Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Knee replacements are not a quick fix

CHRIS MORRIS

The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 8:16 PM EST 09/07/08

Though it helps reduce pain and increase mobility, replacing the joint is still a last-ditch procedure ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Tom Walton from Calgary, Canada writes: I would like to know the name of Ms Turner's doctor. My wife had her knee replaced in Calgary in October and she doesn't have that kind of mobility. There is swelling at the joint and it looks bigger than it should although the x-ray's look normal. Her doctor has no ideas on what may be causing it and wants to wait until the end of the year to see how it progresses. In the meantime she is in constant pain. The knee gave out on a recent trip out of country and she had to spend an evening at the emergency in a local hospital. I think she needs a second opinion.
  2. c. f. from not specified, Canada writes: So, the reality is that a younger person with a bad knee can't exercise due to pain and swelling of arthritic knee, and can't have a new knee because they are too young (45-55), so they hobble along, getting more obese and outta shape and miss the prime of their lives until they are ''allowed'' to have a knee replacement in their 60s. So what if the knee joints only last 10 years, the demand is on! Build better ones that last longer. OR replace the replacement in 10 years.
    Time to stop making our more active adults suffer because orthopedic development hasn't kept up! Also in the USA there are studies on relining the arthritic knee as an inbetween mechanism to keep one's own knee going longer. Use cadaver parts, or stem cell grown new linings - come on Canada keep us moving!
  3. L Chang from Calgary, Canada writes: Hello Tom Walton from Cgy,

    I would like to get the name of your wife's surgeon. My mom is considering a knee replacement surgery and we've heard mixed results from this operation. We've also been trying to get information on which surgeon is good and which ones to avoid. How do I contact you?
  4. Darryl Youzefowich from Edmonton, Alberta, writes: Articles like this just drive me mad. My father was a parapalygic for the last decade or more of his life and suffered from various health problems like pressure sores, which certainly affected his quality of life. But he eventually died of heart failure, which I am told is a byproduct of lack of activity that handicapped people face. My father-in-law has arthritic knees and has been terrified by his doctors who tell of the complications and limitations of knee replacement surgery - which this article reinforces. But to look at the man and how slowly he walks, you can't help but wonder if history will repeat itself and he will have heart problems. Right now he exercises regularily and vigorously, but I am sure not everyone does who has arthritic knees. I watch his depression as he comes to terms with his handicap, how old he feels and how he longs for his youth when he could participate actively in many things he used to enjoy. Now he is limited in his lifestyle and it has paid a huge toll on his psychology and outlook, we all see it in the family. Yet with all the limitations of knee surgery, at least some of that activity and joy in life could return if he just ignored his doctors and got it done. The psychological lift would probably add years to his life and he could deal with the problems and complications of the replacement. Doctors believe in non-invasive procedures and evidence based treatments, but they are a part of a society that devalues internal motivations and quality of life because it is inheritantly an internal thing and not easily measurable and concrete, external. Their bias is not acknowledged, debated or properly understood by the public, but any student of human nature or religion knows the score. Anyone that cruises the internet knows that while there are severe limitations with knee replacement surgery, there are also some nice success stories too. The problems may be overstated by nervous and cautious doctors.
  5. sheila valentine from Canada writes: There are medical conditions such as bone deteriation that would make these replacements not work as well as others.To those who think they should replace, replace, replace there are only so many times it can be repaced due to wear and tear excess usage.If you exercise it keeps you going and strong but wear and tear is normal. No one avoids aging or bone density loss due to aging we all get old and slow down like it or not.Reality bites.Then there are sone in sever pain no pain killer works for doomed to suffer not eleigible.We must often live the hand we are dealt with no magic bullet they can only do so much.Take care not to break parts we don't have parts banks.Once broken weak.Subject to break again.
  6. susan foulds from nipigon, Canada writes: I am 50 years old. In my youth (15-30) I was extremely active--waterskiing (even barefoot), downhill skiing, competitive figure skating, cycling, running, etc. I developed knee issues at an early age but no one ever treated the issue seriously or advised physiotherapy etc. There was a lack of information available that all these activities would eventually take a toll on your knees. The fact that I now may be a candidate for replacement is due wholly to my past activities. I know that many of my peers suffer from the same disorders (hockey is a knee killer). Unfortunately, due to my mobility issues I probably will suffer from obesity issues despite my best efforts to prevent this. Unfortunately, decreased activity is the start of a snowball effect on the body at this age. Today's athletes need firm warnings about the inevitable wear and tear that sports will cause. I wish some one would have advised me to protect my knees. Much cost to the medical system could be avoided. As usual, an ounce of prevention would have gone a long way.
  7. Mark H from Columbus, IN, United States writes: 1) Of course an invasive surgery is a last-ditch effort. The recovery from any joint replacement surgery is long and difficult, but due to new surgical procedures and implant materials, it's getting better. This is driven by the increase in demand for the procedure as the population ages. Myself, I worry that it's being over-emphasized for the "young", i.e. people under 50, with joint problems.

