANYTHING?

Ok so I've got a bad knee. I'm 32, on a cane, on pain killers, have had 4 surgeries, and have spent years in pt. All this stems from a car accident ten years ago. I understand that my leg is damaged. The last surgery did nothing and I felt pressured into doing it by my doctor. He did surgeries 3 and 4 and he thinks surgeries 1 and 2 have given me really bad arthritis to the point where my cartilage has been eaten away. My acl is also partially torn but not to the point where anyone has ever wanted to do anything to it.

that's the background. I go see the doc yesterday to get my synvisc shot. I've had it before, it's helped (after the swelling and pain go down). We're chatting about my options, and a partial knee replacement, because I'm running out of other options. All of a sudden, he starts talking about my knee buckling. My knee has buckled maybe once or twice in as many years. It's a non-issue. The constant pain and weakness, and not being able to walk is far more pressing. So now he's convinced himself I need an ACL recon. It's like he's grasping at straws here. This is so frustrating. And then I had to force him to give me the synvisc. All the through the years every doc has said arthritis. Why would he yesterday change it?

Needless to say, I'm seeing a new doc. But do these doctors even listen to patients? I don't want more surgery unless it really will fix this problem. But if they're just tinkering around and I end up on crutches for a month, then that's pointless. It's idiotic, no?

Ok that was me venting. Thanks for letting me do that! ;-)

Sorry to hear whats going on with you and I don't blame you a bit for being upset. I have had several surgeries myself on my left knee and one on the right. Its the pits what knee problems can do and how if they are not right they cause so many other problems. I do hope you will be looking for an ortho that specializes in knees only for your next dr. This day and time you will see that more and more people are having to advocate for their healthcare and I am afraid where things are heading its only going to get worse instead of better.

I will keep my fingers crossed that you are able to find yourself an excellent knee dr and soon. Please keep us posted on how the hunt for a new dr goes.

Hi All,

thanks for the responses! To answer questions, yes I use a neoprene brace everyday. My knee feels very unstable. More than that, it's just painful. I've lost a good 15 pounds this year, so weight isn't a factor on my knee, and I'm in decent shape. And with PT, my legs are getting really muscular! But the acl is only partially torn, which doesn't really require surgery. And I *just* had surgery (and prp, which really did nothing for me) last month! I really can't have more!

I'm seeing a new doc on Tuesday to see what he thinks the next course of action should be. I'm fine trying more injections and even acupuncture if it will help. I agree that surgery can make it worse, and if I have to have more, then I want it to be my last. Also, with work, I really can't have a month of being off my feet! (I'm self employed and starting up a business.)

I just wish doctors would stop and listen more and not pressure us so much. But I refuse to believe there's nothing they can do to make my leg hurt less. What a pain this is! ha!

I'll keep you posted. Be well everyone.

I'm really sorry that you are having such a hard time with your knee. Being a multiple knee surgery "veteran" myself, I can understand the frustration. You said that you and the ortho were talking about a partial knee replacement but that you have a partially torn ACL. From what I understand in order to do the partial replacement that all the knee tendons have to be in excellent condition. That may be why he brought up ACL reconstruction? If your knee feels that unstable it may be just a matter of time before that ACL blows completely and then any stability will be a thing of the past. I wonder also if the alignment of your knee is compromised due to the tear and thus increasing your pain and cartilage damage. So maybe that ortho isn't so off base, just not very good at explaining his thought process. I don't know. Anyway I hope that you get some answers and pain relief very soon. Sounds like you have had way too much "fun" with this and it is past time to stop. Good luck with your new ortho. Will be interested in what he has to say. Take care, Lisa