Hello from downunder. I'm located in regional Victoria about three hours east of Melbourne on the Gippsland Lakes, where our lovely autumn (fall) weather has taken a sudden cold turn.
I was fortunate enough to find this wonderful forum in a Google search after my first appointment with an OS yesterday. He showed me the facts on my x-rays - bone on bone on the inside left knee, and said the only solution is a KR (he didn't explain whether it would be full or partial, and I didn't know to ask this then).
I'm 58, and have the good fortune to have retired so won't have the workplace issues that many of you raise. I also have a caring partner who has also retired and an 'easy' house with lovely sunny views over the lakes.
However there are a few initial questions that I'd appreciate help with before I commit to the op, which would take place in late July:
1. I keep reading about ROM. What is this?
2. My real concern is that if I have a knee op at 58, I'll need another one in 8-10 years, which may not be as successful. Does anyone have advice on whether I should try to go on managing the pain as I have been over the past few months (swimming, hydro, physio, myotherapy, passive exercise, glucosamine + chondroitin, pain killers) for a few more years or should I go ahead with the replacement now?
3. If I do go ahead with the op, I'm inspired by many of your pre-op experiences to lose weight and build up flexibility and strength. Do you think a 3-month timeframe to do this is long enough?
Looking forward to your ideas.
Thanks
Sue W
I was fortunate enough to find this wonderful forum in a Google search after my first appointment with an OS yesterday. He showed me the facts on my x-rays - bone on bone on the inside left knee, and said the only solution is a KR (he didn't explain whether it would be full or partial, and I didn't know to ask this then).
I'm 58, and have the good fortune to have retired so won't have the workplace issues that many of you raise. I also have a caring partner who has also retired and an 'easy' house with lovely sunny views over the lakes.
However there are a few initial questions that I'd appreciate help with before I commit to the op, which would take place in late July:
1. I keep reading about ROM. What is this?
2. My real concern is that if I have a knee op at 58, I'll need another one in 8-10 years, which may not be as successful. Does anyone have advice on whether I should try to go on managing the pain as I have been over the past few months (swimming, hydro, physio, myotherapy, passive exercise, glucosamine + chondroitin, pain killers) for a few more years or should I go ahead with the replacement now?
3. If I do go ahead with the op, I'm inspired by many of your pre-op experiences to lose weight and build up flexibility and strength. Do you think a 3-month timeframe to do this is long enough?
Looking forward to your ideas.
Thanks
Sue W