Any advice please?

[secretcyrille]

Hi, first post on here, really looking for any advice or encouragement please!
A bit of history first, I`m a 41 year old bloke, living in England, that`s about the best bit!!! I originally injured my left knee playing football when I was about 15. Since then I have had loads of arthroscopies(10+), menisectomy, two ACL replacements and a mosaicplasty(hope all the spellings are correct!). About four years ago I was referred to a specialist Orthopaedic hospital to see a Professor who was growing cartlidge in a lab but was deemed unsuitable for this, but while I was there, I got to see all the children with more serious problems than me, so I thought that I was not too bad, and decided to suffer in peace. Last summer my wife had enough, she insisted that I see my GP, I went and tried out a series of dextrose injections into my knee, but they made no difference. I have just seen a consultant at my local hospital who has now informed me that I have severe arthritis and need a replacement knee, but because of my age, that is not an option at present, so he has booked me in a "wash out" next month, and maybe every 6 to 12 months in the future to delay the inevitable for as long as possible!
I feel really down at present, I have to keep going to work because of the current economic climate, and on average, I am taking 4 to 6 Co-codomal just to get through my 12 hour shift. I feel that I am letting my daughters down because I can`t do some of the things that other Dads do.
Any encouragement will be appreciated just to pick my chin up of the floor.
Thanks in advance

[kathat]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about all your 'woes'. You've had an awful lot of knee surgeries! I suggest you ask around and find a good surgeon who is willing to do knee replacements on younger people. Also do as much research as you can on knee replacments so you are as informed as possible about the risks and what to expect when the time comes. Another thing worth looking into is an anti-depressant, to help you over that 'down' feeling and enable you to face the hurdle your knee represents. Another suggestion is to find out about the 'moving towards wellness' course (or whatever it's called there) that's run by nearly all arthritis foundations. The course gives info about how to cope with chronic conditions and get back control over your life.

I am a 37 year old mum with two kids and I have been through the feeling of letting my kids down due to my knees and their problems (arthritis in both), but I have moved beyond that for now, and have discovered that I just have to change the way I look at things. A non-sporty parent might never give their child much opportunity to play sport with them, but might do loads of craft with them instead, where a sporty parent might play sport but not do any craft with their kids. I don't think the child feels the lack, as long as the parent is involved. My kids have learnt to use a sewing machine (as I sew a lot) and they feel proud of that, as not many other children their age can say they've made a t-shirt using a sewing machine. Find something that's special to you (that your knees don't affect) and spend time doing it with your daughters. My dad taught me to use a soldering iron and make printed circuit boards. My husband plays board games with our kids, and takes them to 'expos'. Maybe you're good at woodwork, or cooking, or maybe you could suffer through some 'girly' movies with your daughters. I don't think they'd care that you can't run around with them if you are willing to spend time with them in other ways.

Regarding work, have you thought of looking for easier work? Is it possible, in your type of employment, to find something easier on the knees? It sucks having to cope with a job when you're in pain. How much time would you have to take off for a knee washout? I'd be wary of having regular washouts to help cope with pain. I have read that it's not something that really helps in severe arthritis anyway, and can often make things worse. See how the next one works and don't bother repeating it if it doesn't do much. It would be a waste of sick leave (I assume you'd have to take time off), which you'd be better off saving up for when you eventually have a knee replacement.

There are people out there who have had knee replacements at much younger ages than you, and are doing well. There are people who have had their problems too, though, so be aware of that, but it's not due to age - their young age just makes any problems more difficult to deal with, as a younger person who has had multiple revisions (due to infection, for example) doesn't have many options left for future surgeries. Do your homework, and if you decide it's worth fighting for a knee replacement then look around for a reputable surgeon who would be willing to put quality of life ahead of the age consideration.

Anyway, just know you're not alone in all of this. There's plenty of us here to listen to you vent, should you need to. It always helps to get things off your chest. Chin up, and start thinking of all the things you CAN do with your daughters, instead of the things you can't.

Take care,

Kathy

[secretcyrille]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about all your 'woes'. You've had an awful lot of knee surgeries! I suggest you ask around and find a good surgeon who is willing to do knee replacements on younger people. Also do as much research as you can on knee replacments so you are as informed as possible about the risks and what to expect when the time comes. Another thing worth looking into is an anti-depressant, to help you over that 'down' feeling and enable you to face the hurdle your knee represents. Another suggestion is to find out about the 'moving towards wellness' course (or whatever it's called there) that's run by nearly all arthritis foundations. The course gives info about how to cope with chronic conditions and get back control over your life.

