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Another hurdle jumped, so to speak.

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Though honestly, if I could jump hurdles? I wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place.

After waiting since February… yes, it took me 6 months to get an appointment… I finally saw the orthopedic surgeon. This is the man, the doctor every single person I spoke to and every local online forum recommended. They say good things come to those who wait and Lord knows I’ve been waiting … so let’s get this party started.

He was very nice, professional and personable. Tufts medical school with a few fellowships and I think I’m in good hands.

The examination was pretty quick as his PA had already assessed me in a previous appointment, so we discussed partial knee replacement. He said he doesn’t do many of them as most of his patients are older and need total. I had to laugh when he kept saying I was young and in good shape. Nothing like being surrounded by geriatric patients to make 62 look young, but I’ll take it.

I had to sign my life away requesting the surgery. Acknowledging all the horrible things that could go wrong and giving him permission to do a total knee replacement if he gets in there and finds more damage. He assured me that wasn’t that the case but they have to cover their six.

We agreed I’d like to move forward as soon as possible and he said he hoped for September, but the scheduler would be in touch.

When I got home his exam notes were already logged into the patient portal.

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I have no idea what all that means, only that it crunches when I move and hurts like hell.

My fingers are crossed for surgery sooner than later but the way things have been moving like molasses so far? I have my doubts.

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79 thoughts on “Another hurdle jumped, so to speak.”

  1. Thoughts of joint surgery really scare me. I don’t have any serious problems so far, but I would have to think long and hard before I would decide to have it. (I suppose I would feel differently if I were in severe pain) I hope all goes well for you.

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    1. I had a deep root meniscal tear 6 years ago. I’ve been in constant pain since then and it’s gets worse every year. Have tried cortisone shots, physical therapy and acupuncture with very little relief. Every step I take hurts, crunching bone on bone.
      I don’t want joint replacement either, but unless I want to spend the rest of my life on the couch?
      Surgery it is.

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      1. Oh that sounds extremely uncomfortable. I know you aren’t the couch potato type so I sure hope the surgery is a huge success. I have heard good things about knee replacements.

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  3. Almost there! When I returned home 3 days ago from the hospital after posterior hip removal, it is getting easier. I am able to walk a little without my cane or wheeler to the PO Box!!!! I am 2 years older than you and was referred to as the younger on the wing. But there were also many younger and in different surgeries at the VA. We are all vets, so all was good! I liked the taking care of and no cooking! I did speak with an older man’s wife who said he was in for knee surgery (both knees) and unlike me was waiting for rehab wing to open up a space which was overcrowded and on a list. I would have loved to have experienced the new wing in rehab and have them take care of me but there was a very long list, so I opted for a clinic PT near our home. The horrible thing is they want me there at 7:30 in the morning, so the pugs are coming in the car with us! I am glad you are being acknowledged and nothing with surgery moves quickly.

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      1. Thank you! What is important is to have someone available to help you. I just took my first shower and needed help from Mike with picking things up, getting in, shower seat, and putting on socks. I can’t bend past 90 degrees and I still walk with the help of a walker to the PO Box. The vets at the hospital were very respectful especially the younger ones! Today is a good health day for both of us. I will probably post more on my blog next week!

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    2. 3 DAYS?!? Impressive!! I’m glad that I had a minor complication with my knee replacement cause I had no help at home. I got 3 days of assistance, therapy, and GOOD meals (I keep craving the turkey dinner) in the hospital!

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      1. Yes, the meals were very good! I loved the salmon and the assistance, PT, and the comradery of the other vets. Not many female vets, so I got some attention but it was the good kind.

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      4. It was braver chancing it at home. Husband told me if you have a problem, yell. Well, I yelled a few times his name and then help. No one heard and finally he came. I just needed to reach something and couldn’t. It does get better!

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  4. I struggle with the whole idea of replacing body parts – I don’t think homo sapiens were created to last as long as they now do. Evolution seems to have decided that enough was enough and stopped tweaking the design. Naturally I googled “what can go wrong with knee replacement” and it said “Knee replacement is one of the most successful operations in modern medicine and serious complications are uncommon” So – trust that all will be well. Rehab is probably the worst of it – I had P/T three times a week for 5 months for my back and, aside from a lot of pain in the beginning, I actually enjoyed it. I know – I am weird.

    (I had to look up ‘cover their six’ – never having heard that phrase before – seems it originated with the military…pilot talk.)

