| Author | Message | ||
     Lpenda Senior Member Username: Lpenda Post Number: 369 Registered: 03-2003 |
I'm in constant and significant pain. My former atletic lifestyle has cought up with me! Orthopedist says my knees are shot. NO cartilage left. Have literally worn my knees out at 48. He suggested arthoscopic treatment with insufflation. (In other words, they inject the joint with a viscus fluid to replace the cartilage.) Have any of you had this treatment and can you tell me your results and opinions? | ||
| Tere Senior Member Username: Tere Post Number: 662 Registered: 02-2003 |
Yes maam, I have. When they first starting doing arthoscopic surgeries for patients other than sports professionals...I got in line. My knees were so bad from gymnastics, dance, tennis, volleyball, etc. they were shot too. So in 1985 I had the surgery. Oh my gosh. . .what a difference it made in my life! Pain gone, knees were stable again. No more buckling when you least expect it, swelling gone. It was just amazing. Surgery was really my only option, prescribed anti-inflammatories not only didn't work, they made me sick. I would do it again in a heartbeat. From the moment I left the hospital after surgery I was, and I'm not kidding, 200% better. I was over the top with joy and relief. I will say though, I never went back to the sports, which I still miss terribly but I didn't want to take any chance of tearing up my knees again. It's really hard to go from playing tennis 5 times a week to never playing tennis again. sniff, sniff. The recouperation time was about 2 weeks, no driving, no vacuuming that kind of thing. And I was on crutches for those two weeks but it was a small inconvenience for the reward received. I can only encourage you to try it and hope that you have the same success I did. I'm not going to imply that you're old :o), but I'll make this point for the sake of telling the entire story. I was only 34 when I had it done so perhaps that might make a bit of difference, but I don't know that to be true. Also, if you go for it and you're instructed to do specific exercises every day...do them! I think that greatly contributed to my success as well. I was faithful about that. I can say with all honesty that 20 years later my knees are still in better shape than before the surgery! Let us know what you decide to do. Tere Pia's of Pleasant Valley | ||
| Lpenda Senior Member Username: Lpenda Post Number: 370 Registered: 03-2003 |
Hi Tere- Thanks so much for the input. Excellent info. My in-laws are encouraging me to have it done. They pointed out Bode Miller's example. I think he had his procedure done at the Steadman Hawkins facility. Did you have your's done there as well or locally? I'm concerned about WHO I have do the procedure, however, I understand it is mainstream now. Getting old is proving to be complicated! Linda | ||
| Tere Senior Member Username: Tere Post Number: 663 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi Linda. I had my surgery done locally. I was fortunate that the area I lived in at that time was heavily into sports medicine. The doc that did mine was the head of orthopedics at one of our local hospitals. I couldn't agree with you more..you need to know your doc knows what he/she's doing. How many of these surgeries has your doc done, success rate, etc. I'm not sure exactly how the procedure has changed or developed over the years but I guess if we think about it in simple terms, they remove the jagged, ragged ligament, clean it all up, and fill us up with fluid. If I understand the working of the knee at all, the ligaments and quads hold everything in place and our joints need certain fluid to make it all move about smoothly. Right? My left knee was such a mess that my patella had moved outwards. As I mentioned the post surgery exercises strengthened my quads and when it was all done my patella was back in place and all was right with my world. I don't blame you for being cautious and a little afraid. In my case, I was so tired of the chronic pain and my inability to move about normally and freely that I thought...anything's got to be better than what I'm trying to live with. I wasn't afraid to have it done. I just wanted someone to FIX ME! I was a little apprehensive about the general anethestic but obviously it was fine. This is kind of funny and a little embarassing but I'll tell it anyway. No one told me you can't wear nylon panties when you're having surgery. Apparently synthetic can throw off all the monitors. So I get there and the nurse took one look at my panties and said "those have got to go". I'm not happy. Now I'm thinking I'm gonna be sound asleep, 7 complete strangers are going to be turning me in every direction and I have no panties on!!! I fought that til the end but..they took my panties anyway..so in case that still holds true...wear cotton panties. :o) Getting old....well, what can I tell you. I've got better than ten years on you and my body has betrayed me in ways I never thought possible. You'll get used to it. It just is. I truly encourage you to do this. There are risks as with any surgery but what you're going through now isn't living. How long can you go on this way? Do all your research, find the best doc you can and be at peace with the procedure. Tere Pia's of Pleasant Valley | ||
