just curious

[misscheer]

I finally figured out what a BTKR was. What I am wondering is if the majority of the people that post have had previous problems with their knee. I had athroscopic surgery in 2002 for a torn meniscus Everything was great until 2006 when I had another scope. That one did not help was in pain for a year not bad pain but just achy. I had another scope in 2007, that one did nothing either. Finally in Feb of 2008 had the last scope and was then given three options " live with it for a few years, have more shots tried them all or have a TKR" I choose the TKR. Had that on June 23rd 2008. So happy that I had it done no more pain can do everything I did before. Did most of the people that have posted have a lot of problems with their knees. I have recovered so well that I felt I did not belong on this site. This site has helped me so much in my recovery and I am happy I found it. I feel guilty at times because I have had no problems at all. I am back to normal with the bend and the flex I only had four weeks of PT then I just did it on my own. I am extremely happy that it is done and I am back to the old me. No more pain at all can walk like I used to and as far and fast as I used to. thanks to everyone for all the help that I have received.

 

[Josephine]

I'm just curious if you have read any of the other threads in here, misscheer. (just kidding!

) There are a LOT of people who have had previous surgeries of all sorts.

I was also intrigued by the scopes you had where you said there was no improvement. Scopes are really for diagnostic purposes and will rarely improve an arthritic joint. Sometimes the washout and/or debridement will have a short term result and I did once meet a man who had staved off the inevitable with regular scopes for about 5 years but he was a lucky exception.

However, you seem to have had a great outcome and I'm very happy for you. That's fantastic!

Ultimately, if you have arthritis, eventually you're going to need treatment!

 

[JenniferG]

I had Bilateral (both knees) TKR and also healed well, quickly and with no incidents. At times felt awkward because of that, but more... incredibly grateful. Not only did this site tell me the horror stories that I was spared from, it let me know what that I was going through was totally normal and would pass. As far as prior knee problems. I had a torn meniscus that was revealed in an MRI, but the OS said the rest of the knee was so bad the best thing to do was replace the whole thing anyway.

 

[RickB]

Misscheer,

I ended up having BTKR because I injured my left knee in 1965 and had surgery. In 1992 was told I was bone on bone due to OA and too young to have my knee replaced. I just limped along until this summer when I wore out my right due to using it to do all. I now wish I had done something about my left long ago and I would have saved my right knee.

God Bless,
Rick

 

[Simon]

I started having problems in high school some 40 plus years ago. I had patellar malalignment with patella alta which is basically a patella that rides high up on the femur and that contributes to a knee joint that does not track correctly which leads to frequent subluxations (partial dislocations) or dislocations of the knee. Because the patella does not move smoothly over the joint you get alot of wear and tear leading to chondromalacia under the patella. On top of this I played sports that were the worse for this problem, volleyball, track and did alot of backpacking. This was in the 60's when no one thought women played that hard so I just kept playing and learned to pop the knee back into place. In my mid-20's it got so bad, I did have surgery to realign the right knee (the worse one). Surgical error caused a 2nd surgery. Well that started a 15 year period of surgery (9 major ones and a few scopes) to realign the knee, change the anatomy to relieve pressure on parts of the joint, partial removal of 1 patella and a few other things. None totally worked but I was able to get by for periods of time. Of course all that surgery, along with the general damage done by the alignment my OS told me I would have to have them replaced by the time I was 40ish. He was right about that but I just kept putting it off till I finally could not take it any longer and a BTKR on June 3rd at 57

Of course the delay just caused more damage to the knees and made BTKR difficult. In fact the right one took just over 4 hours and ended up with a minor tibia break due to previous bone graft.

Things are going pretty good now, just slow but given all the old scar tissue on top of the new I am happy with the result. I do think I will hit 120 with both of them before I see the OS in mid November.

Also have to contend with feet that overpronate (roll out to the sides) but orthotics keep that pretty stable.

Simon

 

[Syd]

i started having problems i guess over 20 years ago, but minor cracking and occassional sticking and aches. I was in my 20's, but was a big girl and i'm afraid got a bit bigger w/ age. on my mom's side the women all had some kind of knee and cartiledge problems. in my teens i was in an accident that did impact my knees somewhat, but nothing really significant at that time. i wasn't sporty, and of average clumsyness. so - why did i have a problem? i guess it was in the genes and in the weight, which of course became even a greater concern over the last couple years with not wanting to move around much due to pain, sleep interuption due to pain, and a last straw of not being able to walk around malory square in key west last year due to pain, and simply wanting to curl up and cry. not the best way to enjoy a vacation! i love to travel, and do things, and that was devestating for me.

About 10 years ago i made my first foray to a surgeon. my knees kept locking and disappearing - mostly my right. zHe talked about the percussion section in my knees - honestly, people across the room would hear them crack and pop! So had the athroscopic surgery on my right knee about 10 years ago. there was talk of replacement, but at that time it was only expected to last 10 years (which means i'd be having it done a second time by now! and i'm only 48! yikes). it seemed to help considerably. 2 years later the left knee was done, and about a year after that the right one started hurting again. we tried synvisc (sp?) to limited results. and then the pain meds - taken off the market twice i think. a year ago i hit my bottom and went to a surgery center that specializes in joint replacements in my neck of the woods. fortunately, my insurance was good! unfortunately, my first appointment was a bit of a disaster, and by the end not only was the adolescent (to my eyes only) surgeon willing to do two knees, i wasn't willing to let him cut. let's just say bedside manner wasn't great. so we did cortesone, and then another viscuos treatment that did nada. this particular group has offices all over the area, and when i realized i couldn't put it off any longer i also decided to have it done at a hospital nearer my home (the other was nearer my work). it also meant i had to change docs. i told my situation, and was assigned a surgeon who happened to have an opening in a month if i could keep it. i figured it was a sign and took it. and....i think it was! he specialized in knees with "young people"! LOL! i cried. lol. he offerred to do two knees if possible if i were willing. I was. My downsides - greater chance of bad stuff happening of course, my weight impacting that the most. up sides - i'm young (i guess by the normal curve if you will), motivated, smart.

two months later i completed the BLKR, spent a few days in the hospital, a week in rehab, a few weeks w/ minor home based PT, and just last week started OP PT, and driving. i've worked my butt off, and have had great support, and a ton of luck. i'm so grateful to have completed this. i understand i'm doing really well, and am grateful for that.

i was overjoyed when i found this list because after the surgery, i realized i didn't know squat, and would have to advocate for myself (especially in the rehab). i learned a lot of things from everyone here, including the language, signs, normal stuff, and what to keep my eyes open for. i can't thank this group enough.

so it you may not feel that this is the right site for you, but i'd say hang out a bit. you may find new things to learn, or be one of the folks who lends support, encouragement, and information to someone scared to death like i was.

thanks everyone. and thanks mischeer for posting your question. it gave me a chance to say thanks here.

Syd

 

[misscheer]

thanks for answering. We still cannot figure out how I hurt my knee and had to have a TKR. I was a cheerleader in High School but that was 30 years ago, I did not play sports and never had a problem with my knee until 2002. Then it was just the meniscus tear. I do a lot of walking and I did push a four seated carriage for a few years I went up hills and walked in the snow and ice. So that is probably why I hurt my knee my right one is great no problems at all. Still it seems strange that only one would be bad when Iused both to push the carriage up and down hills. Thanks again for all the info

 

[Josephine]

Ah - therein lies one of the great mysteries of life! Maybe your other knee is just a late starter and will catch up in time! OTH, you may be lucky and get away with only one - many people do.