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Hi I'm Maurice aka Oldmancrash

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Oldmancrash

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Mar 25, 2009
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Hi everyone. I am new here as you can tell. I am 46 and been fighting my knees for about 25 years. I have these nice scares running down both sides of each knee. I have had ligament transplant, cartilage has been removed out of both knees, numerous arthroscopes.

My doctor at the time of all my surgeries told me that I will have pain the rest of my life I just have to deal with it. So in the last 25 years I have learned how to deal with the constant pain. I have raced dirt bikes, stock cars, and about 7 years ago found the love for racing mountain bikes. I am and have been for the last 25 years over weight (girlfriend that turned into wife who makes some good meals) by about 40 pounds which I do know has an effect on my knees.

About 4 years ago I got sick with what I thought was a cold that turned into having a pacemaker implanted as my heart was starting to fail. After the implant I found that there was not to much I could do without being out of breath very quickly. So I started to become a couch potato.

Fast forward to summer of 2008. I started to have more pain in my knees. My wife found a great doc and I went to see him. After some x-rays he told me that he couldn’t believe that I was able to even walk never mind do daily routines. He said that I really needed TKR in both knees but was to young. He suggested that I try synvisc injections.

Well in early August during the first shot in the right knee (the one at that moment that hurt the most) I about cried. The pain was incredible. A couple of hours after I was beginning to notice I did not have as much of the normal dull ach pain. Round 2 and 3 of synvisc injections went pretty easy. But in January I started to notice my pain beginning to rise. Within a few days it was almost unbearable to walk never mind perform my job.

I went back to the Doc in late January and got a cortisone injection in each knee. About mid February I got another injection in each knee. Late February I was going to see my daughter in GA and knew that I would be hurting from being on planes and walking so I went and asked how many times can we do this and he told be about 5 times a year. So I got another round of injections but noticed this time that there was almost no relief from the pain. But came to the conclusion that flying and walking the beach even though I was hurting might have aggravated it so the injection did not work.

Yesterday morning while getting ready for work my wife dropped one of her earrings down the bathroom sink and it went down the drain. No fear I can save it. Well after pulling the sink trap out I was almost unable to get back up off the floor. I went to work and later in the day I got a phone call from my wife telling me that I had another appointment with the Doc. I refused at first and well let’s just say my wife does not take kindly to being told no. I went to the Doc and he again told me that there is not much that can be done. My wife stepped in and said what are our options? She started to explain that the last 3-4 months the quality of my life has almost become none existant. She explained that we use to be real active on our ATV's but I have not had the desire because I hurt to much. See my wife and I ride our ATV's between 2,000 to 2,500 miles each year and ATVing had become a way of life for us except the last few months which I have ridden less then 75 miles.

He said that I may need to consider TKR. I told him that I thought I was to young and he explained that it is about my only option now. The doctor’s office made an appointment April 7th for me with a specialist with the intent of doing both knees at the same time. I freaked out. I still all to easily remember the mass pain after the old surgeries and time off from work which now is not an option. He told me to calm down that DTKR is not uncommon and that I could be back to work in as little as a week or so as I am a network coordinator so I can have seat time and get up and walk time. This just shocked me.

I called the knee doctor and they just returned my call and explained that I could be looking at surgery as early as April 20th and the recovery really depended on me as far as pain control and PT participation.

So here I sit trying to become an informed patient reading the forums of this site that are answering some of my questions. It’s good to be here but still a little ok maybe a LOT scary knowing what is going to happen shortly. Thanks for being here!
 
Hey, OldMan (funny name for such a young guy!).....I'm so glad you found us here at BoneSmart. You'll find a large, caring family of people here, many who have been through exactly what you're facing.

You certainly have a story and you told it very well!! If I could ask....where are you located (state) and are you near a large city? Sometimes it is better to have the options available at larger orthopedic practices and hospitals, so I was just curious.

