trying to hang on till 50

[Dammit Janet]

I hate when people say....but how do you handle it? OMG! Am I supposed to go to a corner and just die? The doctors actually thought they hadnt stuck me hard enough on my arterial blood gas because I didnt scream loud enough! Not only was I just coming out of a coma but I was just too done for to work up a good fit! I just kept saying over and over again...oh god oh god oh god...it hurts it hurts it hurts...tony tony tony. Now if anyone really knows me...that is bad for me! I suppose if you do surgery on me without anesthesia you might get screams. I think I did grab the surgeons arm when I came out of surgury from my hysterectomy and I was not medicated! I think I yelled...I feel that! They put me back under...lol.

[Hound dog]

Janet I used to work on the orthopedic floor waaaaaay back when. Knee surgery took alot of rehab. And I don't recall them ever doing both at once even if both needed it. Most likely cuz it's so darn painful.

I wonder why he wants to wait though. We had patients younger than you getting them done when they needed it. Worst case senerio is the prosthetic wears out over a period of time, then just has to be replaced again. (I know I said that like it was nothing) But gee, at least you'd walk better and not have the pain there, which also might help the pain levels in the hips and ankles.

If he's going to want you to wait I'd make sure he has a reallly good plan for pain management.

Hugs

[Dammit Janet]

Knee replacements last an average of 10 to 15 years if they do a good one and Medicare/medicaid patients dont tend to get the very best-high end models. My weight may cause me to have to get a more luxury model...lol.

As far as pain control and ortho docs...ha! They dont do no stinkin pain pills! Not for long term pain control. After surgery, sure. They think celebrex is a miracle drug. It doesnt do a thing for me. I wont even take it because of the heart attack/stroke risk.

Now I am a bit worried about the knee replacement deal because of the PE risks. After already having both a PE and a DVT, I dont know if I am such a good risk. Yeah I know they can put the lil filters in but...yuck. They have to go in from up top and fish them out! I watch too much tv!

[GoingNorth]

DH lost hip joint due to a fall that destroyed the blood supply to the joint. Unfortunately, he went back to running and biking and the implant failed. This can be a nightmare, especially if by then you are sick with something else.

I have heard the same thing about knee replacements which is why I am so leery of going there.

I don't use a pain control clinic because I quite simply will NOT take pain meds several times a day like they insist upon.

I am very lucky in that my PCP writes my pain meds for me. She figures that I don't use enough to be abusing them and there is no problem

[everywoman]

Janet, I think some of us are just predisposed to join issues. I am facing knee replacement. I won't go back to my ortho because that, at this point, is my only option. My knees are shot. So, I try to keep my weight down. We just got a new Y so I am going to join so I can do water aerobics because I know I can do the regular without much pain. I moved furniture this summer, and I could not walk on my right knee for over a week because of the swelling and the pain. I am holding off as long as I can. It hoovers having knee problems. I can't clean under my bed because I can't bend down. I rearranged my closet yesterday, and trying to arrange the shoes was a nightmare. Picture me bending over, rump in the air, reaching into the recesses of my closet without bending my knees too much because they will go out on me.

[KTMom91]

After having my right knee operated on in August, I went to the orthopedist today for my left knee. I've already had two surgeries on it. I know my weight has a lot to do with it, but how do you exercise when you can't walk without pain?

I've been walking laps in the pool at the gym. Yes, it's expensive, but I didn't need physical therapy after my knee surgery.