Good afternoon contentandwell (and all) - Yes, I am aware that there are such things as "custom made knee prosthetics", but these are
very much the exception rather than the rule. I didn't have that option with my insurance (and most people - don't). I'm glad that you had
a mostly good experience with both your knees (even if one was somewhat - or maybe a lot - better). It isn't as if I am not aware that people
don't have good experiences - I wish everyone did (including me). One other thing that a whole lot of TKR (shoulder, hip, etc) patients are
NOT aware of... is that with many of these prosthetic manufacturers (of all types), there is a "little something exgtra" in the way of a financial
incentive to exclusively use one brand versus another. No... I'm not kidding. This information used to be considered "private" and was not
easily available. But... just as some doctors are kind of "additionally comped" for prescribing for instance a "name brand" drug vs the generic
(even though this usually costs much more), surgeons are also "taken care of" by medical device manufactures - and sent on lavish trips plus
paid well additionally to recommend these same devices to other surgeons (because who can "maket" a surgeon better - than another surgeon...
and of course he can get paid some additional dollars, too). Years ago Pro Publica won a series of lawsuits which require that this is now "public
information". Nothing "against" the surgeons, but I think nearly anyone can understand that in certain cases this could definitely cause a conflict
of interest. Anyway... if you are interested in finding out who is "getting paid additionally" (or not - all you have to do is type their name in:
https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/
No, I do not "have anything against" doctors in general or orthopedic surgeins in particular (although I am a WHOLE lot more skeptical now
regarding what I am told by doctors - especially where it seems in conflict with what I believe might be true or actual). By that I mean - when
you have a knee that is nearly double the size of the other and quite warm to the touch... I am skeptical when the surgeon tells me "how good
the knee looks". I don't distrust him because "he's a doctor", but because of the objective circumstances. The medical field is not (by a long shot),
the only specialized field which will occasionally mischaracterize something - based on their assumption that the person they are talking to "doesn't
know any better" and will tend to "go with" and trust... nearly anything they are told. Most people (my age 60+... especially) will tend to make strong
assumptions that any doctor or surgeon would always give them "the straight scoop" and would primarily be interested in the patient's health. I would
agree that there are definitely doctors who "are still - like that", but I do wonder occasionally if these are becomming less common. I hate to think that,
but in my own case - have had things told to me (both before - and after surgery) that just simply were not true and tended to support the surgoen's point
of view on the matter being discussed. THAT in conjunction with other doctors and surgeons privately commenting in strong terms on the honesty and
reasoning of other doctors/surgeons but then failing to publically (or where a written opinion is required) confront what they themselves consider (or have
privately said they did) unsafe, illogical, or "strictly for the money" behavior.... does concern me (because it potentially puts us all at risk when these people
are essentially "left in place" to continue practicing medicine in these same ways - because of other medical professionals being unwilling to confront these
types of behaviors). It's just another case (and there are many) where the persons most capable of "seeing and understanding that these problems exist"
choose NOT to personally involve themselves. I don't know if anyone out there other than me remembers the sad case of Kitty Genoveeese, but a sort of
"watershed" event for that time period... on the subject of "getting personally involved" vs avoiding this... and that there are consequences.

Anyway... please understand that I am not by nature "a negative person", but have had an expensive education (and quite a bit of this learned - "the hard way"). I really do wish everyone else out there a better experience, but wouldn't agree that sticking our heads in the sand regarding problems and conflicts
that do exist... would be the best way to avoid these. The more you can know about your surgeon and the surgery you are considering before you have surgery - the better. Had I known more then, I believe I would be in a different situation now (and if I can cause one person to avoid a similar experience -
just by asking these questions earlier than I did... then I'll consider I have accomplished something worthwhile).

My best to you - and everyone out there,

John