As for the doctor who told you that you're too young for a knee replacement, I definitely don't agree! What would they have you do....suffer through the best years of your life??? I like you're wife's assertiveness and it sounds like she will see you get the help you need.

Bilateral TKRs (BTKR) are done fairly frequently for patients who have both knees in equally bad shape. We have a number of folks on the forum who have recovered quite nicely from this surgery. But.....I'm sorry to tell you that your recovery will NOT be one week!!! Even with a "sit-down" job. Was this an orthopedist that told you that or your primary care doctor??? I'm not sure what gave him that idea, but I know of NO ONE on this forum ever who went back to work after one week.

Read through some of the old threads (do a search for bi-lateral TKR or BTKR to find threads on that subject) and you can get a feel for what people went through. Even threads on a single TKR will help you understand the surgery and recovery process.

I won't lie to you. There is pain associated with the recovery.....fairly serious pain in the first month or so. But.....with proper pain management, you can do it. The drugs are great and so important in a good recovery. Keeping pain under control will allow you to move and do your PT as well as keep swelling down from all that movement. The neat thing about pain (if there IS a neat thing) is that it is a "healing" hurt. Those of us who have had knee replacements know what I'm talking about. You just KNOW the hurt gets less and less as you heal so it's not as bad as what you're probably going through now.

Good luck with your doctor's appointment on April 7th. Be sure and read the thread under the Knee Replacement Surgery Discussions category that gives you questions to ask at your first meeting. Let me know if you need help finding that particular thread.

You CAN do this. We'll all be here to help you through it if you need someone to talk to or have concerns.

Oh, and I almost forgot.....we have quite a number of people here who have had replacements at your age and even quite a bit younger. So don't let anyone tell you that you must wait until some "magic" age to start living your life again.
 
Welcome to BoneSmart, Crash!
I am omitting the oldman part! Maurice, you will love getting your life back after having your knees replaced. I am 59 and last June at 58, I had both knees replaced during the same surgery (4.5 hours). It was the best thing I have ever done! I too, was bone on bone in both knees. The OS told me I was a perfect candidate for double knee replacement (BTKR). It is the only way to go as far as I am concerned if you need them both done. Do it at the same time as you can rehab them equally at the same time too.
My advice? First thing go to Amazon.com and purchase the Book and read it and follow the directions. It gives you the low down on what to expect and how to be successful in your recovery. I did purchase a computerized stationary bike to ride on eBay (good deal as it was new but it had a broken fan so it could not blow the wind thru my hair! LOL!!) and a Total Gym (from craigslist.org) locally for $100.
Watch the surgery on You Tube. It lasts about and hour to watch and truly take the time to study what the implant looks like. This surgery is tough during the first couple of weeks, but then you know you are on the other side and the road to getting your life back.
Be sure you go to a surgeon who does lots of these every year..... This is very important. Sorry to say, but it does not sound like the OS you spoke with knows much about total knee replacement. I would be finding an OS who specializes in TKR. Looks like it is time for a second opinion.
I taught PE for 5 years, was a gymnast in HS & College, taught skiing for 7 years, and have had my own child care business for the past 28 years. I just plain wore my knees out. Broke my tibial plateau on the left and had arthoscopy, also had a baker's cyst on the right due to multiple meniscal tears and had arthroscopy on that...... Did the cortisone shots too. It was time to get my life back!
Seven and 1/2 months after surgery, Feb 1st, I was out skiing again! It is so nice to be able to ski and not hurt. I will be able to hike this spring, go for walks longer than around the block, and do the things I had gradually been unable to do. I feel vital again!
Go for it, do your research.....
I loved being able to rehab my knees equally by having them done at the same time. Has been a wonderful process. Work hard!
Best,
Crystal
 
What kind of a "Specialist" told you you could be at work in a week??? I couldn't even sit at a table for meals for weeks. You need to keep your leg elevated and iced and lots and lots of rest. How could you work while on narcotics anyway.

