Replacing the Knee

[kenmac]

Before you go under the knife try it. Watch your calorie intake while keeping a mild exercise regimen (walking, biking).
6'-2", 235 lbs is considered obese just as I am still considered obese at 6'-0" and 225 lbs. The older we get the harder it is to carry the extra weight.
Both you and I should realistically be under 200 lbs.
Have a buddy (58 yo) that went from 300 to 170 lbs on exercise and eating proper recently. Bikes 30-40 miles/day.

Not sure I could do much extra exercising . Working around this farm every day should be enough. Some fence lines have to be walked, and I walk it daily to ensure of my fence quality.

I have knows some guys that walked all their lives for their jobs (mail men) and they never were able to lose weight . So, I may be stuck where I am.
I do drop off a little during the summer months sweating much of it off in this southern heat !

 

[QRTRHRS]

I am 6'2" also, weighing in around 190, down from 205-210. Last visit with my heart doctor, he got on me for my A1C so I cut about 95% of my sugar intake via sweets, reading the labels on everything for sugar content, etc. My BP also dropped enough that I was able to cut one of my heart meds in half.

The ortho doctor had told me my options were therapy which I have done along with the gel shots or surgery. My four horses keep me pretty active plus daily walks with my dog. I have not had the room to set up my gym at our current place for the last five years so my exercise program is at a stand still unless I join a gym nor do I have time for that. I think I will have a better shot at a good recovery at 72 years old than I would at say 80?

I have been reading up on the robotic assisted surgery. Lots of info out there, mostly good but some stating that there is not any long term data. One of the websites is from Penn Medicine. That site also shows the exercise's, many of which I am already familiar with. My surgeon is known for his work and he did my rotator so I am comfortable with him.

 

[kenmac]

I have been reading up on the robotic assisted surgery. Lots of info out there, mostly good but some stating that there is not any long term data. One of the websites is from Penn Medicine. That site also shows the exercise's, many of which I am already familiar with. My surgeon is known for his work and he did my rotator so I am comfortable with him.

I'm 64 so I guess I may do ok. Pretty healthy other than this knee.
MRI tomorrow and then a consult with DR next week to determine the best action to take.
He hasn't mentioned any jell shots as of yet. Perhaps after he views the MRI he may.
I'm just planning for the worst, and hoping for something other than replacement.

I too have been reading up on the robotic surgery. I saw where they just place a few small holes in several areas, as oppose to splitting the knee all the way open.
From what I read, the healing is much faster, and you don't deal with near as much scar tissue.

A friend had his done about a year ago, and he said although he can get down on his knees, he has to place a pad down because the big scar across the knee cap is uncomfortable if he doesn't.

So, If It comes to replacement, I'm going to ask him if he performs the robot surgery. If not, I'm going to find a doc that does .

 

[masscity]

This past week I had some sad news, my Ortho Doctor that did Arthroscopic to remove floaters and then did a partial on my left knew died in an ATV/UTV accident. I think he was 57 yrs old, good Doctor and a good guy. I was supposed to have x-rays and see him this afternoon.

I have arthritis in my right knee and both hips. Will have to start searching for another Ortho Doctor.

 

[duffer]

A friend had his done about a year ago, and he said although he can get down on his knees, he has to place a pad down because the big scar across the knee cap is uncomfortable if he doesn't.

The reason he needs a pad (and you will too, even with "robot" surgery, is that the knee joint is titanium (or something similar) and they keep your original knee cap (patella). Those two things don't play well together when you kneel on a hard surface. It's not painful per se, but it is uncomfortable...a lot.

Gel filled knee pads, or a foam mat works well. I use one all the time working on the tractor, or other jobs where I have to kneel.

I don't know anything about the "robot" surgery, but one question I would ask the surgeon that uses this procedure is if it's a full knee replacement, or a "partial". My orther surgeon quit doing "partials" because he said there are too many problems that come back with them. And then another surgery with a full replacement is needed.

