Knees

[solo1]

Both of my knees will need replacing. A matter of time.

The left knee is especially a big question. As early as Bellaire Inzane it gave me a problem for two days then ok. Climbing the front steps of the Resort helped.

 Lately it became so bad that I needed a cortisone shot which helped.  Getting my butt our every other day and walking helps.   Some days no problem, other days it is hard to get into and out of the Miata, let alone, shifting through all the gears.  So far, the good days number more than the bad ones.

Since I live alone, it would be more complicated after surgery.   My surgeon says hold off until it affects my quality of Life.  While it hasn't quite done that yet, it makes it hard to plan driving the Miata any distance and/or staying overnight.   

Yes, I could drive my Mazda Six, a very nice car, but. compared to the Miata, where is the fun at that?

I'm just sounding off and need no advice.  I'll have to make up my own mind.

Wayne, solo1

[WoodyFL]

Wayne,
I had both of my knees done. Left knee back in 2012 and the right knee last year. Best decision I made.
Was back at work and driving in 2 weeks.


Bob

[Wizzard]

Just be glad its not you wee knee
Seriously hope it all goes well for you. My MIL who is 83 had both knees replaced at same time and breezed right through it.

[BobB]

My left knee is a mess.  I had surgery on it many years ago.  I have been putting off replacement with the shots for three years, and they have worked well for me.  But everyone I talk to says the replacement is the way to go, and my doctor is ready to make that happen at any time...

[Hooter]

   3 times on the right side. Left knee is trash but avoiding the enevidable..Rt has been OK for the past few. Next time doc says he will replace it.

[WoodyFL]

As a followup to my previous post, both knees were total replacements.

Bob

[John Schmidt]

Talking to my youngest daughter on Skype last night and she was filling me in on her mother, my former wife of nearly 30 yrs. ago. We get along fine, I guess age does that for you sometimes....but I digress. So, she told her mother to start drinking cherry juice a couple times a day for some joint pain since her dr. has taken her off most of her meds. Seems she lost over 50 lbs. in the last 15 months which made the difference. As for the cherry juice, apparently it's a natural anti-inflamatory so I might try it myself. I have a couple spots that are about 100 yrs. older than the rest, at least they feel that way at times.

[solo1]

John, I'm already taking concentrated Montmorency cherry juice and it is a proven anti-inflammatory.  I'm also taking UC2 somewhat like chondroitin I understand but smaller pill.  Both have seemed to work but I fear that the day is approaching soon when both will stop working.

[R J]

I had my left knee done 9 years ago.    Should have had the right one done but I'm  kinda like you are Wayne, stubborn.

Left knee I can do ass whompin, right knee I can't hardly stand on it.

I decided to wallow through it and that way they will only have to chop one leg off when I croak.

[solo1]

RJ, you sure do know me  

My worry is that I have no one at home so i'll have an extended stay in rehab., I hate that!

My second concern is that the right knee on xrays looks just as bad but gives me no fits.  At my age, 87, most, if not all, surgeons will not do two knees at the same time.  If the right one goes at the same time, that would be a problem for me.  Right now, the right knee can take up the slack.

I just made an appointment with my orthopedic Doc and will ask to get on the schedule, if he agrees.

[Hooter]

Just don't over do the cherry juice (has to be concentrate not just juice, it's thick) or you will poop yourself. You won't notice a difference for a week or so.

[solo1]

I've had no problem with that Hooter and this juice IS thick. In fact, the other day I took one bottle back to the grocery. It was so thick it wouldn't come out of the bottle upside down.

[Hooter]

I've had no problem with that Hooter and this juice IS thick. In fact, the other day I took one bottle back to the grocery. It was so thick it wouldn't come out of the bottle upside down.

I did what the bottle said and spent a short time doing a colon blow..     I still use it but cut the dose down. It has helped, maybe it's all in my head?   

[John Schmidt]

Just don't over do the cherry juice (has to be concentrate not just juice, it's thick) or you will poop yourself. You won't notice a difference for a week or so.

Re. my ex, today it probably won't affect her. But some years ago I would have welcomed that after-effect, would have made life more tolerable with less of it being tossed in my direction.  

[R J]

My knee Dr said the key to this surgury is to NOT cut the muscle.    Move it aside, do what ya has to do an sew it up. well staple it up.

My Rehab started out as 3 days a week for 3 weeks.
2 days a week for 4 weeks,
Get the hell out of here, we no want to see you no more.

[deadwood]

I'm 63. Had my right knee replaced on 4/20/15 and the left one done on 6/1/15. Did six weeks of PT three days a week after each one. I'm am very pleased with the results. As RJ mentioned, key is to not cut the muscle. Find someone who does what's called "Minimially Invasive" knee replacement surgery.
In your neck of the woods look at the Rush Medical center in Chicago.
 I was back at work (half time) on week two and back on the Fat Girl in three weeks after each one.

[Atl-Jerry]

I recently read where cherry juice will help prevent gout occurences, dunno if it does, but when you're in pain you'll try anything and think good thoughts.

[Wizzard]

Had gout several times and yes,, cherry juice helps prevent it,, as well as cranberry juice.

[Frankj]

Hi Wayne, just a little info, saw a knee replacement doctor 8 years ago, he said I will need a knee replacement eventually, mine is bone on bone, and like your doctor said; "when your quality of life is affected" , saw another surgeon that was highly recommended and he concurred I would eventually need a knee replacement, when I mentioned "I'll know when it's time", he said not so, he took a new x-ray, the one I brought him was a couple years old, because he wanted me to come back in a year to take a another one and compare the two, reason being he wants to make sure I'm regenerating new bone, he said if my bone is "cupping" it wouldn't provide a good base for the replacement, it still can be done, but wouldn't give optimum results

Good luck

Frank

[DK]

Solo,

I had a total knee replacement in '92 at age 45. I was too young, but had no other choice.