| Lpenda Senior Member Username: Lpenda Post Number: 371 Registered: 03-2003 |
Tere- First, sincere thanks for taking the time and effort to help me! I appreciate it more than you know. Second, how long does the stuff injected onto the joint last? You're 20 years out and it's still functioning properly? Also, have you heard of anyone experiencing a physical rejection of the substance because it is "foreign" to the body? I know in ANY statistical group there will be isolated cases. I mean, anecdotally, have you heard of any problems? Linda | ||
| Tere Senior Member Username: Tere Post Number: 664 Registered: 02-2003 |
LOL Linda, I'm getting the medical terms a little confused here, I'm no doctor but I thought the sufflation was the gas they used during surgery to "inflate" the area they're working on. And it dissapates over a few days. Like with other arthroscopic or laproscopic surgeries. Then I think there is a supplementation of synovial (sp) fluid to mimic your natural joint fluid. To my knowledge this fluid could be looked at like saline solution in breast implants. It's inert. But as I will strongly repeat I'm no doctor. So what do I know? I've never had any complications of surgery and nothing more was necessary after the surgery, other than the exercises. Sorry if I'm not much help specifically. I am very interested to hear what you decide to do and what exactly the procedure is that you undergo if you decide to have it done. Tere Pia's of Pleasant Valley | ||
| Lpenda Senior Member Username: Lpenda Post Number: 372 Registered: 03-2003 |
As I understand it, insufflation is a procedure where the joint is injected with fluid under pressure. It helps strech the contracted joint lining and improve motion of the joint. I was told there are actually 6 different procedures that can be done during this surgery to improve the condition. Details, details........... The main thing to me is that I have now heard from someone, without bias for or against the procedure, simply reporting her findings. You're a doll Tere. Thanks for caring and I'll let you know when I decide when and where. Business is too busy now to do it. Linda | ||
| Dumplin Senior Member Username: Dumplin Post Number: 203 Registered: 02-2003 |
Tere, That is to funny about the panties!!!!!I was the same way when I had my hysterectomy (sp) over 20 years ago about my upper dentures. I was in my 30's and had worn dentures for about 4 years. No one, and I mean no one, had ever seen me without them. I fought them tooth and nail about making me take my dentures out. There was no talking them out of it. I finally gave them to my mother in law as they rolled me out of the room, and covered my head with the sheet. LOL....She told me that time they rolled me back into the room and transfered my to the bed that the first thing I said was "give me my teeth". Marie | ||
| Tere Senior Member Username: Tere Post Number: 665 Registered: 02-2003 |
Linda, I do care and I soooooo sympathize with the never ending pain you're going through.You could just beat your head against the wall it hurts so bad. I truly wish you great success and soon you'll be up and about and no longer suffering. Keep us posted! Hey Marie. Yes, the indignities we must endure. I did tell the docs and the nurses that I knew the surgery was being video'd and I'd be wanting a copy of it. Just to make sure they didn't make snide, or lewd comments about my "exposed part" while I'm not able to defend myself. Tere Pia's of Pleasant Valley | ||
| Dumplin Senior Member Username: Dumplin Post Number: 204 Registered: 02-2003 |
Tere, you are to funny!!! Marie | ||
| Tere Senior Member Username: Tere Post Number: 694 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi Linda. just thought I'd check up on you and see where you're at with the surgery. Did you decide to do it? Have you done it? Keeping good thoughts for you. Tere Pia's of Pleasant Valley | ||
| Lpenda Senior Member Username: Lpenda Post Number: 382 Registered: 03-2003 |
Hi Tere, you're a sweetheart for caring! Found out the fluid is only good for about a year, then symptoms return. FDA has not approved multi-injections so it's a brief one time option. My daughter is graduating now and business is through the roof so I can't spend the time for arthoscopic surgery now. Hoping to do it in the Fall when things slow down. I'm coping now by adding additional help here at the office and we have people that come in to help with the house. | ||
| Tere Senior Member Username: Tere Post Number: 695 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi Linda, I'll continue to keep you in my thoughts and hope that you get some relief from the pain. Keep us posted. Tere Pia's of Pleasant Valley |
