lunula
senior
Hello all. I had a question for those of you who've had your surgeries and those who have set your dates.
I'm still struggling with making the final decision to go ahead with bilateral TKR. For a long time, I thought it was just nervousness about the surgery and recovery, but I've come to realize that I'm more concerned about having it done "too soon." I know only I can make the decision, my OS told me 7 years ago that I needed it and that we'll schedule as soon as I'm ready. I asked him once how my knees compare in relation to others who've had the surgery and he said I was right in the middle...many are much worse, many are much better.
I've read a lot of the pain scales posted on BS and taken the quizzes - I often score quite low. I am able to do a lot of the activities listed on those scales quite easily, and I can do all of them - just that some are painful or scary (b/c I can feel my knees bending the wrong ways!). I think because I had my first injury just before I turned 16 (27 years ago) - and 3 more cartilage tears after that (all before I was 30) - and 1 knee surgery @ 26 - I've just learned to deal with the pain and issues. I do not remember a life without knee pain and issues. I cannot comprehend being able to walk straight downstairs. Or to kneel for longer than 2 seconds. Or to be able to exercise, or take a long walk, and not have my knees swell up (even after icing them). Or to bend my knees and not hear & feel cracking and grinding. I literally cringe when I see someone jumping off of something, or making a quick turn while running - because I know if I did it, I would likely rip one of my knees apart again.
Again, I know none of you can make this decision for me, nor do I want you to. I have had 2 major surgeries already (not quite this major) and 2 other minor surgeries - and I'm not concerned about "dying on the table" or anything. I completely trust my OS and his staff. My quality of life is good, though I honestly don't know any better because I've lived with pain and compensation for so long, it's just part of my life. I can't do some things, and I have to reject things I'd like to do because of my knees - but I am still completely independent.
For those of you who were still ambulatory and able to "do things" - was there a deciding moment for you?
I'm still struggling with making the final decision to go ahead with bilateral TKR. For a long time, I thought it was just nervousness about the surgery and recovery, but I've come to realize that I'm more concerned about having it done "too soon." I know only I can make the decision, my OS told me 7 years ago that I needed it and that we'll schedule as soon as I'm ready. I asked him once how my knees compare in relation to others who've had the surgery and he said I was right in the middle...many are much worse, many are much better.
I've read a lot of the pain scales posted on BS and taken the quizzes - I often score quite low. I am able to do a lot of the activities listed on those scales quite easily, and I can do all of them - just that some are painful or scary (b/c I can feel my knees bending the wrong ways!). I think because I had my first injury just before I turned 16 (27 years ago) - and 3 more cartilage tears after that (all before I was 30) - and 1 knee surgery @ 26 - I've just learned to deal with the pain and issues. I do not remember a life without knee pain and issues. I cannot comprehend being able to walk straight downstairs. Or to kneel for longer than 2 seconds. Or to be able to exercise, or take a long walk, and not have my knees swell up (even after icing them). Or to bend my knees and not hear & feel cracking and grinding. I literally cringe when I see someone jumping off of something, or making a quick turn while running - because I know if I did it, I would likely rip one of my knees apart again.
Again, I know none of you can make this decision for me, nor do I want you to. I have had 2 major surgeries already (not quite this major) and 2 other minor surgeries - and I'm not concerned about "dying on the table" or anything. I completely trust my OS and his staff. My quality of life is good, though I honestly don't know any better because I've lived with pain and compensation for so long, it's just part of my life. I can't do some things, and I have to reject things I'd like to do because of my knees - but I am still completely independent.
For those of you who were still ambulatory and able to "do things" - was there a deciding moment for you?