First-timer from Oz seeking the basics to knee surgery

[SDW14]

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

 

[beachcomber]

Welcome Sue---
I am on the west coast USA in Oregon and still up--- so I will give some of this a try. I had a PKR 4 months ago and walk without a limp and rode my bicycle for several miles last weekend.

First of all--- if my input is helpful--- can I come and visit you? I have always wanted to visit "downunder". And your place sounds like a beautiful place to recover from a lifestyle-saving procedure.

Realize that this is not an unbiased group--- we all chose to have the surgery after varying lengths of time of trying all the things you mentioned you have been using and decided the reward was worth the price. It's tough-- whether partial of total-- but the arthritis is GONE right away.

ROM= Range of Motion (knee flexion) The amount you need depends on your goals and activity level and the amount you regain depends on a LOT of hard work.

They don't really know how long these new knees will last. Technology is improving so fast and I think it is realistic to expect 15 years... maybe more? Then you would be closer to the "normal" age for KR and have a revision if you so choose But just think of all you can do in those years...

It is good to be as strong and fit as possible before the surgery because muscles weaken quickly and you will recover faster the healthier you are. Extra pounds place exponentially greater force on your joints and every pound you can lose helps.

The decision is yours and a big one. But know that there are many people here who will support you whatever you decide. That's what we do!

 

[Nursepair]

Hi Sue and welcome. I live in Ontario, Canada, emigrated from England 17 years ago. I have a brother -in-law in Sydney, NSW but as yet haven't visited there yet.

1) ROM = Range of Movement = amount of bend in knee after surgery.
2) The prosthesis they use nowadays usually last about 20-25 years I was told, I am
almost 54. It is well worth the op to get out of constant pain.
3) Do whatever you can to improve your muscles and weight, but I only had 2 months
prior to surgery. Maybe that's why I am still very stiff and swollen and may need an
MUA (manipulation under anaesthetic), but I still wouldn't have wanted to wait
with that pain any longer.

Hope all goes well. Keep posting and read some of the older posts to see what to
expect, Try back in the January posts. Sue B

 

[klinger]

Hi Sue, The definative answer will vary from person to person. When I had my knee done I walked out of the hospital the bloke next to me insisted his son wheel-chaired him out.They can last 25 some only 10. If you have it done you wont have bone on bone,now thats a good start! Me? I,d say get it done, at no time have I been in agony,stiffness and swelling Yes. I walked without sticks after 3 wks and no limping(bet you limp..lol) Good luck,be brave and positive, and go for it,Cheers Klinger the Pom

 

[Turtlelady53]

Welcome, Sue,
I had the same questions, as I am 55 years old and am scheduled to have both knees replaced in June. My OS told me that he uses a different prosthesis in the "young" patients (oh I LOVED that flattery!). Anyway, this particular one doesn't wear down as quickly. He also told me that when/if it does wear out, that he only has to replace the one part (kind of like the artificial cartilage piece) which is not nearly as invasive as a total replacement. Now what is the name of the prosthesis? I haven't a clue! Guess I'll have to find out--I'm just trusting him. He said it should give me a good 20 years.

I think most folks on the forum have tried just about everything to manage the pain before making the decision for replacement. I have one knee not nearly as bad as the other, but I figured what the heck? Get them both done and be over with it. Why keep managing pain when you can be pain-free? I'll cross that 20-year bridge when I get to it. Who knows what technology they will have then.

Good luck! I think lots of folks here would LOVE to take a trip to downunder!
Sharon

 

[Rowdy66]

Hey Sue, While I Won't Have My Knees Replaced For About Two More Weeks There Are Many Things In Your Post That I Can't Comment On. What I Can Comment On Is The Waiting And The Weight Loss. I Have Lost About 70 Pounds Thus Far And It Took Me The Better Part Of The Year To Lose That Much. I Don't Know How Much You Have To Lose Or What Level Of Exercise You Can Tolerate. I Lost My Weight Doing No Exercise As My Legs Are So Bad And Have Been From The Moment They Started Hurting That There Was No Way That I Could Do More Than I Do At Present. I Continue To Do Minor Housework But That Does Not Include Running The Sweeper. I Do The Laundry And Change The Sheets, Which Just About Kills Me, And I Love To Cook So I Will Give Up That Chore As A Last Resort And Then Only Kicking And Screaming. I Still Get Up At 2:30 Every Morning And Fix My Husband His Lunce And Fix His Breakfast And Serve It To Him In Bed. That Is The Hour I Most Enjoy Being With Him And We Have Just Always Done It That Way. Spoils Him A Bit, Yes, But He Is Worth It. He Spoils Me In More Ways Than I Can Even Begin To Count. Anyway I Am Lucky That My Oldest Son Came Home To Live About Two Years Ago When His Marriage Broke Up. He Has Stayed With Us To Help Me And Once I Am On My Feet Again He Will Most Likely Either Move In To A Place Of His Own Or In With His Younger Brother Around The Corner. Anyway, Like I Said I Am Lucky. As For Putting The Surgery Off I Would Hate To See Anyone Wait Like I Have Done And End Up In This Much Pain All The Time. I Get No Relief And Can't Imagine The Pain From The Surgery Could Be Any Worse Than What I Am Going Through Now. At Least I Will Be Able To Stand Up Straight Again. Having My Knees So Horrible Bowed From The Deformity This Has Caused Has Made Me Have Terrible Pain In My Hips And In My Already Bad Back. I Would Love To See Australia, You Are Indeed Lucky But Then We Have Some Pretty Wonderful Sites Here In Arizona So I Will Most Likely Stay Home And Enjoy The Dessert And Mountains That Surround Us. I Understand England And Canada Are Also Very Beautiful Too So We Are All Probably Pretty Lucky No Matter Where We Live. Rom Is Range Of Motion As In How Much You Can Bend Your Knees. Anyway Hope You Are Going To Be Posting Here, You Won't Find A Better Bunch Of People To Give You Advise And Encouragement. I Feel That This Forum Has Been A Real Anchor For Me During A Very Trying Time And I Certainly Do Appreciate The Folks On Board Here. Happy Posting, Rowdy

 

[SDW14]

Thanks everyone for your support in answering my basics. It's great to know that advice is coming from such far-flung places as the UK, Canada and various parts of US.

Yes, it is lovely 'downunder' - although many parts of the country, especially here in the south-east corner, are extremely dry after 6-8 years of very low rainfall. It's sad to see our mighty Murray-Darling river system so low on water, especially as it reaches into South Australia and the mouth, where the natural wetlands are more like a salt pan than a sustainable natural environment for the wildlife that needs to breed there!

Still, there's lots to see and do here - we've just come back from 10 days in the 'outback' - so if any of you decide to visit we could exchange some emails to see what your interests are.

Now back to my knee:
Based on what I've read on this Forum and your initial advice, I've composed a list of 50 or so questions that I now want to put to my OS. I've just spoken to his practice manager who said that I can email them direct to the OS and he will respond. I also quizzed her about some of my concerns, eg wear-out time, and, in her unbiased way, she's got me thinking that I should try to manage my pain, lose some weight, get fitter and delay a TKR for as long as possible.

I'll let you know the outcome and my decision soon.

Bye for now.
Sue