Knee Replacement at 25?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Doyley

member
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
137
Age
40
Country
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Gender
Male
Hi all,

I live in the UK. I have had problems with my legs since I was born. I was diagnosed with Larsen's Syndrome when I was 6 weeks old.

Since then I have had multiple surgeries to reconstruct my hips and knees.

The last 5 years I have been getting pain in my left knee. This has been gradually getting worse and worse till the point now where I have trouble sleeping.

About a month ago I had an arthroscopy on my knee. The results showed that my cruciate ligament was wearing away, the cartilage is practically all worn away and I have pretty bad arthritis in there. My consultant said that if I was 50 I would be getting a knee replacement. He tried to perform a chondroplasty but he said that there is too much scar tissue in there and he couldn't do it.
I have been to see him again today and he has said that there is nothing more he can do apart from give me painkillers.
I am sick to death of painkillers, they screw me up almost as bad as my knee does.

Does anybody have any ideas where I can turn to now? I have tried acupuncture, physio, you name it. The only option I can see is a knee replacement.

Many thanks!
 
Hi Doyley and welcome to the forum. Either further discuss with your Doc or get another opinion. As you read things here on the forum you'll see how the general concensus is if you need it, get it. Pain should not be a way of life if there is a remedy, no matter what your age. Several of us, myself included, have had TKR at younger than 40. Why should you spend the next 20 years in pain waiting to be "old enough" to have the surgery when you can spend the next 20 years living your life without pain. Younger does increase the possiblity of replacement/revision again because the parts MAY wear out. But as Josephine so wonderfully pointed out once, If they all truly wore out that often, there would be no time to do new ones because the DRs would be so busy with the revisions. And that is not the case. Keep going until you find a OS that will work with the particulars of your situatuion. Keep posting so we can go along for the ride and maybe even help. Best Jen.
 
Hi Jen, thanks for the reply.

Also thanks for the hope! I was beginning to think I would be stuck with this pain which affects my social and business life.

I don't know if you have any experience of the NHS. They make you wait 6 months for an appointment to see a surgeon then fob you off with a junior doctor for a 5 minute appointment. It is highly frustrating.
 
We have several members from the UK here, adn our knowlaegable moderator Josephie calls the UK home as well. So we certainly have heard the stories and talked of that before as well. All the more reason to get on the list ASAP i suppose and twice if you are allowed for yet another opinion if you need it. Off the top of my head, Klinger andjosephine are UK, but I know there are more and Nursepair is in Canada which has a similar situation medical system I think. Maybe they have some better guidance for your attemptsvto get in ASAP. Most of all KEEP TRYING! Even a years of waiting to see docs is better than 20 waiting to be older.
 
Excellent.
Well my GP is closed on Wednesdays so I will make an appointment to see her tomorrow and get referred somewhere else.
My father is a haematologist, has been for 20 odd years, so he knows a fair bit about the medical side of things. He thinks that I should make a complaint about the consultant that I saw today.
 
Doyley, welcome to the forum. I think Jenn gave you excellent advice and I hope to hear that you get a second opinion here real soon. You are young, but to me that's all the more reason NOT to be in pain for years. Hang tough and let us know how things go for you!
 
We have several members from the UK here, adn our knowlaegable moderator Josephie calls the UK home as well. So we certainly have heard the stories and talked of that before as well. All the more reason to get on the list ASAP i suppose and twice if you are allowed for yet another opinion if you need it. Off the top of my head, Klinger andjosephine are UK, but I know there are more and Nursepair is in Canada which has a similar situation medical system I think. Maybe they have some better guidance for your attemptsvto get in ASAP. Most of all KEEP TRYING! Even a years of waiting to see docs is better than 20 waiting to be older.

Doyley, Star is another UK'er.
 
Hi Doyley - our beloved NHS - doncha just love it!
ai21.photobucket.com_albums_b286_flagady15_smilies_umm.jpg


Now I am going to do my usual thing and ask you where abouts you live, which hospital you were sent to for this consultation. I might be able to make a couple of recommendations but depends where you live.
 
Doyley, welcome to the forum. I was oringinally living in the UK, now in Canada. I really sympathise with you about the NHS. I remember it well!! Maybe if you are willing to travel further afield from where you live you may get help sooner. I believe that used to be a possibility? My mum's friend went in yesterday for her TKR, I believe she only waited a few months. She lives in Basildon Essex. Where are you? Hope you get it sorted soon. All the best. Sue
 
Hi guys,

I live up near Liverpool. My closest hospital is Whiston but I was being treated at Fazakerly (Aintree).
I would be willing to travel, anything to get rid of the pain.
I have just phoned my GP, the closest appointment I can get is a week today!!
 
One week today? That's not bad. I know of surgeons whose private patients can't get to see them that quickly! I just got my appointment to see my knee guy and it's for 30th May! I am more than happy with that!

When you say you would travel anywhere, are you looking for quality or speed of appointment? If the former, you couldn't do better than the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital at Oswestry. One of the premier units in the UK and second only to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

Other than that, there is also the Wrightington Hospital near Manchester where Charnley did all his great work with hips and then with knees.
 
Jo, was that the guy who created that awful Charnley tent? I was so pleased I never had to go into one when I was training in theatre, I am closterphobic. Glad to hear you are finally seeing someone again about your knees. Hope all goes well sweet lady!!


Doyley, that is a very quick appointment for the UK. Usually it's 6 months just to see a specialist. Good luck with your appointment.
 
That's not to see a specialist, that's to see my family doctor about getting referred to a new specialist!

I would just like to find somebody that is willing to do it at my age which is why I am willing to travel.

Thanks again guys!
 
Yes - it's about the time I wait for mine!
 
Hi again all,

I saw my GP today, she tried to convince me that it was pointless but I got her to refer me to the Wrightington Hospital which I'm pleased about. I don't have to wait that long either, my appointment is for the 17th June.

Fingers crossed. Thanks again for your help. I'll let you know how I get on.
 
WONDERFUL! Sometimes God moves against the odds.
 
Eh! That's BRILLIANT! Best place in the entire world! Well, in the UK anyway! I went there on a visit once. Charnley's successor, one Professor Wroblewski, was a real showman and did all sorts of little things to impress the surgeons who were in the group with me. But he always looked at me and winked each time as he could see that I saw right through his 'performance'!

Neat surgeon though but best on hips and long since retired. You'll do well there.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
65,167
Messages
1,596,863
BoneSmarties
39,356
Latest member
JanieMarie
Recent bookmarks
0
Back
Top Bottom