Biting the bullet

[unixronin]

I just called my orthopedist's office and had them start working on the schedule for my bilateral knee replacement.  It looks like being late June.

I don't feel very happy about this.  But it's got to be done.  My knees are steadily deteriorating.

Just as a reminder, most of the progress will be on my medical/health filter.  Let me know if you're not on it and want to be.

Comments

[lonewolf545.livejournal.com]

How much of the knee issues are due to the lingering issues with your ankle/foot?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

They're related, but not directly causal. Most of the issue with the knees is the initial damage compounded by traumatic arthritis. My right knee in particular has all kinds of random extra little bits of bone south of the kneecap that aren't supposed to be there, and the cartilage is so abraded there's bone-on-bone contact. It severely limits my knee strength because when I try to stand and the nerves detect bone-on-bone contact, there's a reflex loop that shuts down the thigh muscle to try to prevent further damage.

The side effects of the ankle/foot do put some extra strain on my left knee, but it's not a major factor.

health filter

[nephthys510.livejournal.com]

I'd like to be on it, if I am not already.

Re: health filter

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Done.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

My sister had knee replacement, one knee only, said that the day after surgery the knee hurt less than it had in 40 years...(rheumatoid arthritis).

But that may have been the oxycontin speaking.

Anyway, she approves.

Put me on the filter, if you don't mind random snarky comments.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

put me on the filter, if you don't mind random snarky comments.

Mind? They're half the fun! :) Done.

I'm hoping for both improved mobility and significant pain reduction. Right now, they hurt all the time, often enough that I can't sleep, and the painkillers I have (tramadol and hydrocodone) basically just don't work any more.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

As far as I can tell (we're one of those families that regards 500 miles as "close" and don't talk about medical issues if humanly avoidable), she got both improved mobility and pain reduction. Did _not_ bring her cane when she visited last Xmas.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Dr. Rock is certainly predicting I'll see a big improvement in mobility.

[fatcook.livejournal.com]

Which model of knee will they be using? I heard really good things about the Zimmer NexGen. Both of my mom's knees are from DePuy.
I would like to be added, if you don't mind. I'll be looking at replacing my own in about 15 years or so.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Which model of knee will they be using? I heard really good things about the Zimmer NexGen.

That's actually a very good question, to which I don't know the answer yet. Thank you; I'll have to ask.

A related issue, actually, is that I have existing hardware in my left tibia that needs to come out, and we don't know yet what manufacturer it's from to know the correct proprietary driver bit to have on hand to remove the screws. So far I haven't been able to get an answer from the office of the orthopedist who put it in, though hopefully they're going to retrieve the op notes for me next week.

I would like to be added, if you don't mind.

Done.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

The answer turns out to be I'm getting the Stryker Triathlon Total Knee (http://www.stryker.com/en-us/products/Orthopaedics/KneeReplacement/Primary/Triathlon/005027). (Ooooohhh .... SHINY! That's a pretty-looking piece of hardware.)

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

striker! but i hardly know'er!

interesting. for your money, do you get a desktop paperweight model to show people?

and remember, keep that old hardware :) it'll shine up nice!

good luck, and break a leg, so to speak.

#

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Dunno if they'll let me keep the bits they take out, but I certainly want to see them. Don't think a matching paperweight is included, but it'd be nice.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Wow, that _sounds_ impressive, and I haven't looked at the pictures yet!

[fatcook.livejournal.com]

Ooooohhh is right! Very shiny!
Do you know what the bone loss ratio is going to be yet? Or is your surgeon compensating for it?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Define "bone loss ratio" for me here, please. I'm not familiar with the term.

[fatcook.livejournal.com]

Bone loss ratio is how much bone will be cut away from the length of the leg to accomodate the new joint. It can also be how much bone needs to be cut away to get to good health bone to anchor the joint into. My mother lost 3 total inches from her left replacement and 1 1/2 from her right, which made her 5 ft 2in. She can also stand on one leg and swing the other.
That is what I know bone loss ratio to be. You need to check with your surgeon.

[lwj2.livejournal.com]

Hey, Alaric, add me to the filter, if you would.

The hospital medical records department should be able to furnish you and/or your orthopod with complete notes about the surgery.

And you'll want to get your doc to give you a card of some sort stating you have BTKRs. It's handy if you have to travel by air or go through a metal detector at say, a court house.

Luck, eh?

lwj

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Done. And thanks for the good wishes. :)

[n5red.livejournal.com]

Please feel free to add me. I hope everything goes well and please let me know if I can do anything to help.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Done, per your request. I think we should have pretty much everything covered, but the offer is appreciated and we'll keep it in mind.

[bunrab.livejournal.com]

Add me to the filter, por favor? Sooner or later I'm gonna need a knee replacement, unless my heart kills me first, so I'd be interested in hearing about it from your point of view.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Done.