My first post - My Story so far

Debbie1964

Four years ago whilst out power walking when i was aged 44, i tore my cartlidge in my left knee, i suffered for a year after doctors said i had pulled the tendons, after searching online i realised i had all the symptoms of a torn cartlidge and i asked my gp for a mri scan which confirmed it. I had to have the cartlidge removed. Following this the arhtritis developed so quickly that almost 2 years after i had to have a half knee replacement.

That was 15 months ago and i am in more pain than ever, my knee is swollen and partially numb, i have terrible pain down the scar, i cant kneel down and sleeping is becoming a nightmare of tossing and turning. My other knee has now started with arthritis and is very painful too. When i last saw my consultant and showed him a photo of how huge my left ankle had gone after attending a wedding and wearing a small heeled shoe, he said it was to be expected, my foot had no bones showing and looked like a pigs trotter!!

I am now waiting to go in to have my new knee injected in several places to calm the pain, i am not looking forward to that at all.

Has anyone had a similar experience, i know some have knee replacements and are fine, my 69 year old mum has had her knee and hip done in the last few years and is 100% fine.

Thanks for reading, sorry my rant is so long
Debbie

valval

hi debbie can not help much but have had steroid injection in knee was not as bad as thought it would be but it did help make sure you rest it for 24 hours after good luck i hope it helps have they said what type of srther they think it is val

stickywicket

Hello Debbie and welcome to the forum. You seem to have powerstepped into something of a nightmare, don't you? I'm afraid OA can develop after sudden trauma.

I'm afraid I've no experience of partial knee replacements, just the full ones. Unfortunately, it's quite normal for ankles to kick in too as, once one joint is out of kilter, it tends to set others off too. You are presumably walking badly on the affected knee and that has put pressure on your ankle.

Heels of any sort are probably a bad idea. If you look back there are several threads on comfortable/suitable footwear. I can't help there as I'm in surgical shoes.

I hope the injections help. Do you know what they are injecting? I've had steroid jabs in my knees but I don't remember them injecting more than one site at a time. I hope it works for you.

barbara12

Hello Debbie and a very warm welcome from me
Gosh you really are suffering , Im so sorry you have had to go through this, it does seem more sensible to give you a new knee, but they will try all options first, I really do wish you well with the injections, and hope they bring lots of relief...sorry Im not being much help here...please let us know how you get on. x

traluvie

Hi Debbie and welcome from me too..
I am not familar with knee replacements but i know some people are so maybe they can help a bit better,,
Heels for me went out about yr ago now, as my ankles and knees insist it is a no no for me, so i now own a collection of dolly shoes which are not much support but then i don't really go out to wear them lol so i am safe..lol
There are a few good places that do supportive footwear, as sticky said they are on the forum..
Hope things get sorted soon, take care

CJHunter

Hi Debbie and welcome. Am sorry to hear of your knee troubles. A torn cartlidge is not good, i have had it and had it mended through keyhole, which worked fine. At the mo i am going through some problems with the said knee. Its been about 18mths since the op and pain has become unbearable. My doc has upped my beupro patch to 20+5 patches but knee pain is still creeping through.
Anyhow i have app with ortho next week.

Hope you get help you need soon, have you had a referal to orthopedics and an O.T, the o.t may be able to help suggesting footwear?? Just a thought.

Take care, there are some great people on here.xx

GraceB

Debbie,
I'm 46 and had a partial (bi-compartmental) replacement to my right knee in May 2009. This was done after 8 previous surgeries including a failed cartilage graft transplant. (I was born with mal-aligned legs but following a fall in 1998 all this hoo-hah really started for me and made things worse.
I still get pain from my replaced knee - and it's getting worse. I also have problems (pain/swelling) with my ankles, other knee and now my hips are playing up.

When you have continuous/relentless pain, things get to you. You go to bed in pain, and wake up in pain. It does get to you. I too can't kneel on my replaced knee due to the scar (mine's a hypertrophic one so is huge). My scar and part of my knee is also numb - it's a weird feeling but just a shame that the numbness doesn't reach down to the bone as you still feel that pain, don't you?

Some suggestions for you if you don't mind: firstly if you haven't already done so investigate DLA (it's not means tested so you can get it even if you're still working); if this is your left knee and you drive can you replace your car with an automatic one? (if you get higher rate of DLA you can use this for a Motability car); if you haven't already got one apply for a Blue Badge. If you work, tell your employers what's going on and ask for their help, and keep them informed. They have a duty to help you.

Have you got a walking stick? If not, get one with a shaped handle and use it on the opposite side (e.g., knackered left knee = stick in right hand; and vice-versa). You can get some very snazzy sticks these days.
Plan everything - including shopping trips. Window shopping is out for me and has been for a decade now. When I'm out with friends/family if I say "lets have a coffee" that's my code for "I've got to sit down quickly and rest" - in addition of course, I then get a lovely frothy coffee to drink!

If you want to PM me please feel free to do so; I'd be happy to help. Not sure whereabouts in the UK you are but I'm in Kent.
Keep posting, and contact the helplines for immediate support.
Lastly, take care of yourself and let us know how you're doing please?
Grace

frogmorton

Dear Debbie

what a sad story especially as you are/were obviously a 'fit' person.

There are one or two on here who do have some issues following surgery o a thinking of a chap who gets the numbness you refer to. The vast majority do so well and you have been so unlucky :sad:

l hope that at the very least your GP has given you decent pain relief and that those injection help you.

At least you have found us lot and hope we will be able to support you now.

Love

Toni xxx