Visit to Consultant after knee investigation

ellie2610

Hi,
Had my 8 weeks checkup today after the knee investigation and apparently I am looking at a Total Knee Replacement because I am still in quite a bit of pain and this will get worse if I do not have the op. He has given me three months to `chew' this over and then give him my decision. I suppose I have already made up my mind, but next year a lot is happening including my son's wedding so not quite sure what to do here.

He did say there is an element of risk, but that is the same with any operation surely. But 98% of these are successful and people are glad they made the decision. If it helps the pain I have now, then it will be worth it. It is not as if I can lie down and the pain goes away and we are coming into the cold weather season which doesn't help.

Any help/suggestion would be gratefully received.
Ellie

woodbon

Hello, I haven't had any experience of the type of surgery you need, but lots of people on here have. I can understand how you feel about your son's wedding, you'll want to feel fit enough to enjoy that. Its difficult to decide whether to wait till after the wedding or have it before, I wish you good luck whatever you decide. I'm sure too, someone on here will soon tell you how they got on with the op. I'm sure you'll enjoy the wedding whatever you decide, maybe you could talk it over with either your rheummy or GP? Take care Love Sue

ellie2610

Thanks Sue. That's what I like about this site, everyone is so friendly and helpful.

ellie2610 wrote:

Hi,
Had my 8 weeks checkup today after the knee investigation and apparently I am looking at a Total Knee Replacement because I am still in quite a bit of pain and this will get worse if I do not have the op. He has given me three months to `chew' this over and then give him my decision. I suppose I have already made up my mind, but next year a lot is happening including my son's wedding so not quite sure what to do here.

He did say there is an element of risk, but that is the same with any operation surely. But 98% of these are successful and people are glad they made the decision. If it helps the pain I have now, then it will be worth it. It is not as if I can lie down and the pain goes away and we are coming into the cold weather season which doesn't help.

Any help/suggestion would be gratefully received.
Ellie

elnafinn

Hi Ellie

Every consultant has to list all the risks. What would be important to ask him is how many TKR's does he perform a year and how many are failures, if any. I asked my consultant and he gave me the figures. He did a large number of these ops and there were very few "failures".I trusted him and I had a TKR in January 2008. Needless to say, it was successful and I wish I had had it done earlier.

What time of year is your son's wedding? I went to a wedding in April and that was my goal to be ok for that but I was up and "running" well before that big day. If I had had to do any preparations I would have been ok to do them I am sure, although I have never "organised" a wedding before!!

I am thinking of having the other one done early next year if possible. I will be 59 years old in December.

If your consultant has recommended that you have the op then it is obviously the next step and he has put the ball in your court.

I wish you well, whatever you decide.

Luv
Elna x

lindalegs

Hi Ellie,

I, like Elna, asked my surgeon her personal sucess rate with TKRs and she was very open with her answer, needless to say she is very sucessful and one of the top surgeons in my area.

I had both my knees replaced at the same time 9 years ago and haven't looked back - I was at the point where I didn't want life to go on because I was in so much pain so the only way was up for me.

I was on the waiting list for 4 months and I was walking without aids 2 weeks after the op (not recommended) that was only because of the RA in my arms I nearly fell over my sticks one night so I decided I was safer without them. :roll:

Anyway that's my experience, I would definitely recommend the operation.

Luv Legs

sharmaine

Hi Ellie

I'm going to be in the same boat as yourself. The first specialist I saw referred me to another specialist as I also need 2 total knee replacements. Like you I'm feeling scared and I came out of my first appointment really worried about having it done!!! My husband said that if I wanted to walk around with bent and deformed knees and in pain for the rest of my life then I shouldn't have it done!! My son said he would personally chain me to the hospital bed to ensure I had it!!!

These are big decisions and I'm sure lots of people on this site will come back with support and advice. I'll look forward to reading the responses you get.

Take care and don't worry too much.

Sharmaine

ellie2610

Hi Elna,
When I next go to see the Consultant I will ask about his success rate, but I am quite sure that it is good because he did mention 98% success rate. He also stated that there is always with any operation, the 2% factor where things go wrong.

I am actually quite resigned to the fact of having this operation. My son's wedding is early September so should be up and running by then if I have it around April/May next year!!

He did mention something else at the time, but said that chances are it would have to result in a TKR eventually at some other point in the future, so he believed that it would be better this way instead of having two ops.

I shall be 60 in March so it will all be happening next year. I can retire, have a bus pass, have a TKR, and my son's wedding - what more does a girl want from life!!

Best wishes
Ellie x

elnafinn wrote:

Hi Ellie

Every consultant has to list all the risks. What would be important to ask him is how many TKR's does he perform a year and how many are failures, if any. I asked my consultant and he gave me the figures. He did a large number of these ops and there were very few "failures".I trusted him and I had a TKR in January 2008. Needless to say, it was successful and I wish I had had it done earlier.

What time of year is your son's wedding? I went to a wedding in April and that was my goal to be ok for that but I was up and "running" well before that big day. If I had had to do any preparations I would have been ok to do them I am sure, although I have never "organised" a wedding before!!

I am thinking of having the other one done early next year if possible. I will be 59 years old in December.

If your consultant has recommended that you have the op then it is obviously the next step and he has put the ball in your court.

I wish you well, whatever you decide.

Luv
Elna x