Knee fusion reversal

Oops- that is Orthovisc!

I found out today from Dr. Henry Finn's nurse that he is no longer performing knee fusion reversal.

Due to bacterial infection and bone loss, I am not eligible for another revision on my right knee. I must make a decision on whether to get a knee fusion or amputation/prosthesis. I have not been able to find much information about patient experiences, especially with arthrodesis (fusion). For example, I know that even getting into a car is difficult. Is it possible to sit in an airplane seat? Would gardening be possible? How long does rehabilitation take? Any personal experiences would be helpful. It would especially be helpful to know of support groups or information sources that provide more detail about patient experiences than a general description given on most websites.
I am a 73 yo female, diabetes 2.

Hi,
I had a Left tkr , 9/2023 s/p brain stem stroke. Approximately 30 years ago my left knee popped out of joint and I never recovered from this injury with weakness. When the stroke happened, it caused my knee to go into severe hypertension. Hypertension pulled on muscles and bone and wore my knee down and out. I couldn't put any weight on it. Because of osteoporosis from this knee hyperextension issue, I felt like I just wanted life over with, from all of the pain that I endured from this issue. I finally found an orthopedic surgeon who did a left tkr. I still have some left knee hyperextension, but I'm not in pain. Hugs to you !

I’m so happy you are free of pain now. What an ordeal! You must have had a lot of physical therapy to get where you are now.
Hugs

Thank you, but I developed Baroreflex failure which was secondary to the stroke. My bp fluctuates a lot since 2022 when my mom passed 😢 and I don't have hardly any balance (I have to use a walker when I'm walking anywhere. No balance for me causes severe lightheadedness when I stand. (Having Baroreflex failure before it was professionly diagnosed by the medical providers) caused my pt to come to a full stop. I was a risk to therapist because of very high bp- physical therapist didn't want to put their job on the line.
...I was told-because I
was at risk regarding having another stroke or a ❤️ attack.

I've been through the whole 9 yards -steroid injections and "lube injections - all this done for me was great on the first injection of steroid then nomore pain relief there after and then the lube/ visco injection then after with no pain
relief because I had very little space/pockets/ narrow (my knee was very limited to work in because my knee was very traumatized) these treatments were useless to my pain after the first injections. I was in pure
agony for several years because of this. Hugs....

I live in Ct. and am looking for a Dr. with the expertise of Dr. Henry Finn ,but in Massachusetts. My second 2 stage revision is a hinge . I see on my last MRI it is loosening. Just over a year with this one. Devastated. Appointment next week on my 72nd birthday. Had asked before what would happen if this failed. Fusion was the answer, then amputation if that failed too. I'm curious about the knee replacement after a fused knee. My components are very long in my leg Any help or suggestions? Anyone have issues with loosening cement?

@yamevoy hi, my name is Cathy and I had 12 surgeries in five years and I have had four knee replacements. My knee was always infected once I got the knee replacement so after so many replacements I had no bone left for another knee replacement. They had to fuse my leg so I have no knee and I have rodes from my hip to my ankle. My leg is permanently straight for the rest of my life. It has been a rough road, but I was determined to live as normal of life as I could after this life-changing surgery.
I am 70 years old. I’m fairly healthy however, the 12 surgeries in the last five years have weakened me, but I am building myself back up the best I can. I had been told that it would either be a Knee fusion or amputation I am not a young woman anymore, so I was glad that when I woke up from my surgery, I found that it was a Knee fusion so my leg is permanently straight it has been hard to adjust. It’s been hard to know what I can and can’t do. I constantly have a fear of falling, but I have amazing husband that’s helped me tremendously
I do have times of depression because I can’t do a lot of things that I wanna do. Walking is difficult. I’m still learning how to do things with a permanent straight leg. I am driving now. I use a left foot accelerator and has helped me a lot get out and out of the house and have a little bit of a life that I can enjoy to a certain extent I have times where I’m OK with it and I’m doing fine. I have other times where I’m really sad and I cry because I can’t do the things I used to do now I know when you get older that the story too, but I’m still quite young in my health and I can still do a lot of things so having a permanent straight leg has held me back from doing those things. I really don’t have any place that I know I can talk to anybody about my situation or how to handle certain situations and learn how to for example get up off the floor by myself with a straight leg I don’t know how to do that. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of support systems or places anywhere with regards to a Knee fusion if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer those for you if I can I’m here to support you and give you as much positive encouragement and know that you can do this you can do this. It’s not easy but it’s worth the work to make it better. It will never be normal and that’s something that I’m still learning how to accept and that you will have to too, but have an amputation is not something I wanna do. There’s so much that happens after the amputation that keeps you down and out and as we get older, we don’t handle that very well that’s my personal opinion. If you have any questions or you want to get a hold of me, please do I look forward to hearing from you soon.

@marceille08 Checkout the surgeons at New England Baptist and at Harvard Medical.