D Day on the knees

Any advice on replacement surgery. I am a big chicken but decision time is Thursday. Should I do one at a time,or both?. Any other suggestions Euflexa now the doc says replacement is my last option. The pain in the right one is constant, and getting intollerable.

Kevin, what's your definition of a big chicken? If you're simply anxious about procedures but can deal well w/ pain maybe both at the same time is a better choice. Everyone will have differing opinions on this but a good orthopod will give you solid advice (pros & cons) on this choice.
       The advantages of simultaneous replacement are these: anesthesia & hospitalization once. Coming back into the hospital again for a second procedure exposes you once again to complications assoc. w/ hospitalization (infections, drug events, etc.) Likewise for the anesthesia. Coronary and neurologic events do happen w/ anesthesia. If you do ok w/ the first incidence of anesthesia you probably will w/ the second but there are no guarantees. Give me the choice of facing the risks (even though they are limited) once or twice and I'll always choose once. Also, you shouldn't be in the hospital significantly longer having both done simultaneously than just having one done.
      You probably already know this but whatever you do, do it at a center that does alot of knee replacements and is highly rated. That goes for the doc too. Choose an orthopod who specializes in and does ALOT of knees. And DO NOT hesitate to ask questions!

Maybe a dumb question but are BOTH failing you?

Hey Keegan, do you happen to know the manufacturer of the replacements? How long ago was the surgery performed? I'm shopping "Hips" right now. The docs say I need both done, so I am starting the learning process.. I want decent parts to go in and not ones one the recall lists....

I'm glad to see he's recovering well. That's one tough SOB !!!

Thanks
Moj'

Keeganino wrote: For all the reasons Terp mentioned above and my bro's experience I would say jump in with both feet!

Or hobble as the case may be

age?
comorbidities?
etiology?

not to get too medical, but all of these, and many more, are factors. Either way will suck and rehab will suck worse. Not having these answers, I'd probably go with one at a time. You're weakest knee is probably working your strong knee moreso than normal so fixing the weak one will probably indirectly benefit the other. Good luck either way.

we use to talk about a set of new ski's, now were talking about new knees, my body hurts, getting old

harddock wrote: I got age (55), the original left was snowmobile jump with a rough landing ( left knee did some twisting) causing ACL, later torn Meniscus, had othroscopic 4 times over a 30 year period. right has been a victim of favoring and snow ski ACL recently torn meniscus two operations to date. Both are loaded with arthritis.

Kevin, you figured out the etiology part. Comorbidities would be other diseases/disorders such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, etc. etc. You will need a general medical clearance from your internist before the surgery. Just to ensure any medical problems you do have are under proper control. If any flags are raised during that process you may have to undergo additional testing/treatments prior to getting cleared for the knee replacement(s).

Cool.. I'm very interested to know Keegan, so I can pass them through my doctor.. I have heard nightmare stories about bad hardware that later gets recalled.....

Thanks
Dave

is it a University hospital where all those hot 20 year old girl MD college students watch the procedure and stare at your junk?

No just a city hospital with nurses that look like they could have played for Germany or Russia in the olympics of the 60's. The operating room was used in those old Frankenstein movies.

sometimes your better off not knowing, i always wonder if you rip one on the table if they joke about and what they say.
Pete's reaction, very professional, step back and lets be adults here, it is a normal bodily funtion when gastric juice is mixed with fresh air.
Erics reaction, wtf did that guy eat lastnite, he needs to take a sht

Ok here'e the update, The doctor started with it might be time to do them both but I told him the left (which is more deteriorated) is fine with the Euflexa shots and the right is really the one with an issue. He sent me for a new series of xrays for the right and since it has been 6 years since the last othroscopic and the damage not he as bad compared to the left I made a case for another othroscopic. This is great because those are not that big a deal and I can put off replacements (hopefully) for a couple more years.

One thing to consider in putting it off a couple years is that you also could be putting off a better quality of life for a couple years. My wife had her left hip replaced at 38. She will need the right one done. We figured two years after the first. She is going on 6 years this winter and has a couple more left, at least. She says frequently that getting the first one done was the best thing she ever did. She rides horses, works out daily, wakesurfs, hikes, and anything else she wants to do. All were impossible to do without crippling pain prior.
I think given the choice, I would do it sooner than later. You never know when the bus is going to come.
Additionally, what if your insurance coverage changes by the time you get around to it? That would be a disaster. I think Mrs Wakeslayer's hip was like $40k.
Good luck, whatever you do.

Finally after what seemed like forever (two months) I go under today. We were able to put off replacements and just going to clean up the right knee. Funny thing is the pain has been excrutiating for a couple of months and this last week while putting stuff away and wrapping up some projects it has been tolerable.