Are you considering Joint Replacement?

[1BigDog]

There has been posts over the last year about joint replacements. I had mine done (right knee) about 1.5 years ago. If you are considering a replacement joint dont wait as long as I did. My quality of life suffered badly because I waited too long and I made life hard on those around me as a result. And even though the pain is sharply decreased and I cant kneel my overall well being is up over 100%. I will need a left knee shortly and my plans are to do it sometime next year then ease into retirement unless it fails completely like my right knee did. So, if you are looking into one, do your research, find the right doctor/hospital and get it done. There are different knee brands out there, just like bike parts. Some are chrome too! You wont regret it. But keep in mind that sometimes these things do fail. The following is a link to a forum that will address some concerns. They have been great with me as far as providing info and encouragement.

 

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=onourfeet&nav=start&gid=2060019511

[tbetty]

Left Hip replacement in 06 and never looked back. Fully agree don"t wait.

 

Later Phil

[bryan52577]

I had both knees replaced. April 24th right knee and May 1st left knee of this year. Took longer for the Doc to release me to go back to work that I had wanted due to I had lost a lot of the muscle in my legs. (I thought he was nuts, but in Physical Therapy my right leg would only do 25lbs on the leg press.) Turns out I waited to long and had learned to get myself up using my arms and walking kind of stiff legged.

Now? First get up from sleeping or sitting for a while and just a little sore and stiff for maybe 15 steps. After that I CAN WALK AS FAR AS ANYONE CAN!!!!!!!! Before I could not make it a city block with out stopping for a rest due to the pain. I LOVE MY NEW KNEES!!!!

If you need new joints? DO IT! I doubt you will regret it. I had a great doctor, have more movement than I did before the surgery and had NO PAIN after the surgery.

Had a scope done a few years ago with a Doctor that did not believe in pain managment, HURT LIKE #$LL............He SUCKED after being with the Doc that did my knee surgery. Maybe that is why I put it off?????

 

Bryan

[Yama Mama]

I my self have not had a problem with my knees as yet. However, I know several friends who have had much success with the knee surgery. It seems pretty common any more. Only problem I know I have heard of is infections in the surgical site.

 

Yama Mama

[ragtop69gs]

I had considered it at one time, then I decided to just quit smoking it.

 

Someone had to say it

[friesman]

i can only repeat what others have said here, Don't put off getting a hip or knee replacement. I have had hip problems for almost 15 years, and kept putting it off, finally got bad enough that I was having issues riding my bike, and just walking.( I woke up and realized just how invasive it was when I went on a cruise a couple of years ago and passed on day trips onto the islands because of the pain.) It interfered with my job and a lot of the things I enjoyed in life, but I subconsciously started to avoid a lot of the things I liked to do because of the pain.

I had the left hip replaced in the last week of Feb this year and was riding by May1 and back to work by the 2nd week of May. I cant believe how many things I missed because I didn't want to deal with pain. I am back doing everything I was years ago and got about 20,000 kms on the RSV this year with no pain!

I still walk with a limp, but its not from pain, its from 15 years of learned behavior of trying to make the pain disappear, but with some more time, I am sure the limp will be gone too!

Bottom line, don't wait, do it now!

 

Brian

[Gary N.]

Thanks for starting this Jeff. Reading what everyone has to say is helping me with my decision. The doc I've been dealing with scared the crap out of me but I know they have to advise of all the dangers etc. He has referred me to another orthopedic doc who has more operating room time available and can possibly get me in faster. Going to do some more research on the web site you sent me. Thanks again.

[bongobobny]

I replaced joints with a bong...errr, wait a minute, wrong joint...

[saddlebum]

My wife Marita goes in on the 28th of March for a full hip replacement. She is only 57 but is in such bad shape from the arthritis that caused her hip situation that she can put it off no longer. Her biggest fear is that it has been said that the replacement is only good for ten years (give or take). Unfortunately she is in such bad shape and pain that she really has no choice. My biggest fear is the infection thing. It seems to come up all too often lately with many surgeries and is how I lost my father 4 months after a supposed successful operation.

[Gary N.]

I saw the new doc yesterday and I'm going for the bionic knee next June. The drugs are helping at the moment so I'm hoping they get me through the winter so we can enjoy our trip to Texas. Guess I won't be riding the bike much next summer so I'll have to make up for it this winter.

[Evan]

I saw the new doc yesterday and I'm going for the bionic knee next June. The drugs are helping at the moment so I'm hoping they get me through the winter so we can enjoy our trip to Texas. Guess I won't be riding the bike much next summer so I'll have to make up for it this winter.

 

So, hope you and Mary have a great winter in Texas and your recovery next summer is as fast and smooth as your Venture. When is your departure? Let us know if you are in Toronto before then.

