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Posted 1/17/2011 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Been a long time since I posted Iwas on here for GERD had a Nissan Fundiplication and have been having no problem since.  I know am having severe knee pain.  Have had steroid shots and synvisc shots but they do not help.  I have arthritis in the knee and have a bone spur.  My knee has given out on me.  The knee constantly cracks and pops. The previous  doctor I saw said to come back when the pain gets to the point I can't take it and they will do an MRI to see if  tore the miniscus.  My knee wakes me up at night.  I currently get 10% disability through the VA on my knee.

I made an appointment and no new x-rays or MRI were taken.  The doctor said the knee is not bad enough for a replacemnt however they do replacemnts for the type of knee pain I am experiencing.  The doctor said I am too young for a knee replacement.  I am 56.  He said we are almost out of options.  He gave me a new brace and is setting me up for physical therapy.  He told me as far as the pain is concerned I simply have to "suck it up."  Was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to where I can go from here.  I hate not being able to spend time doing things with my grandbabies and am worried whether I will be able to continue working if we don't get my knee fixed

Posted 1/17/2011 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
First, you are NOT too young for a knee replacement. The newer prosthetics are lasting longer, and it's becoming easier for them to do a second replacement if needed. As you're waiting in pain for surgery, your muscles are becoming weaker and weaker, and you may be damaging other joints as you change your gait to protect the knee.

I waited 5 years for mine because I wanted to wait until I quit working, and if I had it to do over I wouldn't wait. I can do so many things now I wasn't able to do for years - like walk long distances, go up and down stairs normally, kneel and get up and down off the floor.

You may want to consider getting a second opinion, k9lov3r,
Posted 1/17/2011 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you  for your response.  I was thinking the same thing about being too young.  I would much rather enjoy life now than wait for several years to get relief.  I am 56 even if the knee lasted only 20 years I would be able to enjoy my life and my grandchildren now.   Besides it seems to me the older you are when you have surgery the harder the recovery period is.  Once the grandkids are older I won't be needing to be so active so being a little more sedentary won't be an issue
Posted 1/18/2011 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hello!

I, too, have severe osteoarthritis in both knees. The docs want to put off my knee surgery until I am older, also.

I was wondering if your doc ever mentioned arthroscopic surgery. I don't understand why he didn't order an MRI.

V
Posted 1/18/2011 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
My husband has knee replacement surgery in his future (he's 43) but when we took him into the ortho after having a MRI the doc mentioned going in there and scraping the spurs out and basically just cleaning it up. That it might give him a few extra years before surgery will have to be performed. My husband decided to not have it done because the doc also told him, the younger you are to have this done, more of them you will have to have done.

Personally I don't feel that 56 is too young at all. I knew of a guy that had knee and hip replacement when he was in his late 30's (he had it really bad though).
Posted 1/18/2011 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Vannie my doctor did mention arthroscopic surgery however he said that surgery has a 50% chance of making things better and a 50% chance of making things worse. He said the bone spurs just grow back. I had my knee scoped in 2000 and I felt a lot of relief but then a few years later the pain started again. I am now at the age that I don't want a temporary fix I just want to get out and enjoy life.

I had lost a lot of weight with my Nissen Fundiplication surgery I had a couple years ago and now I have gained alot of it back. Some was from being able to eat what I wanted without pain but I got that under control Now I am having problems losing weight because exercise even simple walking is very painful.

My doctor said I had to lose weight before surgery he said my BMI had to be below 35 when he plugged my numbers into the chart he said oh you are below 35. I love it when an overweight doctor tells you that you need to lose weight. I am going to try the physical therapy for a few months before I go back. I think it probably would not hurt to get my quad muscles strengthend up before knee replacement surgery. i am going to take the advice I received here and push for the replacement. In this day and age I think it is insane to tell someone they just have to deal with the pain when there is a procedure that can alleviate the pain. He offered me stronger pain medication but I can't take anything stronger and still work. So I am taking 800 mg Motrin three times a day and of course I go to bed with my favorite boyfriend, who usually goes to work with me. Some of you might know my boy friend his name is Ben. Yes Ben Gay is my best friend

