In 2006 It was determined that I needed a full knee replacement. I was 40 and they said that both my knees are like "80 year old knees". My mom has three arthritis' and on my dads side there is degenerative disc disease, which I have and I have had C6 & C7 replaced.
When I woke up from surgery (this MD is so nice I really like him) he said that he decided to do a partial because that's where it was worse. Within about 6 months, I saw an MD at another top ortho clinic who said based on an xray that he felt it was loose and ordered a bone scan and suggested I see what the original MD says. He was good about it, said it was over his comfort level and referred me to another MD in his office. He did a revision to a total knee in 2007. Last fall my knee started freezing up and swelling really bad. When it swells, I can't bend or lift my leg. I literally have to pull on my pants to lift it... very strange. I went to an ortho quick clinic when I had a flair up and she manipulated the knee and felt the "slip/wiggle" that I feel when I lift my leg to walk. She did an xray and said that she saw lines to show loosening and given when she felt, she thought a bone scan was needed to get right down to it.
So I made that appt and called the MD that did the surgery. I'm the first to admit that I didn't have enough follow-up appts with him - but I had no symptoms, I was feeling good other than the bad leg days we always have now and then and I didn't want to waste time or money. His PA said that a bone scan was overboard and we should just do a blood test for infection. Because the bone scan can show both - I kept the appt. I got the results last night on which was probably my most painful day ever so far. I called his office to schedule an appt and the MD himself called me at home. I met him inbetween surgeries today and he's confident that there is no infection, but he doesn't know how it could be loose after only 4 years. I showed him the bone scan result, I showed him the xray that was done last month and I reminded him about my partial becoming loose. He did say that he had to create a spacer below the lower leg "platform piece" because of what was cut out for the partial. I also told him about my history of degenerative bone disease.
The other office has stated that it does need to be fixed... it's all a matter of how long I can stand it and what's going on in my life.
I'm going to meet with my original surgeon again week after next and he's going to do another xray and compare it to the xray from right after the surgery to see the differences. He says that something is wrong - but maybe it's just a pinched nerve or something so he as prescribed Disarcali or Sasa.. something(spelling?) a non- narcotic heavy duty asprin since I can't take ibuprofen.
So.. this is where I sit. I'm concerned about this MD's ability to fix it, do I switch centers and go to another MD? I'm concerned about a new guy not believing how sucky my bones are and also about the idea of anything in this world that will make a joint replacement cooperate.
I will thank god tonight in my prayers for leading me to this site. I have learned so much already about coping, asking questions of MD's, things to consider. I'm only 44 and to have 3 within 4 years sounds strange to me.. but obviously is not that uncommon (unfortunately for all).
United States