You certainly won't be able to drive for some weeks, you can't drive while on narcotics either.Then there is all the PT you will need. You won't even want to think about work after. Just having a shower will take it out of you for weeks. I think the shortest time anyone has gone back to work is about 8 weeks and even that was reported as very difficult and painful.

Check your rights with regards for getting time off for surgery etc. There must be a law, I don't think they can sack you for that?

Good luck Crash. It will give you your life back, just takes a long time. Sue
 
Hi Maurice,
I am a hip patient and I have just made the decision for surgery....I don't have a lot of pain, but i have lifestyle restrictions ....so how did I come to my decision. ? Firstly I considered the things that Id like to do, ....and can....then I considered the things that I can't do, but would like to........the second list was much bigger than the the first. I'm 42, Ive got 5 kids and a husband and a house to maintain,.... and then i considered the things that I have to do, that I don't want to do as a result of this stupid hip (eg take pain killers, sleep on the lounge because I cant get comfy in bed etc)...so the things i can't do/or don't want to do were much higher on the list. Then...if I do nothing what will happen.? Will it get worse ? If I wait is the surgery harder if I'm older (or younger)....then I considered my age...yes Im young, yes I probably will need a revision....but I need to live now, who knows...I might be hit by a bus before the hips worn out!......Id rather have no pain now, plus range of motion and the ability to get in the game now, and risk that the joint might cause me pain when I'm older...live in the present moment, not in the future...
Rachel
 
Hi Crash! Welcome to the best place in the world for those of us with new knees or needing new knees.

Listen to what everyone else has said! The one thing I will add about the recovery that hasn't been mentioned yet is the TIREDNESS. This is major surgery and it takes all of our body's resources to heal from it, so expect to be tired after small physical exertions. For the first couple of weeks, taking a shower and getting dressed then meant I needed to rest before doing any PT. After PT all I could manage was napping....

No way was work possible within a week! And that was with just one knee. The BTKR folks can give you a better idea of energy levels after having two done at once, but I was amazed at how easily I was exhausted after just a LTKR.

The other issue about going back to work too soon is your mind just won't be functioning normally--the pain meds do this and it also takes time to recover from the anesthesia. Brain fog is normal for several weeks afterwards, and if you're an IT guy, brain fog is NOT going to be good! I had less brain fog after my second TKR, but it was still too bad for the first three weeks for me to even think about trying to work.

Hang in there--and then celebrate when you have your life back! and you WILL have your life back. It doesn't happen as fast as any of us would like, but it DOES happen eventually, and then it is worth all the pain and suffering...and we start forgetting the pain part and move on enjoying the freedom of knees that don't hurt with every little movement.

Weezy
 
Oldman crash

You sure sound like me. I started having problems in high school and by the time I was in my mid 30's I had 9 major knee surgeries and a few scopes so I also have lots of scars around the knees. I also put up with the weight gain, pain and poor quality of life. I also heard the you are too young stuff and they were wrong. The longer you wait the more damage that is done and the harder the surgery becomes. I had BTKR in June and one knee went ok but the other took 3 times as long and the doctor had a horrible time because of scar tissue and the results of the previous operations. Given that the surgery turned out great. Still a bit stiff and it took along time to get the ROM but it was worth it. One thing you might want to find out is if the doctor uses computer assisted surgery as my OS says this makes it easier to get a correct alignment in previously operated knees. It also cuts down on surgery time.

As for going back to work in a week I seriously doubt it. I spent 4 days on the surgery floor and 11 days on the rehab floor. I have a desk job and I work from home on top of that and it took me 4 weeks before I could even start too work part time. You are just too tired and need lots of time for exercising and stuff. Everyone is different but I would say you need at least a month.

I did not have many problems with pain and took heavy duty ones for about 3 1/2 weeks, then some lighter ones for the next few weeks and then just before PT. By problem was with sleep (another common problem).

Given how active you are, it will be nice to have your life back before you are 65!.

This forum will be very helpful to you so keep checking in and asking your questions.

Simon
 
Welcome CRASH!

