Finally, hopefully some relief

[Laurierocs]

I am 50 years old, somewhat overweight but very active and atheletic. I work in the food industry and therefore have to be extremely mobile. I've been battling a knee problem since May when I tore my meniscus. Had that removed in July. Have had nothing but trouble since then. Lost my managerial position due to the fact I couldn't walk and do the job I was hired to do. Am now working in a demoted job with medical restrictions. I changed Doctors because I felt I wasn't making enough progress. My Doctor now finally has agreed to do a partial knee replacement after trying the cortizone shots, physical therapy, basically exhausting all other means.

My question is this: He doesn't do the minimal invasive surgery. I've done research on this subject on the internet but still don't know if I should change Dr.'s again and have the MIS surgery. We have a Dr. here in town that specializes in the MIS surgery and even advertises it on TV. Does anyone think it is worth changing Dr.'s again to have this procedure?

Also should I ask the Dr. to just give me the total knee replacement instead of the partial because of the level of physical activity I do on a daily basis?

Thanks all opinions are greatly appreciated!

Laurie

 

[Josephine]

Yes, yes, yes! Go for the MIS! And some do the total knee with an MIS approach so I would check into that as well. Only proviso - you say you are a 'bit' overweight - well if your legs (especially round the knees) are tubby, then it might preclude you from this.

However, the hospital stay is about 2-3 days and recovery and rehab are more than halved so it is well worth the effort of changing.

I know about the catering industry - my sister was in it all her working life and she ended up with shot knees as well. Best of luck with your search. Let us how you get on, ok?

 

[Laurierocs]

Ok, just went to the Dr. yesterday(that does not do the MIS surgery) Actually had the PA, he was giving me a cortizone shot to give me relief until my surgery on Dec. 10. When I asked him about the MIS surgery this is what he said...With the MIS surgery you're on the table for almost twice as long because it's a harder surgery with the small incisions. That increases the chance of infection. Also with the MIS surgery, you have to do about 50 surgeries to "Get good" at it. He likes to open the knee up a bit more so he can make sure nothing, like cement, gets pushed behind the components. With the MIS surgery, he indicated the chances of THAT happening are greater.

Where I live, we have one surgeon that I know does the MIS surgery because he advertises on the TV and in the paper. I find it interesting that he has to advertise to get business. Hmmmm.......

After speaking with my Dr.'s PA, I've decided to stay with them. He says they make the incision much smaller than they used to. But I'm still probably looking at 6 week recovery.

Thanks,
Laurie

 

[Cathie]

Laurie,

I went to 4 doctors before I made any decision. One actually told me that I had LITTLE Arthritis and did NOT need surgery. HA!! Anyways, I had the MIR and I am glad I did. I was only on the table for an hour and a half. I was amazed. But the doctor I chose is one that specializes in knee and hip replacements. He actually teaches it. I wanted someone that knew exactly what he was doing, and I didn't care about bedside manner or anything like that. I also did not have a general anesthesia, and I really think that helped alot...I was wide awake 2 hrs after surgery. Modern technology!!! I wish you the best!
Cathie

 

[Josephine]

Ok, just went to the Dr. yesterday(that does not do the MIS surgery) Actually had the PA, he was giving me a cortizone shot to give me relief until my surgery on Dec. 10. When I asked him about the MIS surgery this is what he said...With the MIS surgery you're on the table for almost twice as long because it's a harder surgery with the small incisions. That increases the chance of infection. Also with the MIS surgery, you have to do about 50 surgeries to "Get good" at it. He likes to open the knee up a bit more so he can make sure nothing, like cement, gets pushed behind the components. With the MIS surgery, he indicated the chances of THAT happening are greater.

Where I live, we have one surgeon that I know does the MIS surgery because he advertises on the TV and in the paper. I find it interesting that he has to advertise to get business. Hmmmm.......

After speaking with my Dr.'s PA, I've decided to stay with them. He says they make the incision much smaller than they used to. But I'm still probably looking at 6 week recovery.

Thanks,
Laurie

Well, I really wouldn't take the opinion of one guy to be verbatim. He obviously doesn't feel comfortable about MIS which is his choice, but his reservations aren't the be all and end all of it. You could go to six other surgeons and get six other opinions but I'll bet that at least four of them would tell you that MIS is a great advance in joint replacement.

For what it's worth, I have known conventional approach replacements be on the table for 3-5 hours for various reasons and the infection rate is still the same standard - around 0.01% overall. And having mistakes like bits of cement being left in the wrong place are not at all exclusive to MIS.

In my humble opinion, he sounds like he's just justifying continuing with the old "tried and tested" approaches which is an attitude I have met quite frequently over the years.

There was a time when people had torn cartilages in their knees, that we used to open up the joint and remove the cartilage in what we now know to be a very clumsy and damaging manner. Around the early 70s, someone proposed we use a keyhole approach with little telescopes (but no cameras - it was before they came in!) and a lot of traditionalists laughed and scoffed at the surgeons using this. It took a lot longer, they said (true) therefore there was increased risk of infection (false) and surgeons doing them would, perforce, be incompetent because it was a new procedure (well, true to begin with but not now).

So you see, whilst some traditionalists will always poo-poo new ideas, the truth is that this procedure has fast become the treatment of choice because of the many, many benefits it has.

However the choice, naturally, is yours and whatever that is, I hope it goes well for you.