I have had several shots. Not the cortisone shots at there's another one but I don't know what it's called it helped a lot I had have two of them been going on now for 2 years always wear brace to work always walking!
Here is a similar thread...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-how-to-decide-when-611389?page=0#2838122
Only you can decide I guess in consultation with a surgeon. Based on xrays, pain, and disability, and quality of life.
You have to really want one!
Hi Linda,
Well I had a clean up on both knees through keyhole surgery 5 years ago ..I knew it would not last forever but it was an improvement for 4.5 years ...over the last 4 months I've been struggling walking and in pain gradually getting worse..I knew I needed to go back to see the Consultant..x-rays and MRI scan showed significant damage in my left knee and I knew that it was time for me..I wanted to be out of pain and get the quality of life back..this is my story and I took advice from my Consultant... everyone will be different but you will just know .
Ty for your quick response. That is what terrifies me is that the pain won't get better it'll get worse, I know everyone is different but I have a job that I cannot stop working and I do a lot of walking that is my job. I know everyone is different and I know that you must go through all your physical therapy which I am considering on doing everything they tell me to do just praying that if and when I decide to have it everything will go well I'm just really really scared about it thanks for your advice and I do hope that you get better will be sending you positive vibes and praying a lot for you.
For ME it was the appointment where Doc and I viewed my x-rays from four years earlier compared to current ones done that day. I THOUGHT he was going to say, "You need arthroscopic surgery." ( That was the next on the list of the DOG AND PONY SHOW lineup insurance companies make us go through.) To my surprise Doc sat back in his chair, took a deep breath and said, " Well, Cheryl, you WORE OFF the bone spurs yourself! You are BONE ON BONE with both knees. Your legs have bowed so you are walking on one- inch segments of your knees. YOU ARE A CANDIDATE FOR KNEE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH KNEES!"
If I COULD HAVE jumped up and down, I WOULD HAVE!!!😁 I was SO happy that FINALLY I was a candidate to get rid of all my PAIN!
Before I left Doc's office that day we scheduled knee replacement #1 for three weeks from that day! Three and a half months later he did my knee #2. Of course there is recovery time which is challenging, but my pain after surgery was minimal compared to what I had been dealing with for at least four YEARS before.
I am two years post surgery now. My two knee replacements gave me back my life. As I played with our granddaughter at her second birthday party, as I enjoy hours in my garden, as I shop all day long, as I walk along the beach collecting beach glass and pretty rocks for my flower garden, I am SO, SO GLAD I had my two surgeries!
It was time when I honestly thought AMPUTATION might be the answer for me. I'm glad knee replacements were FINALLY an option!
For me, these two surgeries are the two best things I have ever done for my health and well-being.
I hope you can find YOUR best decision very soon! Sending prayers for strength and clarity and peace to you today!♥️
Synvisc is more lasting if it works. Most Dr S are reluctant to use it indiscriminately as it very expensive and doesn't have a huge success rate across the board. But again, where it works the results are fantastic. There are some obvious well thought out guidelines used in making that decision. They just looked at me and shook their heads no.
I had four knee scopes over the years for meniscus and femoral condyle issues. Then came the SynVisc (knee lubricant) that worked for over 5 years (set of 3 shots in 15 days...set lasted 11-12 months each). Docs use it when you are bone-on-bone...plus the advancing arthritis. A move from the cold and ice of New Jersey to the warmth of Texas precluded the need for any shots at all...until the pain returned five years later...
When do you need a TKR? Simple... When the doc does the imaging, looks you in the eye and says: "There's nothing else I can do for you except for a TKR." THAT'S when you need a TKR. My guy looked at the pix and told me there was nothing left to repair, remove or clean out. Done. Yeah, more SynVisc might buy me a few months but certainly not another year. Time's up...no options left.
That's when you know you're on a path to The Dark Side...at least they have cookies.
I had several cortisone injections followed by synvisc injections which bought me a total of 3 yrs. Looking back, I wish I had had surgery earlier but such is the story of orthapaedic surgeons. I had TKR in Feb and although I still have some pain daily, it is much improved from before shots. Good luck but your surgeon will know when it is time.
When your quality of life had been impaired very significantly, the pain is interfering with most aspects of your life, and the doctor feels this is the last best option-it is probably time. There are no shortcuts so if you are in a position that you must work please realize there's a recovery period that may not allow you to return to work when you want to but only when you are able to. As you read these comments and scroll through previous questions you will find that each one of us is different. For me, the first TKR bought me a good 6 years before I started thinking about a second one. By then, I was retired and returning to work was not a factor. Tough decisions, I realize. Good luck to you on your journey.
When your life is affected where you can't do the things you want to do and you are in pain all of the time:
I had TKR 5 years ago.
I had a cortisone injection which only lasted for about 2 or 3 weeks. So I went back to the GP who gave me the injection ann he referred me to a consultant.
I then went to the hospital appointment and begged them to give me TKR.
Eventually they agreed, but I do not think they would have done me any earlier.
A few days after I had TKR while I was still in hospital the consultant who operated said my knee was very bad and it did need doing.
I think you have just got to stick to your guns really.
Fortunately for me I had an excellent consultant and the result is successful.
Hope it turns out to be the same for you.
Take care and keep in touch
Sarah
Oh my goodness, BEST STORY I'VE HEARD ON THIS SITE! I PRAY MY HEALING WILL BE AS GOOD AS YOURS! MOST PPL ON HERE, NOT SO GOOD! I FEEL VERY BAD FOR THEM BC THEY DID IT TO GET OUT OF PAIN AND MOST OF THEM OR WORSE ! SO HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR STORY, VERY HOPEFUL, FOR ME. TH YOU SO MUCH FOR inspiring me, that it's possible to have a T KR that works!
Yes I had one it worked for TWO YRS!I had another one about 6 months ago about three months later my knee started bothering me not so much when I walk with a brace on but when I go to bed at night if I put my knees together it's extremely painful, can't figure that one out unless it's bone on bone but that happened before I got my shot and then once I got it it was all good no pain anywhere!
So how are you doing? I hope good!
Hi Linda!
Yes, I know that there are many rough stories of difficulties following surgeries for knee replacements! We all take our chances because with the surgeries being so complicated, with so much trauma to the tissues, there is SO MUCH that CAN go badly!
I have been very grateful that things have gone well for me. I have tried to encourage others and tell my story so that I can help second timers to gather the courage to DO IT A SECOND TIME! It CAN be a daunting experience to know what is ahead and to forge AGAIN into that territory!😬 I guess for me I just kept focused on the PRIZE-- two knees that would no longer deliver excruciating pain. (I really had just HAD IT with that throbbing pain that got so bad so quickly that I actually became nauseated from it!) I also am a HUGE believer in prayer! I put myself in God's hands, and my surgeon shared with me how he KNOWS he is guided through the surgery by God working right there WITH him. Trust builds PEACE.
Thank you for your kind words! I am always happy to hear that my story helped someone!
Be strong!
Be courageous!
Go get that NEW LIFE !😄
Sending prayers of PEACE to you today!