Waiting time for total knee op.

Twinny

Hi folks
Am tearing my hair out following visit to orthopaedic clinic today. Scans reveals severe arthritis in right knee has got worse. Problem compounded by having arthritis in left knee and shoulder too.
iA previous Arthoscopy, physio and painkillers been of little effect. Right knee is continously locking which is agonising and affects everyday mobility. However, I am being told my case is being referred to senior consultant to decide whether a total knee op is the right option since I am 0nly 54 years of age ( hypermobility probable cause).
What is so frustrating Is that there is that Only one logical treatment route as knee on both sides is shot to pieces and yet I have to wait another seven weeks for next appointment. Have also been informed waiting list is between 7 - 9 months! I am already on the pathway, this being 6 weeks on From my GP referral but what do I tell work? At this rate it won't be able to return to work until October.
Has anyone else had a full knee Replacment at my age? All this procrastination, why does age have anything to do with it, I'm already been catapulted into old age and infirmity ? Surely, it's the quality of life I have now and my ability to earn an income that should be the main concern
Sorry for the moan. Could just do with some sage advice from anyone who feels battle weary and fed up like. Me.
Angie

dreamdaisy

Hello, it all depends on your health area, demands on the services (always higher at this time of year), whether you qualify for surgery and the opinion of the surgeon. Going private may result in expedition of the operation but if the surgeon feels that the right level of damage has not been reached it won't be done. If you do go private and things go wrong you will be bounced back to the NHS as the private sector does not cover op failure.

Replacement joints can last much longer than ten years but they need care and consideration as they are not as forgiving as the originals. Revision surgery is harder (replacing a replacement) as more original leg bone has to be removed. DD

elnafinn

I had my first TKR at age 58 years old. Second one at age 60 years old and a revision of the second one last year or the year before and it has never been right regarding pain post revision but it does what a knee should do.

barbara12

Sorry I cant help , but see that Elna has posted ..she is our resident specialist on knees ..I just want to welcome you to the forum and wish you well with the op just keep on at them..

stickywicket

Twinny wrote:

All this procrastination, why does age have anything to do with it, I'm already been catapulted into old age and infirmity ? Surely, it's the quality of life I have now and my ability to earn an income that should be the main concern

This is absolutely true and logical viewed from the patient's point of view. Unfortunately all the delays are due to an NHS which is also creaking arthritically at the knees. There are not enough GPs, not enough surgeons, not enough nurses, not enough money and far too many patients. It's a mess. A beloved, caring mess but a mess nonetheless.

There is, however, some logic to it too. TKRs done by good surgeons, nursed back to fitness by conscientious patients and thereafter looked after carefully will last for years. I got my first two aged 35 having had RA for 20 years and OA for several. I still have one of them 37 years later. Admittedly, it was officially declared 'knackered' about 6 years ago and it does little more than hold me up these days but I know, from having its counterpart re-done (brilliantly) about eight years ago that revision surgery costs almost twice as much, takes a double theatre slot, is a much longer implant, often requires bone grafts (mine did) and carries an ongoing risk of infection. And not all 'knee surgeons' do it. And, frankly, one wouldn't want all knee surgeons to do it. Mine was a great surgeon in a teaching hospital. The earlier a TKR is done the more likely the patient will require this difficult, expensive surgery later when they are less able to deal with anaesthetics etc. So the trick is to make them wait until they are less likely to do damaging things to the TKR and more likely to die before needing revision surgery.

You write "I have to wait another seven weeks for next appointment. Have also been informed waiting list is between 7 - 9 months! I am already on the pathway, this being 6 weeks on From my GP referral but what do I tell work? At this rate it won't be able to return to work until October." Actually considerably longer. Seven – nine months will only take you up to October – December. You haven't factored in the recovery time and, unless you do, the TKR will fail. They won't be rushed.

This is from the trustworthy ARUK site “Usually you can return to work when you feel comfortable that you can continue with your normal role. If you sit down most of the day at work, this may be in six to eight weeks, but if your job involves standing for long periods of time or manual work you may need 10–12 weeks. If your job involves heavy manual work, you should discuss with your employer whether a lighter alternative can be found when you return to work as heavy lifting may damage the replacement joint.” https://tinyurl.com/yayymyd7

All this must seem a bit galling to you coming from the lucky recipient of three TKRs but it's just, I'm, sorry to say, hard facts. I'm sure if you could manage the £10,000 or so for a private TKR you could have one asap with no quibbles. And I write as the mother of a son in USA who has to pay $300 per scan (3-monthly) on top of his medical insurance. Sometimes life just sucks and we have to deal with how it is rather than how we'd like it to be. I wish it were otherwise.

Helenbothknees

I had a bilateral TKR (ie both knees together) five and a half years ago at the age of 63. Like you, I felt both knees were knackered and I was in constant pain. My GP said my knees weren't bad enough, but I went to another GP in the same practice, for some other reason as far as I recall. But on hearing how short a distance I could actually walk, she suggested having them done, and got me an appointment for an assessment. I was asked if I'd like them both done together and I said I would. I was told the waiting list was five months, but I said I was willing to accept short notice cancellations, and I got one with three days notice!

Your situation is a bit different, but...is there anyone else you could see? Maybe on some pretext like asking for different painkillers? And make it very clear that you will accept short notice cancellations if you can do that. Apparently they happen quite often, as a lot of people needing TKRs are elderly and have other things wrong with them too.

I can't think of anything else, but if I do I'll let you know. For the record, mine have been brilliant, and I rarely drop into this site now, so if you want to contact me a private message might be better.

If nothing else works, maybe borrow the money if necessary and go private. I would!