Tomorrow I will be in touch with a surgeon regarding knee replacement. I have multiple problems with back, both knees and the right ankle, so will need to ask a lot of questions when I do see him. My PC said it was time, and the left knee is telling me as well..it's been living with an ice pack most of the time and the walker has been put to use. If he will take me as a patient, his office is practically in the neighborhood, so it should work out well with PT and the coordinating of Arch's PT and mine. He took care of Carol when she had the shattered knee and leg leg, and she highly reccommends him. Will post after my appointment - I'm a little antsy!

Love,

Marti

Good luck Marti!!! (0)

Marti......It is a big plus to know the dr and have him so highly recommended....that will give you confidence in what he has to say.
It may very well be that taking care of your knee will help some of the other issues...as when a joint is bad, we compensate and it causes stress on the other joints.....
My mil was very glad to get hers done, and did well w/ the recovery...she was very very good about doing the exercises they gave her...and still is....which is I am sure one reason she did so well w/ it....
(She's had both knees and one hip done...and may get the other hip done at some point...)
Diane

Thanks y'all for the good support, I appreciate it! :wub:

Marti :wub: ,

I cannot think of one person RECENTLY who is not happy with the decision to get the knee replacement. It is a long recovery, but worth it ever so much! The pain is gone almost immediately, I heard..

:unsure: JOAN (grh)

I hope this appointment goes well for you. And since you already know him and he has such a good reputation and close to home that's all pluses. I have know two people that had knee replacement last year and their's went well...one was already in his early 80's.

I would be antsy, too! (grh)

Diane, Jo,

Do you know if the people who did well after knee replacements do exercises before the surgery?

Wanda, both were men and used to being active...but I doubt they did exercise as such before surgery...do you feel that you could benefit by exercise?

I hope you heard right! :wub: (grh)

Wanda, I don't think the knee exercises would hurt - it never hurts to be in shape before having surgery - between that and weight loss you might be able to get well enough to put it off like I did the right knee. Sure would be nice if that happened.

(grh)

Jo, Marti,

I was told to do exercises to strengthen the muscles in the knees & legs. (back when I saw the surgeon) I did them for a long time & then just quit. They like to have the muscles in good condition prior to surgery. Guess there is better recovery results.

That would make recovery better I'm sure...

Marti
Hope you get some good advice. My sister had both knees replaced at the same time and has noooooo regrets! It was sweet relief! Good luck!
Rebecca

DUH!!! I got a phone call from a woman about 5:30 this evening who wanted to let me know she found my message on her machine when she got home from work. I transposed a number and she was worried that it was an emergency. Boy is my face red! :lol:

Marti, i have known women in the 90's to have the surgery successfully, thier biggest regret was that they had put it off for so long. The fitter you are in general the easier it is during the rehabilitation period generally, if the muscle tone is generally good (esp in the good leg) then mobility is generally fast to get back, you won't lose the frame for a while but you should find a big difference in pain levels in general esp after the first week or so when the surgical site settles down.

Good luck and I am glad that you have a great surgeon locally, it makes a big difference.

I don't know if she was told to do exercises ahead of time...I will ask her....she is a big walker, and very involved in alot of things...so was not sedendary by any means.....

D

How old is your sister, Rebecca? Both my knees need done, and I heard of another woman who had two done at once. I'll have to ask the doc about it when I get an appointment. Thanks for the luck! :)

Marti,
I can't imagine having both done at once. It is rough the first week & seems having addisons would make a difference too.

Just an ambitious thought, Wanda :D It would be nice to have it all over and done, but the questions you raise have also been on my mind. I don't know of an Addisonian who has had knee replacement. Stay tuned, I'll let you know what the doctor says. :unsure:

Marti,
I will be listening to you closely. Wasn't there someone on this forum who had a knee replacement long ago? Can't recall the name.

The surgeon I saw for my knee was not concerned that I had addisons. The one I saw for my gallbladder wasn't either. They just said they would work with my endo. So far I have no plans!!! ^C^

Addison's was a minor problem for me after the surgery on my back. Of course, they gave me enough HC, but the healing was slowed just a little by using the steroids. I would say that rather than the one year time period they estimated for my spinal implant and fusions to heal completely, that it took more like 15 or 16 months. I was also limited with anti-inflammatory drug use after the surgery.... ostensibly because of the slowing of healing... :blink:

:wub:
JOAN

Marti,
My sister was 40'ish (give or take a couple of years) when she had them done. Because she was young and couldn't afford to miss more work, they did them at once. You have to know my sister.... She's a riot. She had soooo much fun with the elders at rehab. Everyone there was at least 40 years older and she was the comic relief.
She does not have other health problems so it was easy for her. I talked to her hubby yesterday and he said that one knee is beginnng to ache now. It's been at least 3 years. She never complains to me about it, though.
I highly recommend 1 knee at a time.
Rebecca

One more thing....I think infection rates are higher when you have more than one done at once. Rebecca

You have all given me a lot to think about. I don't remember anything about a knee replacement on HL Wanda. Jo do you remember anyone?

Joan, you answered an important question for me, guess it's something I'll find out about when I get there. I'll rely on my PCP to judge the replacement thing through this = he studied under the doc who diagnosed me in Cleveland, and I trust him...he knows more about Addisons than most endos.

Your sister sounds like someone I'd like to go through therapy with Rebecca, I respond best to laughter. It just sounded like a good idea, but on thinking more about it, I know better!

Thanks, all of you for taking time to post. :wub: (grh)

You know I can't recall anyone on HL having a replacement but that doesn't mean much...I am somewhat forgetful! ;)

I am glad you have reconsidered the idea of both at once! (grh)

Marti, I talked with a gal today whose mom had both knees done last November. The mom is in her 80s, and is coming to visit my friend on Mother's Day.... flying across country by herself! The exercise method she used is a recumbant exercise bike!

How are you today, anyhow, Marti? :huh: Any news from doctors?

:wub: JOAN

I'm doing better with mostly sunny weather today. I have an appointment with the surgeon May 14th. I'm concerned about having both knees done at once because of Addison's and infection. I had a few problems with that after cataract surgery 8 years ago. I had a spontaneous bladder infection that produced urine that looked rusty...never had one before that or after. (grh)

PS Have heard of the bicycle exercises, and like the idea! :rolleyes: