Very, very scared to have knee surgery and hip surgery

Posted by cindiwass @cindiwass, Jul 6, 2021

I am in constant pain, usually when I walk or stand, knee and hip. Of course, when I am on my recliner I'm not in much pain so I stay there a lot. I used to swim until about 5 years ago, but I notice the hip pain was even worse after I swam.
When I was much younger (I'm 77) I had a torn cartilage (basketball game where some kind soul [yes, sarcasm] pushed me down), and subsequently the cartilage was removed. That's what I remember the doctor told me. I was young (16) and healthy, I recovered quickly enough, but had swelling and trouble for years until finally it became unbearable. I would get cortisone shots lbut eventually stopped doing that. (They were painful anyway.) But about 5 years ago, pain extended to my right hip, excrutiating, more so than the knee. (Don't know why.) I've seen several doctors and they all tell me to get hip and knee replacement. I am scared. But the problem I'm having now is that the doctors (I've seen quite a few) all tell me that I need to have a replacement, that I have arthritis. One doctor got upset when I asked him for more detailed information. And I didn't know how to ask the surgeon for detailed info, like what would he do and could he please explain what the x-rays showed. (Also, why do I have pain?) But the pain really impedes me from living a normal life, that is, cleaning, organizing, straightening up, etc. I made an appointment with a surgeon near enough who has a reputation of being very kind and compassionate. So I hope he'll bear with my questions.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

njpahl | @njpahl | Jul 7, 2021

Write your questions down. If you have the luxury, find a doctor that will answer your questions and explain the procedure. I am 4 months out of a TKR and wish I had asked more about what would happen during and after. Think I would have been better prepared. Good luck!

janete718 | @janete718 | Jul 7, 2021

I had a TKR in December . I had a fractured knee cap 41 years ago . I was 19 and suffered . They said they couldn’t do anything . My surgeon now is awesome . I’m a slow healer and had to go to therapy for almost 4 months but now I’m doing better than I can ever remember doing. I won’t lie. The first 3 weeks were bad pain wise. Physical therapy was hard but I did my exercises everyday and I still am . As scary as it was and I was terrified, I’m getting my other one done close to the end of the year . I can’t do it now because of insurance won’t cover more therapy yet. I couldn’t do anything before, I dragged my leg kind of when walking , couldn’t clean , nothing . Now I can do most things in moderation. My knee bend was slow but I stayed persistent and it is a mind set . Do it …. Get your life back. It will take time to heal but it’s worth it. My left knee and leg are pain free. First time in 41 years . The key is to move and do therapy exercises to build your muscles .

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jul 7, 2021

Hello - I understand your fear! I was in my early '50's and expecting to be told I needed a cortisone shot in my hip when a very brusque Ortho walked in and said "Wow, I didn't expect to see you. You have the hips of an 85 year old. Which one should we replace first?" Being inexperienced with surgeons, I didn't get up and walk out looking for someone else, but I did get new hips. The lesson I learned was to find a doctor you are comfortable with, who will answer your questions to your satisfaction. Please, do not just suffer pain that could be relieved!

All that said, it sounds like you need a surgery and recovery plan, to be able to calmly approach the coming surgery and recuperation. Here are a few questions to think about and ask the doc:
Which one first, hip or knee? Why?
Which hip, which knee and why? (So you can go home & do research)
Which surgical technique for each surgery & why? (Again -research)
Will I be able to go home, with help, or will I need transitional care?
Any way to estimate time between surgeries?
Do you have someone I can call as I think of more questions, or can I send them through a patient portal or email?

Do you have someone you can bring along to your appointment to be your scribe, and write down what the doc says so you can review it later?
Good luck with your appointment, let me know how it goes!
Sue

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jul 7, 2021

In reply to @janete718 "I had a TKR in December . I had a fractured knee cap 41 years ago..." + (show)

Janet,
Thank you for your encouraging report! Isn't it wonderful to lose that pain?
And thank you for the reminder that there will be pain and hard work, but if you persist you do better. I did therapy for a whole year after my hip replacements - it took a long time because I had to do both sides (surgeries were WAY too close together - I'll never do that again!) - but it was worth every minute.
Keep moving - you will be amazed at how much better your life can get.
Sue