Another arthroscopy or TKR

Hi Jeff
Sorry you have such a bad knee as such a young age.

I have had painful OA of the knee for 2 years, tried cortizone shots and Voltaren, not much but some relief. Then I twisted the knee and tore the meniscus this year. Went to a new OS who performed arthroscopy in August and cleaned up the meniscus and scraped out OA and bits and pieces. He also sent me to physical therapy. At one month postop told the doc I never would have thought the knee would feel so much better. It still swells and I have to ice it every day, but continue with the exercises learned in PT.

Doc told me that there is no cartilage left in that knee, it is bone on bone now. I will need a TKR, just depends on how long I can stand the pain. He said that at 50, I am still fairly young to have a TKR.

I am trying everything I can find to prolong time I will have TKR - supplements glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin, ASU, fish oil, natural anti-inflammatory foods, exercise and ice, looking at different braces soon.

Jeff, TKR only last 15 to 25 years, at best. The bone surrounding/supporting the replacement will begin to break down the more, longer, harder you use the knee. You may or may not be able to have only 1 or 2 more replacements before you end up in a wheelchair or, the ultimate last resort, amputation.

Not trying to scare you, and I am not a health professional at all, but my best advice is: get a second or even third opinion, find the best knee surgeon in your area that you can. Do your research - there is lots of info online.

But the final decision rests with you -- how long can you live a quality daily life and how much pain can you tolerate before you have a TKR.

Karen