Ready To Chicken Out

[MAMAYAMA]

I've got four days before the BIG day and am questioning my decision to have my TKR now. After reading many threads I feel that many of you were in much more pain than I am. I have days that my knee hardly bothers me and then days that I can hardly walk. The time it bothers me the most is at night. I wake up with pain. I am limited in activities and can't get up an down like I once could, but is that enough to go through the surgery now? I know no one can decide for me, but I'm needing some input. I know this question has been asked, but here it is ONE MORE TIME - What made you decide to have your TKR when you did?

 

[Skeet]

I understand your concerns. I was not in as much pain as many on the forum seemed to be. I had some pain when I walked but intermittently I had pretty bad pains; sounds like you are in about the same place I was. My sleeping wasn't affected at all that I remember. I had an injury many years ago that resulted in cartilage being removed and then OA resulted after 20 years. I had a high tibia open wedge osteotomy in 2001 to delay the time until I needed a TKR. When the pain started up again I researched the TKRs. I knew I had no other real options, it was just a matter of time. I had a cortisone shot to help relieve my pain until surgery. I am allergic to sulfa drugs so cannot take most of the arthritis drugs to relieve pain. I knew my knee would only get worse and I read that results were better for folks that didn't wait until their knee was in really horrible shape. The final decision on timing had to do with my insurance changing from a $500 copay to 10% of the cost of the surgery (which can be like $30-40k). For the first 4-6 weeks I was sure I had made a huge mistake having it done so soon, but now at almost 7 months, I am so glad I did it.

Here are some reasons to go ahead with a TKR, just FYI:

Severe knee pain that limits your everyday activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs. You may find it hard to walk more than a few blocks without significant pain and you may need to use a cane or walker.

Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either day or night

Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve with rest or medications

Knee deformity: a bowing in or out of your knee

Knee stiffness: inability to bend and straighten your knee

Failure to obtain pain relief from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications, including aspirin and ibuprofen, often are most effective in the early stages of arthritis. Their effectiveness in controlling knee pain varies greatly from person to person. These drugs may become less effective for patients with severe arthritis.

Inability to tolerate or complications from pain medications

Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as cortisone injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries

Hope this is helpful for you. If I felt as you describe... I'd go ahead with it.

God bless you and guide you in your final decision.

 

[JenniferG]

Skeet, you are so tactful and lovely... that's good.
My first thought was more like "don't you dare chicken out! ..." But really Mama, the pain does not stay the same or get better. Aboslutely you have to be the one to want and decide for this surgery. But my guess is that if you got a surgeon to actually schedule it you need it. Poor sleep contributes to a whole host of other problems, hardly walking and limited activities is likely to contribute to eventual weight gain, 5 lbs or 50, all more stress on your knees. I would have probably had it sooner if I could have and certainly if I had truly realized the relief on the other side. I'm sure you have heard this before but truly, I ask myself, why did I wait so long. You definitely have to be mentally ready,but I'm guessing that you are, to get to the 4 days away point. All you have to do is get to the hospital. They take it from there. And when you wake up it's done and you are left with no choice but to heal, and get better. Oh yeah, and stop hurting and move pain free again, you deserve that.

 

[lgobrien]

Mama -
I too was not in as much pain as others, but I know it's because I just became more and more sedentary. In the five years I have dealt with the pain, I found I stopped doing things that gave me any pain... resulting in a 35 pound weight gain. I am 54 years old and found I was almost as sedentary as my my 78 year old mom. Was this really the life style I want? When I tried to do some gardening this past spring and found I hurt for over a week after just doing a little bit, I decided this WAS NOT THE QUALITY of life I wanted. I was starting to hold my husband back from things we could be doing together.

Again, it's your decision, but are you happy with your quality of life? What do you really miss doing that you really want to do again?

Laurie

 

[Linda2]

I, too, am having anxiety about my upcoming surgery. I also don't have as much pain as some do, but pain is a subjective thing--not always the best indicator. If your OS recommended it, it probably is a sooner or later thing anyway. I'm figuring I can't have it any younger, any stronger, or in better overall health, so I'm going for it.

 

[Nursepair]

Good for you Linda. It is really worth it. The pain after surgery won't last forever, walking with your old knees will!! Good luck to you and Mama. Sue

 

[Katie]

I just discovered this website today. I took myself to an othropedic doc in November; he took xrays which indicated that I had no cartiledge on the inner sides of both knees. I was bone on bone. I was shocked when he said he said that I needed a TKR on both knees. I never expected to get that diagnosis as everyone I knew or had heard of that had TKR talked about all the pain they had prior to surgery. He said that arriving at the decision to have surgery is a mindset and I would eventually reach a point where I didn't want to endure the pain and/or didn't like the quality of my life.