I am a 37 year old mum with two kids and I have been through the feeling of letting my kids down due to my knees and their problems (arthritis in both), but I have moved beyond that for now, and have discovered that I just have to change the way I look at things. A non-sporty parent might never give their child much opportunity to play sport with them, but might do loads of craft with them instead, where a sporty parent might play sport but not do any craft with their kids. I don't think the child feels the lack, as long as the parent is involved. My kids have learnt to use a sewing machine (as I sew a lot) and they feel proud of that, as not many other children their age can say they've made a t-shirt using a sewing machine. Find something that's special to you (that your knees don't affect) and spend time doing it with your daughters. My dad taught me to use a soldering iron and make printed circuit boards. My husband plays board games with our kids, and takes them to 'expos'. Maybe you're good at woodwork, or cooking, or maybe you could suffer through some 'girly' movies with your daughters. I don't think they'd care that you can't run around with them if you are willing to spend time with them in other ways.

Regarding work, have you thought of looking for easier work? Is it possible, in your type of employment, to find something easier on the knees? It sucks having to cope with a job when you're in pain. How much time would you have to take off for a knee washout? I'd be wary of having regular washouts to help cope with pain. I have read that it's not something that really helps in severe arthritis anyway, and can often make things worse. See how the next one works and don't bother repeating it if it doesn't do much. It would be a waste of sick leave (I assume you'd have to take time off), which you'd be better off saving up for when you eventually have a knee replacement.

There are people out there who have had knee replacements at much younger ages than you, and are doing well. There are people who have had their problems too, though, so be aware of that, but it's not due to age - their young age just makes any problems more difficult to deal with, as a younger person who has had multiple revisions (due to infection, for example) doesn't have many options left for future surgeries. Do your homework, and if you decide it's worth fighting for a knee replacement then look around for a reputable surgeon who would be willing to put quality of life ahead of the age consideration.

Anyway, just know you're not alone in all of this. There's plenty of us here to listen to you vent, should you need to. It always helps to get things off your chest. Chin up, and start thinking of all the things you CAN do with your daughters, instead of the things you can't.

Take care,

Kathy

Hi Kathy thanks for the reply.
In the UK it is a bit different with regard to our NHS. I can`t afford to go private and have seen four Consultants over the years now, three of them including the one I am now with have been excellent. I think that the best thing to do is to wait until next week, when I go in for the "wash-out" and see what he finds and take it from there.
With regard to my girls, I have a really special relationship with both of them, and we do loads together, but because I have always been "sporty", love to watch and participate, maybe it`s harder for me than them!!
My job is the problem, it is not that physical, it is just being on your feet for 12 hours with heavy boots on. I get plenty of respite at work but the pay is too good in my local area to stop doing it! I have to put bread on the table!!!
We`ll wait and see what happens next week, chins up!!!!!!
I have been a voyeur of this website for yours but have never posted before, and will definetly come back because I do know that I am not the worst , but more importantly, I am not alone.
Cheers from a sunny England

[AITSISELMI]

Hi,
I'm a French Orthopaedic Surgeon from Lyon which got its reputation based on gastronomy and knee surgery! I'm nearly your age and I would suggest you to look at a conservative procedure called osteotomy, which consists in knee realignment. This is a conservative solution (you keep your natural joint) and you would normaly improve if the procedure is well conducted. You're defitely too young to get a knee arthroplasty (which remain fantastic in older patients of about 65 or more). Hope your athroscopy will improve things, but I would not do it several times. There are strong clinical data to support the non efficiency of lavage arthrocopy in knee OA.
Hope this helped.
Good luck

[cboden51]

As you have seen on this site there are people who do get the knee replacements at a younger age and absolutely many before the age of 65. You have to be informed and do what is right for you. There are definite limitations in what you can do and there is the concern that they don't last forever and eventually become loose and need to be replaced. If you have one done at your age  you may be looking at 2 more in your lifetime. All this has to be weighed against quality of life now.

 I have also seen several studies that question the efficacy of lavage for OA - what really needs washing out in your  knee? It is suggested by these studies that the answer is nothing.

Best of luck and you puzzle this out.

Connie

[secretcyrille]

Thought that I would update everyone as to where I am now. Well, the knee is worse that I expected! After a few consultations with my specialist, I will referred to Physio for acupuncture!!!!! and have a brace specially fitted to help with my work life!! I was to have a course of injections to help lubricate the joint but cannot have them on the NHS, I imagine because of the cost, but could go private if I wanted to fund it myself, looks like I`ll have to go to money tree down the bottom of the garden!!! Other alternatives that have been discussed were Osteotomy, but apparently because of where the pain and damage is that would probably increase the pain!!, not having much luck am I. Knee replacement is still the last resort, so I will have to explore every avenue first.
Still problems coping at work, on anti-depressants now, but I suppose that there are lots of people worse off.
My glass is still half empty not half full, but chins up and smile as much as you can.
Have a good `un everyone,
Steve