Arhtritis Left & Right knee joints

tiggnest

Hi There,
I am 49 years old and have suffered with knee joint pain for the last 16 years. I have had 4 arthroscopies 2 on each knee over thepast years the last one being in 2007. I have been told by my consultant that the only option available is knee replacement on both knees but he has also told me that I am too young to have this done as I would outlive the replacement knee. Can anyone tell me why knee replacements can only be done the once?

I am totally fed up with the pain, drugs and inability to live life as I should be doing at 49.

Anyone any advice?

skezier

Hi tiggnes,

Welocme to the forum and glad you have found it cus he is wrong really....

Its something that some consultants say but others don't so really the best advice I can give is see if you can talk it over with your gp and labour the quality of life issue and maybe see a different ortho who will do them for you now.

That's what I would do and so hope you can get some help via your gp and a different ortho cus they can be done more than once and folks here have had the revisions and can hep you on this one. Nice to meet you. Cris x

tiggnest

Thank you Cris, that's a great help I often wonder whether it's just a NHS money issue in what consultants sometimes tell you and that the patients quality of life is totally forgotten in all the number crunching of budgets :-(
regards, Jane

skezier

Hi Jane,

In the present climate they do seem to be holding back on offering but laborer the quality of life thing and see a different otho cus they can do joint replacement in your early 20's and still have revisions etc.

hang i there and see your gp and just labour the impact its having on you and ask to see a different person. They all have their own ideas. Let us know how you get on please. Cris x

bertyboy

hi tiggnest, and welcome , why do the dr use age against people it is now that you want to be helped , they can replace a replacement , and a lot depends how active you are as to how long a tkr can last everybody is different , dont give up , keep asking good luck x

traluvie

Hi and welcome to the forum..
Unfortunately i am not familar with the knee operations, i do have OA in knees(inflammatory elsewhere)so understand the pain they cause, but then i have only had problems for a yr..
There are a few on here familar with the knees so i am sure they will be able to offer you some more advice.

dreamdaisy

Hello tiggnest, it's nice to meet you though I am sorry you have had to find you.

New knees are expensive but they can, with care, last for at least twenty years, maybe longer. My cousins wife is on her third knee (she is 48, she had her first at 18 but that was due to bone cancer - no quibbles then about her age) and I am sure (given the fact that she is fatter than me) another one won't be too far away. I was told in August that I was too fat (true) and too young (not true, I am 52) for a new knee (like you I need two). I was told to go back in about 30 months time (and 3 stone lighter) and they would, like Fagin, review the situation. As other joints are shot to bits, well, I dunno. :roll:

There are about 10 million arthritics in the UK, and that number will surely only grow with the aging population. We are an expensive drain on limited resources, but that is not our fault. I think your surgeon is trying to fob you off and that is not on. Money is tight in the NHS, but I have a bias towards thinking a new joint is a necessity, not a luxury. Fight your corner, tiggnest, I know how tough life is with poorly knees, I've had 'em for years, two open synovectomies and one closed, but the OA pain is far worse than the original arthritis that began in my knees (PA, psoriatic arthritis). Do you use sticks or crutches when walking? They can ease a fair bit of the pain/discomfort. What pain relief/anti-inflammatories are you taking? DD

mig

Hi tiggnest,Just wanted to say hello and welcome. Mig

elainebadknee

Hi

He is telling you that cos in an ideal world one knee would last an average person their lifespan but humans are all individuals and he should know better.....The fact of the matter is had you had a sports injury you could have 3 knee replacements - i know someone who this is happening to this year.....
Id personally seek a 2nd opinion as you cannot and should not have to live your life (and remember thats just what and whose it is) like you are just now...This person is being draconian telling you that you need this but then snatching it away like a bully saying you cannot have it.....Fight your corner...
I say this cos ive had to seek 2nd opinion for my left knee and at age of 43 have found surgeon who will replace my knee...I have to travel 90miles away but i couldnt live how i was 6-8 months ago and i deserve a quality of life.....

Good luck

Elainex

tiggnest wrote:

Hi There,
I am 49 years old and have suffered with knee joint pain for the last 16 years. I have had 4 arthroscopies 2 on each knee over thepast years the last one being in 2007. I have been told by my consultant that the only option available is knee replacement on both knees but he has also told me that I am too young to have this done as I would outlive the replacement knee. Can anyone tell me why knee replacements can only be done the once?

I am totally fed up with the pain, drugs and inability to live life as I should be doing at 49.

Anyone any advice?

sarahthornton

Hi there,

You have certainly come to the right place. I am 32 and had my first knee replacement almost 2 weeks ago. I am not the only one around my age to have had knee replacements either. My doctors had been putting it off for quite a few years but in the end it was the only option. You can have up to 2 revisions. They say revisions are less successful but if you have one now they have 20 years to improve them before you would need your first revision.

My surgeon ordered some harder wearing stuff that goes in between the knee joints (where cartilege is supposed to be) in the hope that that will last longer so there are always options.

Stand your ground and stay positive. If they have said you need a new knee then you need and deserve a new knee.

Take care

Sarah

dreamdaisy

Sorry! I made an error in my post this morning and cannot correct it due to th recent demise of the edit button. I meant I am sorry you have had to find US. (I am thinking you have already found you, yes? ) DD

tiggnest

Thank you all so much for your replies, it has certainly been informative and I will definitely be looking at seeking a second opinion in respect of any possibility of knee replacements. I will keep you updated on my progress and fingers crossed, xJanex (tiggnest)

tiggnest

LOL Dreamdaisy, your right I have already found myself and glad to have found this site too xJanex (tiggnest)