 

[duffer]

I have arthritis in my right knee and both hips. Will have to start searching for another Ortho Doctor.

If you can find a surgeon that uses a "frontal" approach to replacing your hips (I think they call it anterior), the recovery time is amazingly short.
I had both hips done (2 years apart) and the recovery time was 4-6 wks and I was playing golf. I divorced the walker before I left the hospital on day 2. PT is very important to follow. Recovery is very quick if you do the PT religiously.

Knee recovery on the other hand (for me) was a good 6 months before I felt anywhere close to normal. They told me 8 wks, but I still had significant pain and a limp.

 

[RSKY]

I know of no-one who had a partial replacement who was happy with the results. My surgery was six years ago and I have not regretted it for one moment.

The problem with getting down on your knees will gradually get better but never completely go away.

RSKY

 

[Deere Dude]

You never know how it will turn out, until you do. I had my left total replacement March 10 2021. The doc whom I trust is fairly young and has done at least 2000 replacements and has great sucess with almost all of them, according to him and other doctors. I was doing well with therepy after the fact but then in April 2021 I started pushing the boundaries of my home exercising and popped something and started having an O O moment. Then later at the therepist I was told to step up a 8" step 30 times with my left leg. After about 15 cycles I told her I couldn't anymore, as I felt something come loose. It got very sore as was showing signs of internal hemeraging. It got worse.

In April 2021 I had to get a repair job done because I found I had torn a tendon. I was down again for months of serious therepy but I was pumped to get my right knee replaced in Sept 2021. My left was coming along fair so I had my right replaced in September 2021. That went very well and almost painless and exercising was coming along very well. A couple months later while pressing and exercising my right leg I figured I should be able to do the same with my left knee as it was healing for seven months already. Then I felt a serious pop in my left when I really stretched it out. I got worse as time went on. It got to where I was miserable all the time with a bad left knee. I went back to the doc and he said that should not have happened after 7 months after the fact and was scratching for ideas as to why.

It had to be redone for the second time. He had called in an older doc that was the go to guy for repair jobs. He operated in April of 2022, He chipped out the lower stub and replaced that along with shortening the tendon and securing it to the knee better. I went to therapy again and when the therapist would want me to stretch really hard or bend beyong what was comfortable I refused. The doc also sent them instructions not to press beyond 100 degrees or do as I wasn't a gymnast anyway.

That was 6+ months ago and as of today both knees are painfree and doing super. I am able to split wood doing 75# chunks, but I make sure I don't step awkwardly or twist much while lifting.

The takeway from my experience is to get plenty of down time and don't overdo home exercizing and to not let the therpists make you overdo anything that might seem counterintuitive to your healing process. Everytime the surgeons need to dig in is another 4-6 months of recovery time. I have a wonderful wife that helped me with everything and I can't imagine going through this being single without a good support network of friends and family.

 

[QRTRHRS]

The reason he needs a pad (and you will too, even with "robot" surgery, is that the knee joint is titanium (or something similar) and they keep your original knee cap (patella). Those two things don't play well together when you kneel on a hard surface. It's not painful per se, but it is uncomfortable...a lot.

Gel filled knee pads, or a foam mat works well. I use one all the time working on the tractor, or other jobs where I have to kneel.

I don't know anything about the "robot" surgery, but one question I would ask the surgeon that uses this procedure is if it's a full knee replacement, or a "partial". My orther surgeon quit doing "partials" because he said there are too many problems that come back with them. And then another surgery with a full replacement is needed.

If I understand correctly, the robotic surgery is used for both partial and full replacement procedures.

 

[kenmac]

If I understand correctly, the robotic surgery is used for both partial and full replacement procedures.

according to the U Tube vids I have watched. I also understand it the same.

 

[kenmac]

well, Dr. called with MRI report . I went to his office to discuss what the options are

He he discussed what the issues are and said, you've got two options. One is repair the torn meniscus and clean up arthritis.

Now to do this, he wants to do stem cell injection while he's in there, that Insurance doesn't pay for (just my luck LOL)
But the price isn't as bad as it really sounded. $1500.00

If I don't want to do the stem cell injection, he says total replacement .

