Knee and muscle pain; also a 14 year old hip replacement...related?

@mnpat, Thank you for coming back to update us on what was going on with your knee. I had a TKR in 2006 and then two manipulations after that, then in 2014 I had my left ankle fused. All of these procedures required anesthesia. From my own experience, not as a moderator or medical professional, I was under the impression the risks of anesthesia-related issues increase throughout life if you have been exposed to it more.

Have you discussed this concern with your physicians, and have you had a lot of major surgeries in the past?

I had a hip replacement in 2003 at age 59. No problems. Anesthesia might have been spinal, but don't remember with certainty.
I had open heart surgery in 2010 to repair mitral valve and replace aortic valve. This required general anesthesia. Some confusion and slow thinking right after, but no long term cognitive effect.

I plan to make appt. with surgeon for knee replacement sometime in February. By then I will be 74 and have been feeling some signs of decreased functioning, so am even more concerned with cognitive issues. In prior appt. surgeon agreed to set up appt. with anesthesiologist prior to surgery (NOT on the gurney on the way to the OR!!!)

I appreciate this forum!

I don't really have a reply, I have a question regarding hip replacement. I had a replacement in 2009 and have had pain every since. How can I find out what kind of replacement was used. I really don't want to talk to the surgeon that did it and the other surgeons are together. I know they won't say anything against another one. But I hurt. I would like to know if it was a recall. A friend had the same surgeon just two weeks after mine and went to another city, found out his was a recall and had to have it replaced.

Hi mnpat, gailfaith here. You didn't say where you are planning on having the surgery in Feb, but if at Mayo you will get to talk with the surgeon before the actual surgery. I had surgery in Minnesota back in June of 2016, and I also needed to talk with the surgeon. I arrived at Mayo on a Tuesday, got to talk with the surgeon on the next day (Wednesday) and was on my way home after many tests and surgery on the following Wednesday. Surgery was done on the day before I left. I had 3 flights to get home.

Interesting thing I learned after this surgery: I noticed my hair on the top of my head was thinning, But I had a pacemaker implanted in April......just 3 months prior. I asked my dermatologist about the hair loss and he said after general anesthesia, it takes 4 months (or was if 6 months?) after anesthesia for the hair cycle to get back on schedule. And then in July I had another surgery (all unrelated !) so it is taking a while. I can't speak as to any other side effects of anesthesia, but hopefully this one will not affect you. Oh yes, I am 80!

Mine is 2 years in June and I have pain every day,wish it would get a little better but nothing but painkillers and creams help even a little.

So sorry about your continuing pain. I understand your concern about contacting the surgeon BUT the records of what was done actually should be open to you. If this is a clinic, can you just contact the records department and ask for the information? Or perhaps the hospital would also have it. I had a complete record of what was implanted in my hip, although I'm not sure I could put my hands on it now. I do remember my implant is a Zimmer, so not one of the ones recalled. I would think that if there was a recall the manufacturer would have to inform you.

In the meantime, have you gone back to the surgeon about the pain? Have you seen anyone else? I do think that over the years doctors have become more open to giving patients information as well as discussing options. I am pretty proactive in my medical decisions. Good luck.

Interesting reply. Thanks! You must have done really well to be able to undertake a complicated plane trip one week after surgery! My surgery will be done in the Minneapolis area.

About the hair.....I had a hip replacement in 2003.....and lo and behold, my leg hair mostly disappeared (underarm too)! Now it is coming back.....I rather liked not having it. No noticeable effect on arms or head, and I have never read another reference to this effect! Thanks for sharing.

gailfaith again, I left Mayo after the June surgery the day AFTER surgery!! And with age you will again lose all your leg and underarm hair again. But in place of that you may start to get facial hair! Aging is not for sissies as they say. All a result of hormones!

I did see the surgeon several times. He gave me injections in the hip and then told me that it was my back. I saw another doctor in the same practice. He took x-rays and a bone scan and talked with the surgeon that did the implant and said altho he didn't use the same type of implant he didn't see anything, Then gave me an injection and said come back in about 3 months for another. Since a friend had the same surgeon about 2 weeks after I did, then went to Indianapolis and was told the implant was on recall. He had to have another surgery. Makes me wonder.????

Before I was told I needed a knee replacement I considered that at least part of the pain might be from my hip implant wearing out. I went to see a physiatrist (MD level for physical therapy, etc) She did xray and said that the implant looked fine; then added that only rarely did an implant "go bad". However this was 14 yrs. after the surgery and I had not had any problems with it. I think I was just hoping to find something other than the need for a hip replacement. I would get the records. Good luck.