Knee replacements at 39 - Anyone had any experience of this?

VictoriaLouisa

Hi, its 6.30am and I've been awake for two hours my mind going round and round!! I have RA and Lupus plus some other autoimmune problems and both knees are grade 4 arthritis. An ortho surgeon said that depsite my age of 39 he would allow knee replacements as I am stuck on a scooter and basically my walking ability is non existant and i cant drive. I was really hopefull thinking I would get first my knees then my hips done, and I could get a part time job once it was all over, thinking I would get some of my life back. However, a couple of days ago I went for an appointment to discuss the optiions but did not see my usual doctor but his boss (the senior Ortho surgeon). He is very abrupt and he said as soon as I walked in that there was no way was he going to allow new joints as they would not last, I would need new ones at 50 and he would be chopping my legs off at 60. He said I would have to rely on medication and my husband's help for at least the next 10 years and then he's review it!! He also said I would cost the NHS over £80K and as I am riddled with arthritis was it worth it? My husband is older than me and has just had cancer, so hardly too fit himself. I came out devestated with all my hope for some improvement in life gone. Has anyone out there had knees replaced at an early age, and if so how have things gone? Also, can I ask for a second opinion do you think? [/color]

Rewter

Sorry to here you are in such pain.

Ouch - That is very straight to the point and not really sensertive. However, its a similar storey to what I was told with my hips. I was diagnosed with OA at 29 and still today at 36, they are pushing me away as have concerns of what I will be like in my later years. I am back with the consultant in a few weeks though I am sure they will not want to pursue any replacements.

dreamdaisy

Ye gods. I bet if you went to see the grumpy one privately he'd do it like a shot. :roll: I began my auto-immune arthritis aged 37, it went undiagnosed and thus untreated for five years, then when treatment began it was basically too little too late. Here I am sixteen years later with OA bone-on-bone through about 3/4 of both knees and my ankles are rapidly catching up, all thanks to the damage caused by the auto-immune crud. I saw an ortho last year who said 'You're too fat and too young, come back when you're 55.' He was correct with his first point and way off the target with his second. Berk. :roll: I now have to use a rollator when out and about and I reckon my scooter days are not that far off now.

If you take good enough care of a replacement joint it can last years and years - there's a lady on here who has a TKR which is (I think) over 30 years old. My cousin's wife had her knee replaced aged 18 (that was due to bone cancer and of course no-one bats an eyelid about that). She is now on her third or maybe fourth knee, she is grossly overweight and thus damages her knee quite quickly. These double-standards of treatment get my goat, they really do. Fight your corner girl, this is YOUR life and the quality of that which is at stake. I wish you well. DD

elnafinn

Hi again Victoria

I replied to your posting on the helplines thread. I omitted to say that I was a member of the forum not the wonderful helplines team.

You can most definitely ask for a second opinion. The slight problems is that you have already had a good rapport with the other consultant you saw. He was on your side unlike this "top" surgeon at your last appointment.

It does appear to be a fight for ops at an early age for "new" joints always with the same arguments from those that perform them. It does not seem to concern/occur to them that some of us would like to live our lives now instead of "existing" until such time as the surgeons think we may be eligible for a new joint.

I would go for a second opinion as the next port of call. I had both my knees replaced, one in 2008 and 2010 of thereabouts and I am 61 now. I did have to wait a couple of years. I do consider myself very fortunate. I do hope things turn out well for you.

Elna x

diamond

Like DD i get angry when i hear how some people are treated.It is you that has to live with the pain and restrictive life.I would certainly ask for a second opinion then you know that at least you have tried your best to move things forward.Wishing you the best of Luck.

lindalegs

What a brutal man Victoria. I would ask for a second opinion and I would also write a letter of complaint to the hospital. He should not be allowed to get away with talking to you like that. These people have to be made to realise that their words affect us and sometimes don't just upset us temporarily. :roll:

Both my knees were replaced in he same operation when I was 42, I have worn one of the replacements out and had a revision last year. Revisions are a more complex operation and it did take me longer to get over than the original surgery but my new knee is wonderful and I get no pain from it at all ........................at the moment

I hope you get better treatment next time.

Luv,

julie47

Hi Victoria

I am so sorry to read your post, what a terrible man he was :x
I can imagine how broken you must have felt after his consultation.
I have no experience of joint replacements I just wanted to give you my support, but I would ask for a second opinion.
I wish you well
Love Juliepf x

elainebadknee

HI

I had much the same repsonse as yourself with a surgeon over 1.5years ago...I have grade 4 oesteochondritis dissecans in left knee and have had since early teens, it got worse finally after many surgeries 2years ago....That surgeon at my local hospital told me he would only remove my kneecaps no more and totally ruled out TKR stating me to young and too fat which i was but he didnt give me any light at end of the tunnel and left me so upset that neither me nor my dad who accompanied me could believe how rude he was....I complained about him and it went so far but also sought a second opinion...I live in Kendal and sought my second opinion at Wrightington, Wigan....
Since going there my new surgeon says no way should i ever have agreed to kneecap removal and i knew it wasnt right for me, hence why had to seek advice on here....I am now going to have my TKR this year and am so happy have sought second opinion...
You need to do the same definitely and complain about this man, if he wasnt your normal person too....Im sorry youre going through this and I do honestly know how it feels and feel for you...
Hope to hear good news from you soon....You need to live your life now as you only get one, not be dependant on others and live half a life....

Good luck

Elainexx