I need one hip replacement and both knees need replacing

Posted by tervin @tervin1985, Mar 24 10:50am

I am 60 years old and have been knock knee since my teen age years. As the years went on it progressed. I lost 80 pounds when I turned 40 and have kept it off. I was a regular at my gym daily and worked through the bone on bone issues and was able to function pain free. Since COVID i stopped my gym days and worked out from home still using a spin bike, treadmill and weights. Last summer i started getting an ache in my left upper thigh. I thought I strained something but it never went away. Fast forward I went to 2 orthopedic surgeons to see what my issue was and found out I am bone on bone in my left hip. This has slowed me down tremendously. I have discomfort daily trying not to take an anti inflammatory on a daily basis. I take tylenol which takes the edge off. I was told by both doctors to do the hip before the knees. My issue is my daughter is getting married Dec. of this year. My left knee has gotten worse because of the hip issue. I'm hesitant to have any surgery before the wedding. My fear is once I get the hip done will it make my left knee 10x worse? Right now I can walk and manage my pain with medication. I still exercise daily on my exercise bike and do a ton of stretching. I'm afraid of the domino effect happening before the wedding. If the knee gets worse I don't want to have to walk with a cane for the wedding or worse, need my knee replacement sooner rather than later.
Has anyone been in a similar situation having knock knee in both knees with total bone on bone and also having a hip issue also bone on bone. My brain is in overdrive and if I knew the knee would stay the same and my recovery would go well I would do it before the wedding since I still have 9 months until the wedding. I was told a cortisone shot is not advised for the hip because it can cause the hip to shatter. So I'm trying to manage my pain and may need to look for some pain alternatives like acupuncture. I did 4 sessions of PT to get some hip exercises but don't know if there is anything I could do physically to get some relief at this point. I know all 3 need to be done which scares me to death but I would be working on this next year one step at a time. Looking for some advice or suggestions from someone who has been in a similar situation.

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bettyboop68 | @bettyboop68 | Apr 1 9:33pm

In reply to @flyjim "I’ve had many cortisone injections. Bone shattering I never heard of. I believe it will weaken..." + (show)

Both my knees and both hips replaced. It will change your life

bettyboop68 | @bettyboop68 | Apr 1 9:34pm

In reply to @bettyboop68 "Both my knees and both hips replaced. It will change your life" + (show)

I was also knock kneed my whole life

tervin | @tervin1985 | Apr 2 4:04am

In reply to @bettyboop68 "I was also knock kneed my whole life" + (show)

Hi Betty, Thanks for replying to my post. This is my main concern is the knock knees. Can I ask what you had done first? If it was a hip did you need the knee to be done very shortly after the hip? If I didn't have my daughters wedding this year I wouldn't be so hesitant. Did I wait too long? Probably? I didn't have pain in my knees but I did have the deformity from the knock knees. I exercised regularly and it kept my legs strong. Every surgeon I saw said "I don't think you're ready because the pain isn't keeping you up at night and you're not begging for the surgery ASAP". Now the hip is doing me in before the knees are. Just would like to hear what you decided to do first. Thank you!

brockagain | @brockagain | Apr 6 1:39pm

I sympathize with your struggle as it sounds like a catch22. I didn’t have knock knee but arthritis in knees, hip and shoulder. Had right knee replaced in 2018 after years of suffering, PT and every kind of shot or injection they recommended until they thought I was old enough so I would not have to do a second time. It took several years before it felt “normal” so I decided I would not do the left knee until it felt worse than the right. Well, in March 2022 my left hip decided it wanted in on the party and went down hill so quickly I had to use a walker. I had it replaced immediately and it was a miracle. I was walking with a cane and within 2 weeks nothing. Then my right shoulder insisted it get the attention I have been ignoring for ten years and it was replaced five months later. The next year my left knee started to get worse and since my other replacements brought me such pain relieve I did it before I “had”to. My point is, you never know what is going to happen or when. If I would change anything it would to have gotten the replacements sooner rather than later. (btw, I just turned 70 and during all the above my husband went on hospice, (another miracle) ; covid hit, postponing my son’s wedding in Jamaica, that I had to miss anyway) You just never know. Whatever decision you make will be the right one!

tervin | @tervin1985 | Apr 16 4:18am

In reply to @jkknight "6 hip replacements.. recalls..need knee replacement.. hips first ..alignment..will help knee" + (show)

Yikes, sorry you went through so much.

tervin | @tervin1985 | Apr 16 4:21am

In reply to @brockagain "I sympathize with your struggle as it sounds like a catch22. I didn’t have knock knee..." + (show)

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I have an appointment with a 2nd surgeon tomorrow. Need to make sure I find the right one before I do this. It is a big decision to make this year. I wish I had a crystal ball.