Dr. only doing 1 knee

[cindy88fan]

I went Tuesday and was told both knees are bone on bone. The left one is worse, it has spurs. But my Dr. suggests to do only one right now because of my age. I'm 45. I have so much trouble walking right now. Deep in my heart I think I should have both done at the same time. How do I convince my Dr. to do both? I just want to walk normal again without people making fun of the way I walk and being in so much pain is killing. I'll still be in pain if I only have one done. My surgery isn't until July 20. He said in 3-5 years he'll do my other one.

 

[loggon]

Cindy
Get a second opinion. My doctor will only do one and then do the other a couple of months later, but to wait 3 to 5 years. I would get another opinion. I only needed the one done for now and hope I will not need the other done.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Texas]

I agree 3-5 is strange. I would tell him I would rather have a good quality of life now not wait for 3-5 yrs to be done. Just get it done and be thru with it. You want to do the things you want to now not half now and half later. I would talk to him again maybe call and explain, or then get a second opinion. If you are ready for both tell him so, and that you think you can handle it. Others with bi-lat can explain better than me. Really to wait that long is well hard on you ........Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Judles]

Welcome Cindy! Maybe you should get another opinion....3-5 years seems strange! Maybe the "better" knee isn't as bad as you think?

 

[Surfsister]

Let him know that you refuse to wait that long for the another knee to be done. Your doctor may be testing you to see how bad the pain is. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Don't mince words with your doctor. "I'm in pain. I want both knees done! Did I stutter? Don't make me come over there and set you straight." Oh, well, perhaps you should only use the first two sentences.

Make it clear that you won't take no for an answer. If he's still saying three to five years, find another doctor. This one doesn't have your best interests in mind. Your age has nothing to do with it. The pain has everything to do with it. This is your body. Don't let the doctor boss you around. He probably has no idea how bad osteoarthritis pain is. Make him understand that waiting is not an option.

I'm 45. My doctor felt now was as good a time as any to replace my knee. In fact, he said I'd have to have it done sooner rather than later. Your doctor needs to remember that this is about you, not him.

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Cindy. Welcome to Bonesmart!

If it was me, I think I'd find a different doctor...one that you didn't have to talk into doing both knees either together or one shortly after the other. You don't want someone who wasn't willing in the first place.

 

[Simon]

cindy

If both knees are bone on bone then the nonoperated one will only get worse fast as it will be taking all the stress postop, this happened to me a number of times.

What the really reason for the doctor saying what he did is that he just doesn't not have the experience or the desire to do bilateral knees. My OS does not like to do them but if the situation calls for it, he will do it.

A second opinion is always a good choice even if you like what the doctor said.
Most insurance companies pay for 2nd opinions and even skip the copay (have to make sure it is billed correctly)

Simon

 

[SportHog]

Hi Cindy.
Mine were 4 months apart and I thought that was a long time! My OS did a manipulation on my right knee at the time of my second surgery.
Good luck.
Cheers, Ross

 

[Gringo]

I think I would at least ask the OS WHY he thought you should wait 3-5 years, since there is damage now. It's possible he has some reason no one here has throught of yet. But his reasoning should be clear to you.

My doc said that he preferred to do my worst knee first and then the other one at least 90 days later. I asked him why, and his reasoning was pretty sound. I went ahead with his recommendations, despite the fact that it means a second expensive trip to the USA for me, and that I will be spending a large part of 2009 rehabbing one knee and then the other. I am between the two ops now, and it's very strange to walk with one leg longer than the other.

If you ask him to explain his reasoning to you, and it still doesn't make sense, then I would go talk to another OS.

 

[Josephine]

I'd also find someone who would do them both at once - known as a bilateral. But that rather depends on how bad the least bad knee is. Some surgeons just won't consider it so you need to hunt around some. But they are out there. We've had many members on here have had both done in one go and though the first couple of weeks were rough, they didn't regret it at all. Simon was one, if I remember correctly!

 

[lakelover]

I had the same experience. I went to a Dr. for about 14 mos. We tried everything and then he said I was heading for TKR--BUT not yet. I asked him what else he could offer me in treatments we had not tried and he said "nothing". I was jsut supposed to sit in a chair for an undetermined number of years.

