Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Patti Walz on November 24, 2010 at 5:11pm

Never had this happen and I don't know of anyone who has had this done, but I will be thinking of you and including you in my prayers that everything will work out.

Permalink Reply by John Dobson on November 24, 2010 at 6:00pm

Most are fire Department has had knee surgery of one kind or another. They said it help them be more active. There knees don't hurt anymore. Chief has had knee replacement on both knees.
Best wishes
John

Permalink Reply by Firewriter on November 25, 2010 at 11:30am

Hey Laura,

Sorry to hear about this! I must admit, I am with Ralph on this one.This sounds like a fairly risky procedure with a very low success rate which would make me a bit apprehensive. At your age, a total knee replacement would have been the option I would have chosen had I been an Orthopod. Success rates are quite high; recovery time substantially less than what you are describing; and the fact that you will most likely end up having a total replacement later (when it will be a much tougher rehab), would cinch the deal.

I know men and women aged 30 - 70 who have had knee replacement surgery; all completely successful. Two of them are police officers; one is a firefighter; one is a personal trainer - he is 37; and most of the others are very physically active in sports.

Good luck with this and keep us in the loop so we know how things are going!!

Permalink Reply by Alan McGuigan on November 25, 2010 at 1:03pm

Hi Laura
Sorry to hear that you need surgery on your knee it’s never fun and the unknown is hard to deal with. I had some surgery on my right knee not that same as your surgery but some of what they are telling you is the same is what they said to me. I was stepping out of our pumper it was in the winter i missed the second step and my right leg hit the ground pretty hard my knee went in and backwards I tore my ACL and split the meniscus in my knee . Anyway i had to have surgery to repair the damage I was on crutches for a month or so. I started rehab and that went on for about six months. Prior to my injury i was an avid weight lifter and there was some concern i wouldn’t be able to go back to the gym or at least as heavy as i was? I started hitting the gym 6 months after my surgery and it now 5 years later and i have to say my knee is as good or better than what it was prior to my injury . I don’t have any swelling or soreness what’s so every I think it important as others have said to stay positive to work hard at the rehab They had me listed as not being able to climb stairs (i work out on the Stairmaster for cardio no problems now) i certainly wasn’t supposed to be able to do any heavy leg works outs squats etc and i am doing them . I have a couple of screws and nails in my knee I can feel them that’s about all I have as a reminder of my injury. I do take a supplement that’s I thinks helps out its intended for people with joint problems it contains MSM Glucosamine and chondroitin I think that helps me out but everyone is different
Hopefully things go well for you

Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on November 25, 2010 at 4:44pm

Ralph,
As someone in line for a TKR, they really do not like doing this before age 60. Since they wear out in about 15 years, any younger and you will end up gong thru the process more than a couple of times. From what I hear, you can't do a TKR, at this point, more twice. Maybe 3 times but that's pushing it.

I'm trying to hold out til 55. Some days I say screw it-just replace it. Thank God for tropical winters here.

Permalink Reply by Phoenix on November 25, 2010 at 9:14pm

I've had a TKR and that was 16 years ago. I had to have it done due to a "military training accident". I was down for the better part of 7 months but after that I was good as new. Have been fighting fires...padded bunker pants are the best thing since sliced bread and doing EMS work without a hinderance. There are times it aches, usually high humidity or bad weather coming (rain/snow).
Try not to stress to much, the 1st couple weeks of PT are a b*@ch, just remember to take whatever pain meds they put you on about 30 min. before you start your PT. I suggest having someone drive you to and from PT. And don't push too hard too fast. Physical Therapists are there to motivate you but don't let them push you past your limits. This will do more damage than good.
Good Luck with your surgery....your EMS career is far from over.
Phoenix

Permalink Reply by Chris Weber on November 26, 2010 at 12:29pm

Good luck with your procedure.Have had several experiences with physical therapy myself(not for my knees)and it has been a positive experience every time.I'm betting after it's over you will feel better than you have felt in a long time.

Permalink Reply by Laura G on November 27, 2010 at 9:23am

Thanks for the great advice Ralph. Yes, the rehab is going to be a big determining factor in how well my knee recovers. I have seen a sports medicine doc and have had physio up until this point. The physio I would have to say has helped very little pre op, but expect that post op it will make all the difference in the world.

My ortho prescribed a custom knee brace which I had done back in the spring....$2700 later I found it to be of little use. So I invested in a Breg X2K Counterforce and find that it has helped quite a bit, (for stablization of the knee anyway)

A TKR is totally out of the question for me because I just turned 40. I am too young to have it done. My ortho doesn't like to do them until roughly age 55 because the life span of the replacement is only 10-15yrs.

So in the mean time we're trying to salvage what is left of my knee and get a few more yrs out of it.

Permalink Reply by Laura G on November 27, 2010 at 9:30am

Hi Firewriter,

That is discouraging to hear that there are doctors out there that are willing to do a TKR on someone my age. Unfortunately I have yet to come across. I have consulted with 3 different surgeons and none of them would do it. I was given the option of doing the cartilage transplant, a micro fracture procedure and a possible patellaectomy.

Something about having my patella removed doesn't sit well with me...it's there for a reason and serves a purpose.

I agree, that down the road when I am older recovering from a TKR would be more difficult then it would be now. I am not holding out much hope nor do I have much faith in this transplant that I am having done. In fact it concerns me that it may in fact make the condition of my knee worse rather then better. I am on the fence and even contemplating cancelling the procedure all togethor.

Permalink Reply by Laura G on November 27, 2010 at 9:36am

Glad things went well for you and your surgery was successful. I am hoping for the same.

I am an avid runner...at least I was up until about 2 months ago when my knee finally got the point where I really could not deal with the pain when I would run.

I still go to the gym 5 days a week for weight training and to use the pool, if I can't run at least I can swim and still get the benefits of cardio workout. My ortho doesn't allow me to do squats or anything that requires the knee to bend beyond 40 degrees. So that limits alot of what I can do at the gym.

He has been giving me cortisone injections, I find they help for about 3 wks then my knee is no better off then it was prior to the injection. It is definately a very long frustrating road.

Permalink Reply by Laura G on November 27, 2010 at 9:37am

Thanks Mike

Permalink Reply by Laura G on November 27, 2010 at 9:37am

Thanks John.

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