Too young for a knee replacement?

Hi, I have had the L knee total repacement, and I must say that it is the best thing I have ever done for myself. My repacement was 7 yrs ago and I am still going strong. My R knee is now ready for a total replacement and the only thing holding me back is the down time. I now have two of my grandchildren and thier Mother with me so I am pretty busy on most days, even if I am not feeling to well. I know I am going to give in sooner than later and have it done.

So to all of you that are afraid to have it done, doooooo it. I have also had my L thumb joint replaced about ten years ago , soon I will be good as new. lol.

Hang in there and take care of yourself, Do for yourself now and then., it feels good.

I HAD MY RIGHT KNEE REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2009. IT;S JUST NOW STARTING TO FEEL LIKE A NEW KNEE BUT I NEED THE LEFT ONE DONE I NEED TO BUILD MY NERVES UP FOR THE PAIN THAT COMES AFTER THE SURGERY.NOW ITS MORE OF A BACK PROBLEM THAT;S HURTING ME .

FYI…Take care using Voltaren gel as it can have the same side effects as oral NSAIDs if you're hypersensitive. Also, be prepared if you plan on getting SynviscOne. Hurts like an SOB because the doc is pushing all three injections in one shot. My rheumatologist had to take breaks as his hands were hurting from trying to push the viscous fluid from the ginormous syringe. I'm not faint of heart, but it took 15 minutes of deep breathing and not moving in order to stay conscious; and that was after the fact. And if you're gonna brave it, I would advise not getting both knees done at the same time.

look into bioncare. like TENS but a different wave form with better electrodes. www.bionicare.com

Is there any adhesive on the pads? If so, I wouldn't be able to use it. I am alergic to all adhesives.

I was told that I was too young also for TKR. I had seen several doctors, had the Synvisc shots in both knees, arthroscopic surgery in both and they were just 'band-aids' so to speak. My dr at the time transferred and my new dr was very young (my husband asked him if he was old enough to vote, that's how young he looked). He and I talked at my first visit and he looked through all the records, asked me a ton of questions and told me that he lets his patients decide when they have had enough pain and can't deal with it any longer…in other words, when they think they're old enough. I was crying in pain just sitting there talking to him and he said it looks like I had already decided and we got the first one scheduled within the month. I would recommend TKR to most anyone, but that's just based on my own experience. My knees are probably 90% 'normal' these days. I do have another problem that I never once thought about having after the replacements. My legs from the knees down were not straight. The dr straightened them during the surgeries and that part was fine. My problem now is that my hip lived with those crooked legs for 52 yrs and didn't mind them at all. If I don't give my hip time to wake up every day it is pure h*ll sometimes and I have to resort to pain meds. If I can take it easy for an hour or so I find that it does so much better and even though it still hurts, it's nothing like what it is if I have to get up and do things immediately. I have other health issues that hinder much exercise at all but I do them as regularly as I can. I figure that doing little bits when I can is better than nothing and one of these days I'll realize that I'm doing far more than I thought I would or could do. I was in a focus group just before the Voltaren Gel came out and I need to ask my dr about the possibility of using it. I got sidetracked with other life problems at the time and it got pushed to the back burner but it's time to check it out now. I'm interested in hearing about other people using it and their results or problems. We're all different but just being able to talk about experiences and actions taken can be a very enlightening thing. Thanks for getting this far (if you did), I don't always write books. LOL

I , too have been told that I'm "too young" for a TKR. I will never understand what hat means. How old do you have to be, 100? What kind of exercises have you tried to strengthen your muscle before (and after) the atrophy? I must admit that I can do better myself by exercising a little more by walking. I really think the weight loss is great, by the way. Wish I could offer some more suggestions, only encouragement and support.

I have tried probably every type of exercise possible. I can't do walking, and have been told not to do it. If I walk, even from the front of a grocery store to the back to pick up milk, by the time I get back to the front my knee has swelled up and I have to go home and ice it. It is rubbing bone on bone and they feel that is why. The PT guys, and I have see 5-6 of them all seemed stumped and can't tell me what to do to increase the strength in the quad because things that should work, I can do with no problem. I have all the exercise bands possible and seem to get some help from the bosu ball. I had one PT show me some exercises to do with it turned upside down and I can definitely feel it in the quad when I do it (3 times a week.). Thanks for your reply.

I'd be careful about getting a knee replacement at any age. I have had a knee replacement and a revision in three years and still am in pain. Have you been tested for fibromyalgia? Some doctors don't believe it in, but there are studies that if you do have fibro, you might not respond well to a joint replacement.

I have found one thing that has helped in my pain … it's called BioFreeze … I get it at my chiropractor's office. I buy the roll-on.

I tried the BioFreeze at my chiropractor's office, when the acupuncture didn't work, and I had an alergic reaction to it. Not sure what was in it that my body didn't like, but there was something. The only thing I have found that offers any relief so far is Voltaren gel. It is only available by prescription, but it works great. It doesn't have the effects of oral NSAID's. Since I am only having pain in the one knee, they won't even consider fibromyalgia. They have recently discovered nerve damage also so that just adds to my "fun".

Sorry to hear about your problems, hopefully some day they will come to a "cure" for all!

I'll have to ask at my Pain Clinic about Voltaren gel. I have some nerve damage too due to my back compressed discs. Yeah, wouldn't it be nice to find a cure-all? I also know about not being able to get the synvisc shots when you're bone on bone … which is why I went to the knee replacement, and then that didn't work anyway.

Sorry I forgot to tell you that you should be able to find it at Walmart or Walgreen.

I am not a doctor, but I do understand. I have had athroscopy on both knees and synvisc shots in one. That helped for about 2 years. It is not about the weather has some think, but it does help if you try to keep them warm. I can come downstairs but have problems going up. Dont let the doctors get you down. I am strong on faith and I use Bengay. My doctor told me about something called Myoflex. Be careful because it has aspirin in it which can cause tingling if you use to much.

I have heard about the synvisc, but since I am bone on bone, they won't even try it in my knee. Apparently you have to have something for the synvisc to latch onto when they inject it and I don't have it. The Voltaren gel I am using works 1000 times better than Bengay does, and it doesn't have the smell. It is only available by prescription, but works so much better. You really have to love the weather. I hate the cold, it makes it so stiff. But the warm weatehr is not great for it either as it causes it to swell. It was 78 degrees here today so as nice as it was, my knee hated it!

I am trying to stay strong on faith, but it is being tested so much lately that it is very hard to stay positive. Thank you for your reply.