How do you know when you need a knee Rplsmt | Arthritis Information
Hey how do you know when it is time for a knee replacement. I am starting to feel real pain when I stand and sometimes my gives from left to right like it's trying to fall off of my knee socket. I have had one knee replaced about 7 years ago. I want to make a Drs appt to really get the results of how much cartilige is left. I was told years ago that there was a very thin layer left. Anyone know when it's time?
RA 13 years
Dx 1996
Meds. Prednisone, Folic Acid, Calcium, Vitamin D
Hey, I have been going through the same thing. My RD keep taking fluid off and putting cortisone in for about 2 years. I finally took myself to an Orthopedic doc and he took X-rays and MRI. Had to have a mass removed from behind the knee (didnt know it was there until the MRI) in February then the miniscus fixed in April. Still the knee hurts and wont work right. Took myself to another doc who I totally trust but it 3 hours away and he said the only thing that will fix this knee is replacement. Apparently, I am basically bone on bone at this point. I am so not looking forward to it but the pain is horrible. My knee clicks and pops, and squeeks, and makes all kinds of noises, hurts when I walk or get up, feels like it wants to give out on me. Its just awful. Get yourself to the doc. Why suffer any longer than you have to!!!! I will be suffering with this knee until the end of the summer due to work but if I could have the surgery tomorrow I would. Just becuase I would have hope that it would feel better. How was your first surgery? I have a million questions about it. If you dont mind, can I ask you?Ladybug, I had no problems until I overworked my knee and went to the orthopod who xrayed both knees and I had little cartilage left. Apparently I was asymptomatic until just about replacement time. You'll know when you need/want a TKR. I had Synvisc injected every 6 months for 2 years and then had my first replacement 2.5 years ago - best decision I've made in a long time. I'm ready for the other knee to be replaced but I'm trying to wait till next spring.....too many projects going on now.
Jules, I had less pain the week after surgery than I had with my original knee. I was in surgery 1 hr. for my TKR, recovery for 2 hours and home on day 4 with no complications other than some potassium problems and had to have an infusion of potass., thus the extra day in the hospital. I golfed 7 holes postop week 7 and traveled to Mexico for 5 months three months postop. I should have a TKR a year earlier but I was really frightened of complications, not the surgery itself, just the complications but I managed to breeze through it.
My advice is to find a surgeon who does only knees. Many orthopedic doctors specialize in one area-hand, back, knees, feet, etc. The surgeon I chose did approximately 6-8 knees a week, had a private/ his own nursing staff in the OR and apparently was ruler of his little kingdom. I'm an old surgical nurse so I was looking at infection rates of the doctor and hospital, number of knees he did, what his postop instructions were and how he would handle a patient with RA/PsA/OA who had a history of pulmonary emboli. Let's just say I wasn't an ideal candidate for surgery but I breezed through it and highly recommend having a replacement. You also need to make sure that your surgeon, primary care doctor and RD work as a team to care for you. Good luck and keep us posted. Lindy
its time when the pain and/or lack of function interfere with daily livingSure you can ask about my 1st knee replacement. What would you like to know?Get a referral to an orthopedic doc and get the x-rays and scans done... only that will tell.
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