No pain

ArtyBell

I am 80 and hurtling towards a knee replacement op faster than I’d like. I only get a nanosecond to speak to the orthopaedic consultant so I have questions I’ve had no time to ask. I’ve signed the consent form and am having pre-op assessment next week. I have zero cartilage and the joint is bone on bone BUT I have no pain. As I understand it knee replacements are given to relieve excruciating pain so given that I have virtually no pain, except when I forget and do something stupid, should I turn down the offer of an op and wait until it becomes excruciating, if ever.

Naomi33

Afternoon @ArtyBell and welcome to the online community.

Well have to say personally I would go for operation prevention better than cure, as for no pain that is amazing though so do understand your predicament.

I am sure others with more knowledge and experience will connect with you soon.

Best wishes @Naomi33

annabanana

Hi @ArtyBell , thank you for your post and welcome to the online community! Whilst I am glad to hear that you do not experience pain in your knee despite it being affected by arthritis, I do not think that it means that you shouldn’t accept the treatment being offered to you. Every person is different however, if this is the route your doctors believe is best then it is probably best to follow it. Perhaps it would be best to ask your doctor to explain exactly why they recommend a knee replacement despite you feeling as though you can manage without, it may be a good way to develop a better understanding of the treatment you are receiving.

I will attach a link on knee replacement surgeries which may be worth a read! I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

https://versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/surgery/knee-replacement-surgery/

helpline_team

Hi @ArtyBell,

Thank you for posting on the Helpline Online Community about knee replacement surgery and whether your decision to go ahead with this should be based on the pain level.

As with all major operations, there are some risks involved in the surgery itself, and it's important to weigh these up with the potential benefits in discussion with your orthopaedic consultant. Whilst we are unable to offer an opinion on whether it is right for you, we can say that usually, you’ll only need a knee replacement if your knee gives you pain, stiffness, instability or loss of function that affects your daily life and activities. Some people can have bone on bone osteoarthritis and not experience severe pain, but it's important to also assess the stability of the joint in its current state and any potential complications that could come from this.

As suggested by @annabanana, take a look at the knee replacement surgery information she has shared, and don't be afraid to contact the orthopaedic team to ask for some more information and advice based on their assessment of your knee.

Even with bone on bone osteoarthritis, exercise is still beneficial. So even if you were to have your knee joint replaced, by strengthening the muscles around your joints, this can improve stability and mobility, and you are preparing for the best possible outcomes in terms of rehabilitation and recovery, with stronger muscles to support your new joints, so do take a look at our Let's Move for Surgery Toolkit exercises.

In addition to the information already posted, you may also find the following helpful in making your decision, but do also reach out to the orthopaedic specialist team again too.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-knee/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/lets-move-for-surgery-toolkit/

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Helen, Helpline Advisor

ArtyBell

Thank you so much for replying. I am in a real quandary about it all. My orthopaedic surgeon also sees patients at the local private hospital and I think I’ll make an appt to see him there so I have more time to express my doubts. I know in the end I’ll be told it’s my decision but of course I’m not medically trained so don’t feel I’m adequately qualified to make a decision.

helpline_team

Hi @ArtyBell

If you feel you'd like some more medical support to make an informed decision, a good option is to spend some time with a physiotherapist. (It can be good to see one who works with the surgical team on post-op recovery, and the surgical team should be able to suggest someone. If not, do ring us on 0800 5200 520.) A physio can work with you to see how well your knee is functioning and can go over the pros and cons and give you more time to think it over.

Whatever you decide our exercise information may be useful.

Exercising with arthritis | Top tips, specific exercises

All the best

Guy - Helpline Team