    2) Fulcra = pretentious, silly word. Isolating it in its own paragraph is even worse.

    3) One year waiting list? My heavens. One week, you'll be in surgery in the states, and the out of the hospital in two days. Is it humane to make someone in often excruciating pain wait an entire year for a routine surgery?
  8. SusieQ 321 from NoWhereVille, Canada writes: My mom has had both knees done in the last ten years.. and it has given her a new lease on life sometimes the risks outweigh the rate of complications and the fears and that is what the individual has to decide!
  9. Bruce Rich from Lansdowne ON, Canada writes: No mention has been made the Oxford knee. In males in particular, the inside portion of the knee joint can be worn out but the outside portion is still serviceable. The Oxford knee is a replacement for the worn portion only and the patient keeps their own kneecap (which is not possible with a full knee replacement). Those who postpone seeing a specialist about a bad knee can wind up missing the window for getting an Oxford before both sides are worn out. Additional Oxford advantages: the incision is half that of a full knee replacement; the recovery time is shorter and less painful; if the Oxford needs replacing, full knee replacement is still an option; you can kneel on an Oxford, but not on a full knee.
    As to wait times, both my wife and I waited only a few weeks.
    Physio is essential and must be top rate. If it doesn't combine heat, cold, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation with the exercises you are not getting the highest level of care. Unfortunately, although the knee is free, physio isn't (in Ontario). This doesn't make sense, as the operation costs about $18,000 and without physio, it will be for nought. Our physio cost about $600 each, but without it we would not be able to live normal lives.
  10. O Canada from Canada writes: My mother had two knee replacements within a year. She was 80 and 81 (she didn't get them earlier because she was afraid of the surgery but we finally convince her). She received three nurse home visits and 18 home visits from a physiotherapist and was bending at over 100 the day following her surgery. She went home within 2 days (which we were happy about due to hospital borne infections). She did her exercises and still does them 5 months after the last surgery. She is of the generation that is disciplined and she doesn't take her access to care for granted - she remembers what it was like for the poor and large families before medicare. Care varies depending on the province you live in but my mom was cared for by an excellent surgeon and home care physiotherapist. My sister is 56 and got an operation within a month of seeing her family physician. You don't always have to wait years (Calgary and Edmonton are really stressed due to unplanned population growth - hopefully, it will get better soon.) Mark, I hate even to acknowledge you since you're so obviously a clown and troll. You're always coming here boasting about US medical access but you're not fooling anyone. There are thousands that don't even have a chance to be on a waiting list because they are not covered by a medical plan and are too poor to pay $45,000 for the op. I use to live the US so I know only too well what people without medical access are facing.
  11. W W from Canada writes: O Canada, there is no need to get political here. I am sure your relatives have received a timely access to health care and very glad they did. However, in most provinces you can't even get an MRI within the same timeframe. In Ontario it takes 18 month to have an appointment with the surgeon in non life threatening cases. The said part is that the patients could be working and paying taxes instead of waiting for care. We all know where our politicians go for health care.
  12. Emma Hawthorne from Canada writes: If I don't work out my knees always get stiff such that I am certain I could easily get knee surgery. But I wouldn't consider it. With a quick trip to the gym and 30 leg presses (takes about 7 minutes), voila, I'm as good as new. I push 125 pounds right now which also greatly increases bone density and hip strength I am told. But doing leg presses with as little as 30 pounds is very helpful, as are gentle knee bends (using chairs) at home.
  13. Emma Hawthorne from Canada writes: Hi WW. You can always get in quickly to see a specialist, after your doctor refers you, if you call the specialist's office and ask to be given any cancelled appointment or no-show. In some cases you can offer to come in and wait for a no-show, provided you get the go-ahead from the receptionist. Ditto for surgery. If you want to shorten the wait, you have to tell the doctor and also pick up the phone regularly and let them know you are available on short notice, when ANY cancellation arises. People skip or chicken out on surgery all the time for personal, health or unknown reasons. You'd be surprised how quickly you can get in. But you have to be prepared to move tout-suite. Likewise for family doctor appointments. The recptionist will give you any old date unless you inform them you need an urgent appointment - which they are always prepared to provide when you actually need one.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top