Eight months later, I still don't have the pain so many talk about....I have days when I have a great deal of discomfort and others where I manage....so in my mind, I have been rationalizing it out that I really am not a surgery candidate. I have been .. for some reason.... postponing the decision because I thought I needed to be worse off. It was enlightening when I read "chickening out." When I read through the threads, I saw myself in each of your posts. It was a real eye opener and at the same time, I felt so good that I found other people that are feeling or thinking like me.

I, too, have the inactivity driven by the discomfort which has lead to weight gain, not participating in activities and functions I used to because of the discomfort, feeling discomfort quickly when I stood for any length of time, not being able to walk distances and thus avoiding walking any distance.
Whenever I would have a good day....it would set my thinking back to where I would say, "Now do I look like someone who needs surgery?"

It's funny how we grow so accustom to the changes in our life because they happen gradually, but when I run into someone who hasn't seen me for a while, they point out how differently I am walking and recognize a problem with my knees/legs right away. I've been told that it can cause hip problems to develop, bowing of the legs, etc.

I am not someone who likes to talk all kinds of medication. And what's the use, if ultimately, you have to have the surgery anyway. The problem cannot correct itself. New cartlilege just doesn't grow back. So why is so hard to move forward and schedule the surgery. What finanlly made you just do it?

 

[ship4]

What finanlly made you just do it?

I am 58, and much like you did not experience much "daily" pain. It was my quality of life, inactivity, and weight gain that led me to BTKR on 6/18/08. I am 3 weeks out, and know this was the right decision for me. I am looking forward to getting back to living my life! This is how my OS explained it to me as well. My knees would "collapse" as times especially on stairs. I asked about it and was told it was a pain response in the brain.
Get the book broken link removed: https://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/isbn=9780897934398/and prepare yourself for the surgery. It has been a wonderful resource....
You have to want to have a better quality of life.........
Best,
Crystal

 

[JenniferG]

People who had it before me would always tell me you'll know when it is time... They told me that about 12-18 months before I went to the OS that did my Bilateral KR. I knew. I sat and did nothing because it hurt so much. And even when it wasn't about the pain, it was exhausting. The pain was greater than the fear. i couldn't live the way i was any more and no remedy was working... But for the record I am way off when it comes to suffering. I tend to go way longer than is good. High tolerance for pain. And why should you wait to the point of CRIPPLING pain. Why let it get that bad? After my surgery I asked the PA who assisted how bad mine were on a scale of 1-10. She said 8. Suffering of an 8 or higher is not a requirement.

 

[dar]

Like the others here, I just stopped doing everything I could once do so I wouldn't have to be in pain. That only made me inactive and gain weight. I could no longer walk around the block, shop the day after Thanksgiving, climb stairs normally and I kept losing my balance and falling over. I started using a cane at 43 and taking more and more pain killers that did less and less. It was going to happen some day - I didn't want to wait until I was as bad as my father and aunt had got. My OS recommended it and when I asked him if I was unwise to consider it so early in life and he said --- "not at all". I asked him if he had any reservations and he said --- "none". Soooo, could I have waited - sure I could have, but what would I miss in the mean time. Don't chicken out because you are comparing your pain level to others. I plan on so much for my next year -- shopping, gardening, walking around that block again and again. What do you want to start doing again? Don't miss out -- join us and start your adventure!

 

[hess]

I did not experience swelling or stiffness, but then again, I really changed by way of life. I am the mother of 3 very active young boys, and I really look forward to keeping up with them.

It is a scary decision, but I truly think that I made the right decision, actually, it really was the only decision for me.

Keep in mind, it will only get worse, and it won't get better unless you help it along.

Tough decision, so good luck,
Hess

 

[Linda2]

What made me decide to do this? I want my life back.

 

[MAMAYAMA]

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU - You people are awesome. I needed to know that there were other people that were not using a cane or dealing with constant pain. I now feel confidant that having it is the best thing. I also have gained a great deal of weight, and am too limited in my activities. I have gotten to coming home from work and going right to bed in front of the T.V. I use to be doing something almost every night. I'll be in touch tomorrow after I see my OS.

