Experienced Arthritics Here?

Have a friend who's first three knee replacements resulted in infection and needed to be redone. She is on number 4 now and hopefully this one is good. It wasn't a VA hospital either. I would not go to the hospital she had the surgery at, but she had no choice due to her insurance. In fact, I would not take my dog there, if I had a dog!!!

I complained to my VA doc (physicians assistant) about my knees and they took x-rays, said nothing wrong. Am told that you can't tell by x-rays. The VA's physical therapist says I have definite knee problems but not bad enough for surgery yet. In fact the therapist says I should have handicap car tag, but doc (PA) says I don't have handicap yet. What to do??? Been told by lots of medical folks to wait as long as possible for knee replacement. Weight is a big factor, and I know I'm too heavy. Hard taking it off, but trying.

I have to stay busy.

If it was not a cold day with only an open shop I would be outside working on an ATV project. The ground is too wet to use the backhoe.

Watched Madea and Hobbit 2 with 16 year old son yesterday after his Scout troop marching in the Christmas parade. Friday looked at some new office space to offset ACA additional costs coming our way. Thursday rode 200 miles to get a new set of hearing aids then spent three hours coming back at Harbor Freight and got a drill press, electric chainsaw sharpener and a bore scope.

The fall flat of my back 15 Sep 2013 still has me slowed down but less and less each week. I am 62 and plan to live to be 110 so I try to make very young friends so I will have a big group at my 110th birthday party.

I have to use a hand mirror to drive so I am thankful I still have the use of my arms and hands that I do. Yes where at the VA or any other source of health care even when they try some doctors have a hard time relating to arthritic conditions beyond their control.

Had to give up on pain meds for many reasons but if I do not eat any man processed sugar and remember to take a high dose of fish oil I get by. A doctor at the VA scared my wife to death like 25 years ago about me getting killed or turned to a vegetable if in any accident.

Finally told the wife I was going to be careful but I was going to LIVE until I die.

People without a will to live die I have come to realize.

The kids coming when I was 46 was a blessing for sure. They now have their learning permits and they are the best son and daughter I could ask for and that is because I was good at wife selecting many years ago and had the wisdom not to take any test drives or trading over the years.

Arthritis is real and that reality can be very different for each person with it. The fact that my mind runs wide open all of the time is a plus some days. Technology makes life better like the smart phone and the smart hearing aids I got last week. While I am not strong I can life a 200 pound block of wood with the backhoe with the thumb attachment. Trying to teach the kids what my father taught me forces me to go and do things I would never do for myself.

Over time guys can learn taking is not the best way to get what you want but that giving is the best way to get. I have taken so many roads I do not think about the roads not taken. In the fall of 2011 the kids and I got in the old motor home that we had worked on for five years. As the solo drive we cover 8000 miles in 31 days. The kids got to see Yellow Stone, learn to surf in Carlsbad, CA on their 14 birthday and see the Grand Canyon plus a lot more on that field trip.

I realize it is possible they could be like me some day so I live to be an example when one's options seem few that is just one big lie being told one by evil forces. While I look forward to life after physical death I am not ready to check out of the clay hotel yet. :)

downhome, you really need to write things down and give it to the doctor. You are getting no where with them and you need help. Write how you feel, tell him/her your worries. Please just ask them to read the note first because you may not get through to them by talking out your problems. God bless.

I have RA and have had it all done. My meniscus was shredded and had orthoscopic done. That lessened the pain for about 6-12 months. Then had the Synvisc shots which did nothing. Finally had the TKR done. When the other knee started I went straight for the TKR. I also had cortisone shots done for a couple of years before the first knee surgery. They worked for about 2 months before I needed another one. My advice - go for the TKR first. BTW - I was in my early 50's when I had the surgeries.

I have had knee arthritis since age 52. Stopped running at 55. Have done a lot of research on this and talked to a lot of folks that have had the knee scopes. None were happy with them including my younger brother. Coincidentally I am waiting for his call to pick him up from the WPB VA hospital and drive him to a nursing home as I read this thread. He just had a total replacement of his right knee. He is 62 I am 66 now. I continue to take Glucosamine chondroitin and fish oil which has helped along with exercise and some bike riding to strengthen the muscles that support the knee.

I think scopes works best for the young. It has delayed me getting my left knee replaced and really helped with the pain but total replacement is coming.

Hubby had torn miniscus surgery on both knees. Might as well not have bothered. Then, 2 yrs ago he had one knee repalced. Two months ago he had the other replced. Recovery from both has been very good. The difference has been night-and-day for him. Knee #2 is still sensitive to cold weather and a tad unstable, but it is improving daily. He is out riding his scooter as we speak.

had plenty of shots finally surgery come out great in about a week I was roaming around on my knee been 15yrs back and still going. the surgery is simple only couple little holes were cut. best thing I did. I walk every morning about a mile no pain ,your a little stiff for a couple months but can do any thing you want.

It is a good way to buy time I found in my case. If bone gets to bone it is over and it is replacement time I expect. The VA needs to cut costs and they are. Long term we know the results of that. As the VM era veterans age they are loading the system.

I know one guy that put off replacing then developed major heart problems and no doctor would do surgery so he was in serious pain with no options because he had put off having surgery. As medical services get reduced if I needed surgery near term I would be getting it scheduled. If the budget deal in the works cuts future retirees as much as I read tonight there are no sacred cows left.