Dang-Bang it.....

[WhiteVTX]

.....I am going to the Orthopaedic surgeon today for an evaluation of my knees for the possibilities of having total knee replacements done. Actually, I had been diagnosed at age 36 of needing them both replaced but I was way too young then. I'm really not as old as they like a person to be before having them done either. However, they are at a point where I am past having no cartilage and being bone-on-bone, I am actually wearing down the ends of the bones now. Pray for me.

[RoseD]

Aw good luck - I hope it all works out for the best for you

[softail02]

.....I am going to the Orthopaedic surgeon today for an evaluation of my knees for the possibilities of having total knee replacements done. Actually, I had been diagnosed at age 36 of needing them both replaced but I was way too young then. I'm really not as old as they like a person to be before having them done either. However, they are at a point where I am past having no cartilage and being bone-on-bone, I am actually wearing down the ends of the bones now. Pray for me.

Probably a wild chance in heck, but.....I just saw a extremely promising something or other on tv a couple of weeks ago that is well into clinical trials for replacing the cartilage is in our knees. I would certainly research any ongoing trials before going thru knee replacement at your age.
Even if you get a 20year knee you will need at least one more replacement.

Can't imagine the pain you must be having now, but even a couple more years with a trial may buy you enough time for even better options and deminish your pain somewhat.

Good luck and take care

[Wyomom]

I am so sorry you are having to go through that. I hope you can get through with as little problems as possible. You are too young to be going through that kind of stuff. Hang in there.

[WhiteVTX]

Well, I am back from the surgeon's office. You should have seen the X-Rays of my knees. They are so far gone that the long bones aren't even in line any more. We talked about other things and he stated that there just isn't anything short of TKR (total knee replacement) they will help me in any way. 20 years? I'll take it....I think Jesus will return before that.

[WhiteVTX]

P.S. I am going to wait until late fall before I do anything because right now it is riding season!!!!

[KimL]

WVTX you and my DH have a lot in common. Both of his knees are bone on bone. He has had about 15 surgerys on his left knee alone. He is about to undergo another surgery on his right knee. All to no avail. He is now walking with a limp because his left leg is shorter than the right due to the operation he had to ease the pain. He is also to young for a knee replacement. He knees went because he ran 5 miles a day in steel toe boots for 26 years in the Military. He is now disable because of it. Chris had a operation that cut the bone completely in half under the knee cap and took out a pie shaped wedge. This realigned the leg as to change the pressure points on the bone. It has helped. But, if he walks to much he suffers really badly. Further you sound just like him. He swears he is not going to let them give him knee replacements because he is not sure if he would be able to ride again. He would rather live with the pain. You guys health should be more important than riding! That is what I tell him all the time. So I completely understand the pain you live with. My prayers are with you and PLEASE take care of your legs!! You need them to ride!!

[amethaelf]

Very much hope you can come to an alternative to such major surgery but it sounds like all the options have been discounted. My hubby played soccer for many years and his knees are now causing him much pain, had surgery on them a few years back but definately needs more work. He is in constant pain so I can imagine how much pain you are in too. I totally understand though why you are waiting til your riding season finishes before getting the op done, I'd do exactly the same.

[firefly]

Sorry to hear that, WVTX. I know a few folks who had the procedure done and feel 100% better and mostly pain free. They are still playing golf, riding, etc. and say it's the best choice they could have made because the pain was constant before the surgery. I hope everything works out well for you!

[susanL]

Awww..so sorry you have to go through that! My doctor has been telling me for the last 2 years I have osteoporosis...I still don't want to believe him (denial ) but after a broken wrist and 2 episodes of broken toes....I think I'm going to have to do something. (he is really upset with me that I ride a motorcycle). At 53 it's hard for me to accept I have to go on medication.
Anywho..prayers for a successful surgery.

[SFW]

I will, hope everything goes well for you. I have a knee problem, they have also told me to wait. So I can certainly understand your anxieties.

[Trish]

.....I am going to the Orthopaedic surgeon today for an evaluation of my knees for the possibilities of having total knee replacements done. Actually, I had been diagnosed at age 36 of needing them both replaced but I was way too young then. I'm really not as old as they like a person to be before having them done either. However, they are at a point where I am past having no cartilage and being bone-on-bone, I am actually wearing down the ends of the bones now. Pray for me.

Ask about TYPES of knees. There are athletic versions of joints vs couch potato joints.

[Blacktop]

I'm soo sorry.I know from watching some of my family how painful this can be.Can you ask the doctor about trying that stuff....think it is injected between the bones to act as a cushion Don't know how many times it has to be done.I'll keep you in prayer,for the right treatment,perfect timing,and godly wisdom for the doctors.

[Trish]

.....I am going to the Orthopaedic surgeon today for an evaluation of my knees for the possibilities of having total knee replacements done. Actually, I had been diagnosed at age 36 of needing them both replaced but I was way too young then. I'm really not as old as they like a person to be before having them done either. However, they are at a point where I am past having no cartilage and being bone-on-bone, I am actually wearing down the ends of the bones now. Pray for me.

Hope you get TOTAL knees done. Haven't seen a lot of success with uni-knees. Used to work on ortho ward and also was Physical Therapy assistant before I became a nurse and the uni-knees always had to go back after 6 months to 2 years later. Didn't matter who the surgeon was either.

[sportygrl]

Sorry you have to go through this. I think Trish makes a couple great points about the type of knee as well as partial vs. total. One of my best friends had a partial hip replacement in his early 30s, and a couple years later they went back and did a total. Had he gone the route of total hip replacement the first time, he most likely would have been good to go for 15 years or more.

You hang in there, and just think how much better (in less pain) you'll feel when it's all said and done. Good luck!

[Carolan]

FWIW, I had my left hip replaced at age 37, the right at age 40. So you really aren't too young for a replacement if the pain is affecting your quality of life. I had some replacement parts put in the left one last year, so it's good to go for at least another decade, maybe longer since the materials improve all the time!

[Condor]

Have several friends that have had knee or hip replacements. As someone else said, check out the different materials. Ceramic may last the longest but may not be good for certain activities. I know they don't like to replace if you are too young, but obviously you are beyond the stage of that being a consideration. I hear ya on wating til later in the year. I made the mistake of getting a badly torn rotator cuff fixed in the spring, and it kept me off my bike and out of the kayak for the whole season

[Carolan]

I like getting my surgeries in late November (gets me out of a lot of holiday madness - lol) or in January. The weather's bad anyway, and by the time the surgeon gives me the go-ahead to get back on my feet, the weather allows me to get out.

I don't think they use all-ceramic implants any more, especially on younger patients. My implants are all titanium; the hip socket is titanium with an easily-replaceable polyurethane liner; the ball part of the joint is also titanium with a thin ceramic coating which serves as the super-slick bearing surface. I had the liner and ball parts replaced last year - the liner had worn thin and though the ball part was in good shape, the surgeon replaced it too just to be safe. I'm back to walking 2+ miles a day with no hip pain.

It's not a good idea to take a hard fall with hip implants, but chances are you'll dislocate it before you break it.