My MRI and X-ray results said I have severe patellofemoral arthritis and mild medial joint line arthritis in my right knee, as well as a lose kneecap.
The specialist told me I'd need a full knee replacement but as I was 47 years old it would be best delay it. So I had a cortisone injection that didn't work. I've just been back to the specialist and he is now saying I'm too young to have a partial knee op (yes it changed to a partial), so he's not prepared to do it yet. He's decided to do an arthroscopy to look inside and see if he can delay things.
I've got pain walking, bending, kneeling etc etc. I'm really upset that my age has gone against me when I'm approaching 50 years old. Has anyone had to wait for a knee replacement Because they were 'too young'? I've looked into severe patellofemoral arthritis and it sounds like it needs sorting out asap, does anyone agree?
Ich hatte meinen linken TKR mit 55½ und den rechten zwei Jahre später. Ich habe Hah keine Probleme, und bei meiner letzten Untersuchung und Röntgenaufnahme vor zwei Jahren wurde mir gesagt, dass beide in Ordnung sind und noch viele Jahre halten sollten. Ich bin jetzt 75½, also denke ich wirklich nicht, dass du für die OP zu jung bist. Ich denke, je jünger du bist, desto besser ist die Erholung, und wenn du dich darum kümmerst, wird dein Knie möglicherweise 25+ Jahre halten. Ich hatte 2 Arthroskopien, die nicht geholfen haben.
Hi. I had my surgery last year at 54. I was told by three surgeons that I was too young!! Oh!! And that I didn’t have a knee problem...I had a weight problem. Yes I was a little overweight....but not to the degree they were talking. I couldn’t even walk around the block. But thanks to a friend of mine....who had her TKR at the same age that YOU are....47.....she sent me to her surgeon. He looked at my X-rays and mri & thought the other surgeons were nuts. Long and short of it....he says it isn’t about your age....it’s about your QUALITY of life. It’s easy for them to say you’re too young....they aren’t the ones living in pain, and unable to do the simple things....going for a walk, dancing, just standing for longer than five minutes pain-free! It’s a difficult, painful (initially) surgery to recover from....but it’s LIFE CHANGING!! Talk to your doc again. And good luck. Oh! I get a shot of Synvisc One shot into my other knee every six months. So far so good. Other knee which has arthritis is holding up good!! Ask about that!!
50 is not too young as we've heard of people younger with severe conditions getting TKRs...but in those situations, it's always last resort. If the doc can relieve your pain with a scoping, then do it. There's also SynVisc which can delay the need for a TKR. Worked great for me for years as cortisone had no effect. I had four scopes (two each side) plus the SynVisc and then a move to a very warm Texas from freezing New Jersey. The combination of all three put off my first TKR for 15 years...still have one to go...
Hi I am 55 ...5 years ago I had keyhole surgery on both knees to clean up ...this helped a great deal for 4.5 years ..for the last few months my left knee has been awful. And I had back problems due to limping .MRI and x-ray showed I definitely needed something done ASAP...I had a total knee resurfacing on my left knee 3 weeks ago ..I wasn't prepared to suffer for another 5+ years just because of my age..I was struggling to work ( full time) and had to stop all the things I love to do .....are you in USA ?
That's such good news, I'm so pleased that your knees are fine and doing great.
The specialist did say it would be a partial knee replacement (not sure why he changed his mind), and like you I think the younger you are the better the recovery.
Hope your knee surgery went well and you're doing great.
When I was in my early teens I went to the doc about my knee dislocating and pain, that's when he said I was overweight and losing weight would solve the knee problem. I didn't dare go back to see him again (as I wasn't that over weight), i wish I had.
The surgeon I'm seeing seems to change his mind every time I go. When I received the results he did mention the 'quality of life', but when I saw him last week it was about my age and being too young.
My other knee is not good either, I have a continuous burning pain, but I haven't been to see about that one yet.
Thank you for the encouragement.
