Hi -- I'm new to these boards and as I read the posts, I'm struck by all of you in your 40s who mention that your doctors want you to wait for replacement surgery because you're too young. My ortho says that at 44, I'm definitely on the young side for replacement, but he's not going to let my age stand in the way -- sure, I'll probably have to have another replacement somewhere down the road, but the advantage of replacing them now would be that I'm still young enough and in good enough shape to become active again and really enjoy the new knees! We're going to try to buy some time with Synvisc, but if that doesn't work, I'll go under the knife next year.
Other than replacements not lasting indefinitely, is there another reason doctors should want to avoid replacement on people on the younger side? Just want to make sure I'm not missing something. Thanks.
Well I can only tell you what 3 doctors have told me about hip replacement. Wait until it is seriously impacting your quality of life. I am 49 and my right hip is beyond ready for replacement, my right knee is close behind, and all indications are that the left side is slowly but surely heading the same way.
The problem with replacement in your 40's is that you will be active and really "use" your new joints - unlike most elderly patients. The joints will wear out for us more quickly than they will for older recipients. When it comes time to do a second replacement, it is much more difficult to do, with a much lower success rate.
My doctors recognize that I won't make it to the desired age of 60, but they do want me to wait as long as I can. I'm trying to hold out as long as I can. With all of us baby boomers aging, the need for joint replacement is skyrocketing, and a lot of research is being done to find better methods or alternatives. Maybe something better is right around the corner!
The reason they want to wait as long as possible is because with each time you have a replacement the recover is harder and they can only do one and maybe 2 revisions. So if you have your first one young (40) and it wears out in 15 years, at 55 you have your next one and then what happens when it wears out? Some people dont get even 15 years. If you have complications you could be looking at a revision in the first year. It is not a surgery that you canjust keep having over and over again.
But, I do think having replacements is a good option if your arthritis keeps you from living your life and it has effected your mobility to the point you cant walk. I was diagnosed in my late 20s with OA and we did everything imaginable to put off replacements until I was in my 50s. I had one last year, and still need the other knee done, but I am waiting for a while yet to have it. Also I have found there are still many things I cannot do with this knee even after replacement. Personally, I think the expectations of this surgery are to high. The reality is you will gain back mobility, but you will always know you dont have a real knee in there, and once they are replaced you just have a whole other set of issues to deal with. Atleast that has been my experience. I still cannot, kneel, squat, put any direct pressure at all on that knee. no running, jumping or any activities that can damage the replacement.
I am very thankful I had mine replaced but Im also glad I waited as long as I did. This is not a surgery one wants to keep having over and over again.
The doc told me at age 28 that my knee was completely distroyed from arthritis. Over the years I had 3 arthroscopy surgeries and many injections, trying ot buy more time.
Yep, those are the reasons the surgeon told me he would scope my knees every year if they needed it. I would hate to have to repeat any surgery, but I do know that if I can keep on top of the knees than they will last a little longer. My hip is not to the place that it needs to be, but I am concerned about the ankles though.
I'm 62 years old and from the day I was diagnosed to surgery was one year. I couldn't drive either my car or my husband's because both had clutches. My left knee was very painful and would crunch and grind when I put in the clutch. I didn't drive for a year and didn't golf for several years due to pain and lack of stability. I fell 3 times in the year prior to the replacement.
Needless to say, I was looking forward to having a new knee and my expectations were less than Celine's. All I wanted to do was drive my car, golf, walk up and down hills, hike, ride my bike and just keep up with my friends and family. My new knee has exceeded any expectations that I had. I'm able to do everything and anything. Sure, I can't squat, get down on my knees, but I do everything else. At my age I don't want to squat or get on my knees and wash the kitchen floor. I do play pickle ball (an active senior's version of tennis) where I lunge and run some. Most likely I'll be a candidate for another knee sooner than later but by that time I'll be 72 and surgical implants and technique will be better than ever. I'm going to have the other one replaced in about 18 months or as long as Synvisc injections work. LindyHi, the Road Back Foundation treats arthritis with Minocycline, many have good success with this protocol. I have had excellent success with treating a sudden flare of Osteoarthritis.I am just shy of my 37th birthday and was diagnosed with severe OA in my left knee, moderate (but quickly deteriorating) OA in my right knee and moderate OA in my neck and lumbar spine in conjunction with spondylosis at the L4/L5 about 2 years ago. With the exception of my knees, I can tolerate the daily pain with the help of Aleve and not doing anything too stupid.
I was medically separated from the Army after two scopes (one for a cleaning and lateral release, the other to do a picking to create fibro-cartilage to correct an Osteochondral Defect) and VA first said they wanted to perform a replacement (as stated by an ortho resident) and now they don’t (as stated by the ortho attending) due to my age. I have done my rounds with Cortizone and Synvisc, and he mentioned something about Halican (sp?) (another 3 shot series). The other two normally only provided 2-5 days of relief, with the effects normally kicking in after 6-12 hours, but the pain in conjunction with the injection just hasn’t been worth the “gain”.
The attending did a great job of explaining the issues with a replacement at my age and the complications with multiple revisions, but I really would like to hear from everyone who has had a TKR if they regret not having their procedure done earlier or if they are glad they waited as long as they did. The attending did say that he would go through with the procedure, but with grave reservations.
Thanks a lot for any input, and advice.
My husband got his bilateral knee joint replacements when he was 62 because he could no longer walk with those old knees and had had all the cortisone shots he could have. That was done in Dec. 15 years ago and, thus far, he is having no trouble with the knees, other joints, yes, but not those knees. He tells everyone that it's the only way to do it and that the follow-up therapy is critical to doing well and walking well afterward. His doctors told him that he could be the poster boy for knee joint replacement. I had my knee replacements when I was 42 and 43. Within 2 and a half years I went from fit and healthy to bone on bone. It took me 3 GP's and 4 surgeons to finally decide that what I needed was a replacement not another scope. I am 50 now and have had a great result with my knees. I was to the point that we were talking about putting a ramp up to the front of the house and making it wheelchair friendly. I know that down the road I will need to have the replacements revised but as my surgeon said,,,, it's about quality of life. If you are ready to have it done because you can't keep going as you are, then it is time. I am looking at hip surgery sometime soon, maybe not a replacement yet, but surgery all the same. I will be young but I would rather be active than in a wheelchair for 10 more years while I wait 'to be old enough'. My mother had her first hip replacement 24 years ago and has had no trouble at all.
THERE IS A CURE"
A study conducted by the Rothman Institute which it presented during the 2010 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons' annual meeting showed that hip replacement procedures are now performed on younger and more active patients. Additionally, the life expectancy of Americans is getting higher. This change in trend should spur major industry changes regarding hip replacement devices. Hopefully, sturdier and longer-lasting implants would be manufactured to support this change.
However, typical devices usually last 15 to 20 years. And each revision surgery you undergo is more difficult than the previous one. Not to mention recovery and rehabilitation takes much longer. You might be looking at a life in your 80's having increased trouble doing activities. Unless your hip gives you a huge pain in the neck, you may want to hold off on a hip replacement surgery. "
I look forward to have a new knee and my expectation is less than
Celine. All I want to do is drive my car, golf, hill walking, hiking, biking,
just me and my friends and family.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/knee-replacement/MY00091
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