@trayus The allograft of my ligament was supposed to last 10-15 years. I am at 25 years and counting, so averages are really just that. My Mom had a thumb replaced in the 1980's when it was experimental and thought to last 10-15 years. It was still operational when she died 25 years later, even though she used it heavily for years. I believe the surgeon's skill, use of the best available technique, and thorough rehab are really the keys to successful joint repairs and replacements.

@trayus, deciding on replacement at such a young age is such a huge decision. I had end-stage arthritis in my knee by the time I was 12. By the time I turned 19, my knee was so deformed and worn that the decision was made for me. Every morning I woke up, my knee was "locked" in a bent position so tightly that I had to use my arms to "snap" it loose, something that took me up to 15 minutes to build the courage to do so. I finally woke up one morning and decided I couldn't do it anymore. I had a full replacement in 2006. In 2016, I had my 10-year checkup and my surgeon said the knee looked the same as it did the day after the replacement, meaning after 10 years of use, it was still in great shape.

What I learned is that "toughing it out" during your younger years to wait until you are older and potentially less active can have both a physical and mental health affect. I was miserable. The replacement and recovery were hard, but they improved my life drastically.

@trayus, while you consider your options, have you considered altering your activities to those that are less impact? Perhaps running could be replaced by cycling or swimming? When I started lifting weights, I made sure to not do any jumping or high-impact workouts on my lower body - primarily sticking to leg presses and static extensions (sitting position, leg extended and setting a weight on it and holding - no bending involved).

Good evening @trayus, you have presented a dose of reality. As a younger person, your chosen option and its degree of success will be with you for a long time. How much are you willing to risk?

To show you how similar our life challenges can be....here is my story (other than TKR). I needed what is called a reverse shoulder replacement. Back in 2005 or so, this type of surgery was imported from France and performed at the University of Washington only. There were a number of convalescent issues when the surgeries began and so the insurance companies were approving it only for folks over 75 (i think). They wanted greater perfection to avoid re-dos.

After agreeing to have one of the company's engineers in the operating room and spending hours reviewing my videos of the surgery so I knew what I was getting.......my surgeon became my advocate with my insurance company and got the approval.

So......how did it turn out? I wish the original shoulder on my throwing arm had been this good. No pain, nominal inconvenience. Sometimes, we just have to make the best decision possible at this time and given these options. What was the deciding factor.....the surgeon, I trusted him.

May you be safe and protected.
Chris