Quote:
Originally Posted by Nords
Oh no we wouldn't.
Monday I'm visiting the primary care physician for the consults to get my first orthopedic arthroscopic ACL replacement & meniscal trims in about six months... in other words, if you're at the destination of my journey then I'm hoping that you're happy!
I was sitting next to a 78-year-old man last month. We got to comparing war wounds and he said "Or you could just do what I did, and get total knee replacements. I'm a lot better now!" I asked "A lot better compared to what?" He replied "Compared to being all f$%^ed up!"
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Hmmm...not at our ages, given the current ~15-20 year expected life of a TKR, and the fact that you can only count on a single replacement then (assuming no technological improvements occur between R&R's). I want to stay on my feet until the end.
For those who didn't see my posts from back then I'm about 20 months post surgery now after getting a new/used ACL from a cadaver along with an abrasion process to stimulate the formation of "pseudo-cartilage" to provide a slick if paper-thin bearing surface rather than the bone-on-bone grinding I had previously.
It worked well enough...I can walk with no pain again (that's a
huge deal if you've ever been unable too), but have been told that
any running or jumping would seriously reduce the service life of the pseuo-cartilage.
After ~7 holes of golf (with a cart) it begins to ache and is somewhat swollen for a few days. So on holes 8 and 9 I'm more inclined to drop a new ball rather than trot down any hillsides after an errant tee shot. A bit of icing and 4-5 Ibuprofens a few times a day and I'm back to normal.
That knee is prone to little stabbing pains too...I remember wrestling a sheet of plywood off my utility trailer on a windy day when I tweaked the knee. I quickly concluded that the plywood looked just fine laying in the middle of the driveway and retired to the couch with one of my ever-ready ice-packs and an Ibuprofen chaser.
It gets mighty stiff during long distance driving too. I've got a little drill I do by the gas pumps to get it moving again before I try walking to fetch coffee.
I'd like to get to at least 55 before a TKR. From I read orthopedic docs will do the abrasion or micro-fracture processes 3-4 times before going with a TKR, but the rehab/recovery is such a drag I'd be inclined to try only one more round of these temporary fixes.
Nords, I think you're in much better shape needing an ACL and a bit of meniscus trimming...just don't go wearing through your remaining cartilage in the meantime! I don't imagine you find yourself driving >10 hours on that little island of yours either.
Cb
on the left one, although the surgeon said he could have replaced either knee at that point. 
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