I work in law enforcement as a public service officer and don't know how much longer I will be able to work in the jail portion of my job. My employer does work with me and only schedules me minimal hours in the jail which helps. The rest of he time I either work the desk taking reports or the dispatch office entering calls
Thank you all for your responses.
Posted 1/18/2011 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone, this is my first time posting, but have been reading everyone's posts.  I am only 40 years old and have Osteoarthritis in both knees.  My left knee was bone on bone, so I was in a lot of pain.  I went through 4 doctors before I found one that would do a replacement on me.  I am a mother of 3 young kids and want to be active with them.  I had my knee replacement done in March 2010.  Everything seemed to be going well, and about 3 months after, my knee started giving me more pain and the bend was starting to go away.  I complained to my doctor about it and he said it would get better in time.  Well it didn't, and finally got tired of it and saw another doctor in September, and he did a bone scan and said there is defenantly something wrong, so they took out my replacement in October and found an infection.  They put an antibotic spacer in its place.  I have been on crutches since then and can not put any weight on the leg.  They said I would be like this 3-4 months, but when I went back for my 3 month check, they said my sed rate was to high and want to wait another 6 weeks.  My doctor said he only has one chance to get it right, so wants to wait.  I just wanted to share my story, since I am only 40 years old and did have my knee replaced. wink
Posted 1/18/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Photographer, I'm so sorry you have had that trouble. Infections are the biggest risk in joint replacement and can be devastating. Fortunately they're not that common, but if you happen to be one of the unlucky ones that doesn't matter.

I hope your infection clears soon and you have the best possible results from your next surgery.

Posted 1/18/2011 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Photographer I wish you the best and hope all goes well with the next surgery so you can enjoy your time with your young ones
Posted 1/20/2011 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
k9lov3r,
I don't know if this will help you or not, but my sister and I have recently started taking large doses of gelatin capsules. Both of us experience less pain in our knees. I mentioned to my physical therapist that we were taking gelatin capsules and that the pain in our knees were beginning to fade. He told me that there was scientific proof that gelatin capsules can help ease the pain of osteoarthritis. I personally have no doubts about it and my sister swears by it.
Posted 1/20/2011 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
I would be very careful with doctors, surgeons and even physical therapists. Nobody really seems to know what they are doing. I went for one year in pain telling them my ankle hurt and finally got an MRI.

Our medical system is falling apart because of greed, indifference and stupidity.

Be careful, be very careful and I wish you the best.
Posted 1/20/2011 3:54 PM (GMT 0)

Never heard of the gelatin tablets I will give them a try thanks. 

My doctors are with the VA and so far they have been provided great health care till my knee problems came up. We are at odds with sugery I say fix me so I can injoy life and they say wait.  For the physical therapy I am going to just get the instructions on what they want me to do the I will do the exercises at our gym with certified trainers.  They are going to be careful with me cause they don't want me hurt and unable to come to work.  Ihope things are going well for you Joan

Posted 1/20/2011 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have moderate OA in both knees. I have all of the symptoms you listed. The biggest ones being constant pain and waking up at night in pain. I had my right knee scoped in Nov and the left one will be done in 2 weeks. A few weeks after I had the right one done I noticed I had no more pain, no more cracking/popping, no more pain on stairs, and no more knee giving out on me. I don't know how long it will last, but I am 100% satisfied with the results. (I'm 43)

The Ortho surgeon gave me pics of the inside of my knee and there was a bunch of loose cartilage that wasn't showing on the MRI. The pics also showed 2 fissures(sp?). They were cracks/tears in the cartilage.

 

Posted 1/23/2011 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have osteoarthritis in both knees and I am 43. I have tried all injections and even had both knees scoped to clean them out. Doctor found that the right knee was bone on bone. The pain I experienced on a daily basis was unbelievable.

In December, I had a partial knee replacement. The relief I now have is amazing. Zero pain in the surgical knee. My left knee feels better as it is no longer carrying all of my weight.

My doctor was not thrilled with the idea of replacement until he did the scope and learned the extent of the damage. I am now bionic and wish I had done it a year ago!