Remarkably, the knee is still in good shape although I've been very active with it - walking 6 miles / day and water skiing on a slalom until about ten years ago.

I shudder to think about what my life would have been like without the replacement.

The technique has greatly improved since my surgery.

If you are in pain and cannot drive the Miata, I strongly encourage you to seriously consider having it done.

Dan

[solo1]

Thanks all.  I've talked to my orthopedic doc and he would be able to do surgery on short notice.

He advised to wait somewhat and that's what I've decided. 

I will be doing some more investigation into places for therapy. 

[Valkjerk]

Wait at 87? What are you waiting for? My brother-in-law is 79 and had his done at Mayo Clinic and two weeks later, he was back in Louisiana hunting gators. Wayne......git er dun! This is not advice...this is a command. LOL  Before you start all this, I would whole-heartedly advise you to get someone to be with you to be your patient advocate. Maybe a family member or friend but someone to be there for you and with you.

[R J]

Valkjerk, you might as well give up on trying to order this stubborn old fart into doing something.

He is super Bull headed just like I am.

[solo1]

Wait at 87? What are you waiting for? My brother-in-law is 79 and had his done at Mayo Clinic and two weeks later, he was back in Louisiana hunting gators. Wayne......git er dun! This is not advice...this is a command. LOL  Before you start all this, I would whole-heartedly advise you to get someone to be with you to be your patient advocate. Maybe a family member or friend but someone to be there for you and with you.

RJ hit it on the nose.  I don't take orders ever since that I got out of the Service    I did not mention that the doc said that I might not have the range of motion with the replacement. That could be bad for getting in and out of the MX5.  I have no pain at the moment.  As far as patient advocate, my daughter is employed at an excellent rehab facility where I will go, and , as a former Xray tech at the VA, I have a feel for anatomy and doctor talk.

Thanks for your advice but as you know, each of us have a unique body and most of us know our body better than a doctor.

[..]

Had gout several times and yes,, cherry juice helps prevent it,, as well as cranberry juice.

If you are taking prescription meds please check for side effects including gout. I had gout for 5 years UNTIL my long standing doc said that my blood pressure med could cause gout. Changed to a different med and hey presto no more gout. And hey presto new doctor.

[R J]

Wayne, where did they come up with this lack of motion on a replacement?      Of all the knee replacement patients I went to PT with and etc all came up with over 100% motion on bending the knee back to maximum without any effort.    PS: here, the Dr's DO NOT cut the muscle during a replacement.    They push it aside, do the replacement and then bring it back to where it belongs.   I had surgery at 10:00 AM and got up and walked to the bathroom at 8:00 PM.       Got my ass chewed royally from the Nurse for doing the bathroom trip without assistance.    I only used a cane for like 3 or 4 days till I tossed it aside.   

I know you also don't like to have suggestions made, but someone is blowing smoke up you arse on the lack of motion.

I had my left knee replaced and believe it or not, I have more motion in that leg and knee than I have in the right knee and I DO NOT exercise that knee anymore.

I can and do mount up on the bike from either side.   Right side from my old CHP days, I have the motor between me and traffic,  and left side whenever I happen to think about it.

I can get on from the left side without any effort.   Left knee replaced.     The right side I have to put a lot more effort into getting my leg over the seat & backrest.    Backrest does fold down.

NO, I do not expect to talk you into getting it done, but I'll just toss this out.        Way more mobility in the left leg over the right.    They have a little item they put up against your knee for how much you can move the leg back towards the butt area.     My right knee, never had any problem with it except for old Arthur, I can get it to 90% of motion.     Currently the left knee will do just a tad over 105%.      In my book it was well worth it.       Age could have a set too on you on that type of movement.     I had my knee replacement done in 2007 @ age 75, currently in 68 days, I will be 83.

Yeah, I know, I never figured I'd live this long. I have 2 relatives going back to my great grandfather that lived longer than their mid 80's.       Great Grandfather lived to 93, but he went through hell the last 20 years.       Dad's brother lived to 85, he never smoked after getting caught and grandpa making him smoke a cigar with a bucket over his head.      Just the smell of cigars made him want to upchuck after that ordeal.

I'll shut up now since I know what I say does not have an effect on you.   My mom told me all my life I was Bullheaded.     Guess we run together in that one Wayne.

[Alien]

I have no useful advice about knee replacements but how about a mechanical workaround?  You'll either need to be a decent fabricator or know a decent fabricator, so here goes:

Convert the Miata to a cable operated clutch master cylinder and mount a motorcycle clutch lever upside down on your gearshift.  Now, you're using your right hand to work the clutch. 

I just did the same thing to my truck when I broke my right ankle a couple of weeks ago, only my lever works the throttle.

Ride Safe,

Alien

[solo1]

RJ, my doctor was just being honest. Some doctors are not. I've had a doctor tell me that my wife was doing fine, two weeks later, she passed on.

 My daughter has had both knees replaced.  I believe that she lost some range.  I just threw that out but it won't stop me when I need the surgery.

There is no way to predict as each one of us reacts differently.

[R J]

As Forrest Gump would say:
“That's all I have to say about that.”

[henry 008]

wayne, I know this lady who had both knees done this yr. 1st 1 took her awhile to recover (couple mos on crutches/ therapy) 2nd 1 was jus a few weeks. she said the key was to exercise the muscles BEFORE you have the surgery and its a lot less time recovery. I think she used a therapy pool and a rowing machine so as not to jar the bad knee.