I am 46 and just had BI-TKR 4 months ago. Your story could have been mine except for the ear ring thing. Todays implants and surgery techniques are amazing. The recovery does indeed depend on participation from the patient. I was back at work in 7 weeks some take longer some shorter. The results are nothing short of a miracle. The day after the surgery a PT tech will come and visit and probably want you to stand and maybe a step or two after that the next days will be about walking. I could imediately tell that first day that when I stood that there was no joint pain the pain was from the incision and some swelling. I cannot describe how it felt after 10-15 years of constant pain what it means to have no pain if you have not experienced it people just do not understand. i wish you good luck and keep posting there are many here that can answer technical questions and others just for support.

Max
 
Thank you all very much for the warm welcome! I have spent several hours on here reading the posts and must say it is a lot to take in. It is interesting of how much there is and how many people have the same story as myself. I have started a word document of questions to ask my surgeon. Several of which have come directly from reading posts on here.


A couple of people in this thread have asked questions. Keep in mind I am a Netwrok Coordinator and I am in no way a typist.

I am in Missoula Montana which is on the western side of the state. Missoula is a smaller city with a small home town feeling. The place I have been referred to is Missoula Bone and Joint and has a pretty good reputation. Amazing when you start asking around you find out who where when and why pretty quick. I have not heard any bad as of yet. But I am waiting for it.

The doctor who said I was to young also the same doctor who said I could return to work in a week,,,,,,,, my family doctor. I was very miffed also as almost a year ago before any of my injections he told me I was to young but now on monday his suggestion is knee replacement. My wife and I had a discussion about this last night and have come to the final conclusion. I believe he may have wanted to see how much I was willing to go threw in order to not hurt. I know this sounds dumb but I very well might have given him the impression I don’t want surgery. Even in my original post here I said I can remember all to well the pains and don’t want to do it again. Well maybe a well listening doctor might have understood that to be I AM NOT DOING ANY MORE SURGERIES, hahaha. Humm imagine that someone actually listened to me. Well it took my wife to step up to the plate for me and ask what is the best next step and he told her. Which now is leading us down this new road to the rest of my life. So please don’t blame the doctor it very well might have been me.

After reading about most of the recovery times being 3-4 weeks I went to a coworker and explained my concerns. Come to find out I can fill out a slip of paper and ask other employees for donations of sick time. Apparently this is not a rare thing at work. So the paper has been filled out and we will see what happens from there.

Again everyone Thank you for your well wishes and time and I am sure I will have questions to come.

Oldmancrash a fun nickname that I have had for many years.
 
Crash,
I believe that you have a very Smart Wife!!! And you both have thought this out and have decided to take that next Step. Right? Remember from this surgery will come Your Freedom from Pain. Something it sounds like from your Post you may not even have a memory of. No Pain!!! Ok pain during the recovery true but, then it will just get better and better. Keep me posted. And tell your wife Hi for me.
^i^
 
As to the "too young for TKR" I would not hold that too much against a doctor in the States...they were all taught that for years. It's only now many are starting to change that opinion. I think in part it is because 20 years ago they just didn't have as much experience & success. Also, the joint replacements are improving all the time. The thinking was to avoid doing the surgery twice and the knees were thought to only last for 20 years.

My young surgeon (probably in his thirties) said he was taught to encourage patients to wait until their 60s for the surgery. When he asked my opinion at a follow-up visit (I'm in my fifties) I was quite vocal that I wish I had done it years before and I'd rather have working legs in my fifties; I'll worry about my 70's and 80's later. If I need to get them done again in 20 or 30 years, I'm good with that. Being able to function and have a normal pain-free life is amazing!
 
Crash.....I'm glad you have such a great attitude. Even if you did get not-so-great advice from your primary doctor, it serves no purpose to spend time thinking about that now. NOW is for looking ahead to your new life with new knees! Sounds like you are well on your way to living that dream. I'm glad the forum has helped already. Don't hesitate to post again any time!!
 
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