JOE MCCARTHY WAS RIGHT:
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Make_My_Day
Senior MemberPosts: 7,911 Senior Member
Anyone ever have knee replacement surgery?

I'm not talking about total replacement, where they remove top and bottom of the knee and give you a mechanical version of a joint. What I mean is a resurfacing, such as a grinding off a portion of the swivel part of the bone and put in a piece of material that replaces the worn existing joint cartilage.
I am expecting to have double knee replacement surgery at the end of February or early March, and I'm wondering if any of you have had this surgery done, and what have been the results in your particular case. How has the quality of life improved for you since the surgery?
For me, the last few years have been very painful in my knees. I have had arthroscopic surgery on both knees already with a temporary improvement, but don't think this will help again. I rely on painkillers every day to get by, and I have reached the point that having the surgery is a better alternative to not doing anything but take pills. I would like to know what you all think....thanks.
I am expecting to have double knee replacement surgery at the end of February or early March, and I'm wondering if any of you have had this surgery done, and what have been the results in your particular case. How has the quality of life improved for you since the surgery?
For me, the last few years have been very painful in my knees. I have had arthroscopic surgery on both knees already with a temporary improvement, but don't think this will help again. I rely on painkillers every day to get by, and I have reached the point that having the surgery is a better alternative to not doing anything but take pills. I would like to know what you all think....thanks.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE NEW COMMUNISTS!
Replies
Jerry
While I don't want surgery of any kind, unless absolutely necessary, I have seen too many successes with people I know well, to refuse it. My mother had a total replacement at age 75, and my MIL had both done at that age. My neighbor had both done, in his 70's, and said it was the smartest thing he ever did.
A friend had one done at about age 50, and had the fastest and most complete recovery of all of them. His knees were wrecked from HS football, and had dealt him misery for decades. He was better than he had been in many years, and pain-free.
These were all total replacements. My mother is 89, and still doing well with hers, and the hip replacement she had a couple years later.
Jerry
Based on your advice, I did do a search for malpractice of this doctor and found that he has had no malpractice, sanctions or board actions. In addition, the man is a graduate of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Emory School of Medicine.
09.26.2012 Joseph Zuckerman, MD, Quoted on Recent JAMA Article on Knee Replacements
Hate Newyorkers for being stupid libtards if you must, but if you need knee surgery, you need a teaching surgeon.
After the knee surgery he said he felt good and was able to do things he hadnt been able to do for 30-40 years. Trouble was, the pain meds he was taking prior to the surgery ( knee) were masking the hip problem. After a couple of months his hip started to cause major problems so he decided to have it done, despite the odds only just being in his favour of surviving the op due to heart problems.
He came through the hip op good and when he gets home I will talk to him about the knee and pass on any info if you want.
It is a quite painful thing to start with, but with dedication to your physical therapy and doing just exactly the excersizes etc they tell you to the recovery time will be short and complete.
If you follow thru with the full recovery regime you will be able to get around about as good as you ever were. If you decide to park on your butt and whine because it hurts, you'll be crippled up worse than you are now.
Forgot to add, if you have not been using a stationary bike, you need to start, even if you have the surgery.
That's an interesting way to describe it - I'm 6'3" @ 300lbs. and look like a pregnant football player with no butt and skinny legs. :jester:
I'm far better than prior -- it was total bone on bone before and I was crippled -- but the questionable quality of the surgeon's job on my knee has left me with a partially okay knee.
But in general, do everything reasonable to avoid surgery -- this is good advice for ANY illness -- but if the replacement thing becomes necessary, make sure you've got a top notch doc and then go for it. 99% you'll be fine.