Since I really don't want total replacement at this time (perhaps it's coming in the future) I said I would agree to pay for the stem cell injection at the time of the arthroscopic repair

They will order the materials for retracting stem cells and injecting them.
So, on Nov 10th I'll have the arthroscopic surgery with stem cell injection, in hopes of putting off total replacement for ?????? months, years,

 

[MossRoad]

Good luck!

 

[WM75Guy]

Good luck, I hope you get the relief you want from it. If it doesn't work, don't put off replacement. After I had mine replaced, I realized I had made a mistake putting it off from stubbornness and dealing with the pain on a daily basis.

 

[RSKY]

Good luck, I hope you get the relief you want from it. If it doesn't work, don't put off replacement. After I had mine replaced, I realized I had made a mistake putting it off from stubbornness and dealing with the pain on a daily basis.

I agree with WM75Guy. I put my replacement off for years taking one or two Naproxen Sodium pills a day. That can be worse for your body than the surgery.

Youngest daughter's mother in law started some type of gel injections this week but scheduled replacement surgery for February in case they do not help. Can always cancel the surgery!

Good luck to you.

RSKY

 

[Tinhack]

I had a procedure done on my right knee. It was badly swollen, and I could barely walk. The doctor sprayed some type of coolant/freon to numb the area then stuck a 1/8" needle under my knee cap. She drained about two basters full of fluid out of my knee. With the needle still in, she switched over to some kind of gel and injected that in. After about 15-20 minutes, I was able to walk out of the office with no pain. That was about five years ago and haven't had any problems with the knee since. I do still have other RA/AA problems though.

 

[kenmac]

Good luck, I hope you get the relief you want from it. If it doesn't work, don't put off replacement. After I had mine replaced, I realized I had made a mistake putting it off from stubbornness and dealing with the pain on a daily basis.

well if this stem cell treatment doesn't work, I'll have no issues having it replaced.
I'm not one to continue to suffer through pain because I don't want replacement.

I know we have discussed robotic surgery here, and I discussed it with him.
He said that robotics have their place, and he uses them in other surgeries, he doesn't recommend robot surgery for Knee replacement. States something about the board of orthopedic of surgeons (something to that effect) doesn't recommend robot surgery for the Knee.

I'm about to the point now of being like John Eubanks that, Jerry Clower talked about.
''Just shoot up here amongs us, one of us got to have some relief'' !

 

[Oaktree]

Now to do this, he wants to do stem cell injection while he's in there, that Insurance doesn't pay for (just my luck LOL)
But the price isn't as bad as it really sounded. $1500.00

If I don't want to do the stem cell injection, he says total replacement .

Since I really don't want total replacement at this time (perhaps it's coming in the future) I said I would agree to pay for the stem cell injection at the time of the arthroscopic repair

They will order the materials for retracting stem cells and injecting them.

Curiously, what does the stem cell injection do? Grow new cartilidge?

 

[kenmac]

Curiously, what does the stem cell injection do? Grow new cartilidge?

That's what I'm told. Of course insurance considers it ''experimental'' so they won't pay.
Some how they will take the cells from my body somewhere and inject it into the knee area

 

[Yander]

If insurance won't pay for it, there's a good chance it will work great. I believe insurance companies are corrupt.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Saw my surgeon today. He agreed with everyone else that I have been working with on the knee which is to replace it. He sent the scheduling person into my room to pick a date. He asked how Dec 12th would work and I said fine but if you get a cancellation, please consider me. He then said would Monday work? Whoa! I jumped on it but then he said that we needed clearance from my cardiologist. I have some blockages but they are not getting any worse and I take meds for my BP but that is well controlled also. I had not thought about an issue there and I wished that it had been brought up before but o'well. Turned out that my heart doctor is on vacation so I have to wait until he comes back to the office. The staff felt that I would not need to come in as it has not been that long since my last visit but now it's back to Dec 12th.