[Huggy]

I replaced joints with a bong...errr, wait a minute, wrong joint...

 

Da## I was thinking the same thing!!! I was wondering what they had found that would substitute for a joint!!!

[Huggy]

I saw the new doc yesterday and I'm going for the bionic knee next June. The drugs are helping at the moment so I'm hoping they get me through the winter so we can enjoy our trip to Texas. Guess I won't be riding the bike much next summer so I'll have to make up for it this winter.

 

 

My father in-law had his knee done and he was up and around like nothing had happened after three weeks!!!

[jakester]

I have had a right index finger done in 1985, I cut it off, (workers comp) it is a good weather indicator. Also had both collar bone joints replaced where they meet the shoulder. Also good weather indicators. No knees or hips yet. I am only 49. Now , at the risk of sounding political, I am going to say for those of us in the states, geter done quick as obamacare is being paid for (40% to 50%) by cuts to medicare. That's right! The fed has to approve all procedures to seniors. The first stimulas package provided computers in all dr offices for procedural approval. I do not mean to be negative, It is what it is. Buckle down for the road trip cause it is gona get rough. I am an insurance agent. Nobody talks about how much business we are loosing to this mess.

Bill

[chabicheka]

I feel really sorry for you insurance guys...

 

 

[Gary N.]

So, hope you and Mary have a great winter in Texas and your recovery next summer is as fast and smooth as your Venture. When is your departure? Let us know if you are in Toronto before then.

 

Hi Evan, not sure if we'll get up to Toronto again before we leave or not. Thought we might but not looking good now. I'll let you know if we do. Not planning to leave for Texas until after the 15th.

[Barrycuda]

There has been posts over the last year about joint replacements. I had mine done (right knee) about 1.5 years ago. If you are considering a replacement joint dont wait as long as I did. My quality of life suffered badly because I waited too long and I made life hard on those around me as a result. And even though the pain is sharply decreased and I cant kneel my overall well being is up over 100%. I will need a left knee shortly and my plans are to do it sometime next year then ease into retirement unless it fails completely like my right knee did. So, if you are looking into one, do your research, find the right doctor/hospital and get it done. There are different knee brands out there, just like bike parts. Some are chrome too! You wont regret it. But keep in mind that sometimes these things do fail. The following is a link to a forum that will address some concerns. They have been great with me as far as providing info and encouragement.

 

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=onourfeet&nav=start&gid=2060019511

 

A lot of things are involved in Dealing with a joint replacement. I may not know much about electrical components and fork bearings, but this.....is a subject I DO KNOW. I am a physical therapist. Anyone doing any joint replacement should consider the following:

Experience of surgeon. Is he a specialist in that joint replacement or knows a bit about many things? Traveling a bit further for the more experienced or an expert is highly recommended.

Your health. Can you strengthen your legs pre surgery to help with post therapy? How many medications are you on? Do you have. 2nd, 3rd opinion? Are you eating right? Poor nutrition aids in poor recovery.

Are you committed to physical therapy immediately after. It is and will be a serious issue with pain initially as it heals. There is no way around it.

Any surgeon who does not order physical therapy after surgery, I would NOT go to...

Knees typically have some component of pain or discomfort for about a year afterwards. The more you bust your ass and deal with the therapy early on, the better you will be, feel, walk and get back to normal activities.

Joint replacement or joint resurfacing?

Like most places, even joint replacement companies vary. Top joint replacement companies are :STRYKER, DePuy, Smith and Nephew and more.

 

Ask questions such as complications. Osteoarthritis, infection, etc. knee replacement surgery takes 45-75 minutes.

Hip replacements and knee replacements almost always have some weight bearing status depending on the physical condition of the patient. Knee patients where I work are usually 50% weight bearing to weight bearing as tolerated. We want you up and moving ASAP. I am pretty assertive w my knee patients bc I want them to have full angle of motion and to not walk w a limp.

 

Bottom line is do your homework on who is cutting you open, sawing your bones and hammering a new component. Ask 500 questions, do research.

 

Sorry for the excessive rant, its rare I can give in depth info on this site...

[Bikes]

My .02 .......had my right knee done three years ago this coming Feb. I was 55, really bad knee from an early accident, two bad surgeries, one with a superbug infection, almost killed me...

That being said, I am so glad I had it done.....found the best Doc, did exactly what he said, worked my legs out hard at the gym for two months before surgery, two days in the hospital, within two weeks I was walking(slowly) without a cane or a limp. It did take a full year for it to be really healed, flexible and such but now I can squat down and up, no pain. Riding my bikes was very painful with my leg bent, caused me to sell a couple of them, now, no sweat. My butt hurts long before my knee. If you do it, do it right, and hopefully only once.......good luck....

