Arthritis, Osteoarthritis
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Sun, 08/30/2009 - 12:15
Knee Pain
I've been experiencing knee pain for several years. I'm 57 years old. Several years ago I had an MRI of my left knee. The doctor said I do have osteoarthiritis (oh gawd, I know I'm spelling this wrong, lol). At that time the doctor said knew replacement was in my future, but a ways off.
This year my knee pain has gotten quite a bit worse. Every time I get up especially my knees hurt like crazy! I am going to make an appointment with a Rheumatologist because I believe I have Fibromyalgia. Would a Rheumatologist also be the specialist who would make a determination regarding knee replacement? Or is there a different specialist for that?
Just wondering,
Ken GreyEagle
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hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 57 yrs old, married 34 yrs, 2 children, 2 grandsons, 4 level laminectomy april 8th, 2009, tonsilectomy 1959, carpal tunnel surgery both hands 1997
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Hi Ken, I had both my knees replaced about 4 years ago. It got to the point it was bone on bone from the osteoarthritis. I did the route of numerous cortisone injections first. I also had 3 sets of Synvisc shots in each knee. The Synvisc put off the replacements for about a year. A year is better than no year but eventually the pain got so bad the replacements had to happen.
Cervical stenosis and myelopathy (most symptoms permanant), DDD, OA, 16 surgeries to date (including 3 level cervical laminectomy, bilateral knee replacements, A-C joint resections in both shoulders), 19 MRI's, and many many many cortisone shots and ESI's
The information provided by members of Spine-Health should never be considered as formal medical advice. It is recommendations based on member's personal experiences only.
This can vary from person to person, so do not take comments as medical facts or rules
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I made the decision for the replacements but it was under the care of an orthopedist.
Good luck
Cervical stenosis and myelopathy (most symptoms permanant), DDD, OA, 16 surgeries to date (including 3 level cervical laminectomy, bilateral knee replacements, A-C joint resections in both shoulders), 19 MRI's, and many many many cortisone shots and ESI's
The information provided by members of Spine-Health should never be considered as formal medical advice. It is recommendations based on member's personal experiences only.
This can vary from person to person, so do not take comments as medical facts or rules
Suicide Help Resources
SUICIDE HOTLINE:
USA: 1-800-784-2433
UK : 08457 90 90 90
sorry the knee is so bad. regarding replacement. best you leave the decision on surgery to the guy thats been inside and knows the construction...a surgeon who specializes on the knee
Banned from Spine-Health
You want to look for an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in joint replacement, or who just specializes in knees, better yet!!
spondylolisthesis at L4-5; stenosis at L3-4 and L4-5
radiculopathy for about 3 years
PLIF (L4-L5)in Jan '08 (PEEK cage, rods & Screws, BMP); continued radiculopathy....
Lami-foraminotomy L5-S1 Jan '09; continued radiculopathy;
Bulging discs L3-4 & L5-S1; crazy screwed-up S1 nerve
***** I have no medical training and am in no way connected with the medical profession, other than doing my part to keep them at full employment. My posts are based on personal experience and knowledge gained through the adventures of living. Take them for what they are worth....
Thanks everyone! I should have thought of that...orthopedic who specializes in knee replacement. I'm going to let my primary care doctor refer me to a good one.
For the Fibromyalgia I'll see a Rheumatologist.
Thanks again!
Ken GreyEagle
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 57 yrs old, married 34 yrs, 2 children, 2 grandsons, 4 level laminectomy april 8th, 2009, tonsilectomy 1959, carpal tunnel surgery both hands 1997
Good luck, Ken. Let us know if you found some help. Most of us dealing with osteoarthritis will have to deal with this problem sooner or later. The funny thing is that I had three-level lumbar fusion little over a year ago, and when my friends ask me how is my back, I have to tell them, "my back has been fixed, it is fine, but the rest of my body is falling apart" and that is the truth, my fingers hurt, my shoulder hurts, my hip hurts, and now my knee really hurts. So what is one to do, have surgery on every part of our body? A whole body replacement, perhaps? After 72 years, it may not be such a bad idea.
Hope you will find relief soon. Tell us how if you do.
Kin
SF Peninsula CA resident
Decompression and L3-S1 fusion with instrumentation, 5/1/08
Hi Kin!
You summed it up! Whole body replacement sounds good to me! I'm only 57! My knees hurt, my neck hurts, my shoulders, etc etc. LOL.
Ken
p.s. I was born and raised in San Jose, Calif. I do know the part of the State you live in. Years and years ago I did truck deliveries on the East Bay area: Alameda, Richmond, etc.
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 57 yrs old, married 34 yrs, 2 children, 2 grandsons, 4 level laminectomy april 8th, 2009, tonsilectomy 1959, carpal tunnel surgery both hands 1997
Good to meet you Ken. I live just a bit north of San Jose, at the Peninsula, but I graduated from San Jose Stat. I never thought that Californians have arthritis and rheumatism, but we do. Maybe ours is not so weather relater like those who live in colder climates, but we suffer all year around. Great!
Where do you live now?
Best to you,
Kin
SF Peninsula CA resident
Decompression and L3-S1 fusion with instrumentation, 5/1/08
I live about an hour NW of Seattle, Washington now. We've been here about 12 years now I think. Previous to this we lived in Orange County, Calif for 17 years.
I moved away from San Jose the first time when I went to college in Fresno in 1970. I only went home to San Jose in the summers. Then I married in 1974. From then on we lived in Fresno one last year, Riverside, Calif 2 years, San Jose 3 years, Orange County 17 years, and now Washington.
It does get cold enough here for these Arthritic issues, lol Last Winter we had 3 feet of snow. That was more than we usually get. No telling what we will have this year. It is a gorgeous area. We are in the foothills of the Washington Cascade mountains. We bought our house 5 years ago, surrounded by forest.
Ken
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 57 yrs old, married 34 yrs, 2 children, 2 grandsons, 4 level laminectomy april 8th, 2009, tonsilectomy 1959, carpal tunnel surgery both hands 1997
I live in Southern California and I get aches and pains without the snow so I really sympathize with you. They call these the golden years, but I think that they got the color right but the name wrong they should be called the rusty years!
I too have knee problems and I just had surgery four weeks ago on my left knee for a torn meniscus and I will need another on my right knee soon. The orthopedist who did the surgery told me that I have arthritis in the left knee and to expect to have replacement at some time in the future. I will say that the hardware that I have heard about recently sounds better than ever and a friend of mine just had it done and has walked out of the hospital in Los Angeles with very little pain. Quite amazing. Also for the bone on bone people I am given to understand that they now have the ability to replace the whole meniscus which could be a wonderful alternative for some. I know that we are supposed to be about spineys here but some of us spineys are Golden or Rusty Oldies too!
Take care John B
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