Momtomonsters

 

Posted 1/26/2011 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
am hanging in there with an ankle brace and therapy, very busy and enjoying the swims...also walking on an indoor rubberized track. have to learn how to walk again. it sure is difficult at my age, lol!
Posted 2/24/2011 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
HI

Saw my doctor again because the pain is not getting any better.  Now he is telling me the knee is good shape for my age and there is nothing they can do for me surgically.  I got light duty so I can use my cane at work but if I am on light duty for any length of time I can be terminated.  I finally saw the physical therapist and got the exercises I need to do to strenghten the quad muscles.  The physical therapist said it cul take 4-7 weeks for any noticiable improvement. I told the doctor if we don't get my knee fixed I may have to quit my job he said OK.

I will give the physidcal therapy a couple of months and see if it helps at all.  If not I think I will ask for a second oppinion.   He is also using the same x-rays the first doctor looked at over a year ago.  The pain and the instability has gotten alot worse sincwe those x-rays were taken.  The first doctor had said if things got worse he would order an MRI.  I think this doctor has got it in his head that he does not want to do the knee replacement.  He said before they could do the knee replacement for the kind of pain I am experiencing but I am too yung for the surgery now he is saying there is nothing that can be done.  He said I need to loose weight which I do but my BMI is below 35 which he said is the cut off.  He then asked me if I smoke and I told him I did. He then said oh that's why I did not schedule you have to quit smoking and have a clean nicotine test before I can set you up with surgery.  I told him you never said anything about my smoking you tell me you can fix my knee and I will quit right now.  That was when he told me there is no surgery he can do for my knee.

He now believes I have patellar tracking disorder because my knee grinds and pops, which is  a symptom of other knee problems including ACL tears and meniscus tears.  The knee stays swollen and the pain wakes me up at night.  He did not impress me from the last time I talked to him when he told me I had to just suck it up and take the pain which were his exact words.   I may be wrong but I am thinking we need new xrays and maybe a ct scan or an MRI so we have a current picture of what is going on in my knee

thanks just needed to vent a little about this doctor

Posted 2/25/2011 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
hope your insurance will allow you to see another doctor. that's what i did and the second doctor ordered a mri scan. the first doctor said "there is nothing wrong with your ankle" but the mri showed lots of edema (swelling probably a build of water) tendonitis of two tendons and some bruising. Now with good therapy, and ankle brace and very good shoes...i am improving.

if at all possible FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR.
Posted 2/25/2011 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, you need a new doctor. At 56, your knee should be up to running a marathon and if it isn't, there's something wrong with it.
Posted 3/26/2011 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Definitely see another ortho. I have almost the same problem as yourself, and I'm 30. I won't bore you w/a story of my 19 year history w/messed up knees. Long story short, arthroscopic surgery on both knees 10 years ago failed, and left me in a worse condition than I was pre-op. I've been struggling and suffering ever since trying to find a dr. that will 'fix' me. I found 1 in 2003 that told me I needed surgery asap. He wanted to do an osteotomy, since it should delay the need for tkr by about 10 years. Two days after that visit, I lost my insurance and never had the surgery. Present time, I just went to the ortho this week (1 I had seen a few times before and was comfortable seeing again). He didn't do any tests, but went by x-rays and ct scan that was done 5 years ago! He told me my severe valgus lean was caused by me 'turning my hip' on purpose, then said there's nothing wrong with me and cut me loose. I have an appt. next week w/the ortho who told me I needed surgery. I pray he's still willing to do it, seeing how my knees have gotten progressively worse over the past 7 years. Talk to another ortho about osteotomy. It might just be what you're looking for. Good luck :)
Posted 4/6/2011 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Well my knee pain just became too much. I am scheduled for the first total knee replacement on April 27th. I have other medical issues but finally had to give in to surgery. I am scared to death but there are no further options. I have UC and just want it to be over and back to my own home.

I also have to eat gluten and dairy free food so I am planning on taking my own.

I had to have an IVC filter placed because I get blood clots - had a PE. I have a slight allergic response to the metal they are going to use so that worries me too.

