[TheForge] Knee Replacement

[robert hensarling]

Hi Lynn!  I haven't had my left knee replaced yet, but it's on the chopping 
block.  Mine is like yours, bone on bone.  It can be incredibly painful, or, 
no pain at all.  I originally  broke and hyperextended this knee in a car 
accident in 73, and it's never stopped hurting.
So, I have no experience there, but my back is shot, so I can relate some to 
your situation.  I've  had three surgeries, and proudly wear titanium rods, 
and pectile screws.  It was during this surgery that the doctors discovered 
I had very little bone mass, caused from Osteoporosis.  This affects men and 
women, it doesn't care whose life it try's to mess up.  I might get your 
physician to order up a bone density test, just to see how you are.  It's 
non-invasive, painless, and takes just a few minutes.
Living with freshly surgicaled bones is not fun, but  you get used to it 
very fast.  I was to be down for 2 months, but that turned into 6 months.  I 
thought I never would heal, but I finally did.  You just never know how 
bones are going to react in this type of situation.  From what all I've 
heard about knee replacement, you'll either get over it fairly quickly, or 
it may not be so "quickly".  Do exactly what the doc's say, they know their 
business.  Also, there's some devices on the market that supposedly helps 
bone grow faster.  I had (have) one of these.  It's not a pain reliever, 
like a tens unit, but it's a bone builder and helps bone heal faster.  It 
has a couple of electrodes that you attach on each side of the surgical 
site, with tape.
Did it work for me?  I don't know, but the docs all said that if I didn't 
have it, the healing process would have been a lot longer.
Main thing is just don't get in a hurry to start living like you did before 
the surgery.  I think that the new knee will bring a lot of relief to you, 
and the quality of your life will be better.
Keep us informed on how it all goes!
Robert
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lynn and Susan Lang" <langfarm at together.net>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 8:37 AM
Subject: [TheForge] Knee Replacement


> Hello
> Just had an incident with my right knee... For about six weeks it was
> swollen and tender, Thursday it complained with a pop and much
> pain...Previous to that, about five years ago my left knee had the same
> swelling, checking with my doctor his comment was "growing old is not
> for sissies".
>
> The MRI shows bone on bone, not an ACL or meniscus tear.  The ER doctor
> suggests I consider a replacement.  I have an appointment with my new
> primary care doctor tomorrow, this as part of the referral system to get
> an orthopedic appointment.
>
> What experiences, surprises do I have to look forward to?
>
> Thank you
> lynn
>
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