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    1. I might be weird but I am looking forward to rehab. I have been before to our clinic nearby and it was a very good experience. It helped immensely! The VA Tampa just had a beautiful rehab build and I was really hoping to go there and enjoy the pool but there is a long list and many more in line for treatment than myself. Knees can be painful but with hip, you have to be careful of not moving in some positions and that can be challenging especially if you have dogs, cats, or find yourself dropping things.

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      1. Sadly they can not replace a spine. P/T (rehab) is the only reason I am walking today and 20 years later I am still doing still doing the basic movements/exercises. I think P/T is the greatest thing since sliced bread. While I still experience almost constant pain it is almost unnoticeable, or I have simply gotten used to it. If I do something stupid, like lift something heavy, or spend too much time bent over, (my fridge needs a good cleaning) well I do pay the price. May your rehab be successful – and a piece of cake.

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      1. Mine was also ‘bone on bone’. I am sure it will go well. My appointment came quickly well after several years and other options including PT, cortisone shots, acupuncture until the cancellation. Surgeon did say it should have been done sooner like in over a year ago. I didn’t have time to post anything on WordPress and did not want to just in case my readers made me more anxious and I had a few who might have. Thanks for listening. I wish you the best.

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      2. Debilitating 24/7 pain is something I am familiar with including having to be hospitalized just for pain management. Knee replacement seems to be common as dirt and a couple of months of rehab is a small price to pay for getting your life, pain free, back. Surgery is always scary but you have a solution so yes, of course, take it gladly. My trepidations are not a reflection on other people’s choices. Would I have a joint replaced if it were absolutely necessary? Most probably – especially nowadays – 20 years ago – maybe not so much LOL You’ll be fine – enjoy the rehab! And then go for a nice long pain-free walk 🤗

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      3. It won’t be pleasant, but there’s a chance to be pain free at the end… which is more than I have now.
        I eagerly await the day I can get up out of a chair without groaning.
        🥴

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  5. Hopefully surgery will be sooner rather than later. Schedules are fluid for both doctor and patients – just takes one opening for the “opening” dominos to start falling. Fingers crossed. My wife has been doing well with injections so that’s the plan until something changes in the pain department.

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  8. I don’t know much about it, but while waiting for knee surgery approval my aunt had injections into her knee. Maybe BPC-157 or PRP? She had to pay out of pocket, but she said it relieved some of the pain while waiting for the procedure. Fingers crossed they get you on the schedule ASAP!

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    1. I put mine off for roughly 30 years, so you’re good! I wasn’t called “young” (62 at the time), but was told I’ll need a replacement surgery in 20 years – AS IF i’ll still be alive then!

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      2. I’ve found that I often can’t tell someone whrte my pain was, knee or back, after it happens. I’ve lived with both long enough to just register “OUCH!!” but not the location.

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      1. Well… yes… because they ran tests to find any unknown metallurgical allergies.
        Apparently the standard knee replacement has nickel in it.
        She knew about her issues with nickel but she didn’t know about the knee components.
        They asked her about allergies and she told them what she could— and they ran more tests to check for the unknown.

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  13. I could translate if you’d like, but the short version is that you have a slight limp, your knee hurt when he pushed on the inside (medial) but not the outside (lateral), and the x-ray agrees that the inside is where you have bad arthritis. That adds up to a partial knee replacement might do the trick – just replacing the side that looks bad and hurts.

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  14. My husband went through a total knee replacement in May. Everything is good now, but it wasn’t an easy recovery. But now he wishes he would have done it years ago. He was hurt playing football in high school and back then they took out all the cartilage. He’s been bone on bone since 17 and he’s around 70 years old. The best thing about his knee injury is it stopped him from being recruited for college football. He’d be a real mess I’m sure if he played in college.

    I hope you get your partial knee replacement sooner rather than later.

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  15. It means you have no cartilage but your outer knee still works well.

    I think I had the same game plan – partial if possible but approved for full replacement. I knew I’d get the full one.

    Did you try a round of synth cartilage? I’m really glad we did it on my R knee and it worked, cause I’m not ready for another recovery w/o a/c!!

    GOOD LUCK!!

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  20. I am SO happy that you are one step closer to getting this repair underway!!

    How fun, though, to be considered a youngin’—lol! We need to start hanging out in Nursing homes and really get our groove back. 🫣

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