I got a second opinion and had the surgery 3 weeks later.

 

[Sticker Lady]

Hi Cindy and welcome to BoneSmart!
I'm going to have BTKR tomorrow because both knees are bone on bone. My OS brought up the possibility of doing both together and after doing some research and a lot of reading here I decided to go for it.
If I were you, I would at least get another opinion and then question the first OS about the reasons for his opinion--perhaps they are valid, perhaps not. You are the only one who really knows how this condition controls your entire life and what you are willing to live with.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
Blessings,
Irene

 

[Bennet]

Hi Cindy,

I can only echo what others have said. I had bilateral surgery 5 months ago. I was in pretty good shape before I went in and though my OS did not initiate the discussion of doing both at the same time, once I brought up the possibility, he was totally on board. His surgical nurse, after she contacted them for permission, gave me the names of three former patients who had bilateral surgery. We all have had similar experiences. The initial recovery was complicated because we literally did not have a good leg to stand on, but since the procedure was MIS, we all had full use of both legs directly after the surgery.

That being said, I think a second opinion is always a good idea and it would be important to have another conversation with your surgeon to find out his thinking why he wants to wait 3 - 5 years. I would write down the questions I want answered and perhaps, even send them to the list for some feedback before your appointment. I'm sure there is also an archive with what you should know before you commit to a surgeon.

Finally, the other thing is to consider, that you need to play an active role in your own surgery. Us patients are not just passive recipients of what the experts say. This is our body and our life and we need to step up and be good team members with the health professionals we chose to work with. Are active participation will maximize the whole enterprise.

All the best.

Bennet

 

[ship4]

Hi Cindy,
Welcome! I had BTKR last June 18th. My OS told me I was an ideal candidate at 58 years old for BTKR because I was motivated and I would not have a good leg to stand on if I only had one done. I am also self employed and could not afford to do this twice!
I have my own child care business and I scheduled the surgery for the end of the public school year as one of my client parents is a teacher and was willing to help me continue to operate my business from my home while recuperating. Twelve days post op, I had 9 children in my home to care for along with the parent client. Lucky for me, she knew all the children and their parents and how my business ran. I got plenty of rest, had PT 3 times/week in home for 3 weeks. She stayed to help me for 7 weeks.....
I am now a month away from my 1 year check-up with the OS. He will take xrays of both knees and use these pictures as the baseline for the wear and tear on the plastic insert. I will then go back every 2 years for another picture of each joint to check on the wear. When it starts to wear out, the OS said I would not feel anything different, and catching it early before it damages the replacement is where we want to be...... So, good luck with the replacements and do get another opinion as some OS feel you need to be older in years, rather than think about quality of life. My OS is all about quality of life now!
Where are you located?
Best,

 

[Max Wallace]

Find another doctor I am 46 and had bone on bone for ten years prior to my surgery. I am now 6 months post OP and better than ever. At your age recovery will be easy. I had two surgeons one did the right knee and the other did the left knee at the same time. My primary surgeon did one knee and supervised the other one. I can not tell the difference between them at this point. I started PT at 3 days and was able to return to work at 7 weeks.

Max

 

[Josephine]

Don't get a much better recommendation than that, Max.

 

[cindy88fan]

Best of luck with your surgery! I made an appointment for next Tuesday to talk to my Dr. about getting both done at the same time.

 

[cindy88fan]

Thank-you so much!!! I made an appointment for next Tuesday to talk to my Dr. to find out exactly why he doesn't want to do both at the same time. I've been through knee surgeries before (not tkr) just major repairs. I know I can handle it even though this is a lot more tough. I just think if I don't get both done at the same time I won't want to go back for the other.
Thank-you Max!!!

 

[cindy88fan]

Huntington Indiana

 

[ship4]

Cindy,
I am glad you have the OS appt to discuss bilateral knee replacement. I had BTKR on 6/18/08. As far as I am concerned, it is the only way to go with needing 2 of them. One surgery, one recovery and they recover evenly...... Worked out great for me.
Best,