No cartilage left in knees

Posted by chesh @chesh, Jun 22 8:45am

I have been told by my orthopedic surgeon that I have no cartilage left in my knees. Walking is beginning to be more difficult but not terrible. Stepping up and down even a curb is awkward. Stairs are a one step up or down with one leg and then bringing the other beside it and slow going.
I am having hyaluronic acid injections six months apart that help some. I am now wearing the right kind of shoe. I had been wearing a rubber soled platform sandal that I figured (because of all the rubber) cushioned my knees). Recently I developed tendon pain in both legs which I was told was due to shortening of the tendons behind and inside of my legs below my knees. I think the platform shoes might have been responsible for this because ,with running shoes now ,I feel the tendons stretching.
I do NOT want knee replacements!
What do others of you do in my situation that helps?
P.S. I know that losing weight would help. My weight has been a challenge all my life.. I am 5 foot seven and weigh 185. I am 73 years old.
I do swim laps regularly with no problem. I haven't tested whether I can still walk around a block.

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sommerreign | @sommerreign | Jul 11 10:45am

In reply to @stevewolfe779 "😁😁😁👍👍👍" + (show)

Where did you have surgery and who was the surgeon?

sommerreign | @sommerreign | Jul 11 10:49am

Did you use a surgeon at Mayo? I’ve heard for the BEST outcome one must chose a surgeon that uses robotics & a facility that has a high rating for infection control!
Infection took the lives of a few ppl who had knee surgery & not the surgery itself!

heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Jul 12 7:00am

In reply to @sommerreign "What surgeon did you use? Was it robotic? What hospital." + (show)

I used a surgeon in Milwaukee. He did use the Stryker/Mako robotic assistant, and I highly recommend that. It's up to the patient to have the surgeon use the robotic assistant.

The medical/hospital system I use is Froedert/Medical College of Wisconsin. Across the board, they have excellent doctors and surgeons. And by being affiliated with the Medical College in Madison, they have access to the latest research/developments in the field of medicine, including surgery.

If you don't live in Wisconsin, I suggest finding a surgeon in his/her late 30s to late 40s, with a solid med school pedigree and ideally, a residency from Mayo or the Cleveland Clinic. Experience with a robotic assistant is also a requirement, or was a requirement for me.

I had my knees replaced in 2022 and now I'm in the gym every day. I take spin classes 5 days a week and work with a trainer for strength and core. I'm 69 and will be 70 in a few months. I have absolutely no pain in my knees and the prostheses don't make noise (although being noise-free is rare).

I hope this helps.

kkaye62 | @kkaye62 | Jul 12 10:44am

In reply to @rashida "@h2marcia and @heyjoe415 - as far as I am aware, MRIs cannot be done on anyone..." + (show)

Not true, I have 2 new hips and 2 new knees and was able to get MRI on my cervical spine.

heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Jul 12 1:37pm

In reply to @kkaye62 "Not true, I have 2 new hips and 2 new knees and was able to get..." + (show)

Correct. The presence of steel used in joint replacements won't impact an MRI, as you so ably demonstrate!

I hope you are as happy with your new hips and knees as I am with my knees. Best thing I've done. No more pain!

Joe

heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Jul 12 1:40pm

In reply to @sommerreign "Did you use a surgeon at Mayo? I’ve heard for the BEST outcome one must chose..." + (show)

Infection for knee replacements is rare, 1%, and even that can be treated with IV antibiotics. For hip replacements, the rate of infection is even lower.

Infection rate is a function of how long the surgery takes. Infection is more likely to happen during a three-hour surgery than a one-hour surgery. But death resulting from an infection during surgery is extremely rare. It certainly does happen, and it's tragic, but IMO it should not prevent anyone from having a necessary surgery.

kkaye62 | @kkaye62 | Jul 12 7:51pm

In reply to @heyjoe415 "Correct. The presence of steel used in joint replacements won't impact an MRI, as you so..." + (show)

Joe, that’s great to hear!!! I’m still struggling with knees. Not getting full extension and bending not the beat yet. Right was done in January, had to have ann MUA and left on 5/22. Still doing PT and hoping to achieve better results before it’s too late. My son is a chiropractor and said prior to surgey I never had a straight leg, which contributes or a result of my back pain.

copeterson | @copeterson | Jul 13 11:49am

In reply to @heyjoe415 "I used a surgeon in Milwaukee. He did use the Stryker/Mako robotic assistant, and I highly..." + (show)

I’ve experienced the same outcome. Awesome technology.

heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Jul 14 8:01am

In reply to @kkaye62 "Joe, that’s great to hear!!! I’m still struggling with knees. Not getting full extension and bending..." + (show)

Hang in there Kaye, you're doing great. My surgeon explained to me that no two TKRs turn out the same.

Was the MUA session done to break up scar tissue? Interesting that your leg wan't straight prior to the surgery. I don't know what could cause that, but that may not have been correctable by having a TKR. If this is the case, then aiming for zero degrees extension, a completely straight leg, may not be achievable. Your PT should be able to help and get the knee as close to straight as is possible.

As far as bending the knee, flexion, well hopefully the MUA helped with this. During the first year after my TKRs, and once the swelling had subsided, I would ride a recumbent bike gently for 30 minutes or so, just to create motion. I think this ultimately helped with flexion.

I wish you all the best Kaye! Joe

heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Jul 14 8:04am

In reply to @copeterson "I’ve experienced the same outcome. Awesome technology." + (show)

Thanks for sharing that. Yeah it seems people are afraid of robotic-assisted surgery. I mean, it's not like a robot does the surgery. A CT scan creates a 3D model of the knee and maps out what bone needs to be cut, and no more. I have no idea how it works, but the results are amazing.