[JohnT]

:doh:Oh, like elbows and knees and such,,,,,

[Keysyrider]

Left hip - 2004

Right hip resurfaced - 2009

 

Highly recommend the resurfacing.

[Guest]

Good luck on your surgery next June Gary. I have the Stryker Triathlon knee. I have 120 deg ROM (range of motion) with it. Im not too keen on the DePuy parts. My friend has both knees with the DePuy and he struggles with them. Not all have this issue but DePuy has had several recalls for hip joints over the years. Not sure on the knee joints but after doing my due diligence I wanted either the Stryker or the Smith and Nephew knee. Most surgeons will only install one type of joint so choices can be limited. I have seen about 5 different Ortho Specialists before deciding on my OS and many were reluctant to discuss the type/brand of knee. The before and after physical therapy is a must to build up muscle tone. That will make the after care much easier. I was just glad that my physical therapist was not a torture freak. She knew how to manipulate my joint to achieve the proper ROM over the course of my stay in the rehab facility and not jam it into submission immediately. After some difficulties at home when I was discharged too early and I was placed into a rehab hospital I was up and walking with a walker in a few days. When I got home my home therapist wanted me to walk for about 500 ft with my walker. I did 3 times the distance but you do get tuckered out fast.

 

One more word on doctors: we all would like to think that our dr is the best out there. If that were the case then it would take years for him to perform all the surgeries in the country. (lol) Mine graduated from Harvard medical school and does not perform assembly line surgeries. He schedules only a few on his surgery days so in case of a complication he does not have to rush through it. Another tidbit: if the hospital staff considers your OS to be somewhat anal with procedures then he may just be the one you are looking for.

[Barrycuda]

Good luck on your surgery next June Gary. I have the Stryker Triathlon knee. I have 120 deg ROM (range of motion) with it. Im not too keen on the DePuy parts. My friend has both knees with the DePuy and he struggles with them. Not all have this issue but DePuy has had several recalls for hip joints over the years. Not sure on the knee joints but after doing my due diligence I wanted either the Stryker or the Smith and Nephew knee. Most surgeons will only install one type of joint so choices can be limited. I have seen about 5 different Ortho Specialists before deciding on my OS and many were reluctant to discuss the type/brand of knee. The before and after physical therapy is a must to build up muscle tone. That will make the after care much easier. I was just glad that my physical therapist was not a torture freak. She knew how to manipulate my joint to achieve the proper ROM over the course of my stay in the rehab facility and not jam it into submission immediately. After some difficulties at home when I was discharged too early and I was placed into a rehab hospital I was up and walking with a walker in a few days. When I got home my home therapist wanted me to walk for about 500 ft with my walker. I did 3 times the distance but you do get tuckered out fast.

 

One more word on doctors: we all would like to think that our dr is the best out there. If that were the case then it would take years for him to perform all the surgeries in the country. (lol) Mine graduated from Harvard medical school and does not perform assembly line surgeries. He schedules only a few on his surgery days so in case of a complication he does not have to rush through it. Another tidbit: if the hospital staff considers your OS to be somewhat anal with procedures then he may just be the one you are looking for.

 

+1 on that. Although going to Harvard is just a bonus I suppose LOL

[bill in mn]

I just had surgery yesterday on my knee for a torn meniscus they go in and clip out the bad part and then your off to the races. I did something back in July and after it not getting any better it was time to get it fix. The surgeon said the bad news is these don't fix them self's.The quality of your life depends on ones health . If getting a joint replaced was necessary I would do anything to keep on moving.

[Wrench]

Had my left hip replaced in Dec. '06. At that time it was considered "minimally invasive" surgery, still wound up with a 6" slit across my back pocket and a 2" on the side. Absolutely the best, (and at the time the only), thing I'd ever had done. My doc said mine should be good for 20+ yrs, plus it can be replaced in "parts" if need be, ceramic socket, titanium ball. I was 48 at the time, and the doc said I waited about 3 years too long. A friend of mine had one of hers done last year and they do an anterior approach now, VERY small incisions with a lot less muscle intrusion. She wasn't even on a walker, just a cane for 3 weeks. The only thing that bothers mine now is really cold weather. After the ice storm here in '09 I cleaned up limbs/trees for close to 2 months. At times I'd hear a faint "noise" while walking on uneven ground, it was my hip joint "squeaking". He said it was getting dry from all the use it was getting. That was the only time it did it. Good luck to her, keep us posted.

[lawboat]

I had both hips replaced, the first one July of '12 and the last one Jan. '13. Was able to start riding again this past October after not being able to for 2 1/2 years. Looking back, I would not wait as long as I did before getting it done. Finally pain free !!