1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Knee Problems

18 yrs old and knee replacement

Posted , 6 users are following.

Jct
Jct

My knee injury was a bucket handle tear of the lateral meniscus when I was 15 yrs old. It was not repaired until nearly 6 months later but it was too late to repair. A chondratissue implant had to be put on my tibia but the result is now I have only 2/3 articulate cartilage on my tibia and a scoring of 2 to 3 with osteoarthritis.

I can no longer bear weight or walk without crutches and the pain at night is excruciating.

i want to know if there is anyone out there who has had a total knee replacement? I want to be out of pain. I have had to put my life on hold, my a levels and university offers have to wait because I cannot concentrate. 

Please can anyone advise. My consultant says I need to be on a higher scale for knee replacement and that I am too young.

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • AlexandriaGizmo
    AlexandriaGizmo Jct

    Posted

    Hi JC really sorry your in this situation, what physio have you had and if any get her/him to refer you to hydrotherapy its really good and low impact, have you got a knee brace this has to be specially fitted to you but will help your knee support you better, I also cannot weight bear, its awful not being able to walk without crutches and we are both at different ends of the age spectrum, either way not good.

    I can see why your consultant is reluctant to do knee replacement, they don't last long on youngsters but you need to be able to enjoy your younger years, are you UK

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 Jct

    Posted

    Most of us are recipients of prosthesis and for many different reasons. You didn't mention your age but knee replacements only have a certain life and the number of revisions limited. With those factors in mind, surgeons are reluctant to do the 1st one at an early age. My problem came late I. Life due to a rare tumor. On my last visit with my surgeon he said he was doing a TKR on a 36 year old because the tumor had created the need for 3 synovectomies and there was no cartilage left and the guy was in agony. Ordinarily there is no way a36 yo would be considered for that operation. These oddities are the thing that makes joint repair such a touchy situation. I'm 11 surgeries plus radiation over nearly 15 years. I know in my case, ill never be in less than a level 4 pain with a limp and a rather bleak future as far as activities. Of course I recently turned 80 so that figure is somewhat limited anyway. They always refer Dr's as practicing medicine because that's what they are doing on each of us, practicing. Certainly don't mean to sound all soon and gloom but this joint repair isn't a bed of roses nor is it all a matter of looking at a text book and coming up with a solution. One other thing, if you have the opportunity to see a trained sports medicine ortho do that. They see a lot more strange things than do a general orthopedic surgeon.

  • marilyn10235
    marilyn10235 Jct

    Posted

    Hi JCt

    I am so sorry for your predicament! You are way too young to even be asking about TKR & far too young to be stuck with such pain!

    If you are doing A levels you must be about 17 or 18, you don't deserve any of this!!

    Most of us on here are TKR alumni, or at the least PTKR or revisions! TKR is not something to be taken lightly it is a brutal operation & hard recovery, even for those who have little trouble!

    Unfortunately you are too young to be considered. Especially in today's NHS! Has your specialist not given you ANY alternatives?

    I'm afraid I can offer nothing but my absolute sympathy, as an osteoarthritis sufferer for many years I have some understanding of your pain. But I am 63 year old you are a teenager on the threshold of life & what has happened to you is awful & unfair!

    You have had words of wisdom from one of our Gurus Oldfatguy, who really has been there & done it all. Maybe our other Guru Chico Marx can offer something??

    I hope you find some treatment that helps you.

    Let us know if things change.

    Marilyn

    XX

  • j21370
    j21370 Jct

    Posted

    Hi JCT - sorry that you are having knee problems so young. However, you need to go to a top notch orthopedic surgeon and see if there is anything that they can do other than a knee replacement. You are too young for knee replacement. The prosthetic knee it can last about 20 years, but if you are very active they could last less. Maybe in the future they will have other prosthetic that they might last longer. My surgeon told me that in approximately 15 to 20 years, I need to replace my knee again. Wish you lots of luck. The surgery was very painful for me. J21370
  • SazzyMJT
    SazzyMJT Jct

    Posted

    Dear JCT

    I am in a similar predicament, I had sever jumpers knee that was only discovered nearly 5 years later when I could no longer handle the pain and my doctors too are saying that i have a high chance of getting a knee replacement and i am only 18 this year. I too hope there can be some words of wisdom for me.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.