partial knee replacement a good idea?
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hello,
?A brief history. I saw teh GP in 2012 for knee pain, had physio and then cortisone injections which didn't give a great deal of relief. Went to surgery for arthroscopy and microfracture in 2013 which was not a success - left me in a worse condition. Had the right knee done in 2014 for the same which has worked. Had more cortisone and hyaloronic (sp?) after for left knee then left knee re-done for arthroscopy and microfracture (surgeon said the first op hadn't worked when he looked) in Jan and was a bit better. I fel tthat I'd gone back to where I was before the first op. )The first op left me in bad pain and a terrible "graunching" when I applied pressure through it (like depressing the clutch in the car) it was also "catching" on something inside. He also cut out a fatty pad(?).
?So forward on to this year and it has deteriorated again. My knee constantly hurts. I take co-codamol which doesn't really do anything also norytryptyline at night to help with nerve ending pains. At night my knee feels like it is on fire and during the day it is a constant grinding ache. I also use Voltarol gel to get some topical relief.
?I went back to the GP who referred me to musculoskeletal clinic as he felt they might be able to offer some more conservative treatment. He felt if he referred me to a consultant they woudl just go for surgery.
?So I went to clinic, had xrays, the Dr there said I'd had a lot of work done already and there wasn't anything he could really do. I have osteoarthritis and he recommends a partial knee replacement. I'm off for MRI and he has referred me to consultant.
?Whilst I don't want a PKR I feel I have to do something to try to get rid of the pain. I'm 53. I have an active job that I need to be able to get up and down off the floor for (I work with disabled children in the community). I have to be able to carry equipment and drive.
?Is this really the only solution? Like I say I don't necessarily want it but I can't see the other options.
1 like, 39 replies
sarah87162 trizwizz
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I know success rate for this operation is only about 50/50 but if it works it will give you your life back. That is my expereince. I had TKR nearly 5 years ago,never looked back or regretted it. Maybe I have just been lucky?!!
Sarah
trizwizz sarah87162
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martinarvelo sarah87162
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trizwizz martinarvelo
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martinarvelo trizwizz
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trizwizz martinarvelo
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I'm not inclined to go with that view myself. He a GP and not an ortho surgeon. He was also trying to talk me out of asking for an further referral I think! In this area we have 4 surgeon who do replacements, 2 of whom have national reputations. I think I will have to check all this out with the surgeon when I get an appt
trizwizz
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Guest trizwizz
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52yo got bilateral pkr 8wks ago today. 6yrs ago arthroscopy left knee for torn meniscus from fall. Right knee arthroscopy torn meniscus 1yr ago. Arthritis hit next. After injections and aspirations-no gel- here i am. Was very active, 12hr/day job too. I pushed for pkr due to age. Only one surgeon in group does them. Three ortho guys wanted tkr (all they do). Saw other Surgeon. Mri done for makoplasty. He said if 2/3compartments are bad, tkr will be done but we will go forward w hope only a pkr will have to be done. Easy to redo a knee from partial to total later as i will outlive my replacement. Mine can last up to 25yrs!
So, i lost 39 lbs -Gods help- BILATERAL replacements done. QUALITY of life is everything!
Recovery is rough but knee worked immediately! Wo the pain as before. Plus you CAN kneel on a pkr, most tkr-you cant. There is dooo much they font tell you. Maybe they figure if you (k)need it,you deal with the recovery as all the education helps you mentally but you still have to deal with it.
This week is the first time i feel like I'll survive. 3wks turn point #1,4wk was turning point #2(drive), 5-6th wk #3turning point, and #4 now. I am trying to build endursnce but so far 5hrs is all i can stand and at 3 i want to lay down!/stiff,swelling.
Good luck in your outcome! Hope this was helpful
trizwizz Guest
Posted
Yes thank you. Your story sounds sort of similar to mine. The kneeling part is most useful and I will add to my list of questions! I need to be able to kneel in order to do my job. (I need to be able to get up and down from the floor as well)
?I suppose, like you, I am pushing for a PKR, my knee is not going to get better and it's a rubbish at the moment. My argument to the surgeons is I'm (relatively) young fit and healthy and motivated to get better. Why wait till I'm 60+ and crippled up to do this. I'm in the UK and have to work till I'm 67 so let's do this now while I still can work - get better - and return to work. Rather then get crippled out of the work place.
sarah87162 trizwizz
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However I will never be able to kneel and then go back on my haunches.
Hope this makes sense.
Sarah
trizwizz sarah87162
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Yes that makes sense. I work with disabled children in the community and being able to get down on th efloor is a necessary part of the job. I am very inelegant about it now! I was visiting a family who had no carpets and a concrete floor (they'd not long moved in and poverty was an issue as well). After working for about 40 minutes I tried to move and realised everything had ceased up! I had to crawl up the sofa to get upright! Not my finest hour! Lovely family - the next week they'd bought me a little bathmat to sit on! I do carry a kneeling pad around with me to - lots of laminate floors around these days!
sue37592 trizwizz
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Hope all goes well for you sue