Arthroscopy

[Jenniferne]

I had a arthroscopy on my left knee on the 19th. I can't wait to take a shower. (no shower for 48 hrs after surgery). I'm from Nebraska and the Doctor was wonderful. He cleaned it out the best he could but I will be looking at getting a total knee in about a year to a year and a half as it is almost completely shot. With the xrays and the MRI I knew that was coming. When this knee heals I will be setting up an appointment to have a TKP in my Right knee which is now bone on bone.
I am 49 will be 50 on the 27th. My sister who is 4 years older has already had 2 knee replacements and is doing wonderful. She is my inspiration...
Is anyone from Nebraska?

 

[calling_all_angels]

Re: Anthroscopy

Jen,
I am from Iowa does that count???? LOL Have daughter in Omaha and son in Eagle. In fact I will be in Eagle today with son's family. There is a bike show in Lincoln today that we are all going to. Son is looking for a chopper.
^i^

 

[Josephine]

Re: Anthroscopy

I never bothered with that! I wrapped a plastic bag around my leg and fastened it with some good quality adhesive at the top (sellotape washes off so easily) and took my shower anyway. Heaven forfend any man should come between me and my shower!

 

[Judles]

Re: Anthroscopy

Oh,me too,Jo! Me too!!!
Please enlighten this hippie,,,,,why would they make Jenniferne go through an anthroscopy only to have her end up having TKR's done ,later down the road? OUCH!!!! If it were me, I'd just want to get the whole darn surgery over with instead of lying in wait! Good luck, Jenniferne!

 

[Josephine]

Re: Anthroscopy

Some surgeons (my first surgeon was one) prefer to do a diagnostic scoping before they go for it. My current surgeon poo-poo'd it but you know, had I gone with him, I'd have had the replacement and forgotten all about it by now. I wonder ....

 

[Rowdy66]

Jennerfe, Welcome to the bone forum. I have been to the track in Omaha, does that Sounds like you found the forum even earlier than I did prior to me TKR and I can only say it was and remains a blessing in my life. You too will feel that way I am sure. There are more kind and good people here than anyplace I have ever seen, a true testament to the goodness of man. Your sister sounds as though she will be a great help to you in getting prepared for the surgery, too, now I will just keep an eye out for your posts so we can get to know you. Good luck. Rowdy

 

[Weezy]

I went the arthroscopy route before TKR too, but in my case it was with the hope that cleaning out my knees/followed by visco-supplementation, would buy me a few more years before a TKR.

It worked a bit--I had enough relief with multiple visco-supplementation shots to wait almost 3 years before a TKR. But if I knew then what I know now (or had found this forum way back then!), I most likely would have done the TKRs much sooner.

Weezy

 

[Judles]

That's JUST what I was thinking,Weezie, It just seems to me that if the TKR IS needed, why wait? I would think the elimination of pain is the main purpose of the surgery in the first place,,,

 

[JudyS]

I had a knee scope on Dec. 17th. Same side as my hip replacement. My MRI of my hip showed only mild arthritis, when I had a hip scope (to possibly repair a labral tear) the doc found severe arthritis.
So my knee showed mild arthritis,, full thickness cartilage defect, doc had no idea what he would actually find. The femoral/patello kneecap section did need microfractue surgery to hopefully regrow some cartilage (not as strong as the original, but something) the rest of the knee looks great. So it was kind of diagnostic. He also removed a lot of scar tissue. it was 9 weeks ago, I had no weightbearing unless my knee was in a straight posiiton(I had a lovely brace on to keep it that way) I have just been able to start walking on it, of course he knew with the back surgery I would not be going far!!!
I see that surgeon next week and will probably be sent to pt for strengthening .
Unfortunately my left knee is in the same painful position and is next in lline. I just don't think I can do it after the back surgery. Of course , painwise for me if will be a piece of cake, but I don't think I want to recover anymore!!!!

Judy

 

[JudyS]

Jenniferne
Welcome, I got a little carried away as usual and forgot your name. I hope your scope helps your pain level go down.
I am excited to meet someone from Nebraska. My first friend from that state. I was born and raised in Rhode Island, now living in California
Judy

 

[Judles]

Nope! You my dear don't need any more pain to deal with!

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Jenniferne
Not from Nebraska but am an old pro at knee scopes (5) followed by a tkr (7/14/08). I am a am shower person -need the shower not the cup of coffee.... Anyway. Glad Wrap with medical tape works well but when I had my keen done they gave me Tegrederm(SP??)... sheets of plastic wrap that had adhesive sides... that we could put over the staples and I could shower to my hearts content!!!! With my most recent endeavor (hip scope) I forgot about the tegrederm until about halfway through the no water in the inscision restriction (Had a small infection which drew things out). The local pharmacy stocks it... it is a bit pricey but well worth it when there is nobody around to help with th eglad wrap process or I was just to lazy to deal with the glad wrap.

Hang in there...I was a slow road to the tkr... we kept hoping I could get more from the scopes and kept scoping till all the cartilage was totally removed and the bones were grinding (started all this about 8 years ago!) The hip scope showed no arthirtis so hopefully we have prevented or at least prolonged the hip from falling to pieces. Hip number 2 on March2 for the same type of scope... Have my tegrederm stuff in my closet for my first shower!

Marianne

 

[Jenniferne]

Thanks for all the comments here. I am doing much better. My leg is pretty black and blue and still have some swelling but I am sure it will feel better when the swelling goes down. Just sad to know that I have a TKP planned on my right knee when the left one heals. And then a year down the road another TKP on my left leg. Right now it feels like it will never end. I have a beautiful grandchild and I am so tired of sitting on the sideline ... I am to young to feel so old. So one step at a time...

 

[Josephine]

Glad you're out and recovering, Jennifer. The bruising may be from the tourniquet. It affects some people that way.

But what do you mean by a TKP?

 

[JudyS]

Jenniferne
I am 51 and very active. I understand exactly how you feel about it maybe never ending.
When I actually think I had surgery 5 times in the last 18 months. All orthopedic and things still need to be dealt with. I am currently trying to recover from 2 , knee scope and back.

But, still in much better shape than most of the world , glad they have ways to fix things and try very hard to make us better.

Not to downplay your situation, but you are not alone. We can do this. I just had the knee scope and the back surgery right after it trying to recover from 2 things instead of one , then get better, then start over again!!!

We are here for you. Be good to yourself, rest, take pain meds if needed, stool softeners if needed (I'm sick of those!!!), ice, heat , whatever it takes.
Of course keep us updated and vent all you need to.

Gotta go and head to yet another doctor apt, begging for more pain meds!@!!

Judy