I am a 53-year-old female. I had my left (the worst one) knee replaced April 2016. I had the right one done in October 2016. I am very, very much regretting having the surgeries done. I am going to be brutally honest, as I am in all aspects of my life. I appreciate the opportunity to vent my frustrations here, but maybe I can help other people make their decisions about TKR.
I am about 80 lbs overweight. However, I have carried the extra weight for a long time, and I am in good health and still Yes, I would like to lose it and know that the weight led me to the place I was in regarding my knees. Bad knees and arthritis run in the family. My father had his left knee replaced (by the same surgeon a few years ago) and I have an aunt who had both knees replaced.
I went through rehab after each surgery, and it was annoying and painful. I was told the rehab was successful although painful. I am a very strong lady--always have been. I remember going to a yard sale with my friend about a year before the first TKR and being able to shove a refrigerator up the stairs with just a bit of help. I would strap my knees before I did anything like that because it did then and still does help now. That's a good tip. They are just elastic straps with Velcro.
Here's the bottom line. Yes, I was in pain when I walked, okay? Now, though, it seems like I am still in pain when I walk or climb. Plus, I can't effing climb the ladders with ease or walk up and down the stairs easily. I cannot carry anything super heavy and climb or descend stairs. It's just a different kind of pain from pre-TKR. This really makes me furious! I wish I had not had the surgeries. In fact, before the second one, I called the surgeon's office a couple of times because I was still in a lot of pain and my movements were limited. They said that my Xrays looked good on the left knee (post-TKR) and we thought that it was ultimately my weight or just the lack of time since the surgery that was probably the cause. There was nothing that would explain my complaints. I even went to my rehab facility and they told me that I just needed to "rehab" the left knee a second time. So I decided to go forward with the right knee/my second TKR.
Before I decided to go the surgical route, the surgeon told me I was "bone on bone". He said it was not surprising I was in pain when I walked. He led me to believe that there was not much else to do other than a replacement, and that it was just delaying the inevitable. He even put cortisone injections in each knee that day, which did absolutely nothing. I mentioned the Orthovisc, but he said the insurance company would have to be called to get approval and that it would take a bit of time. I was in a hurry that day, so I agreed to the cortisone.
Note: A couple of years before this visit with the surgeon I was living in another state. I had Orthovisc injections (I think that's what the rooster cartilage is called). I had to pay some out of pocket in addition to insurance, but they did help quite a bit. In retrospect, I wish I would have done other things such as that to help alleviate my pain instead of the surgery. I should have explored alternatives. My family members were also all pushing me to proceed with the TKRs because they saw me in pain all the time. I guess at that point I decided that the doctor was right. Now I think he was just looking for another buck. Okay, maybe I am just p****d off at myself and him.
I am trying to lose the weight, and I do think there is evidence of some arthritis in my bones. It certainly runs in the family. It's been nice to vent. I welcome any feedback.
Thanks.