Quote:
Originally Posted by greenberetTFS
I've been postponing replacement knee surgery,both knees,for several years now and when I did a search I came up with this post. I've been getting cortisone shots every 3 months at the VA,it's the most they will allow now. However they don't last more than a couple of weeks and than the pain is back again. They said I definitely need surgery because it's "bone on bone" now. They claim it's a 6 to 8 week recovery period and of course they will only do one knee at a time. I'm an old codger and I think it may take longer than that. Any one out out there have a recent knee replacement they can tell me about thier actual recuperation period? 
GB TFS |
After going to The Phila.VAMC Orthopedic Clinic for 9 years and NEVER seeing the same Doctor MD, PA or nurse practioner twice and the fact that I never saw a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon at the VA, I was given the procaine and steroid injections 4 times per year for the last 4 years along with Naproxen 500mg. Tablets 2x per day for pain. After 3 years of this treatment A 4th year surgical resident switched me to physical thearpy and Acetaminophen 500 mg every 6 hours for pain as needed. On June 25,2008 I went to the Phila. VAMC and saw my Primary Care Provider because of the severe pain in my L/ knee, she refered me to X-Ray for an MRI which showed "Marked degenerative changes involving the left knee. I believe there is displaced medial meniscal fragment/ tear as described. But also believe there is a remote ACL tear with relocation of the distal tendon now adjacent to the medial condyle in the intercondylar notch. Primary Diagnostic Code: Major Abnormality." Primary Interpreting Staff: Joseph R Perno, MD, PhD ( Verifier). This report was sent to the Primary Care Provider who in turn refered me to Ortho for a consult. She said I was supposed to see the Chief Resident and let him decide the best approach. Turns out I saw a 3 year resident with an intern who gave me another injection and a perscription for Acetaminophen 325 mg 1 tablet every 6 hrs. for pain. Three days later the left knee gave in and I could not support any weight on it nor could I climb stairs using the L/knee for support. I went to Penn Orthopedics at Pennsylvania Hospital and saw Robert E. Booth MD of Booth, Bartolozzi, and Balderston who are rated the Top Knee Replacement Surgeons in the country. Dr. Booth looked at the X-Rays and the MRI and examined both knees and told me I needed a Total knee replacement for both knees. He also said he does 1700 knees per year has 33 years experience and that it takes him 25 minutes to do each knee. After surgery you go to Recovery for 12 hrs. and you are placed on a CPM (continuous passive motion) machine to gently bend the knees to keep them from getting stiff. The hospital stay is 3 or 4 days and then you go to a rehab facility for 5 days and you are sent home with instructions to go for physical therapy for 4 to 6 weeks to build strength before returning to normal activity. Regard's, tom kelly