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miche
Canada
283 Posts |
 Posted - 10/16/2006 : 23:15:18
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| My sister is awaiting surgery for a knee replacement on Friday, she was told that because of a previous knee infection and surgery she has no cartilage left and that she will be in a wheelchair a few years from now unless she gets a knee replacement, however because she has had blood cancer she has a one in five risk of infection from the surgery, this risk is one in two hundred in the general population, worst case scenario , she will die or have her leg amputated if the doctors cannot get the infection under control, of course she hesitates to go ahead and yet she has to make a decision in the next few days. My question is does anyone know whether a person with no knee cartilage left can be fairly pain free, she has had minimal pain lately. Any comments would be appreciated. |
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salamander
85 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 19:55:45
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Miche,
Perhaps I'm a little late responding to this but...
What is the rush of having a knee replacement if your sister is having "minimal pain"? If I was getting around OK and with "minimal" pain, I would hold off getting a knee replacement until the last minute. On top of this, a total knee only lasts about 10 years right?
I do know that years ago if somebody tore their miniscus, the whole cartilage was removed. I'm sure there are many people around today with no cartilage (miniscus) in their knees. If fact, it was believed that the miniscus was just a left over peice of evolution that served no useful purpose...and hence was removed. Nowadays, doctors believe (supposedly through studies) that the cartilage does indeed help cushion the joints. Premature removal of cartilage, most will say, will cause an increase in the likely hood of degenerative arthritis and possible knee replacement down the road.
To me this is like saying that an alcoholic has a greater chance of developing liver disease. This may be, but there are many alcoholics that will die from something other than liver disease. In the case of knees, I would wager that there are people that have no knee cartilage that are getting by without a knee replacement.
I guess what I'm driving at is that I would try every avenue possible before I would submit to a knee replacement. Maybe write Sarno and ask if he has ever heard of anyone that has functioned normally without cartilage.
Most people probably did not respond to your post because nobody (including many doctors) don't know the answere to this. Whatever she chooses to do, I hope that she is recovers OK.
Regards,
Doug
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miche
Canada
283 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 22:40:26
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Doug, I so appreciate your response, after much hesitation , my sister has decided to proceed with the surgery, I wish she would change her mind. I told her that if it were me I would leave well enough alone. The main reason she is doing it is because she is now in remission, the longest she could be in remission is another few years ,four to five at the most, this is typical of multiple myeloma, she was told that she won't be able to get the surgery once that happens and may end her days in a wheel chair, hence her dilemma.also should she cancel now it will be another year before there is an opening for surgery at the hospital, so this adds to the pressure as she is afraid that should the pain get worst she won't have any recourse My mother had knee surgery three months before she died of cancer, she did not know that she had cancer when she booked the surgery I feel that the surgery accelerated the spread of the cancer , so I wish my sister would reconsider, She is scheduled to enter the hospital on Friday morning, however today she was told that she may be suffering from an infection . She will be getting the lab results tomorrow. In the event that the test result is positive then the surgery will be cancelled ,in that case I would consider it a heavenly intervention.
Thank you again for the information,I will presented it to her
Regards,
Micheline |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2006 : 00:28:55
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| I know a guy who was scheduled for hip replacement. The night before his scheduled surgery the surgeon died. The doctor who took over his case said he didn't need it. That was several years ago and he plays tennis everyday. |
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miche
Canada
283 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2006 : 15:10:03
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Thank's Tom, narrow escape for your friend, good for him! |
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Need answer regarding knee cartilage please
