Very Fed Up!!!

Trayguy

Hi

Just been to see the specialist today - my yearly appointment - to be told my knees have gone a lot worse, he says I need surgery but I am too young so it is out of the question. It is so frustratiing. I am neary 50 and in pain every day but he says they are the rules. All I can have is the injections again which did work last time for a few months so I have no choice but to try them again.

I just wonder if this is the same all over the country that you have to be nearer 60 before they will consider a knee replacement. I live in Lancashire who are obviously watching the pennies!!!!

Tracey

elnafinn

Hi Tracey

"The rules" appear to differ depending where you live in the UK. That is what I have noticed on the forum, anyway. It really is not fair, is it? A patient should be looked at as an individual and how it is affecting their quality of life and so on. It should not only be based on age. So what magically happens at 60 years of age that it is suddenly ok to have a TKR?

You can only have so many steroid jabs a year as well, can't you?

I hope you will be able to change your consultant's mind in a couple of years time at least.

Elna x

kellerman

I did actually ask about this. Apparently each area has a cut off point...here its 55. That doesn't just apply to TKR ops but pretty much anything that your told your too young for.This I'm afraid is the odd world world known as the NHS.

nearlybionic

Hi Tracey
I am sorry to see you are suffering with your knees. I am in Lancashire too, and was listed for my first hip replacement at 39, had op at 40. I am now on waiting list for my 2nd hip at 44. Also my friend had a TKR last year, at Burnley aged 42. So it is not a Lancashire wide thing! I would ask for a second opinion if things are really bad and you are struggling. I was told it is not just about your age, it is aslo about your quality of life, and how much your pain is affecting your life. I have deteriorated a lot over the past months, and am not sleeping due to pain, am walking with a stick, and am taking morphine for pain, which just takes the edge off.
Don`t give up!
NB

barbara12

Hello Tracy
There are a few people on here that have been told this, but pain is pain whatever age you are.
Our Elainbadknee was told the same, but she didnt give up and found someone that would do her knee and now she is recovering nicely, you PM her.
I do hope you get some relief very soon xx

elainebadknee

Tracey

Don't listen to your consultant, you are not too young, he is just refusing to offer you treatment. I had my TKR last October aged 45 and I did have to seek a second opinion which I did... I live in Kendal, my second opinion was Wrightington, I had to lose some weight for my operation and did so...
I hate it when they use age as an excuse they know you can't morph into Dr Who and turn it around.....Ask about second opinion, if you are in Lancashire Wrightington may be within your catchment area too..

Good luck

Elainexx

Trayguy wrote:

Hi

Just been to see the specialist today - my yearly appointment - to be told my knees have gone a lot worse, he says I need surgery but I am too young so it is out of the question. It is so frustratiing. I am neary 50 and in pain every day but he says they are the rules. All I can have is the injections again which did work last time for a few months so I have no choice but to try them again.

I just wonder if this is the same all over the country that you have to be nearer 60 before they will consider a knee replacement. I live in Lancashire who are obviously watching the pennies!!!!

Tracey

dreamdaisy

I was told at the age of 52 that I had to wait until 55. I'm now nearing 54 and my right hip has gone wes thanks to walking on ribbish ankles and rubbish knees. This may give me some further 'brownie points' but somehow I doubt it. I think the fear is that people who are younger will have higher expectations of the new joint thus wearing them out quicker thus necessitating a revision which is more complicated surgery. If looked after a replacement joint can last a darn sight longer than the 10-15 years that is often quoted.

Money has to be factor in these decisions - new joints, surgery and the work after is expensive and the NHS wastes a great deal of its resources in dealing with things that are not illnesses. This has the knock-on effect of people being denied the treatment they need and that could change the quality of their lives. The silly thing is that the surgeon who has turned you down would probably quite happily do it privately. :roll: Age would not be a barrier then. DD

bubbadog

The rules are crazy!! You don't go running, dancing, jumping or anything excessive when you have Arthritis! So why put a cap on age? I would definatly get advice and chat with your G.P you never know there might be hope yet!

barry2013

My GP pratice has a system whereby they buy in the services thay need from the private sector, I am having buy TKR next tues, only moved to Lincolnshire in Aug last year, saw GP in Dec, am amazed how lucky I have been, wish it was the same for you.
Best wishes.
Barry.

Trayguy

Thanks for all your replies. I feel a lot better now and maybe I will go and get a second opinion. I just think quality of life is far more important now. Who knows how technology may have moved on in 10 years time - may not be a problem if it needs doing again.

Tracey

Stigger

It isn't just and 'age' thing but also the kind of replacement you can have. Friends in other areas are allowed to have Ceramic hip replacements, which last much longer and pose no risk for migrating metal and polyethylene into the body causing unnecessary and painful revision surgery. My PCT will not fund these - nor will they refer you to a surgeon until you are practically crippled with OA (despite only having one leg anyway). It is a joke this system, a postcode joke.

maria09

Hi
I think their theory is if you are youngish they do not want to opperate too soon as you may need another knee replacement in years to come
Its much harder to remove an old prosthesis and there is a possible of fracture when removing
At the end of the day it is your descision and you accept the risk And like any operation there are risks then I feel the consultant should go with you wishes
You could ask your GP if he can refer you to another Health Authority
Good luck
Maria

frogmorton

Hi Tracey

Poor you!!

I agree with everyone else. They are hoping it will last you a lifetime if left long enough to replace.

I get that, but there is a balance between quality of life and economics!!

Do let us know if you get anywhere.

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

Hello Trayguy, how are you feeling today? DD

lizzieuk1

maria09 wrote:

Hi
I think their theory is if you are youngish they do not want to opperate too soon as you may need another knee replacement in years to come
Its much harder to remove an old prosthesis and there is a possible of fracture when removing
At the end of the day it is your descision and you accept the risk And like any operation there are risks then I feel the consultant should go with you wishes
You could ask your GP if he can refer you to another Health Authority
Good luck
Maria

This is pretty much the only reason they won't do them earlier nothing directly to do with age just the risk of needing another in your lifetime- that said it is a complex risk and if u choose this route obv talk the risks through with the orthopods well before making a decision, as said there are ceramic cups now used for hip ops and it really annoys me that not all pcts are using them they are by far the best available-if we were all private that's what we'd get-good old postcode lottery again!!
The hope is that tkr will follow this idea in some way but its a way off yet knee surgery is prob 10 years behind hip regarding techniques and materials.
You'd expect a metal hip to last approx 10years but with ceramic cups more like 20+.too early for the stats here yet but as ever the states are ahead of us and their results are very positive for longevity. Let's hope the knees follow soon!