Also, to top everything... The school district I work for in Texas told me that I will be among the hundreds laid off at the end of the school year in June. The stress has resulted in a UC flare up.

Isn't life grand?
Posted 4/10/2011 1:13 PM (GMT 0)

I am 59 years old and I have knee pain. Some days I can hardly walk at all and I come down the steps sideways.

I want to be able to enjoy life and play with my grandkids and be able to go places and walk but everything I have tried doesnt work. Now I have a product that is inmy refrigerator now called euflexxa in is in three shots.

The doctor told me the only thing tat would help my knee pain is a total knee replacement but he doesnt wat to do it because I have so many health problems. Has anyone used euflexxa with any help?

Posted 4/11/2011 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
went through the agony of getting the euflexxa shots in both knees. Have to say that I was sadly disappointed. I had a bad reaction every time I had the shot in my left knee. It would swell and I could not put any weight on it.

Unfortunately, most Ins Co's make you go through all of the other options before they will let you have surgery.

Posted 4/11/2011 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I have mild osteoarthritis in my right knee but my left knee is another story. My left knee is severe and is bone on bone. My doctor said I really need a knee replacement but my insurance will not give full coverage (that is I pay out of pocket 20% coinsurance and 20% copay until I reach max out of pocket for calendar year ) until I am in my 60's. I am 54. I couldn't afford the surgery now, even if insurance would grant coverage (my cost would be $2-10,000). I did get a knee brace (one that was specifically fitted for my knee and is flexible enough to do exercises) and started an exercise regime. I also had the 3 shot syndisc treatment which helped me a lot. I had very little (doctor said there will always be some discomfort when the weather/humidity changes) pain for 5 months. I am now in my 6th month with only a little discomfort.

I also had swelling in my knee for 3 days after each injection. The trick here was to stay as much as possible off my feet for 3 days after each injection. In my case, I schedule me shots on Friday afternoon as late as possible. I have a friend stay with me over the weekend and stay off my feet as much as possible. On Monday I resume normal activities but no exercise until after the last injection (1 injection per week). This seems to work for me. I have a friend who didn't do that and the shots didn't work for her the first time around. She did stay off her feet the second time around and had much better results. She has been doing this for 2 1/2 years now.

Another key to keeping flexibly and strength in the knee is to wear the brace from the time you get up until you go to bed. My brace is a Bledsoe and has two straps that go around my upper leg and two straps around the calf. There are 2 hinged metal sides (upper and lower) and one metal (no hinges) across the top and bottom. This allows me to walk, exercise etc. The brace takes about 6 weeks to get used to it. It helps by keeping my knee in place (doesn't pop out) and helps take my weight off the joint.
Posted 5/9/2011 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
Well tomorrow I see the VA again about my knee. I am requesting a differant doctor and requesting that new xrays and maybe an MRI be taken. I am going in explaining how this is effecting my life. I am tired of not being able to do things with the grandbabies. My oldest one is 7 and I want to go and do things with her before she gets to old and wants to spend time with her friends and not her nana who can't get around. I would like to be able to keep working since the bills won't just disappear. I am going to explain to him that I understand the risks involved in this surgery and that I understand I may have pain after surgery but it should be at a tolerable level. I just want to be able to get out enjoy life and the grandkids
Posted 5/10/2011 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Just got back from my VA appointment. They redid the xrays and again the xrays did not show severe arthritis. He also wanted to check my back and left hip so we did erays of them too. I have arthritis in my hip and my back. He said the spinde shows some scoliosis to the left. He told me replacing my knee if the back is casuing the pain would not help me.

So they are going to schedule MRI's of the knee and the back to try to find out where the pain is coming from then we will discuss my options. If it does appear to be the knee causing teh trouble he does ot see against having a knee replacement. The VA scoped my knee in 2000 and I thought it was just for bone spurs but apparently they also did a Chondroplasty

I am worried about the back being the culprit since I don't thinks there is alot they can do for the back. Well I will just keep positive be happy that I got a doctor who is listening to me and take it one day at a time.

Thank you all for your support and you are all in my prayers.

Mary

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