I've not heard of Synvisc One shot but I will mention that next time I go
That's great and so nice that all the combinations put off your knee op for 15 years, that gives me hope. I shall be asking about the Synvisc when I next see the specialist. I'm just waiting for my date for the arthroscopy. He did say he would just be 'looking' inside my knee but I suppose I'll know more later.
I was in Spain in August and with the hot weather, I had no pain at all, it was amazing, if only I could live in a warmer climate
If he had offered you arthroscopy then that is a good thing.
What is your BMI?
This does affect funding for the op on NHS... I think it may be a factor.
If possible good to go to GP stating that weight has been mentioned as a concern, get weighed then and there and make sure GP records it. And seek a get active or weight management programme to help you. Then lose a couple of stone...easy said, harder to do, but will make a difference if you do need a knee replacement later on, as you can show you have taken steps to lose weight.
I am 52 had knee replacement in march this year. Scared the life out of me...not the surgery I hasten to add but the decreased mobility, increased disability and increased pain in the preceding two years. I saw a mobility scooter ahead...like a vision.
Lost three stone.... along with the TKR I now have my life back.
Now I still need to lose some weight...BMI is 31, but now more mobile it feels a lot easier!
Quality of life is very important, as is doing all you can to increase improvements...physiotherapy, weight reduction, ....both these are challenging but both would be helpful long term even if you did have a knee replacement.
Ps....I realise you may not be overweight at all at present, but mention it because along with age, this is something which influences opinion on recommendation for TKR as far as I understand!
Yes weight does make a difference with some of the docs. My surgeon also recognized that it is difficult to lose weight if you cannot be active due to increased pain levels and loss of mobility. I’m on a weight loss journey now....20lbs down...20 to go!! Haven’t really noticed a difference in pain levels....only in the way my clothes fit. Lol. The TKR knee still has some pain in the back and on the sides...just over 10 months post....hope that goes away soon.
I have suffered all the same problems as you in my left knee
From a very young age fast forward about 48 years i fanily had a TKR a year ago i syffered realy bad pain from my late forties and like yourself eas told by different doctors it's so frustrating and i feel your pain and annoyance there seems to be this stigma that you have to be in you sixties before being considered you need to keep plugging away at your GP and stress to them how it is affecting your life
I really hope you get some better news soon take care
I was fortunate with my surgeon, but I had lost three stone and spent over a year doing physio before I got to see him! Fell on the table with gritted teeth!
Congratulations with your weight loss...I find the desire to look after my body is vastly enhanced due to TKR 😁😀😃😄
Good to have a reason to buy some new clothes also,
Thank you all for your replies. It's been so nice to receive such lovely responses and to read about other people's experiences.
I wouldn't say I'm overweight, like everyone we all would like that lose a little, but I'm happy with my weight. When I was in my early teens I was unhappy with my weight mainly my legs, but I've lost a lot since then. I weigh under 9 stone (probably 8 1/2 stone), so it's not too bad.
What I think is annoying is if I had seen the specialist with exactly the same problem and same results but I was 50 or over then my name would be down on the waiting list and for the sake of 3 years, why couldn't he just say it's fine to do it now rather than try delay it. I don't like the idea of waiting 3 years or more with pain when I'm ready in my mind for the operation now. It's probably cutting costs for them.
Thank you Johnny, it's nice to know someone else has had the same experience, hope you're knee is really good.
Thanks for your reply yes the knee is great you keep plugging away at the doctors lay it on more than you have to hopefully you will get a result i really hope you do keep us informed stay strong
Lol...yes. A good reason for new clothes! I’m feeling better about myself, and I know I’m doing a good thing. It SHOULD help my other knee, and hopefully can avoid surgery on it. There may come a time when I HAVE to....😬
I feel the same. At least if we keep up the exercises and keep eating healthily we know we have done/are doing our part. And the apparition of a mobility scooter has disappeared before my eyes. That in itself makes life considerably easier.
I am coming up to seven months post op now!
Walked for 6 hours one day this week!
It was a bit achey after that...!
But I remember aspiring to walk for just one hour!