 

[Skeet]

I am proud of you for making a choice and I will pray it is the best choice for you. The book Crystal recommended is excellent and portrayed things quite accurately. Also, this forum is a Godsend. Use it constantly!

Blessings!

 

[tjhemel]

I had BTKR April 18 and I really did not have much pain at all. I questioned my decision even as I was laying on the table ready get my IV.

I have had chronic knee problems all my life and I realized after my last mission trip that my knees were getting worse. I was really slow going up and down stairs and I would hold onto my husband if we went down an incline. I watched a video of our trip which showed us getting off a bus. I am only 54 and I took the stairs like I was 100! So I went to an OS and the xrays didn't lie. After much prayer and conversations with other people, I knew that if was going to continue doing what I am called to do, I needed new knees. I am almost three months out. It has been frustrating at time, but for the most part I am glad I did it. I asked to OS if my knees were as bad as they looked and he said they were much worse then the xrays showed.

Obviously it is your final decision, but is the xrays show no cartliage TKR is the only optoin until they can figure out how to replace cartliage.

 

[Gretchendz]

Mamayama,

I'm like many of the other posters...I was not really in constant pain. I'm 56. I have gained much weight last 2 years. I was slowing down and wasn't even fully aware of it.

I had TKR on right knee April 23.

Until I started to recover, I did not fully realize how the knee was negatively impacting my life. I rarely took even Advil and did not realize how bad it was until a trip to Venice last fall (think going up and down about 100 bridges a day). My knees were swollen to twice their size by 3 pm each day and I was in tears. Since my mom and sister both had all knees replaced, I knew it was time to go visit an OS.

The doctor's office was kind and did not push surgery but it was clear they were surprised I had not been earlier. My surgeon likes to say "We treat the patient, not the X-rays." Once it was done, he said it was the worst knee he'd ever seen on someone my age.

Examples:

For the first time in YEARS when I get up from a chair I now do not have to push up with my hands.

I now walk up stairs better than in years. Hubby says it was both comical and frightening how I used to "flail" in all directions.

Since I now can stand and walk straight, hubby says I'm 2 inches taller than he thought I was!

I, like others, I feel like I am getting my life back. For me it was such a slow and gradual decline I had no idea how bad it was.

I now realize I had constant "low level" pain that I just accepted. I know this now because the pain is absent!

And all this before I get my left knee done (which I am NOW eager to schedule).

So, take heart. It will be tough for 4-6 weeks--no point hiding that fact. But at a certain point about 6-8 weeks out you'll start noticing all the little things and realize your surgical knee is suddenly your "good" one.

 

[Josephine]

Gretchen, that is a terrific post. So positive!

 

[Katie]

Reading what everyone is writing is so helpful to me. You can't imagine how much it has made me think, and ponder, and help me put it all into perspective. I am so glad I discovered you guys! You are all so right. In my mind, I thought there HAD to be pain to justify the surgery. But what you have all so clearly helped me see is that I am not experiencing the pain because I have become so inactive....I have given up so many of my normal activities. I literally sat here the other night and made a list of things I have stopped doing and you know what...I have just been sitting here watching the world go by. My husband just said to me the other night, "I want the old Katie back." I have decided to make that appointment with the OS. When I had seen him back in November, he had written on my chart "will call at a later date." Well, I am going to call him and tell him that date has arrived.

 

[DaleMc]

I too can relate to most of the posts on this issue. I did not have pain even up to the day I went into surgery. But I knew it was time. I could not walk any distance without getting pain so I did not walk much. I had trouble getting out of a chair. I had trouble with stairs. Even though I did not have pain I could not do the things I needed to do. Something I did not see in any of the posts which is causing me problems with my post recovery is that since I quit doing a lot of the activities I mentioned is that my muscles started shutting down and now that I need them am having to rebuild them. They put the electro shock on my quads and said they needed to go as high as necessary with the shock until they got a contraction. Well they went to the top and I could swear I smelled meat burning but they never did get a contraction. Now I am working on getting it rebuilt. I could not do a leg lift right after surgery but now 2 weeks after I am able to lift my leg and do the other exercises required. Don't put it off to long or it will create other problems that you don't even think about.

Dale

 

[MAMAYAMA]

One GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all of you with your stories. I really was ready to tell the doctor that I thought it was too soon since I am not in constant horrific pain. I was down playing the pain I do live with. So, saw my OS, got preadmitted and curtain call is at 12:00 Noon tomorrow. Thanks again, through all of you I am feeling prepared and know I will get through this with your continued support. YOU ARE GREAT FRIENDS!!!