Just needing to vent About This Page:

[revral]

I'm going to start by saying thank you for reading at the beginning. Thank you for reading. I think I need to vent. As I've said in several thread I've been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in my knees. It's turned out to be severe enough that both knees are bone on bone. I've been told to stick to non weight bearing activities (biking & swimming) for exercise and that I am definitely looking at having both knees replaced in the future. I'm 43 and the orthopedist I just saw about a week and a half ago would like to see me get in to my fifties before having my knees replaced as the replacements only last about 20 years. I'm wearing braces on my knees and taking a prescription anti-inflamatory (diclofenac sodium dr 75mg if you want to know) twice a day both are helping and in terms of pain and being able to walk I'm feeling better than I have in awhile. That said, I'm really struggling emotionally. I've never been an athlete by any stretch of the imagination and I haven't had a physically demanding job in more than twenty years. However, I'm feeling like I'm no longer me. This current me can only walk about half a mile before feeling like I need to sit down and can only stand comfortably for a few minutes (the stretching room @ HM & the pre-show @ RnR are too much standing) and that's just not ME. I feel like an imposter. I need to use one of those scooter/cart combinations when I go to stores such as WalMart and Target. The mall and stores such as Ikea or Costco (they don't have the scooter/cart combos or rent them) are literally painful and I debate (some days more than others) every trip out of the house that involves more than getting the mail. I don't recognize the current me nor do I particularly like her. The problem is, is that this isn't a broken bone that in a couple of months will be healed and the cast will come off and I can get back to life as normal. This is my new normal and I'm having a really hard time coming to terms with that and accepting it. Yes I know it could much much worse and I'm grateful that it isn't but that doesn't change my feeling like I've lost the true me and can't find her. I feel like I'm being whining and sniveling and should just suck it up and get on with whatever but I'm struggling to do that and last Sunday was actually crying over all of this. Thanks for reading/listening.

[Huntermom]

If you are in that much pain and your lifestyle is so limited, I would talk to your doctor. You made need to see someone else. I have know persons your age who have had knee replacements.

Being disabled at 63 is very different from 43 in terms of your own expectations.

I am not sure there is any validity to it, but a local business owner told me he has significantly improved his arthritis by eliminating nightshade vegetables from his diet.

[Tara O'Hara]

First of all, tons of to you. It must be awful to feel like you've given up so much mobility! I, too, would at least get a second opinion on that knee replacement surgery. I know plenty of people who have had it done in their 40's and are so glad that they did. Even if the same conclusion is made, at least you will be more sure about adjusting your life. to you. I certainly do not think you are whining. It is a huge deal to go from being able to get around as you please to not being able to walk around the block.

I hope your situation greatly improves.

Tara

[rella]

I understand......my "osteo" started in my late 30's/ early 40s. It started in my spine and now,my hips, knees etc. have joined the club. At one time I could walk a mile each morning to start my day....now...I can't even walk down the driveway to the mail box. I , now, need a scooter at WDW.....and need to park near a shopping cart just to get into the store. This isn't the "ME" I want to be...but...it is what it is. I do complain and feel sad that I'm not what I use to be...but...then .....I take care of my DH, who with MS is not the person he wants to be......he's totally disabled.
I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

[DebiDebiDebi]

Been there, done that! I had Synvisc injections to help rebuild cartilage and it made a HUGE difference for me. I would suggest asking about this and see if it's right for you. Honestly, I was amazed at the results.

[HiddenMickey]

Gosh, I'd push for the knee replacement sooner than later. So what if it's only supposed to last for 20 years. Maybe you live to be 90 and you'd have to do it again later anyway if you wait until 50. No use suffering now when you should be an active person living life. Advocate for the life you want. I'm behind you.

[GingerJ]

I feel for you! I have osteoarthritis and am in my 50s, but it's not nearly where you are. Just had surgery on my right shoulder and am so frustrated by the sling, so I can imagine how un-you this makes you feel.

Your dilemma reminds me of when I first had chronic plantar fasciitis. The first podiatrist told me I could only get three cortisone injections in one spot over a lifetime, so he wouldn't give me one. I told him, it hurts NOW, do I need to wait 'til I'm 70?? I got a second opinion, and great treatment.

Have you tried taking glucosamine and fish oil supplements? My dad & stepmom raved about them, and they seem to help me a lot, along with my Celebrex.

Also I just saw this article...maybe there's something here that can help: Is It Time for a New Joint?
and these: Knocking Out Knee Arthritis

Please do some more research on line to see what other treatments there are, and ask for a second opinion.

Recovery from knee replacement sometimes is very hard--it was hard for my mom, but my stepmom breezed right through it--so there's no way to tell, but you'll eventually feel much better.

My feeling is that you likely would have to get another replacement in 20 years, but in 20 years the state of the art will be so advanced that the second would last the rest of your life, even if you live past 100....and that's 20 years of doing normal activities, pain-free, rather than suffering for 10 years before your doctor would act!

Good luck...we're thinking about you!

[MayraLR]

[revral]

Thank you for both the advice & the support. I've seen two orthopedist, the most recent being one that does six knee replacements every Wednesday and he echoed what the first said. So, I'm comfortable with their knowledge and treatment. Neither one has said has said I couldn't get the knee replacements done earlier. However, I really don't want to go through two major surgeries any sooner than I have to and there's where I'm going to recover to figure out as I have stairs and no one that would be able to care for & help me. I'm honestly just having a hard wrapping my head around this and adjusting to and accepting it emotionally. I'm going to get a bike so that will not only give me exercise but will also help with going out places since I'll be able to ride. I definitely should & will do some research. Thanks again.

[Teresa]

I'd go for a second opinion. If your doc wants you to wait for upwards to 10 years, that's a long, long time to live with chronic pain. Time you'll be less mobile, less productive, and more depressed/suppressed. Time that will lead you to curtail your activities and your fun. I care for patients all of the time who put things off and ended up essentially confined to their homes, and because they didn't walk much/at all - lost the ability to walk. They grew larger/obese. They sometimes become incontinent of bladder and bowels. And they become/became sad, demanding, whiny, drug addicted (legal prescription drugs) people with no life.

Please, seek out another ortho guy or speak to yours about exactly how restrictive your life has become. So what if the prosthesis only lasts 20 years? That's 20 years you can enjoy. And - My father had an artificial knee placed in the early 1960s. He was still able to ambulate and enjoy life when he died 3 years ago.

[mcneal]

Don't have much advice other than do more research on your own for options. I feel for you and can relate to not being the person you have always been. Hang in there!

[KMB733]

[Huntermom]

As I read over these responses, the question came to me, are you being really honest with your doctor's about how debilitating the arthritis is? Sometimes I think it's easy to downplay the pain the the doctor's office because we don't want to be perceived as whinny.

If your docs are not supportive right away, see if you can see a physiatrist (AKA Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation). They may be able to help you decrease your pain and increase your functioning.

[Cam22]

[Hugmonster]

I cannot see wasting 7 years of my life waiting for a surgery. If your pain now is affecting your quality of life, which it really sounds like it is, then you need to get the replacements sooner than later. I had a friends Mom do knees at 80 and she was up and walking next day.